Three touts are detained by the NFR, and more than Rs 1 lakh worth of train tickets are seized in Assam.

The Assam Accord, signed in 1985, set March 25, 1971, as the cutoff date for detecting and deporting illegal immigrants in the state. Persons who entered Assam before January 1, 1966, were granted full Indian citizenship, while those arriving between 1966 and 1971 were identified, denied voting rights for 10 years, but allowed to reside. All foreigners who entered Assam on or after March 25, 1971, are to be detected, deleted from electoral rolls, and expelled according to law. The Accord also includes safeguards to protect Assamese culture and identity. The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) opposes the Centre’s recent directive allowing certain religious minority immigrants from neighboring countries to stay beyond this deadline, asserting it violates the Assam Accord’s provisions and seeking exemption for Assam through a Supreme Court petition.

Maintaining culture can be achieved by dressing traditionally once a week: CM Prem Singh Tamang of Sikkim.

At the state-level Indra Jatra celebrations in Kabrey, Namthang, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang stressed the need to protect cultural identity while uniting the state’s diverse communities. Urging citizens to embrace traditional attire at least once a week, he emphasized that the initiative was about honoring heritage, not narrow-mindedness. Tamang noted that Indra Jatra, once a Newar festival, has become a celebration for all of Sikkim and announced plans to mark it at an international level from 2026. Acknowledging the Newar community’s historic role as traders and Taksaris, he assured government support for safeguarding cultural legacies. Linking cultural pride with governance, the Chief Minister outlined welfare initiatives including housing schemes and extended support for drivers lacking certificates. He concluded by calling Indra Jatra a symbol of unity, cultural diversity, and communal harmony, urging all communities to share responsibility in preserving Sikkim’s traditions.

Tour companies are advised to adhere to route timings as travel permits to Lachung, Sikkim, will resume on September 8.

Travel permits for Lachung in North Sikkim will be issued from Monday, September 8, reopening access to high-altitude tourist hotspots including Yumthang Valley and Zero Point. The Mangan SP confirmed that valid ID and photographs are mandatory for Indian travelers, while foreign tourists must secure a Protected Area Permit (PAP). Authorities have urged strict adherence to route timings and safety guidelines on the narrow mountain roads. Tourists visiting the 8,600-ft Lachung region are also advised to carry warm clothing and sufficient cash, as ATMs are not available in the area.

Bangladeshi paranoia persists from the Assam NRC to the streets of Odisha.

A 36-year-old Bengali hawker from West Bengal was brutally assaulted in Odisha’s Jaleshwar after being branded a “Bangladeshi,” exposing how the migration-linked suspicion rooted in Assam is spilling beyond its borders. Despite showing Aadhaar and voter ID, Tarzan Sheikh was beaten, robbed, and dismissed as an outsider. Rights groups warn that while Assam’s agitation over demographic fears was centered on protecting “jati, mati, bheti” (community, land, hearth), the label “Bangladeshi” is now being weaponized elsewhere, targeting Bengali speakers regardless of legal status. The incident, coming amid heated national debates on infiltration, underscores a growing paradox: indigenous anxieties are genuine, but when suspicion overrides constitutional protections, language itself can trigger violence.

Former Gauwahati High Court Chief Justice: The office of the vice president, not a political organisation.

INDIA bloc’s Vice Presidential candidate and former Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court, B. Sudershan Reddy, on Friday asserted that the Vice President’s office is a “high constitutional authority” and not a political institution. Speaking to reporters in Guwahati, he said the post demands qualities akin to those of a judge — impartiality, reasonableness, and fairness. Reddy stressed that the role of the Election Commission as an autonomous constitutional body is vital to uphold free and fair elections and recalled how the idea of universal adult franchise was embedded into India’s democratic framework even before the Constitution was enacted. “There can be no predesigned map to exclude any individual or group of individuals in the name of caste, community, religion, creed or gender from participating in an election,” he said. Confident about his prospects, he added that no party can issue a whip in the Vice Presidential election and highlighted the wide support he has received from MPs, civil society, and other groups.

A Sikkim child rights organisation encourages ethical reporting and cautions against social media trials.

“The Sikkim State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) has issued a strong appeal urging citizens, digital creators, and civil society groups to exercise responsibility in dealing with child-related issues. Chairperson Deepa Khatri and Member Anish Sharma highlighted the rising concerns over ‘social media trials’ which often spread half-truths and rumours, causing harm to children and interfering with official investigations.

