Manipur: Ministry expansion likely after budget session

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Imphal, March 1 (IANS) The expansion of the Council of Ministers led by Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh is likely to take place after the upcoming Budget session of the state Assembly, BJP sources said on Sunday.

Chief Minister Khemchand Singh was sworn in as the Manipur Chief Minister on February 4 after President’s Rule was revoked in the state.

Along with him, four other MLAs took oath as Deputy Chief Ministers and Cabinet Ministers.

However, the Khemchand Singh-led Ministry is yet to be fully constituted, with seven ministerial berths still vacant.

BJP MLA Nemcha Kipgen, who belongs to the Kuki community, and Loishi Dikho of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) took oath as Deputy Chief Ministers along with CM Khemchand Singh.

BJP MLA Govindas Konthoujam and Khuraijam Loken Singh of the National People’s Party were sworn in as Cabinet Ministers.

Former Minister Nemcha Kipgen, the lone woman Minister in Manipur, took oath virtually as Deputy Chief Minister from Manipur Bhavan in New Delhi due to security reasons.

A senior BJP leader said that the expansion of the Council of Ministers would “definitely” take place after the Budget session of the Manipur Assembly, which is expected to be convened after the Holi festival.

On February 5, a one-day session of the state Assembly was held, during which Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla addressed the House.

Earlier, Chief Minister Khemchand Singh underscored that restoring peace and normalcy in the violence-hit state is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders, including elected representatives.

The 60-member Manipur Assembly, which was kept under suspended animation during President’s Rule, has a tenure until 2027.

The troubled state had been under President’s Rule since February 13, 2025, four days after the then Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned amid prolonged ethnic violence.

On February 22, the Chief Minister Khemchand Singh, accompanied by the two Deputy Chief Ministers, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and discussed various issues, including the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by ethnic violence.

An official from the Chief Minister’s Office said that the Union Home Minister Shah reviewed the new state government’s initiatives aimed at removing barriers between communities and restoring peace and harmony in the state.

During his visit to New Delhi, the Chief Minister also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister for the Development of the North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia and Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The Chief Minister and the two Deputy Chief Ministers also met BJP President Nitin Nabin and the party’s National General Secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santhosh to discuss various organisational matters.

Meanwhile, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Saturday and discussed key issues concerning the state.

–IANS

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Gujarat Police bust cybercriminal network involved in massive CCTV hacking in 20 states

Ahmedabad, March 2 (IANS) The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Unit has dismantled a cybercriminal network that had gained unauthorised access to a staggering 50,000 CCTV cameras across 20 states, said Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Sunday.

The Home Minister praised the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Unit for its decisive action in dismantling the cybercriminal network.

According to officials, the gang exploited vulnerabilities in CCTV systems, potentially using them for unlawful activities, including spying, blackmail, and data theft.

The Gujarat Police acted swiftly upon detecting the cyber intrusion, launching a meticulous investigation that led to multiple arrests and the registration of cases in several regions.

The State Home Minister commended the unit’s efforts, emphasizing the importance of cybersecurity and vigilance in an era of increasing digital threats.

“The unit’s diligent efforts have led to the registration of multiple cases in various areas, bringing the perpetrators to justice. Hats off to the Gujarat Police Cyber Crime Ahmedabad for their tireless work in keeping our communities safe!” he remarked on his social media handle X.

In an incident that has raised serious concerns about patient privacy and cybersecurity, explicit videos of women undergoing medical examinations at Rajkot’s Payal Maternity Home have surfaced online.

These videos, reportedly captured via the hospital’s CCTV system, were illicitly uploaded to a YouTube channel and circulated through a Telegram group, where access was sold for fees ranging from Rs 999 to Rs 1,500. The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Unit initiated an investigation after these videos began circulating on social media platforms.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crime) Hardik Makadia revealed that the accused had created a Telegram group linked to a YouTube channel where the videos were uploaded.

Members were enticed to pay a subscription fee to access the explicit content, with screen grabs used as promotional material. In response to the breach, the hospital’s director, Dr Amit Akbari, claimed that their CCTV server had been hacked. He expressed uncertainty about how the footage was leaked and assured full cooperation with the ongoing police investigation.

–IANS

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Proud of our Annadatas: PM Modi on PM-KISAN completing 6 years

New Delhi, Feb 24 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the country is proud of the ‘Annadatas’ and congratulated farmers across the country on the successful completion of six years of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme.

Reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to supporting farmers, he emphasised that the initiative has brought respect, prosperity, and new strength to India’s food providers.

