IMPHAL, July 22: Manipur Assembly Speaker Sapamdhananjoy Singh today reserved his decision on the disqualification of nine ruling members after hearing their versions. Singh said he had heard all the nine MLAs today and added that his decision would be announced on a later date. The nine MLAs were K Tomba, S Chandra, L Jatra, Onjamang Haokip, Md Alaudin, Thangminlen Kipgen, C Doungel, V Hangkhanpao and M Zatawn. Assembly secretariat sources said the nine MLAs who were elected on different party tickets joined ruling United Front and later merged with the major ruling partner, Manipur state...

SHILLONG, July 21: The All Meghalaya Assamese Union (AMAU) has decided to submit memoranda to the Meghalaya and Assam Chief Ministers demanding reintroduction of Assamese language subject MIL in all educational institutions in Meghalaya. An emergent executive body meeting of the AMAU, which was presided over by Anu Ranjita Kalita here recently also urged the Government of Meghalaya to fill up all the vacant posts of Assamese subject teacher in the government educational institutions. The meeting further decided to sponsor textbooks for the libraries of Shillong Vidyalaya, Dhankheti LP School...

IMPHAL, July 21: A high-powered Central team today expressed concern over the smuggling of foreign goods through this border town in Chandel district bordering Myanmar, official sources said. The seven-member 'task force on boundary management' led by former Union Home Secretary Madhav Godbole also inspected border gates with Myanmar before holding a meeting with senior district and security officials. The team arrived in Imphal yesterday to assess the situation in the border areas of the state. Sources said Godbole wondered how the foreign goods were smuggled into the Indian side in spite of...

GUWAHATI, July 21: At a time when the Centre is talking about to bring in revolution in the information technology, one of its important wing, the Army, has not only been opposing the expansion of cellular networking in the Northeastern states but have also asked to withdraw the pager services from the region. Expressing apprehension that militants may use these services, the 4 Corps Army Headquarters has asked the ministry concerned not to grant permission for the expansion of the cellular networks in the region, including Assam. This has left the cellular operators high and dry, even as...

JORHAT, July 21: The court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) here today rejected the bail applications of the four Mohbandha Tea Estate employees, working under the Williamson Magor Group, including a manager and a doctor, who are accused of helping a deceased ULFA militant, one Ratul Dutta, both financially and medically. The court order stated, "as the investigation was in its initial stage, hence the bail pleas have been rejected so as to facilitate smooth conduct of investigation". The court added that "though the nature of the crime was serious, but the police was yet to substantiate...