Latest news with #Naga
Hans India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Manipur Police urge Naga body to lift shutdown, allow passage to Kuki-Zo
Imphal: Manipur Police have urged a leading Naga organisation in the state to lift the shutdown and allow the safe passage to the people belonging to the Kuki-Zo community through the Naga-inhabited areas, officials said on Wednesday. A police official said that a vital meeting between the senior police officials and the leaders of the Foothill Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) was held on Tuesday at the police headquarters, which discussed the demands and grievances submitted by the committee. 'After a detailed deliberation on the issues raised, the Police Department assured the FNCC representatives that all genuine concerns would be examined with utmost seriousness. The Department reiterated its commitment to addressing the matters raised in a timely and appropriate manner,' the official said. He said that in the interest of maintaining peace and public order, the government also appealed to the FNCC to lift the shutdown imposed in the Naga people inhabited mountainous areas, so that the matter can be resolved amicably through continued dialogue and cooperation. The FNCC had called for an indefinite shutdown from July 18 on the movement of Kuki-Zo tribals within the foothill regions of Naga-inhabited areas. The FNCC had stated that the shutdown is a peaceful but firm protest against what it describes as threats to the ancestral land, identity, and security of the Naga people. FNCC Secretary B. Robin Kabui, in a statement, had said that the first concern was the proposed construction of roads through Naga ancestral territories without prior knowledge or consent of the Naga people. The committee termed it a blatant disregard for traditional ownership rights. The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), the apex body of the Kuki-Zo tribal community, earlier in a statement, had said that the German-Tiger road in the Naga people's inhabited areas is a humanitarian lifeline that was initiated by Kuki-Zo civil society organisations out of sheer necessity. KZC's Secretary, Information and Publicity, Ginza Vualzong, had said that following the ethnic violence that erupted on May 3, 2023, it became unsafe and impossible for Kuki-Zo people to travel through Meitei-dominated areas. 'As a result, the community had no choice but to revive and upgrade an old inter-village track, now known as the German-Tiger Road, to connect the districts of Churachandpur and Kangpokpi. Similarly, as Sugnu is no longer accessible, we are compelled to depend solely on the Singheu route to stay connected with Churachandpur, Chandel, and Tengnoupal, despite the absence of a viable bridge,' Vualzong had said in a statement. The KZC strongly condemned the 'baseless and malicious accusations being circulated by certain Meitei groups branding the German-Tiger Road and Singheu Road as 'drug routes.' "These claims are entirely unfounded and without any legitimate evidence. Such narratives are not only irresponsible but are clearly intended to malign the Kuki-Zo community and disrupt the already fragile connectivity between Kuki-Zo inhabited regions of Manipur," the KZC stated. The KZC urged the Central government to reject these 'divisive and baseless allegations' and, instead, take steps to improve the German-Tiger Road and Singheu Road as essential inter-district lifelines.
Hindustan Times
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Manipur govt appeals Naga committee to lift indefinite bandh
The Manipur government has appealed a Nagaland organisation, the Foothills Naga Coordinating Committee (FNCC), to lift the bandh imposed in the foothill areas of the state, so that the matter can be resolved amicably through continued dialogue and cooperation in the interest of maintaining peace and public order. The department reiterated its commitment to addressing the matters raised in a timely and appropriate manner. (Manipur Tourism) The appeal was made after holding a meeting between senior police officers of PHQ and representatives of the FNCC to discuss the representation and grievances submitted by the committee on July 28, 2025, officials said. 'After a detailed deliberation on the issues raised, the police department assured the Foothill Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) representatives that all genuine concerns will be examined with utmost seriousness,' a state police statement issued late Tuesday night stated. 'The department reiterated its commitment to addressing the matters raised in a timely and appropriate manner', it added. Also Read: Nagaland CM calls on ULBs to lead from front in disaster preparedness It may be mentioned that the FNCC with the support of various other bodies in protest against what it described as encroachment into ancestral Naga territories continues in Manipur, called the indefinite bandh in the Naga inhabited foothill areas in the state since July 18 midnight. The FNCC is protesting against the proposed construction of 'the German and Tiger roads' without consulting the Naga people. The proposed German and Tiger roads connect Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts. It strongly opposed the alleged illegal establishment and proposed relocation of Suspension of Operation (SoO) camps by Kuki militants within Naga areas, as well as the unchecked cultivation of poppy, which it argued endangered the social and environmental balance of indigenous lands. It also directed urgent appeals to the central government, demanding the immediate dismantling of all illegal SoO camps and militant training centres on Naga ancestral lands. They have also called for an end to what they describe as encroachments and unauthorised renaming of roads or landmarks within their territories without proper indigenous consultation.
