Assam Meghalaya Imphal, October 29, 2023: Several betel leaves in bamboo baskets imported into Manipur from Assam via Mizoram were taken away by the male village volunteers and destroyed these items in a fire by the Meira Paibis (women vigilante groups) at Moirang Lamkhai in Manipur's Bishnupur district on Saturday night, official sources said. As many as 10 baskets of betel leaves in bamboo baskets were reportedly transported by one alleged smuggler namely Md Abdul Khalip, 34, from Silchar (Assam) via Aizawl (Mizoram). The betel leaves were to be transported to Imphal via Aizawl, Churachandpur, and Kwakta village on Saturday. After receiving a piece of information that Md Abdul Khalip, a resident of Kwakta village, Bishnupur district of Manipur was engaged in the transportation of betel leaves, the village volunteers waylaid the transportation. They confiscated the imported items and then handed them over to the women vigilante groups. Since then, the Meira Paibis of Bishnpur district set the betel leaves in bamboo baskets on the bonfire and destroyed them in the presence of media men at around 11 p.m. on Saturday. A leader of the Meira Paibis, Geeta Devi appealed to the people especially the Muslims (Manipuri) and the Kukis not to indulge in the transportation of such items against the backdrop of the ongoing communal violence in the state. Betel leaves are mostly consumed in Manipur and by some emigrants. They are consumed as betel quid or in paan. The betel plant is an evergreen perennial with glossy heart-shaped leaves and white catkin. The demand for betel leaves is very high in Manipur.
Representative image

Guwahati: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has announced the extension of two weekly express trains to connect remote areas of the Northeast with Mumbai and Secunderabad.

Train no. 12513/12514 Secunderabad-Guwahati Express will now be extended up to Silchar in southern Assam. The train will make stops at Badarpur, New Haflong, Lumding, Hojai, and Jagiroad stations between Guwahati and Silchar, NF Railway said in a statement.

Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!

Train no. 12519/12520 Lokmanya Tilak-Kamakhya Express will be extended up to Agartala in Tripura. The train will make stops at Ambassa, Dharmanagar, Badarpur, New Haflong, Lumding, Hojai, and Chaparmukh stations between Guwahati and Agartala.

The new train services will provide direct rail connectivity between the Northeast and two major cities in India, making it easier for people to travel and transport goods.

Train no. 12514 (Silchar-Guwahati-Secunderabad) Express will now start from Silchar station at 7:45 PM on Wednesday and reach Secunderabad at 3:35 AM on Friday. In the return journey, train no. 12513 (Secunderabad-Guwahati-Silchar) Express will start from Secunderabad station at 4:35 PM on Saturday and arrive at Silchar station at 11:45 PM on Monday.

Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!

Train no. 12520 (Agartala-Kamakhya-Lokmanya Tilak) Express will now start from Agartala station at 6:00 AM on Thursday and arrive at Lokmanya Tilak station at 4:15 PM on Saturday. In the return journey, train no. 12519 (Lokmanya Tilak-Kamakhya-Agartala) Express will depart from Lokmanya Tilak station at 7:50 AM on Sunday and arrive at Agartala station at 7:50 PM on Tuesday.

The new train services are expected to boost tourism and economic development in the Northeast region.