SHILLONG, January 20: Meghalaya government today clarified that they would "not ask for" even an inch of Assam's land while resolving the three-decade-old boundary dispute with its neighbour. A senior leader of the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), Holiram Terang, had yesterday threatened that not an inch of Karbi land would be transferred to Meghalaya as chief ministers of both the states had not taken the views of the people residing in the disputed areas. Reacting to Terang's threat, vice-chairman of Meghalaya land revenue committee Sayeedullah Nongrum said, "I can assure Terang...

JORHAT, January 20: The Mogh Barua Buddhists of Assam have demanded tribal status for the community on the lines of the Mogh tribals in West Bengal. The eighth biennial conference of the Federation of Mogh Barua Buddhist Welfare Association of Assam held recently, said the community should be re-enlisted as "Mogh" Barua tribe in the Tribe Schedule list of Assam as in Tripura and West Bengal as per the Schedule Tribe Order (1950) Part I rules and other provisions under the Constitution. In a memorandum to chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, the federation also demanded land pattas for...

GUWAHATI, January 20: The hope of a possible negotiation along with ceasefire with the ULFA was halted today with the latter questioning the sincerity of the Centre for talks, reports UNI. In a telephonic statement, given to local vernacular newspapers last night, ULFA chairman Aurobindo Rajkhowa and C-in-C Paresh Barua said the Centre's recent talks proved that they were not sincere. The Home Ministry had sounded that even sovereignty could be discussed with the ULFA triggering tremendous hope in entire Assam of a negotiated settlement. But the ULFA leaders described the Home Ministry's words...

IMPHAL, January 20: Opposition parties in Manipur are going to oppose any move of the Central Government regarding extension of ceasefire between the Government of India and the banned National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) in any part of Manipur. A delegation of the Manipur Democratic Front (MDF), the combined front of the Opposition of the State, will pressurise the Centre not to extend the ceasefire agreement to any Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur. This was informed by the leaders of the Opposition during a press conference hold at the Speaker's bungalow on Friday evening. The...

IMPHAL, January 20: The General Officer Commanding of the 57 Mountain Division, Major General Iqbal Singh has asserted that the prevailing situation, both in Manipur and in the southern part of Assam, is improving these days compared to the past. The Major General was at the historic Kangla Fort in Imphal for a few hours despite his heavy schedule at Mashimpur Army headquarters in Cachar district of Assam, to attend a flag-of ceremony of an excursion trip of Manipur students to three major cities of the country. During a brief interview with The Assam Tribune on his arrival here, the GOC 57...