NEW DELHI, May 23 ? In a significant development, Government of India today entered into a ceasefire pact with the United Peoples Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) for a year. This is the second militant group of Assam to opt for a ceasefire agreement with the Union Government. The latest ceasefire pact is likely to bring some respite for Assam Government in restoring peace in Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills districts. The NSCN (I-M) backed outfit had unleashed a reign of terror in the two districts, escalating tensions. As reported earlier by this newspaper, a section of the UPDS was engaged...

DIMAPUR, May 22 ? To find a place in the industrial map of the North-east, Nagaland government has set up an industrial growth centre at Ganeshnagar under Dhansiri sub-division of Dimapur district. The ambitious 17-crore project with all the required infrastructural facilities such as post-telecom, bank, hospitals and industrial housing etc would be completed by June next. State government has high aspirations from the mini-industrial township, the foundation of which was laid by the State Chief Minister SC Jamir in the first year of his present tenure, 1998. Centre has released its share of...

IMPHAL, May 22 ? Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP), constituent of the six-party ruling Secular Progressive Front (SPF), is likely to merge with major ruling front partner, Congress ?very soon? according to MSCP and Congress sources here Wednesday, reports PTI. State Congress unit president and Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and MSCP president Th Chaoba Singh had already left for Delhi to discuss the issue with Congress high command and party national functionaries in charge of Manipur, the sources said. The Congress legislature party in an emergency meeting Tuesday had also decided to...

GUWAHATI, May 22 ? With the tiger population showing a steady growth in Kaziranga National Park during the last two decades, the park authority is submitting a proposal to start a ?Project Tiger? programme within the sprawling national park to the Government of India. The director of Kaziranga National Park (KNP), NK Vasu today informed this newspaper that the park authority was spurred by steady increase in the number of the endangered big cat species to go for a tiger project for adequate conservation of it within the park.

The director informed that ?ecological density? of tiger population...

DIBRUGARH, May 22 ? Family members and friends of the senor leader of the outlawed ULFA, Tapan Baruah alias Madan Das today took charge of the body at the Assam Medical College here. The family members, accompanied by others from Tapan?s native Balikuchi village near Nalbari arrived here in a bus. The body was taken to Tinsukia this afternoon in connection with some legal formalities, before being transported to Nalbari. Tapan?s elder brother, Biren Das completed the formalities. Biren, a grocery shop owner, said Tapan was the fourth in the family?s six siblings, which included five sons and a...