IMPHAL, Nov 25 ? For the first time, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh was publicly warned by the frontline insurgent outfit ? United National Liberation Front for his ?intentionally taking active part? in the large-scale counter-insurgency operations with the deployment of over 40,000 Central and State forces in the State.

The UNLF, in a statement issued on its 40th foundation day on Wednesday, blamed the Chief Minister for deployment of additional central forces in the state alleging that such arrangement was earlier resisted by his predecessors.

Ibobi who has been accorded ?Z? category...

GUWAHATI, Nov 25 ? The State Government has decided to form a task force to suggest ways and means to preserve elephant habitats with the objectives of reducing the ever-increasing man-elephant conflict besides protecting endangered species and promoting conservation.

This was decided at the first meeting of the Advisory Committee on Wildlife held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today, an official release said.

The meeting, attended by wildlife experts, officials from both the State and the Central Governments, and leading NGO representatives, was unanimous in its opinion...

NEW DELHI, Nov 25 ? Super speciality North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIMS) is likely to be commissioned by May, Meghalaya State Health and Family Welfare Minister, Sayeedullah Nongram said here.

A second cancer hospital in the North-east, meanwhile, is coming up in Shillong, with the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry endorsing a proposal for a super speciality cancer hospital. The 100-beded proposed hospital would be Government of India funded project.

The proposal for the hospital was claimed to have been cleared by the Union Health...

GUWAHATI, Nov 25 ? Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today assured active consideration of the demand of the All Deuri Students? Union (ADSU) for creation of a Deuri Autonomous Council.

In a meeting with a six member delegation of the ADSU led by its president Rana Deuri at the Janata Bhawan here this evening, the Chief Minister also apprised of his directive to the Department of Welfare of Plains Tribes and Backward Classes for submitting a final report on the issue within a month. The final report should cover the population pattern in the Deuri dominated areas, the list of the villages and a map...

NEW DELHI, Nov 25 ? The UPA Government is contemplating amendment of the Indian Forest Act 1927 to exclude bamboo from the list of forest product, Minister of State for Science and Technology, Kapil Sibal said this here today.

Formally launching the National Mission on Bamboo Applications (NMBA), Sri Sibal said that in order to ensure the difference between a tree and bamboo, his Ministry was seeking to amend the Indian Forest Act. However, the Minister declined to specify a time frame for bringing the amendment.

The inclusion of bamboo in the list of forest product is proving to be a hurdle...