News

GUWAHATI, May 27 ? Following the directive from the Union Tourism and Culture Ministry, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Guwahati Circle, has sent a proposal to the ASI Director General to declare the historic Kamakhya temple on the Nilachal hillock in the city, as a ?monument of national importance?.

In its proposal to the ASI DG, the ASI Guwahati Circle, on May 6, 2003, described the Shakti shrine as a ?living monument? with a large number of the visitors visiting it daily. Practice of animal sacrifice is still prevalent in the monument, while ?modern constructions? have been...

GUWAHATI, May 27 ? The ghost of a ?Barking deer?, a protected species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1986, may sound the political death knell of Mizoram Excise Minister, Pu K Vanlalauva. The Gauhati High Court disposed of a PIL, yesterday and directed the Mizoram Chief Secretary to take appropriate action within a month, as the Division Bench opined that prima facie offences have been committed under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and the rules.

The Chief Justice, P P Naolekar and Justice I A Ansari were hearing a PIL field by C Thangmura and supported by P Vanlalthlana of the PUCL,...

Kohima, May 26: Caught on the wrong foot after international bidders as well as the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) refused to begin exploration work in the state, the Nagaland government today convened an emergency meeting on the issue.

However, the meeting ? chaired by chief minister Neiphiu Rio ? failed to arrive at a decision.

An oil exploration block in Mokokchung district is one of 24 being offered under the latest round of international competitive bidding.

Apart from international players, the ONGC and Oil India Ltd, too, are reportedly unwilling to deploy personnel in the...

Guwahati, May 26: Three states of the Northeast ? identified as one of the most potent breeding grounds of the deadly HIV virus ? today signed the ?Guwahati declaration? for accelerating development of AIDS vaccines and to provide high-quality healthcare to people affected with the disease.

Political leaders of Manipur, Nagaland and Assam pledged their support to research and development of AIDS vaccines, including clinical trials and other prevention technologies as per the needs of the northeastern region.

Manipur, the worst-affected state, accounts for nearly eight per cent of the country?s...

May 26: The NSCN (I-M)?s threat to go in for a referendum on the integration of Naga-inhabited areas of the Northeast has opened an old wound.

A day after the Naga outfit?s general secretary Th. Muivah was quoted as saying that the issue of integration was ?not negotiable?, Assam and Manipur said they wanted peace in Nagaland but not at the cost of their territorial integrity.

Rejecting the NSCN (I-M)?s roadmap to peace as one that conflicted with the interests of their states, Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi and his Manipur counterpart Okram Ibobi Singh said there was no question of...