The Commission emphasized the need to prioritize the safety, dignity, and privacy of children, strongly advising against sharing a child’s identity in any form on social media. They reminded the public that the law imposes penalties for violating a child’s right to privacy and spreading misinformation.

SCPCR works closely with various government agencies including the police, Child Welfare Committees, and Anti-Human Trafficking Units to ensure streamlined handling of complaints through proper channels. The Commission plans to conduct training for digital creators and child protection bodies to foster ethical reporting and safe complaint processes.

Khatri’s advice was succinct: ‘Verify first. Protect the child. Use the proper forums.’ Sharma added that cooperation from society, government agencies, and digital platforms is essential to protect children and prevent panic created by rumours. The rising number of reported child-related cases partly reflects genuine challenges and partly increased awareness, necessitating coordinated efforts rather than parallel social media judgments.”

Agartala Municipal Corporation’s account was syphoned out for Rs 16.43 crore; an investigation is underway.

“A case has been registered at West Agartala Police Station against unknown fraudsters for siphoning off Rs 16.38 crore from the Agartala Municipal Corporation’s account held with UCO Bank, Kaman Chowmuhani branch. The fraud was executed by using six cloned cheques with forged signatures of the AMC Chief Executive Officer, D.K. Chakma, while the original cheques remained with the authorities.

The fraudulent transactions occurred between August and September 2025, with the forged cheques cleared and funds transferred via RTGS to multiple accounts across different states. A preliminary investigation suggests the involvement of external elements possibly operating from Hyderabad, and collusion with insiders at AMC and the bank is being probed.

The police have collected CCTV footage from the bank branch to identify the persons who submitted the forged cheques and are investigating the nexus behind this sophisticated scam. AMC officials have requested the bank to refund the lost amount, and one account where the money was routed has been frozen.

This case is being investigated under the supervision of West Agartala Police, and those responsible will be prosecuted under applicable laws.”

PM Modi is expected to speak at two significant rallies while in conflict-ridden Manipur.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to visit Manipur on September 13 in what will be his first tour of the state since ethnic clashes erupted in May 2023. Preparations are underway for two major rallies—one at the Peace Ground in Churachandpur with about 9,000 expected attendees, and another at the historic Kangla Fort in Imphal, with capacity for 15,000 people. The district administration in Churachandpur has designated the rally site a ‘no-drone zone’ for heightened security, while Imphal authorities have initiated beautification drives at the airport and Kangla campus.

The Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Churachandpur. Local civil society organisations plan to present memorandums, and opposition leaders have urged that the visit move beyond symbolic appearances to include tangible measures for resolving the crisis. While the BJP is preparing for a show of strength, Congress leaders have reiterated demands for action ensuring Manipur’s territorial and administrative integrity. The official itinerary, however, has not yet been formally confirmed.”

The first firm from the Northeast to list on the BSE is OPEL from Tripura.

Oval Projects Engineering Limited (OPEL), based in Agartala, Tripura, became the first company from Northeast India to be listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on September 4, 2025, more than fifty years after Tripura’s merger with the Indian Union. Founded in 2013, OPEL operates across seven states in the oil and gas and infrastructure sectors, delivering major projects including ONGC’s gas gathering station and facilitating NEEPCo’s 106 MW power plant. The company’s ₹46.74 crore IPO, with shares priced between ₹80 and ₹85, marked a historic milestone, also making OPEL the first Northeast company to attract $2 million in foreign direct investment. Chairman Gautam Debnath stated that the listing strengthens OPEL’s financial standing and improves access to public funding, while highlighting government subsidies and the need for policies supporting green industries and IT to leverage Tripura’s vast green cover for carbon market initiatives

Sikkim is on high alert following possible efforts to kidnap children.

Sikkim Police have intensified security across the state amid reports of suspected child abduction attempts and fears of extremist activity. Although no terrorist presence or confirmed abductions have been established, checkpoints at Rangpo, Melli, and other entry points are under stricter watch. The alert follows an incident near Singyep School in Soreng district where a student evaded an alleged abduction attempt by fleeing from an unknown car occupant. Similar unverified reports have surfaced in neighboring villages, prompting authorities to treat them as potential threats. Residents have been urged to remain vigilant, while police have assured extra measures are in place to safeguard children and maintain law and order.