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Udalguri, Dec. 5: The banned National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) struck a discordant note on the eve of the formation of the interim Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), describing it as an exercise in futility. The militant group, which, along with the Ulfa, has been a major source of worry for Dispur, said December 6 would go down in history as the day a group of ?opportunists? surrendered the Bodo dream before Delhi.

The BTC was envisaged in the February 10 accord between the NDFB?s rival, the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT), and Dispur and Delhi. The interim council will be...

Kokrajhar, Dec. 5: For the battle-weary Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) cadre, it is the moment for mixed feelings as life as a ?soldier? comes to an end. On the eve of their formal surrender to the authorities with a vow to lead normal lives, BLT cadres from different backgrounds spoke about their past and future aspirations.

Twenty-two-year-old Sanjib Basumatary and his two friends from Ambari Surubera in Nalbari district want to resume the studies they had discontinued to join the ?freedom movement? some years ago.

?We want to stand on our own feet now,? they said.

Recalling his weird past...

Kokrajhar, Dec. 5: After backing the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) all through the peace process, the powerful All Bodo Students? Union (Absu) will now don the role of the community?s policeman to ensure that the new leadership does not falter from its path. Charting a broader role for the students? organisation in the new set-up, Absu president Rabiram Narzary told The Telegraph that the union would keep a close watch on the functioning of the Bodo Territorial Council (BTC) and the implementation of the accord.

?The Absu will play a vital role from outside in the successful implementation of...

Aizawl, Dec. 5: Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga, who was sworn in for his second term in office yesterday, has said that his government will concentrate on the twin issues of development and peace. The chief ministerwas quite upbeat over the fact that his party had been given the people?s mandate again and said his government would continue the development work it had started.

Asked about the time limit he had set himself for completion of the development programmes, Zoramthanga said it would depend on the individual projects. ?Some of the projects could be completed by the end of this term...

AIZAWL, Dec 5?A 13-member two-tier Mizo National Front Ministry, headed by Chief Minister Zoramthanga, was sworn in for a second consecutive term last evening after opposition protestors smashed the panes of his car and blocked all roads leading to Raj Bhavan, delaying the ceremony by seven hours, reports PTI.

Eight of the ministers were of cabinet rank, and but for a new entrant, the others had been part of the earlier ministry. The swearing ceremony, originally scheduled for 11:00 am, finally took place at 6:00 pm after the opposition which called a dawn-to-dusk bandh to protest the arrest...