NEW DELHI, June 7 - Falling short of making promises on opening dialogue with underground outfits in the North East, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has expressed its determination to tackle militancy in the region as a matter of urgent national priority. President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, in his address to both the Houses of the Parliament, which also happened to be his first address to newly-elected members of the 14th Lok Sabha, unveiled the UPA government’s plans and programme. The address itself was reiteration of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) announced earlier.

However, UPA’s...

Suthozu (Phek), June 6: This village was set ablaze thrice in the mid-1950s and stories of alleged torture of its residents by the army are still passed down by old-timers to the younger generation. But Suthozu is changing both in appearance and attitude: the Assam Rifles adopted it recently as part of its “model village” project. Last week, it was almost a convergence of interests as villagers and security personnel intermingled freely at the village.

Kulhusho Nyekha, at 67 a venerable gaonburha (village elder), recalls the army excesses in “those bad days”, but is quick to point out that...

Imphal, June 06: Setting the stage for yet another possible spurt of feuds, the PREPAK has today warned all the defectors to either return to the ‘mainstream’ by July 6 or else pay the consequences. The outfit has also stated that if the defectors do not return by the deadline set then the family members of the renegade members should pay a sum of Rs 5 lakhs as fines for the weapons taken away. In a hard hitting statement issued to the press today, the outfit said that its cadre, Khaidem Sharju alias Sharat (22) of Kumbi bazar Leikai was done to death by the defectors after severe torture in...

AGARTALA, June 6 – Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar Monday said that his Left Front government was not in favour of further extending the six month tenure of the ceasefire with the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) (Nayanbasi group), an insurgent outfit which signed an agreement with the State and Central government on April 15 this year, reports PTI.

Replying to a calling attention notice brought by the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Ratan Lal Nath, the Chief Minister said, according to the 'Suspension of operation Agreement' the tenure for the ceasefire was initially...

SHILLONG, June 6 – The underground Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) extremists of Meghalaya have indicated their willingness to come overground and many more ultras will come forward to return to the mainstream, Chief Minister DD Lapang has said, reports PTI.

“ANVC cadres are showing a green signal,” official sources today quoted the Chief Minister as saying at a gathering at Nongpoh on Friday on the occasion of 12th Ri-Bhoi district foundation day celebrations. Many more would come forard to return to the mainstream. This was a “welcome sign” for peace in Meghalaya, he said.

Many...