SHILLONG, July 22: The Meghalaya chief minister BB Lyngdoh's move to induct the Speaker and ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) president, EK Mawlong, as the second deputy Chief Minister was scuttled on Thursday on technical grounds. Mawlong told The Assam Tribune that under the Article 169 of the Indian Constitution a Speaker can submit resignation only to the deputy Speaker of the House. "Since there is no deputy Speaker in the Meghalaya House at present and I as the custodian of the House cannot break the law," he said. The post fell vacant following the induction of the deputy Speaker RL...

GUWAHATI, July 21 - While anti-insurgency operations under the Unified Command is focussed on curbing activities of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) and Bodoland Liberation Tiger Force (BLTF), several militant outfits have geared up their activities in two hill districts of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar capitalising on alleged laxity on part of the State Government to step up operations against them. Sources in Karbi Anglong said geared-up activities of Karbi National Volunteers (KNV) and Karbi People's Force (KPF) in the district and...

AGARTALA, July 21: The 687-year-old 'Kharchi' festival celebrating the unity and integrity between tribals and non-tribals began in Tripura yesterday. Thousands of devotees congregated to offer prayers at Khaerpur temple at Puratan Agartala, where the tribal priest called 'Chantai' offered first prayers to 14 idols. The week-long festival was inaugurated by Tripura Industries Minister Pabitra Kar, while Chief Minister Manik Sarkar greeted the people on the occasion. Elaborate security arrangements have been made in view of the festival.

AIZAWL, July 21 - Mizoram Government has identified and deported 448 Myanmarese nationals between December 1998 and June 1999, Home Minister Tawnluia told the State Assembly yesterday. Replying to supplementaries, Tawnluia said the State Government has taken up the village registration programme to verify the identity of each settler in the State and those found to be foreigners residing illegally would be tried and deported. He said the State Government has approached the Centre for formation of second battalion of Indian Reserve Police and one battalion of Prevention of Infiltration Force...

NEW DELHI, July 20 - In the face of a shrinking forest cover and rising incidents of poaching in Assam, the state government has urged the Centre to stand as guarantor for a Rs 330 crore loan assistance package sought from the World Bank to improve the forest infrastructure. The ambitious proposal submitted to the World Bank in 1997-98, envisages drastic changes in the functioning of the Forest department, including giving more teeth to its fighting arm - the state Forest Protection Force (FPF) to take on the heavily armed poachers. Delighted at the news that project stands a good chance of...