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SHILLONG, May 10 – A senior intelligence official has favoured initiating people-to-people contact with Bangladesh on the lines being done with Pakistan, and marshalling of world opinion against safe sanctuaries being provided to the North East militants to usher in a “more secured environment” in the region. Stating that some Bangladeshi groups were supporting Pakistan’s ‘proxy war’ with India and preferred Islamabad as a ‘preferred model’ with a view to “cut India to size”, Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB) Joint Director JM Chaudhury stressed the need for a ‘track-II’ diplomacy with...

NEW DELHI, May 10 – Tumultuous days are ahead in Assam, with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi planning to start the process of trimming his ministry next month by asking his ministers to submit resignations en masse. The Chief Minister who paid a quiet week-end visit to Delhi apparently to gauge to the mood of the Party High Command in the aftermath of the oil-scam, however, could not meet Party president, Sonia Gandhi. Instead he briefed her close confident, organisation secretary, Oscar Fernandes about the recent developments. He is leaving for Assam tomorrow.

“We have began the process of...

Imphal, May 9: The army today said it would use “minimum force” and not artillery guns or helicopter gunships in its ongoing operation at Sajik Tampak and surrounding areas of Chandel district to flush out militants. Denying media reports of use of artillery guns and helicopter gunships in the operation, a defence release today stated that the basic rule of engagement of the army in counter-insurgency operations was the “use of minimum force”.

The same principle was being applied in Chandel district. Southern Chandel had been plagued by presence of various militant groups. The army...

SHILLONG, May 9 : Political rift within the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) coalition is growing, with post-poll mudslinging between the regional parties and the Congress having become a routine affair. Fissures within the Congress-led coalition had become apparent in the run-up to the recently held Lok Sabha elections in the State, with the regional parties and the Congress, all partners in the ruling coalition, fielding separate candidates for the Shillong parliamentary constituency.

Prominent regional parties – United Democratic Party (UDP), Meghalaya Democratic Party (MDP)...

Shillong, May 9: Cross with its allies in the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance for ganging up against partyman P.R. Kyndiah in Shillong, the Congress has begun scouting for new partners. Though chief minister D.D. Lapang is determinedly mum on the subject, the marriage between the Congress and the regional bloc comprising the United Democratic Party (UDP), the Meghalaya Democratic Party (MDP) and the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) is on the rocks.

A source said the Congress was likely to annul its alliance with the three regional parties after the announcement of the Lok...