Agartala Jan 26 PTI Tripura Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya on Wednesday called upon the people of the state to pay tribute to the freedom fighters and the constitution makers who worked for the development of the country despite facing several difficulties Unfurling the Tri-colour at the Assam Rifles Ground here on the occasion of the 73rd Republic Day he hailed the state government for its selfless work to make Tripura a model state I appeal to all to pay tribute to the freedom fighters and be grateful to the constitution makers who during the days of the freedom struggle had faced several difficulties but worked for the development of the country I also appreciate the work undertaken by the state government to make Tripura a model state This government gives priority to three Ns Niyat Intention Niti policy and Niyam rule he said The governor also said that the law and order situation has improved in Tripura and the state government has taken an onerous task of putting an end to drug menace Agartala Smart City is one of those selected under mission-100 of the Union government for modernisation initiatives he noted Exhorting the people to maintain COVID-appropriate behaviour Arya said I salute all frontline workers for their hard work during this pandemic-induced crisis Meanwhile seven personnel from the Tripura Police and two others from Fire Services and Civil Defence in the state received Presidents Medal on the occasion of Republic Day Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb in two separate social media posts congratulated all the awardees PTI JOY RMS RMS

Agartala Dec 25 PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Tripura on January 4 to inaugurate a new terminal building of Maharaja Bir Bikram MBB Airport here Chief Minister Biplab Deb said on Saturday Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiradiya Scindia and senior officials of Airports Authority of India AAI would also be present at the programme he said The New Integrated Terminal Building NITB has been built at a cost of Rs 3400 crore I have received a call from the Prime Ministers Office PMO confirming the PMs visit to Tripura to inaugurate the new terminal building of MBB Airport second busiest in the Northeast Besides he will also address a public rally at Vivekananda Ground on the same day Deb told reporters Earlier AAI chairman Arvind Singh had visited the state on December 15 to review the progress of work being undertaken at the terming building The NIBT with 20 check-in counters will be able to handle 1200 passengers including international fliers in a day officials said PTI JOY RMS RMS

Agartala Nov 25 PTI An estimated 7504 per cent of over 493 lakh voters exercised their franchise till 4 pm for elections to Tripuras 14 civic bodies on Thursday amid allegations of political violence by opposition camps Officials in the State Election Commission SEC however said no clash or voting machine-related problem was reported from the poll-bound areas Polling began at 7 am and continued beyond 4 pm as electors stood in long queues outside voting booths the officials said adding that the turnout is set to increase by the end of the day Members of opposition TMC and the CPIM claimed that their workers and supporters were attacked and stopped from casting their votes During the day TMC leader Subal Bhowmik along with party workers staged a sit-in here accusing the State Election Commission of favouring the ruling BJP He alleged that booth jamming and other intimidatory tactics were used to prevent voters from exercising their franchise Peoples verdict will not be reflected when the results are announced Unfair means were used to conduct the voting process The police and election commission officials sided with the ruling party he told reporters Bhowmik who is also the state convener of the TMC steering committee further said Residences of several TMC candidates were attacked last Wednesday night and attempts were made to set their houses on fire At least five party members were attacked and many supporters were prevented from casting their votes The police simply stood by as silent spectators Echoing him leaders of the opposition CPIM also said that polls were rigged by BJP-sheltered goons CPIM state secretary Jitendra Chowdhury alleged that the voting process was reduced to a farce I have never witnessed such mayhem during civic elections Despite lodging several complaints with the SEC no measure was taken to hold free and fair elections Chowdhury told reporters Another woman leader of the CPIM Phulon Bhattacharjee said voters were threatened of consequences if found entering the polling booths In my long political career I have never seen such anarchy Voters are being openly threatened she exclaimed The ruling BJP however denied all allegations The TMC and the CPI M are making baseless allegations as they know well that they would be defeated Elections were held in a festive spirit BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya stated The saffron party has already won 112 of total 334 seats uncontested in Agartala Municipal Corporation AMC and 19 other civic bodies in the state Polling is being held in 222 seats across six nagar panchayats seven municipal councils and AMC Counting of votes will be held on November 28 The Supreme Court had on Thursday directed the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to provide two additional companies of the Central Armed Police Forces CAPF to secure the polling booths during the Tripura civic polls PTI JOY RMS RMS

