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SHILLONG, July 2 ? Countering criticisms that the Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) in Byrnihat near Guwahati has benefitted only the outside entrepreneurs, Meghalaya Chief Minister DD Lapang has asserted that the Park has benefited the State immensely and that more benefits would accrue in the coming years. He said that incentives are being given to the units in EPIP and other declared ?industrial areas? to attract industrial investment proposals so that with the growth of industries in the State, benefits would accrue to Meghalaya which have far reaching social cost benefits.

Replying...

New Delhi, July 2: A non-government organisation has sounded a red alert over the spurt in human trafficking from the region. According to Shakti Vahini, the NGO, state governments in the region are yet to grasp the implications of the racket and yet to put the necessary preventive mechanism in place.

Its annual report, Trafficking in India Report 2004, classified all states (barring Arunachal Pradesh) in four categories in terms of the magnitude of trafficking, the existence of the legal and administrative frameworks and their implementation and the concern level for human, woman and child...

Silchar/Hailakandi, July 2: The diarrhoea outbreak in Hailakandi district claimed two more lives today, taking the toll to 21. Two more persons died at Roopacherra tea garden in the south Assam district. Sources said 33-year-old Raj Kumar Bhar and 40-year-old Gita Roy were the latest victims.

At least 21 labourers have died of diarrhoea and other enteric diseases in Sonacherra, Roopacherra and Serispore gardens in the district over the past four days.

The district?s joint director of health (in-charge), A.K. Bayan, today blamed the Roopacherra tea garden authorities for not doing enough to...

Imphal, July 2: The ministers in the Okram Ibobi Singh cabinet are likely to quit en masse on Sunday to facilitate the chief minister to downsize his ministry. Ibobi Singh, who had been camping in New Delhi for the past week along with some of his senior ministerial colleagues to finalise the list, returned to Imphal this afternoon. The chief minister is said to have made the list final during his meeting with AICC president Sonia Gandhi.

At present, the strength of the Secular Progressive Front (SPF) ministry is 32, excluding the Speaker and the deputy Speaker. The new law requires Ibobi...

Shillong, July 2: The banned A?chik National Volunteers? Council (ANVC) has released South Garo Hills divisional forest officer D. Satyan after holding him in captivity for 13 days. Satyan was released late last night. He was abducted by ANVC militants on June 18 from Baghmara, the district headquarters of South Garo Hills. The banned outfit had demanded Rs 15 lakh as ransom.

Meghalaya director-general of police L. Salio told mediapersons that Satyan was released by the outfit near Baghmara late last night.

He was reportedly freed only after some money was paid by Satyan?s family members.

S...