GUWAHATI, August 23: A majority of the electorate in the Guwahati Lok Sabha constituency are opposed to the poll boycott calls given by insurgent outfits. They have decided to cast their votes despite the boycott calls. According to an opinion poll conducted last week by the students of the Institute of Mass Communication and Media here, an overwhelming 87 per cent of the respondents said they will cast their votes this time with 77 per cent saying that poll boycott calls are not justified. Among the six per cent respondents who said they will not cast their votes, it was not fear but the "bad...

NEW DELHI, August 23: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has advocated a soft line for resolving the insurgency problem of the Northeast, calling for implementation of the various accords signed with the insurgent outfits and other groups by the government of India. The NCP manifesto released today at Mumbai has devoted a separate section for the Northeast stressing more on economic aspects than the political dimension. The manifesto says insurgency cannot be solved by mere force and police or military action. The basic issue of development has to be addressed, geographical isolation, lack...

AIZAWL, August 23: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to support the Mizo National Front (MNF)-Mizo People's Conference (MPC) combined joint candidate for the Lok Sabha elections in the state. The party's state president, Harry Vanchhawng, said his party might support the MNF-MPC consensus candidate for the lone Lok Sabha seat, if required, to thwart any attempt by the Congress to come to power at the Centre. He said though a final decision remained with the party central leadership, the state unit was ready to support all forces fighting against the Congress. Vanchhawng said a final...

SILCHAR, August 23: After milking the tea industry of Brahmaputra valley for years, the insurgents have now extended their tentacles to the Surama Valley causing serious panic among the planters here. Incidences of kidnappings, alleged inaction of the district authorities and withdrawal of the Army have shaken the roots of the local tea industry and triggered a major crisis even as its production went down due to bad weather as well as law and order problem. The Surama Valley branch of the Indian Tea Association sent an SOS to the Assam chief minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, for his urgent...

GUWAHATI, August 23: Altogether four persons, including a CRPF deputy commandant, were killed and five persons were injured in five separate incidents in different places of the state during the past 24 hours. Deputy Commandant of 124 CRPF Rishpal Singh and constable Rajkumar Gar, the driver of the Gypsy the deputy commandant and his wife were travelling in, were killed on the spot, when a powerful explosion blew up the vehicle near the Maithang Bridge on the NH 52, about 12 km of Kakopathar police station in Tinsukia District this morning, police sources here said. Three others, including the...