TRIPURAHERALD

MP of West Tripura, Lok Sabha Biplab Kumar Deb on Wednesday slammed the opposition Congress party and its previous government at the Centre for highly neglecting the North East region of the country.Participating in the discussion of Union Budget 2024-25 in the parliament on Wednesday, Deb claimed that the North Erast region of the country witnessed massive development under the rule of Modi-led government at the Centre, while the congress was deeply necked in corruption during their time.Deb welcomed the Modi government’s developmental works in the North East and said that there were only nine airports during the Congress rule, which now increased to at least 16 under the Modi government.To improve connectivity in the northeast region, a new scheme has been formulated for providing air connectivity and aviation infrastructure. Regional Air Connectivity Scheme has been allocated Rs 502 crore in budgetary allocation for the civil aviation ministry for the current fiscal ending next March. As per the Union Budget 2024-25, the fund earmarked for the regional air connectivity scheme is meant for revival of 22 airports as well as commencement of 124 routes and Viability Gap Funding for North East Connectivity.The former Chief Minister has also hit out at the Congress and other opposition parties for alleging that the Constitution is under threat. He said that it was a Congress government that had imposed Emergency in 1975 for the benefit of “one person and one family”. The party had invoked Article 356 at least 70 times to attack the Constitution, he said in the parliament on Wednesday.Taking a swipe at the Congress, he asked, “Why was the Emergency imposed, it was imposed because of one person and one family. The Emergency was imposed for one person, Indira Gandhi. Now they carry a copy of the Constitution.”

In yet another major crackdown on illegal infiltration, the police of GRP and Railway Protection Force on Tuesday detained four Bangladeshi nationals from Agartala Railway Station while attempting to board a train for Kolkata.

The officer in-charge of the GRP station at Agartala Tapas Das informed that acting on a tip off regarding movement of infiltrators by train, the GRP and the RPF conducted an operation at Agartala rail station on Tuesday and detained four Bangladeshi nationals from the station. They were supposed to board a train for Kolkata, he told reporters.

The arrested Bangladeshi nationals have been identified as MD Saidul Islam, Akbar Ali, MD Mainul Islam and Akram Haque. During interrogation, the Bangladeshi national confessed that they had illegally entered Indian territory from Bangladesh.

We launched a hunt to track down the ‘Agents’ who are facilitating the infiltration of the people from Bangladesh. The agents locally known as ‘Linemen’ are active in specific border areas marked for the intrusion from across the border. The places are fenced and guarded, but the ‘Linemen’ have the access and the ability to transfer the people through safe corridors in lieu of money. Most of the infiltration bids occurred during the night and the Agents arranged ladders on both sides of the fencing to smuggle men and women who pay for the service, said the cop.

Tripura Police on Friday arrested two wanted drug dealers from College Tilla area.Giving details officer-in-charge (OC) of East Agartala Police Station Rana Chatterjee stated that based on secret information, Police personnel from East Agartala Police Station laid a trap and arrested both the drug dealers from College Tilla area, seized the car which was used by the drug dealers. Both the wanted drug dealers will be produced before the court on Saturday, said the police officer.The arrested drug dealers have been identified as Raja Saha resident of Pratapgarh and Arjun Debnath resident of Melaghar were wanted in connection with two NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) cases.

In a successful attempt, the Agartala city police have arrested one motorcycle lifter and seized two stolen motorcycle on Friday. The arrested motorcycle lifter has been identified as Samir Malik resident of Jirania.Giving details officer-in-charge (OC) of West Agartala police station Paritosh Das stated that based on secret information, Police personnel from West Agartala police station laid a trap and arrested the bike lifter from Office lane area. After the preliminary probe the bike lifter confessed that he had stolen the bikes, said the police officer.During the past several months, the capital city police have arrested a number of thieves and motor bike lifters involved in a series of stolen incidents and after the arrest of these criminals, the growing number of stolen incidents across Agartala has also started decreasing.

