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Dhubri, June 7: It finds mention in the Directory of Asian Wetlands as a global biodiversity hotspot, but Sareswar Beel, 15 km off Dhubri town, has yet to make it to the Assam forest department’s list of priorities. Repeated pleas by non-governmental organisations to conserve this repository of ecological diversity have fallen on deaf ears. Nature’s Friend, one of the organisations that have been trying to protect the wetland, advocates turning it into a bird sanctuary.

Encroachment upon the adjoining forest reserve, rampant denudation of the green cover and heavy siltation caused by erosion...

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...

JORHAT, June 6 — Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said that a special package for surrendered ULFA militants will soon be sanctioned by the Centre, reports PTI. “There are at present more than 7000 surrendered militants in the State and I am happy to announce that there will be a special rehabilitation package for them very soon,” Gogoi told reporters here. The Chief Minister said that during his recent visit to New Delhi, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had assured him that those who come forward to surrender will be rehabilitated.

“The Prime Minister had a very positive attitude to solve...