Hans India
14 hours ago
- General
- Hans India
Thousands throng temples, offer prayers to serpent deities
Hyderabad: The city witnessed a wave of devotees as thousands of them gathered at prominent Naga Amma temples across Hyderabad and Secunderabad to celebrate Naga Panchami, a traditional Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of serpent deities. From early morning, people were seen standing in long queues outside temples such as the Naga Amma Temple in Lalbazar, Tirumalagiri, at Seetharam Bagh, Dattatreya Pahad and other places where families arrived with offerings of milk, turmeric, kumkum, sweet and flower. The temple echoed with chanting of slokas and sounds of bells, as women performed special Naga pooja for the welfare of their children and family. At the Naga Amma Temple in Clock Tower, Secunderabad, the crowd continued to grow through the day. Local devotees, along with visitors from surroundings areas, participated in the rituals barefoot, some even crawling around the deity as a mark of respect and fulfillment of vows. The Dilsukhnagar Naga Amma Temple was brightly decorated with flowers and traditional lamps. Priests conducted abhishekam with milk and honey while devotees recited sacred mantras. Special stalls were set up nearby to provide pooja essentials to the public. In Begumpet, the Naga Amma Temple witnessed a mix of young and old devotees, many of whom were seen tying turmeric dipped threads around anthills (serpents mounds) and trees, a symbolic ritual seeking protection from evil and fulfillment of wishes. Meanwhile, the Naga Devatha Temple in Tarnaka also saw significant footfall. Devotees gathered under trees where serpent idols were placed and offered prayers. Women fasted and performed the puja, praying for marital bliss, family prosperity, and good health. Local police teams were deployed around temple premises to manage traffic and ensure orderly darshan. Despite the crowds, the spirit of devotion remained calm and peaceful. Naga Panchami continues to be a reminder of deep-rooted traditions and beliefs, with temples turning into spiritual hubs on this auspicious day.
San Francisco Chronicle
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Giant sea serpent sculpture lights up Golden Gate Park in ‘magical' debut
Under just a sliver of a moon Monday night in San Francisco, an overflow crowd turned the JFK Promenade into the Playa on the Pavement for the ceremonial lighting of a giant Burning Man sea serpent that has found its way to Golden Gate Park. After a two-hour buildup, the switch was thrown just before 9 p.m., and blinking purple and green LED lights illuminated the aqua-colored 100-foot-long, 25-foot-tall sculpture named Naga. Installed in the pond at the base of the Rainbow Falls, Naga is lit from within and periodically exhales bubbles through its nose. 'I got a contact euphoria from the whole show, like I was standing in the middle of a Harry Potter movie,' said Kat Anderson, president of the city's Recreation and Park Commission. 'It is one of the most magical things I've ever seen.' Naga, originally created for the 2024 Burning Man counterculture event in the northwestern Nevada desert, is the largest art installation ever in Golden Gate Park. A crowd estimated by a park ranger at 1,000 people came for the spectacle, many dressed in pirate attire to fit the seagoing theme, some with their hair dyed to match the serpent's scales. Cherie Defer, who described herself as 'a longtime fan of the serpent,' arrived with her hair streaked in turquoise and vowed to keep it that way 'for as long as Naga is with us.' This vow means a one-year commitment with a possible multiyear extension, which is how long the piece by artist Cjay Roughgarden will be in the park. It is handmade of aluminum scales over a steel frame, a process that cost $350,000 in grants, donations and private funding, and took a crew of artists and volunteers 35,000 man hours at Roughgarden's workshop, Seaport Studios in Richmond. Monday night's event was staged and hosted by Illuminate, the arts nonprofit behind the Bay Lights installation on the Bay Bridge. It was the second ceremony to mark the opening of Naga in Golden Gate Park. The first was a family event Saturday morning to celebrate completion of the project. Monday night's event was the adult celebration, heavy in Burners, as devotees to Burning Man call themselves. Naga premiered there on the desert playa, or dry lake bed, last Labor Day weekend, and fans came out to say hello on Monday night. 'I've seen it on the playa, but with the water it looks different,' said Maggie Li, who wore a jacket of fake turquoise fur, though she said it was merely 'on theme, not trying to match Naga.' She and Lauren Klein had come from the Mission District with a full picnic dinner, which they laid out on the grassy shoulder of JFK Drive. 'It's beautiful to see the serpent protecting Golden Gate Park,' said Klein. 'It's a sacred place.' Among the Burners in attendance were Sid and Karen Sijbrandij (pronounced, fittingly, as 'sea-brandy'), Dutch immigrants who were the lead sponsor of the sculpture through their philanthropy the Sijbrandij Foundation. 'We are aspiring to bring 100 pieces of big art to the city over the next three years,' said Sid, a 45-year-old software engineer who founded GitLab. To this end, he has partnered with art agency Building 180, and together they've installed eight works, including a 45-foot-tall wire mesh sculpture of a nude woman on the Embarcadero, and announced plans to add a dozen more installations on the San Francisco waterfront. Sijbrandij, who contributed $250,000 toward the installation of Naga in the park, set his minimum as pieces that are at least 10 feet tall or wide. 