Amid the unrest in neighbouring Bangladesh over job quota protests, around 100 Indian students returned safe through two integrated checkposts in Tripura.BSF, Tripura frontier in its statement said, “Today, till 1600 hrs approx. 100 students including those from Nepal have returned using valid documents. More are expected and are on the way. BSF is closely monitoring the situation across the border and troops are on high alert.”The IG, BSF, Tripura Frontier, Patel Piyush Purushottam Das, IPS has assured all possible assistance to these students and has further spoken to the Border Guards Bangladesh officers for cooperation at their end. Our students who study in Bangladesh were helped by the BGB and their college authorities move on their way to the border checkposts, as per our information the Indian high commission in Dhaka is also in touch with Indian students there and are helping them.BSF has made all necessary arrangements including refreshments and transport at the ICP to facilitate smooth arrival and further movement of these students to their destination, the BSF’s press communique reads.Bangladesh continued to reel under deadly clashes over a controversial job quota system.

All Tripura Chess Association on Saturday organized a one day open rapid chess tournament to celebrate the International Chess Day at NSRCC complex.  President of All Tripura Chess Association Abhijit Moulick and others were present.

International Chess Day, celebrated annually on July 20, honours the ancient and strategic game of chess, highlighting its global significance and historical roots. Since its recognition by UNESCO in 1966, this day has been dedicated to promoting chess as a valuable educational tool that fosters logical thinking and cultural exchange.

International Chess Day commemorates the founding of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) on July 20, 1924, in Paris, France. FIDE was established to organize and oversee international chess competitions and promote the game worldwide.

Chess has a rich history spanning over a millennium, originating in ancient India around the 6th century. The game spread from India to Persia, and subsequently to the Arab world and Europe during the medieval period, evolving into its modern form with standardized rules and strategies. Today, chess is a universal game played by millions, transcending language and cultural barriers.

Assam Rifles in collaboration with Agartala School Chess Association organised Inter School Chess Championship at ARPS, Agartala on Saturday.

The Championship was organised on International Chess Day to foster greater interest of students in the game of Chess and enhance their cognitive skills like attention, memory and decision-making ability.

The event brought together 66 chess enthusiasts (52 boys and 14 girls) from 12 different schools on a single platform to showcase their talents. The matches were played in knock out format tournament.

Winners in each age category (both male and female players) were felicitated with certificates of merits and prizes by Assam Rifles.

The event witnessed much enthusiasm from players who displayed great skills and sportsmanship.

Agartala experienced a much-needed reprieve from the blistering heat on Thursday as several parts of the city received light to moderate rainfall accompanied by a cool breeze.  Heavy showers along with thunderstorm brought some respite to people from the scorching heat in the state as the mercury dipped by a few notches on Thursday.

The maximum temperature settled at 36.6 degrees Celsius on Thursday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. However IMD has predicted that thunderstorm with lightning is very likely to occur in the state in coming days too.

For the past few days people of the State were facing uncomfortable weather conditions due to persistent scorching heat with high humidity. The state witnessed one or two spells of rainfall during the few days that gave temporary relief for a limited period of people from the scorching heat.

27 mortar shells of 1971 Bangladesh war era have been recovered from Rangutia area under Bamutia outpost on Thursday.

Some labourers were digging a pond in Dulal Nama’s house in Rangutia area under Bamutia outpost, they hit upon metallic objects while working. Then they dig out the metallic objects. They were shocked after recognizing the metallic objects as mortar shells, immediately informed the Bamutia outpost. After getting the information a Police personnel from Bamutia outpost along with TSR reached the spot. A total of 27 mortar shells of 1971 Bangladesh war era were recovered from the spot. All the 27 mortar shells were taken to Bamutia outpost.

Officer In Charge of Bamutia outpost Anthony Jamatia said these 27 mortar shells would be more than 50 years old.