KOKRAJHAR, Dec 13 ? The problem of equal status to Bodos residing under the jurisdiction of the three autonomous councils in Assam will be resolved by March, 2005, said Minister of State for Finance, Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Addressing a gathering at the Kokrajhar Government HS and MP School field on the occasion of the celebration of the first anniversary of Bodoland Territorial Area Development (BTAD), on Tuesday, Sarma said the BTAD meet be integral to the vision of the ?State Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to make Assam a resourceful state. The State government is committed to implementation of...

DIBRUGARH, Dec 13 ? The 24-hour upper Assam bandh, called by the Muttuck Students? Association passed off with mixed response in the region. The bandh had no impact in the Sivasagar and Jorhat districts, while it was observed in the Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts.

The Muttuck Students? Association, which has a limited presence in the city, enforced the bandh here forcibly, even as the district administration and the police looked the other way. About a dozen youths have been arrested for resorting to arson and pelting stones at passing vehicles and trains.

In the city, the bandh had limited...

GUWAHATI, Dec 13 ? The Trinamul Gana Parishad, Purbanchaliya Loka Parishad (PLP) and Jatiya Aikya Mancha Asam today merged to form the Asam Gana Morcha. The objective of the merger is to provide a common platform for like-minded regional political and apolitical organisations to press for a lasting solution of the problems plaguing the State.

In a dharna organised near the Dighalipukhuri today, several leaders of the organisation elaborated on the Mancha?s agenda. The Morcha said that it would adopt a common programme to secure the legitimate rights of the people. Some of the issues identified...

NEW DELHI, Dec 13 ? Assam?s cry for assistance after the devastating floods did not have much impact, with the Centre releasing only Rs 171.87 crore for flood relief, while rest of the Rs 345 crore were adjusted.

Union Minister of State for Water Resources, Jai Prakash Narayand Yadav said after taking into account the report of the Central team?s recommendations and the Inter-Ministerial Group and norms of assistance, the High Level Committee sanctioned Rs 345.37 crore for flood relief of which Rs 171.87 crore was released after adjusting funds available under Calamity Relief Fund (CRF).

The...

SHILLONG, Dec 12 ?The Centre would review the ceasefire agreement with the Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) militant outfit in Meghalaya before the expiry of its six-month term on January 23 next, reports PTI. Union Home ministry?s joint secretary Rajiv Agarwala would visit Tura in West Garo Hills district, where the liaison camp is located, on or before January 23 to review the adherence of the ceasefire ground rules, State Home minister H D R Lyngdoh said on Sunday.

The ANVC had signed a ceasefire agreement with the Centre and State government on July 23 this year for an initial...