Agartala Oct 17 PTI Political parties and civil society organisations in Tripura have condemned the recent vandalisation of temples and Durga Puja marquees and attack on Hindus in neighbouring Bangladesh with which the state shares an 856-km-long border as Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb expressed hope that appropriate action would be taken against the miscreants by the Sheikh Hasina government Officials said that Deb had on Saturday telephoned Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram K Doraiswami to know what exactly happened in the neighbouring country and the measures that were being taken to protect the members of the Hindu community According to the officials Doraiswami during the conversation stated that he visited the Durga puja pandals where the alleged attacks were carried out and gave assurance that the Bangladesh government was taking necessary steps to solve the issue amicably Such incidents wherever in the world it might be is matter of great sorrow I have full confidence on the Bangladesh government and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina I am sure she will take appropriate action against such acts of fundamentalism the CM later told reporters The TMC while denouncing the attacks in Bangladesh expressed surprise at the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi We have not noticed any statement coming from our prime minister The Bangladesh government was also not prompt in initiating action against the culprits We want PM Modi to take up the matter with Hasina the convener of TMCs Tripura unit Subal Bhowmick said Meanwhile a delegation representing the states civil society organisations led by former vice-chancellor of Tripura University Arunoday Saha on Saturday met Bangladesh Assistant High Commissioner in Agartala Mohammad Jobaid Hossain and demanded full protection of religious rights of all minorities The delegation sought immediate punishment for the culprits A senior member of a popular puja committee in Sipahijala Abdul Momin said Hindus and Muslims have been jointly celebrating the annual festival every year in the subdivision without any animosity and people in the neighbouring country should take a cue We organise Durga puja bringing together people from Hindu and Muslim communities as it strengthens the bond between the two communities We hope our neighbours in Bangladesh would also respect each other and maintain communal harmony Religions might be different but festivals belong to all communities he added As reports of attacks on Durga Puja pandals and temples emerged from across Bangladesh Hasina earlier this week said action will be taken again those trying to disturb communal harmony Ministry of External Affairs MEA has noted that the government in the neighbouring country reacted promptly to ensure that the situation was under control and said that the Indian mission is in close contact with the Bangladeshi authorities over the matter PTI JOY RMS RMS

Agartala Aug 24 PTI The Tripura government has decided to reopen schools for students of classes 6 to 12 along with other higher educational institutions from Wednesday officials said The government has issued two separate notifications with detailed guidelines regarding resumption of physical classes in both schools and other academic institutions In view of the decline in COVID test positivity rate in Tripura and considering the learning losses that has already occurred the Department of Education school with the approval of State Disaster Management Authority has decided to start physical classes for students of classes VI to XII from August 25 said a notification issued on Monday by Director of School Education Chandni Chandran According to the government notification all schools will have to function in single or double shifts depending on the space available in the classrooms Authorities have been asked to ensure that alternate seats in schools stay unoccupied Students and teachers have been asked to strictly adhere to COVID-19 norms As teachers of classes 5 and below do not have regular classes to take they would be engaged in the Catch Up campaign of Nutun Disha programme an initiative of the state government aimed at making all students efficient and capable the notification said A separate notification issued by Higher Education Director NC Sharma said colleges institutes and varsities general technical and professional would also be re-opened from Wednesday Faculties have been instructed to arrange for extra classes if necessary If adequate space is not available or there is a shortage of teachers institutes have been told to set up different time slots for batches or any other measure they find appropriate College hostels would however reopen only on September 1 maintaining all guidelines issued by the state government the notification added PTI JOY RMS RMS