GUWAHATI, Oct 29 ? Disillusioned with the progress of the police investigation into the abduction of businessman Pratul Deb, his United Kingdom (UK)- based family now wants the CBI to take up the case. The eldest daughter of the family, Sipra Deb, visiting India for the second time in search of her father, has urged Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to intervene in the matter.

Sipra, who is scheduled to meet Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in Delhi, will ask him to hand over the case to the CBI. Though she has not directly criticised the Assam Police for its sloppy work, this move is a clear-enough...

GUWAHATI, Oct 28 ? The Kolkata-based Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIAS) has taken up a major initiative to expand socio-cultural research activities in the North East. It has funded several research projects on the region in the past few years apart from publishing books relating to the region.

MAKAIAS director Mahavir Singh told newspersons here today that since the past three years the institute has been involved in research activities in the region in a big way. MAKAIAS is funded by the Union Department of Culture and is expected to spend ten percent of its funds...

TEZPUR, Oct 28 ? Inspite of the Apex Court order to upgrade the Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Institute of Mental Health (LGBIMH), one of the oldest institution for the psychiatric patients into an international standard institution, the future of the institution seems to be bleak due to irregular release of funds by the Government, alleged Dr SK Deuri, Director, LGBIMH.

Talking to the media persons, Dr Deuri said that shortage of manpower including doctors and psychiatrists is slowly crippling the institution which was established in 1876 following the administrative reorganization of the Assam...

NEW DELHI, Oct 28 ? If the Government of India wants to hold negotiations with the outlawed ULFA then its leadership must be given safe passage. This was the opinion of the ?finance minister? of NSCN (Khaplang), Kughalu Mulatonu.

But what is even more significant is the confirmation by the Naga militant leader about the involvement of the Pakistan?s ISI in the North-East. The Government of India must first ensure that the Indo-Bangladesh border was sealed. ?If the Government of India wants to hold talks with ULFA then the border should be well protected,? he said.

The reason, he pointed out...

IMPHAL, Oct 27 ? Wildlife lovers would be happy to note that the number of rare species Brow Antlered Deer, locally called Sangai and found only in Manipur is on the increase at its natural habitat Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP), a part of Loktak, the largest fresh water lake in eastern India.

Sangai is the state animal in Manipur. State Forest and Environment Minister, Ngamthang Haokip while terming the Sangai as a part of the state?s identity has said that the number of this rare species is increased from 162 to 182 in the head counting survey conducted in March, last year.

The number...