GUWAHATI, Jan 3 — The new year will see a major boost in television services in the North East as national broadcaster Doordarshan (DD) has embarked on a massive service expansion programme in the region. DD Director General SY Quraishi announced this evening that DD will observe the next financial year as the ‘Year of the North East’.

Quraishi, who is here, along with senior officials of Prasar Bharati, to review the working of DD’s North East division, told a press conference that by March this year there will be 15-minute bulletins in all the eight States of the region. Some States may...

SHILLONG, Jan 3 — The Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has reiterated its aim for what it termed as the ‘freedom’ of the Hynniewtrep people.

In its New Year message to the people, the banned outfit expressed anger over ‘suppression’ and ‘enslavement’ suffered by the Hynniewtrep people over the years. HNLC, while warming the government if the latter continued with repressive measures, expressed gratitude to its sympathisers.

Meanwhile, the Centre has extended the term of ban imposed on the HNLC and the ARVC as both the outfits have been demanding secessin from India. However...

Imphal, Jan. 2: The Manipur Human Rights’ Commission has asked the state’s director-general of police to submit a report on an abduction-cum-rape in Bishenpur district by January 15. The commission’s directive came in connection with the alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl by a married man, identified as Kh. Joy Singh of Nambol village in Bishenpur district. The girl, who is from Imphal West district, filed a complaint petition with the commission after the Singjamei police station released the accused. The petition said Joy Singh kept the girl confined for five days and repeatedly raped her...

Jan. 2: Assam police today moved the chief judicial magistrate of Kamrup for a production warrant against the arrested vice-president of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) even as Sikkim police produced their prize catch in the court of the district sessions judge (east and north) in Gangtok. Dhiren Boro, his wife and accomplices have been booked under four Sections of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA). It is the first instance of the legislation being employed in Sikkim. The militant leader and his wife Pratima, also an NDFB member, had been living in Gangtok for...

KOKRAJHAR, Jan 2 – Dwellers along the Sankoch river in Assam have urged the authorities concerned to check the unabated encroachment by migrants from West Bengal especially in the forest lands on the Assam side along the West Bengal boundary. The public here have asked the State Government to take up the issue with the West Bengal authorities.

According to the information available here, a large portion of forest land under Ripu Mauza No. 1 lat around 113 No. pillar (khuti) of Gossaigaon sub-division of about 1000 Bighas of forest land has been under encroachment of the neighbouring State...