'Big art is underappreciated,' he said. 'It is out there and it brings people together.' He also only works with art that is already built and needs a second or third life, the first one usually being at Burning Man, which the Sijbrandis have attended five times. 'We focus on art that is in storage and nobody ever sees it,' Sijbrandi said. He noted that while thousands may see an artwork on the Burning Man playa, millions will see an artwork in the city. Naga is the last artwork you see moving west on the Golden Mile, a car-free stretch of Golden Gate Park that has been populated with public art curated by Illuminate. There are big yellow chairs along the way, and to promote it, Illuminate founder Ben Davis has taken to wearing only yellow. He did that Monday night as emcee for the event, while standing on a makeshift table, his yellow shoes and bandana offsetting a sea of aqua and turquoise. (The water that cascades from the 50-foot Rainbow Falls into the pond was its usual green to enhance the effect.) 'It's a privilege to come out and welcome this new icon to the 'City of Awe,' he said in his remarks, after 750 bubble wands were handed out to make the lighting participatory in the Burning Man spirit. Roughgarden, resplendent in a brocaded pirate's overcoat and head ornament, made introductory comments, during which she reminded the crowd that the installation is still in progress. The full artwork, titled 'Naga and the Captainess,' includes a shipwreck with seating and a play area, which will be added later. A fundraiser is ongoing. The crowd was far larger than anticipated, with some scampering up the hillside for an overlook. They had to wait for darkness on one of the few clear nights of what has been a foggy San Francisco summer. At 8:45 p.m., ethereal music was pumping from the DJ booth as Roughgarden led a countdown from 10. The serpent's eyes suddenly glowed and pulsed, alternating green and purple, while bubbles poured from its nostrils. The lighting happened in stages from head to tail, and by 9 p.m. it was fully twinkling, 753 lights in total. The LED scheme, by lighting designer Dan Rummel, is subtle enough that people who waited out on the JFK Promenade or on the grass on the far side of the street had to cross over and press up close to see the lights embedded in the serpent's scales and the reflection in the water. The paint job was by Tania Seabock. 'It's approachable and gentle and welcoming,' said Li, the picnicker who left her meal unattended to cross the street for an up-close look. Karen Sijbrandij, who wore a twinkling vest, was also satisfied with the show, which is expected to go until midnight, seven days a week. The scheme is energy efficient and taps into the park's source of street lighting power. 'How amazing was that?' she said. 'The detail of the lighting is mesmerizing.'
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Assam begins eviction drive to clear encroached forest land on Nagaland boundary
The Assam government has launched an eviction drive to clear 11,000 bighas of encroached forest land in Uriamghat area of Golaghat district. The Rengma Reserve Forest, where the first phase of the drive was carried out on Tuesday (July 29, 2025), shares a boundary with Nagaland. A large contingent of police and Assam Forest Protection Force personnel, along with more than 150 excavators, were deployed in the area, anticipating violence. Officials said the exercise passed off peacefully, as a majority of the illegal settlers had vacated the area after receiving notices from the government Inspector-General of Police (Law and Order) Akhilesh Kumar Singh, who was at the site, told presspersons that shops and houses built in the reserve forest areas were demolished. 'We provided adequate police protection, and the locals are supporting the exercise. The law and order situation is under control,' he said. 'More than 20% cleared' A Forest Department official in the district said more than 20% of the reserve forest has been cleared of encroachment so far. 'The encroachers started leaving a few days ago when it was conveyed to them that they cannot stay inside the reserve forest any longer,' he said. Some 15,000 people, mostly migrant Muslims, were living in the reserve forest after turning vast swathes of the land into betel nut plantations. The eviction drive followed Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's visit to Uriamghat recently. 'People of Assam are victims of the mass-scale encroachment, demographic alteration, and violence, which is caused by illegal settlers. They are firmly behind our Govt in our crackdown against encroachment and realise the need to reclaim what's truly ours,' he posted on social media platform X. The security forces in Assam have been wary of a bid by extremists in Nagaland to take over the cleared forest, claiming it to be an ancestral Naga area. Assam and Nagaland have a decades-old boundary dispute that has claimed more than 150 lives. 'Move to grab land of Nagas' On Monday, the Niki Sumi faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland stated that the eviction drive was a 'well-planned' move by the Assam government to grab the lands of the Nagas. It accused successive Assam governments of first encouraging 'illegal Bangladeshi immigrants' to settle in forests along the interstate border and then evicting them to grab the lands of the Nagas. The eviction drive at Uriamghat is one of a series of such operations since June. More than 55,000 people, mostly Muslims with roots in present-day Bangladesh, have been evicted from forestlands, grazing lands, and government revenue lands in Dhubri, Goalpara, Lakhimpur, and Nalbari districts.