The announcement comes ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit to Bihar’s Bhagalpur district, where he will release over Rs 22,000 crore as part of the 19th instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme.

The financial aid, directly transferred through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, aims to eliminate middlemen and ensure the rightful benefits reach the farmers without any delays or discrepancies.

Taking to X, the Prime Minister posted, “We are proud of our Annadatas,” sharing different schemes of the Centre, aimed at improving the lives of the farmers.

“In the last 10 years, due to our efforts, the agriculture sector in the country has developed rapidly. The financial help being provided to millions of our small farmers has increased their access to the market. Along with this, the cost of agriculture has reduced and their income has also increased,” he said in another post.

“Many congratulations to our farmer brothers and sisters across the country on the completion of 6 years of PM-Kisan. It is a matter of immense satisfaction and pride for me that so far about three and a half lakh crore rupees have reached their accounts. This effort of ours is giving respect, prosperity and new strength to the food providers,” he added.

Launched in 2019, the PM-KISAN scheme was designed to provide financial aid to farmers, ensuring stability and enhancing crop production. Over the years, the scheme has played a crucial role in reducing agricultural costs and improving farmers’ economic conditions.

Apart from releasing the PM-KISAN funds, PM Modi is set to unveil a series of initiatives focused on strengthening Bihar’s agricultural, dairy, and rural economy. As part of these efforts, the Centre has increased the loan limit under the Kisan Credit Card scheme from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, ensuring greater financial accessibility for farmers.

In a major boost to the dairy sector, a modern dairy plant will be established in Barauni with an investment of Rs 113.27 crore. With a processing capacity of two lakh litres per day, the facility is expected to enhance milk production and processing in the region.

Furthering efforts to improve cattle breeding and dairy productivity, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Motihari Regional Centre of Excellence (CoE) under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission with an investment of Rs 33.80 crore.

Additionally, he will mark a significant milestone by launching the 10,000th Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO), which aims to empower farmers through collective bargaining and better market access. Since the launch of the Rs 6,865 crore FPO scheme in 2020, Rs 254.4 crore in equity grants has been released to 4,761 FPOs, while Rs 453 crore in credit guarantees has been issued to 1,900 FPOs.

In addition to agricultural initiatives, PM Modi will inaugurate key infrastructure projects in Bihar. The Warisaliganj-Nawada-Tilaiya Rail Doubling Project, constructed at a cost of Rs 526 crore, will improve rail connectivity across the region. Another major project, the Ismailpur-Rafiganj road-over-bridge, built at a cost of Rs 47 crore, aims to ease traffic congestion and facilitate smoother transportation.

These initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to empowering farmers, boosting the dairy and cattle farming industries, and enhancing Bihar’s infrastructure. With a focus on financial assistance, modern agricultural practices, and improved connectivity, the Centre continues to strengthen rural development and economic growth across the country.

–IANS

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Trekking, camping, hiking prohibited in J&K’s Poonch for security reasons

Jammu, Jan 13 (IANS) The District Magistrate (DM) of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch on Tuesday banned trekking, camping, hiking and similar activities in the forested areas of the district, citing security reasons.

An order issued by Poonch DM said, “…whereas inputs have been received from security agencies and field functionaries regarding security and safety concerns in certain high altitude and forested areas falling within the jurisdiction of Poonch district. And, whereas it has been reported that unrestricted movement of individuals and groups poses a serious risk to public safety due to difficult terrain, adverse weather conditions and other unforeseen hazards.And, whereas trekking, camping, hiking and similar outdoor pursuits in high altitude areas are likely to adversely affect public safety and may also lead to law and order complications.”

“Now, therefore, I Ashok Kumar Sharma, JKAS, district magistrate Poonch, in exercise of powers conferred in me under section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, hereby order as under: Trekking, camping, hiking and similar outdoor/adventure activities are hereby prohibited in all high altitude areas of district Poonch with immediate effect. The restriction shall apply to all individuals, groups, tour operators and adventure clubs except those having prior written permission from the competent authority for official purposes,” said the order.

The security forces, emergency and essential services and government officials on official duty have been exempted from the purview of this order.

The order said that any “person found violating this order shall be liable for action under the relevant provisions of law”.

“Senior Superintendent of Police Poonch shall ensure the implementation of this order and regulate movement at naka/checkpoints,” the order said.

A similar order was earlier issued by the District Magistrate of Kulgam in the Valley pertaining to high-altitude and forested areas in the Kokernag sub-division of the district.

The order follows aggressive anti-terrorist operations being carried out by J&K Police and the security forces in high-altitude, densely forested areas of the union territory.

–IANS

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