SHILLONG, Dec 19 — Members of the Meghalaya Assembly, cutting across party lines, today expressed strong reservations against the draft proposals of the Delimitation Commission. Participating in a discussion on a private member’s motion, members warned that the arbitrary exercise of delimitation carried out without taking the State Government and the elected representatives into confidence would result in grave consequences. The proposals, which are yet to be received officially by the State Government, seek to restructure the Assembly constituencies to bring parity as per population.

But...

NEW DELHI, Dec 19 — The Ministry of Home Affairs today directed the Assam government to immediately settle the tangle over the demarcation of the boundary of the proposed Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC). The MHA directive came in a tripartite meeting on the Bodo issue held here this evening. Official sources said that though the Assam government sought time till January 10 to finalise the boundary of the BTC. The MHA directed that the issue should be settled within this month. Sources said that the boundary of the proposed BTC is the only point left to be settled and all other points have...

Imphal, December 19: Ngaranphung Shining Youth club today organized the first cultural meet at Ngaranphung village, Senapati district. It was sponsored by United Committee of Manipur (UCM). Konsam Langamba VP of UCM was the Chief Guest of'the function. Thomas head man of the village presided over the function. Lalit Singh of Romi Bags was the Guest of Honour. The chairman of NSYC giving the welcome address said the cultural meet is organized to preserve the culture though it is declining day by day. Langamba said organization of such festival will inculcate the feeling of living together...

SHILLONG: The first anthology of poetry in Khasi titled ‘Ki Jingkynmaw’ (memories) was released recently at Sohkha, Jaintia Hills.The book edited by well known poet, Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih was released by Shyllong Khonglah, former Headman of the village.

Published by S G R Lanong, a newly launched Khasi magazine for the rural areas, the anthology is a collection of poems written by prominent Khasi writers, singers and composers to commemorate the first death anniversary of Reality Lanong, daughter of Shyllong Khonglah and Lodis Lanong.

Among the poets who feature in the anthology are Dewi...

Silchar, Dec. 18: Wild elephants last night raided villages near the Badshahi reserve forest under Patherkandi block of Karimganj district, killing one person and seriously injuring another. The victim has been identified as Ram Suryabongshi of Longai tea estate.

Authorities there fear that the man-elephant conflict may worsen, with villagers preparing to attack the tuskers. The herd also damaged cottages and crops in the area.

The rampaging elephants made their way into the Longai estate belonging to the Assam Tea Corporation, bringing down 11 cottages. Rogue elephants destroyed over 70 huts...