DIMAPUR, Dec 14 ? At a time when the top leadership of the NSCN-IM is visiting the State, the ruling DAN government?s Peace Committee has initiated peace talks with the ?Federal Government of Nagaland?.

The timing of the peace talks with the FGN has drawn mixed reactions in the State because the NSCN-IM had made it clear to New Delhi that it does not want any parallel talks with any armed group in Nagaland. It is learnt that the DAN Peace Committee led by its co-convener IK Sema met an 11-member team of the FGN spearheaded by its deputy kilonser B Mulio at Nok Yan near Noklak town on December...

NEW DELHI, Dec 14 ? Unfazed by attacks on UPA Government?s stand on illegal influx from across the border, Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil today strongly defended the contentious IMDT Act, arguing that it was needed to protect the genuine Indian citizens from harassment.

In a policy statement of sorts, the Union Home Minister today clarified the UPA Government?s position on the illegal infiltrators, explaining that Central Government differentiated between infiltrators who entered the country with guns to create terror and those who sneaked in because of economic compulsions.

In the same...

IMPHAL, Dec 13 ? Attired in traditional mourning dresses, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh led thousands of people, mostly womenfolk, in paying floral tributes to the statues of the brave Manipuri women at the Nupilal Memorial Complex here where a state function was held to mark the 65th observation of the Women?s War Day (Nupilal Day ) on Sunday last.

Floral tributes, exhortation speech, call for peace and demand for withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 from the state marked the observation which was held in memory of those brave women who fought against the British on...

KOHIMA, Dec 13 ? Amidst tight security, top leaders of the NSCN-IM are arriving in Dimapur tomorrow in their second visit to Nagaland in two years to hold consultation with different groups in an attempt to find a lasting solution to the Naga political problem, reports PTI.

Security measures have been beefed up around NSCN-IM?S camp at Hebron, near Dimapur, where the two leaders Chairman Issac Chieshi Swu and general secretary Th. Muivah would be staying, and along the road from the airport to the camp, official sources said.

They, however, said once the leaders arrived in the camp, it would...

AGARTALA, Dec 13 ? Tripura Government has made it clear that it would not be able to pay the pending Dearness Relief to the pensioners of the state. In a gazette notification issued by the additional secretary of Finance Department RK Dey Choudhury on November 16 said that due to cash crunch the state government is unable to pay DA to the pensioners.

It came barely four months later of the Supreme Court?s order directing state government to pay pending DA to the pensioners within one month of the court?s order.

Recently, state Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury categorically stated that there...