Kohima, June 15: The Neiphiu Rio government today iterated its stand that it was in favour of a continuation of dialogue with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah). But the chief minister and his cabinet also hinted that the Khaplang faction was returning to violence following the change in government at the Centre.

The Consultative Committee for Peace met here today and resolved to ask the NSCN (I-M) leaders to expedite the peace negotiations with Delhi. Conceding a sharp rise in killings and factional clashes across the state, Rio said his government was deploying...

Kokrajhar, June 15: Elections to the nascent Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) appear unlikely to take place before November, leading to doubts in people’s minds on whether the new set-up will also go the Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC) way. Though the BTC election was scheduled to be held within six months of the formation of the Interim Bodo Council on December 6 last year, it was unlikely that the elections will be held before another five months.

“The elections can be held in November at the earliest,” said BTC executive member Derhasat Basumatary.

A BTC official said that with the...

IMPHAL, June 15 – The Manipur Opposition has continued to boycott the second day session of the eighth State Assembly today which was chaired by the Speaker TN Haokip. The ruling legislator headed by the Chief Minister O Ibobi however, have continued to take part in the session. On the other hand, a delegation of manipur Opposition led by former Chief Minister RK Dorendra, O Joy of Manipur People’s Party, M Nilachandra and I Hemochandra, both Federal Party of Manipur members and BD Behring of BJP called on the Manipur Governor Arvind Dave and apprised the situation.

On hearing the apprisal...

SHILLONG, June 15 – Meghalaya Speaker Martin M Danggo today announced that he would drop the disqualification of membership case against three NCP MLAs but pursue the same against two others as per the requests of complainants. Danggo informed the Assembly that the case against the three MLAs was dropped after receiving a ‘fresh letter’ from two complainants – Tony Curtis Lyngdoh and Sayeedullah Nongrum – both Congress ministers in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance Government yesterday.

The two complainants on April 1 had petitioned to the Speaker to initiate cases against five NCP MLAs –...

NIZ-KACHULA, June 15 – There has been no real development in the field of terracotta in the rural areas. Even its popularity among the rural areas is declining day by day. The potter’s craft of terracotta is practised by two communities – Hira and Kumar since time immemorial for livelihood. There has been no development in the status of these two communities who have to work with little spirit without any up-to-date modern facilities. They have not got modern tools to develop their this old business. This tradition has been handed down from generation to generation without any break among...