GUWAHATI, July 13 ? As many as 11 tribal student organisations of the State today extended support to creation of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) while resolving to form a joint forum of all ethnic groups to raise the demand for ?more autonomy? to all tribal groups in the mould of the proposed BTC. A joint meeting of tribal students? organisation held here under the aegis of ABSU-BPAC in a resolution demanded immediate creation of the BTC while expressing concern over the effort made by the Sanmilita Jangosthiya Sangram Samity (SJSS) to throw a spanner in the process of formation of the...

In a breakthrough in the Naga peace process, leaders of National Socialist Council of Nagalim (I-M) T Muivah and Isak Swu have voiced their desire to come to India for further talks even as Government today announced extension of the ceasefire with the militant outfit for another year from August 1, reports PTI. The decision to come to India for the first time since the 1997 Centre-NSCN(I-M) ceasefire was taken by the outfit?s leaders during three-day talks with Prime Minister?s special emissary K Padmanabhaiah in Amsterdam which concluded yesterday. The invitation for the dialogue to be held...

GUWAHATI, July 12 ? Power requirements in the remote and inaccessible areas of the State can be met to a great extent by tapping the non-conventional energy sources. The Assam Science Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC) has successfully implemented several solar power projects at different remote areas where electricity was a thing unheard of till recently. One such project of the ASTEC is in Cachar district which covers 850 households in 36 remote villages. This project of village electrification through solar energy was started in April 2000 and the final batch is under installation...

GUWAHATI, July 12? The Airport Authority of India (AAI) is spending over Rs 30 crore per year for arranging adequate security cover in all operational airports in the North Eastern region, while it is incurring heavy losses from its operations in the region. The Regional Executive Director of AAI, Sri Srikrishan informed newsmen here that in view of the security threat in the insurgency-hit north eastern region, AAI has to avail of ?very expensive? service of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to look after security in airports at Guwahati, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Bagdogra and Agartala. AAI...

GUWAHATI, July 12? The security forces have geared up operations along the Indo-Bhutan border in the wake of the Royal government?s pressure on the militant groups operating from different hideouts of that country. Official sources today disclosed that the security forces are keeping a close watch on the border to prevent the militants from sneaking into the state. ?The entire Indo-Bhutan border is sensitive and hence we have to remain vigilant to foil any attack of the militants?, the sources said. It may be recalled that the Bhutan government has asked the militants to vacate its soil.

The...