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Shillong, June 14: Meghalaya is all set to experiment with new innovations to redraw the state’s — and the country’s — tourism map. Leading the way is chief minister D.D. Lapang, who recently unveiled plans that promise to add a new dimension to the hamstrung tourism sector in the state and bring it back on track.

“We want to start off with a number of projects. We want to make Umroi (near Barapani) Park look like the Brindavan Gardens with cable cars. A water sports centre would be set up in the Umiam lake for tourists,” the Meghalaya chief minister said.

“All this will happen in record...

Kohima, June 14: Naga insurgent leader S.S. Khaplang might follow rivals Isak Chisi Swu and Th. Muivah to India this year. NSCN (K) deputy kilonser (minister) Kughalu Mulatonu said on his return to Nagaland from New Delhi that Khaplang, the Myanmar-based chairman of the militant group, was planning to come out of self-imposed exile to lay the foundation for a dialogue with the Centre. However, he declined to divulge Khaplang’s travel plans, citing “security concerns”.

Mulatonu, who admittedly did not meet any political leader during his stay in the capital, said he made the trip simply to...

Agartala, June 14: The mass abductions by the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT)’s Biswamohan Debbarma group this morning belied speculation about the outfit planning to follow the path shown by the two factions which suspended hostilities in April.

The Nayanbasi Jamatya and Mantu Koloi-Kamini Debbarma factions signed tripartite agreements with the Centre and the state government in New Delhi on April 15 and surrendered thereafter, giving insurgency-scarred Tripura something to cheer about after a long time.

Most people thought the stronger Biswamohan faction would follow suit, but...

GUWAHATI, June 13 – The State government will soon create a special department to look after the welfare of the tea tribes in Assam. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has agreed to the demand, raised by the Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association (ATTSA), for an exclusive department. “There will be a separate department for tea tribes,” Gogoi told reporters today at Rajiv Bhawan while referring to his meeting with ATTSA leaders yesterday. “We have agreed to it,” he said. The tea students have genuine grievances especially in the engineering and medical sectors, he said while emphasising his government...

Shillong, June 13: All members of the D.D. Lapang government in Meghalaya have decided to resign by the end of this month to enable the chief minister to reconstitute the ministry instead of dropping ministers to reduce its size. The Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) last night gave Lapang “full authority” to downsize the ministry in the manner he chooses to.

The Lapang ministry has 41 members, but has to be pruned down to 12 before July 6 because of a constitutional amendment.

Though the prospect of losing their ministerial portfolios has caused anxiety and confusion in the...