SHILLONG, Oct 16 ? The Meghalaya Government has said it has decided to resume helicopter services, suspended after the September 22 crash which left 10, including a cabinet minister and two MLAs dead, but the date was yet to be fixed. Chief Minister D D Lapang told reporters on Friday after chairing a Cabinet meeting that Pawan Hans Ltd has assured the government to replace the crashed helicopter within 18 months on which understanding, the government has agreed to resume the services.

The Chief Minister said Pawan Hans Ltd would also give a compensation of Rs 7.50 lakh to the next of kin of...

ITANAGAR, Oct 16 ? Charismatic Gegong Apang was back in the saddle in Arunachal Pradesh today heading a Congress government for his 21st year as Chief Minister, a record which is surpassed only by Jyoti Basu in West Bengal. A changed scenario greeted Apang this time with BJP, which he himself helped in the state, making its maiden entry into the Assembly in the polls.

The most popular figure in this north-eastern state, 57-year-old Apang has headed Congress, Arunachal Congress and BJP governments before returning with the Congress this time round. His stint included a 19-year rule since 1980...

IMPHAL, Oct 16 ? Surrendered cadres of various insurgent outfits now languishing in the barracks of the First Manipur Rifles dog squad, here have threatened to launch a fast unto death to protest the state government?s failure to rehabilitate them properly by providing jobs as riflemen and constables in the state forces and to clear their monthly stipends during the past four years.

Talking to newsmen at the dog squad here on Friday, a spokesman of the surrendered insurgent activists said that the state government has so far failed to clear their monthly stipend of Rs 2000 each to 82...

IMPHAL, Oct 16 ? The number of cancer patients has been on the rise in the north eastern region particularly in Manipur over the past few years, according to the latest survey conducted by the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal. RIMS, run by the North Eastern Council for the six beneficiary states - Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh, has been conducting research works in cancer.

The Radio Therapy Department of RIMS has been treating cancer patients for the last 15 years and the institute is the only one in the entire north eastern region which...

SHILLONG, Oct 16 ? Khasi and Garo, the two major languages in Meghalaya, would soon be recognised as associate official languages in the state. ?The state government has accepted in principle to recognise Khasi and Garo as associate official languages with English remaining the principal official language in the state,? Chief Minister DD Lapang told mediapersons after discussing the issue at a Cabinet meeting here on Friday.

A committee, headed by Chief Secretary PJ Bazeley with Principal Secretary GP Wahlang as convenor has been constituted to examine the matter threadbare, the Chief Minister...