The moment Swaraj Kaushal's resignation drama came out in the open, political circles have been full of rumours about how much it would harm the ongoing peace talks between the Indian government and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN). After all, Kaushal had been in constant touch with the NSCN leaders Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah over the past one year and more. Just because no political breakthrough has yet been achieved does not necessarily mean Kaushal had made no headway. If not anything, he was trying to gain the confidence of the Naga leadership. Though a parallel...

IMPHAL, July 24: The Manipur government on Thursday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the killing of five civilians by the Central Reserve Police force (CRPF) in Churachandpur on July 21, the state chief minister Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh told the House on July 22. The magisterial inquiry will be headed by the deputy commissioner of the district, Taranikanta. The report will be submitted within 15 days. Nipamacha Singh also promised an ex gratia payment of Rs 1 lakh each to the families of the victims. He, however, said if necessary a judicial inquiry too could be instituted. The chief...

AGARTALA, July 22: The Tripura government has criticised the Centre for abandoning an Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) funded educational project in the state and demanded immediate intervention by the Prime Minister on the issue. The state education minister Anil Sarkar said here on July 21 that the Centre had cancelled the Rs 43 cr educational project to be funded by OPEC International Development Fund "without assigning any reason". He said the state chief minister Manik Sarkar urged the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to intervene and requested the human resource...

AGARTALA, July 24: Tripura's jail affairs minister and veteran CPI leader Durbajoy Reang died on July 23 at his native village Laxmi Chara under Belonia subdivision in South Tripura district following a protracted illness. He was 78. He is survived by his wife and a daughter. Reang was suffering from liver cancer.

AIZAWL, July 22: The Union ministry of commerce has sanctioned Rs 2 cr towards constructing a complete building on the Mizoram-Myanmar border to help encourage future trans-border trade, the state minister for trade and commerce Aichhinga told the House on July 21. He said the state government was also making arrangements to develop a township near the Indo-Myanmar border to encourage trade. He said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was also developing infrastructural facilities to help the traders. Regarding border trade with Bangladesh, Aichhinga said a trade delegation from Dhaka would...