GUWAHATI/SHILLONG/ITANAGAR/KOHIMA/ IMPHAL: As in other parts of the country, the 71st Independence Day was celebrated in the seven states of the northeast on Tuesday. Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal pledged his government's commitment to solve the long problem of influx with an updated NRC and safeguard every ethnic group, tribe and community in the state by protecting their land rights."The state government is extending all possible help to the process of updating the NRC which is being done under the supervision of the Supreme Court. We believe, updating the NRC will bring about a permanent solution to the problem of illegal influx of foreigners to the state. Moreover, foreigners' tribunals are detecting illegal infiltrators expeditiously."He said the Centre is also laying stress on completing the sealing of the Indo-Bangla border on a priority. "The state government has taken a number of steps towards safeguarding each and every ethnic group, tribe and community. We had constituted a high level committee under Hari Shankar Brahma for suggesting measures to ensure protection of land rights of the indigenous people of Assam. The committee will suggest measures, including modification of land laws, government policy and land policy, for protecting their land rights," he said.In Manipur, chief minister N Biren Singh said the people need to march together to achieve progress and development of the state by forgetting all differences and mistakes of the past. Biren urged all concerned to resolve issues through talks if they have any dissatisfaction with the initiatives being taken up by the government. He appealed to the people to put in a collective effort to make Manipur a peaceful and strong state.Nagaland chief minister TR Zeliang, addressing the occasion at Kohima, said the people were encouraged with the Centre's consultations with all Naga civil society bodies, including the Nagaland Gaon Burahs Federation. "I am confident that such broad-based consultations will all sections of society will facilitate resolution of our political problem-one that is inclusive, honourable and acceptable to all," the chief minister hoped.Arunachal Pradesh too joined rest of the country in celebrating the Independence Day with day-long programmes. Unfurling the National Tri-colour at Itanagar, chief minister Pema Khandu exhorted the people to participate in the growth of the state."Today we have to take a resolve that within the next five years when independent India turns 75, we will eradicate poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. We must pledge that each village and habitation is connected with roads and every family has a home," Khandu said. In Shillong, Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma said crime against women and children have become a matter of concern and the state government has taken several steps, including preventive measures, to deal with this problem. "Crime against women is being investigated by women police officers. Police officers at all levels are being sensitized through training programmes and workshops on sensitive handling of crime against women and children," the chief minister said."Women-only police stations have been established in seven districts and the creation of more such police stations in the remaining four districts is under consideration. A 24x7 helpline has been set up at the directorate of social welfare," Sangma added.In Mizoram, the national flag was not unfurled for the first time in Saitual, about 100 km east of Aizawl after the Saitual District Implementation Demand Committee (SDIDC) boycotted the I-Day celebrations by calling a 12-hour bandh. The Mizo National Front (MNF) government in 2008 declared Saitual, Khawzawl and Hnahthial as new districts, which were never implemented by Congress government.Mizoram assembly deputy speaker R Lalrinawma, who attended the celebrations, was stopped by SDIDC activists before reaching Saitual and warned that violence would break out if he does not go back.

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