GANDACHHARA, a small sub-divisional township in the Dhalai District of Tripura, known for its unique ethnic harmony and peaceful coexistence between tribal and Bengali communities, has recently experienced an unprecedented and destructive backlash. This violence, targeting a specific ethnic group residing in Gandachhara town and nearby villages, was perpetrated by a faction of tribal youths.Gandachhara is a sub-division with a small Bengali community, primarily refugees resettled from what is now Bangladesh in the 1950s, alongside the indigenous tribal population.

A DEVASTATING landslide occurred in Wayanad, a high-range district in North Kerala, in the early hours on July 30th, leaving 108 people dead and hundreds injured. So far, 52 bodies have been taken to the primary health centre in Meppadi, and 41 have been identified. The death toll is likely to rise given the number of missing people. Several bodies and body parts have been found floating in the Chaliyar River, which flows into the adjacent district of Malappuram. Many bodies and body parts have been kept at the government hospital in Nilambur.

THE Swadhin Trust, a Kolkata-based financial firm with questionable credentials, has recently launched a medical college in Agartala under the name Shantiniketan Medical College. This institution has utilised the infrastructure, including newly constructed multi-storied buildings, originally developed by the Left Front government for upgrading health services at IGM Hospital (Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital).

THE 71st anniversary of the Moncada Day was observed in Delhi by the National Committee for Solidarity with Cuba. This year also marks the 65th anniversary of the visit of Che Guevara to India. Che was the first leader of socialist Cuba to visit India in order to establish diplomatic relations. The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) also joined these commemorative events.The significance of this commemoration this year is manifold as Cuba is facing unforeseen difficulties due to its inclusion in the US list of ‘State Sponsors of Terrorism’.

IT is a glaring contradiction of our times that the Modi government, while loudly promoting the BJP’s 'One Tree for Mother' campaign with chants of 'Jai Shri Ram,' is simultaneously advancing plans to transfer the Hasdeo forest to Adani. In disregard of established regulations, an environmental hearing is scheduled for August 2nd to approve the transfer of the Kete Extension coal block to Adani, a project expected to lead to the destruction of over 800,000 trees.