Development

SHILLONG, Dec 17? Members of Meghalaya Assembly today presented opposing views on the 32 year-old state reservation policy which is under tremendous pressures for a thorough review by various social organizations, student bodies and political parties.

The present policy, which provides for job reservation of 40 per cent to the Khasi and Jaintia tribes, another 40 per cent to the Garos, five per cent to other scheduled tribes leaving the balance 15 per cent to the general categories, has been in force since 1972 when Meghalaya attained full statehood. The policy also provides for quotas in...

IMPHAL, Dec 17 ? The whereabouts of Vice-Chancellor of Manipur University G Bijoy and Registrar R K Ranjan who were reportedly kidnapped by unidentified persons on Monday are not yet known, reports PTI. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Y Joykumar Singh told PTI that the VC and the Registrar were reportedly kidnappped by unidentified persons from the university campus at Kanchipur in Imphal West district of Manipur on Monday last.

However, no one at the university or the family members of the officials had informed the police till Thursday, the ADGP added. The police, he said, took...

NEW DELHI, Dec 17 ? Subject to availability of funds, the Bogibeel Road-cum-Rail Bridge Project is scheduled to be completed in 2008-2009, Union Minister of State for Railways, R.Velu said in the Rajya Sabha. In a written reply to a question tabled by Silvius Condpan, the minister said widening and strengthening of the National Highway- 52 from Lakhimpur to Jonai was planned to commence from the current financial year.

The NH is proposed to widened in anticipation to the increase in traffic intensity after completion of the bridge. The minister further added that the works of four laning...

GUWAHATI, Dec 17 ? ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah has taken seriously ill and will not be in a position to remain in contact with Jnanpith Award-winning author Mamoni Raisom Goswami, who has been attempting to bring the outfit for talks with the Centre, the outfit?s chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa said here today, reports PTI.

In an e-mail to a section of the media here, Rajkhowa said that Baruah had to undergo an emergency surgical operation and had to be taken to a place where advanced medical facilities are available. In view of this, the ULFA chief would not be able to remain in contact...

GUWAHATI, Dec 17 ? A new forest policy for the State was placed in the State Assembly today by the Government. The policy, titled ?Assam Forest Policy?, is formulated and adopted in view of the State ?progressively? losing its biodiversity as well as a vast expanse of forest due to various reasons, including excessive biotic pressures, said the policy document in its preamble.

The basic objectives, which will govern the forest policy, include maintenance of environmental stability through preservation and restoration of ecological balance. The document has also enumerated conservation of...

NEW DELHI, Dec 17 ? Suspected underground outfits holding the Vice Chancellor and Registrar of Manipur University captive have demanded Rs 1 crore as ransom. The Central Government today came in for attack in the Lok Sabha for the development in Manipur, with members urging the Centre to take steps to get the two Manipur University officials released.

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour by Mohan Singh of Samajvadi Party (SP), he alleged that abductors have demanded ransom amount from the family of the Registrar of the University. Pleading with the Home Ministry to act soon, the SP MP...

SHILLONG, Dec 17 ? The North Eastern Council (NEC) sanctioned for release Rs 50.30 crore to the eight North Eastern States, including Sikkim, in November last for implementing various schemes.

It has further accorded administrative approval to schemes worth Rs 38.71 crore during the same period, according to NEC sources. Arunachal Pradesh has been given a grant of Rs. 11.07 crore as grant and a loan of Rs.1.23 crore to meet expenditures on NEC plan schemes during the third quarter of the 2004-05 financial year.

Sanctions for other NE states are : Assam-Rs.28.17 crores and Rs.3.13 crores...

GUWAHATI, Dec 17 ? GOC 21 Mountain Division, Major Gen Karan Yadava today said that the outlawed ULFA was hitting soft targets, like civilians in public places, as it has lost its capability to carry out bigger subversive operations. ?It is an act out of frustration to gain instant publicity,? the GOC said during an informal chat with the media here today.

Terming the recent orgy of violence indulged in by the ULFA as devoid of any logic, Yadava said that such acts of violence targeting civilians would only serve to alienate the beleaguered ultras further from the people. ?Public support or...

DIBRUGARH, Dec 17 ? AASU has cooked up a recipe in its attempt to take care of the ills of the State, ranging from illegal migration to corruption. If all goes well, the proposed ?Asomiya Sena? will get final shape on Sunday, at the end of the three-day national convention of the association, which began here today.

Before declaring the formation of the new outfit, AASU will be consulting a cross section of the citizens, other students? organisations of the State, and varsity level intellectuals. The grand event, which is being held at the Chowkidinghee grounds here, is boasting of a...

GUWAHATI, Dec 17 ? There are reasons to believe that the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is totally under the influence of the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), said Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today. He also alleged that the ULFA was not sincere on the issue of talks with the Government.

Addressing a press conference here today, Gogoi called upon the ULFA to come out of the grip of foreign agencies and come to the negotiation table for peaceful solution of their problems. He admitted that the Government does not have conclusive evidence of the ULFA working under the...