News

MARIANI, June 29 – Socio-economically the border town of Mariani had a close relationship with Nagaland ever since the latter was carved out in 1963. At the same time, the region has often hit the headlines, be it for Naga encroachment or for illegal drugs business. Lately, the region is developing into a new base for trafficking of arms and ammunition by outlawed organisations like the NSCN and ULFA. No doubt, that arms transactions were under progress through the region earlier also but recent incidents like CRPF’s seizure of cartridges from a local bus, reaffirms the bustling nature of the...

Aizawl, June 29: The 19th anniversary of the Mizoram peace accord tomorrow has created ripples in state politics. The Peace Accord MNF Returnees Association (PAMRA), which split last year, has released two separate messages (from the two factions) for the occasion. While one (PAMRA faction) tilts towards the ruling MNF, the other is pro-Opposition. Yet, the two messages were similar in their homilies, urging the government to show impartiality towards the masses and work for the development of the poorer sections of society.

The pro-Opposition group’s message was scathing in its attack on...

KOHIMA, June 29 – Nagaland Power Minister Tiameren Aier said the DONER ministry has already released the first instalment for 24-MW thermal power project at Dimapur, which was a commitment in former prime minister AB Vajpayee’s special economic package announced last year. The minister told the state Assembly that the first instalment or mobilization advance amounting to Rs. 18.86 crore has directly been released to the executing agency Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) by DONER in March, 2004.

Land for the project has already been acquired and the survey and preparation of estimates for...

AIZAWL, June 29 – The BJP workers meet here did not endorse the party’s Hindutva agenda and unanimously resolved to resign en masse from the primary membership of the party, the state party unit said on Monday. In a letter addressed to party president M Venkaiah Naidu, the Mizoram Pradesh BJP body said party workers in the state were “compelled” to review their political future in the light of the resurgence of Hindutva agenda at the party’s Mumbai national executive.

“In spite of our sincere endeavour to promote and to strengthen BJP in Mizoram, this Hindutva agenda has been a stumbling...

GUWAHATI, June 29 – The current wave of flood has affected 1,014 villages in thirteen districts of the State. It has also damaged standing crop of 22,502 hectares of paddy field and affected a population to the size of 8,63,445. So far, it has claimed five lives, said an official flood bulletin here this evening. The districts affected by the flood this time are Kamrup, Nalbari, Barpeta, Morigaon, Darrang, Sonitpur, Goalpara, Dhubri, North Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Bongaigaon, Hailakandi and Karimganj, said the bulletin.

There is a general improvement in the situation in the Brahmaputra valley with...