DIMAPUR, May 3: With the completion of almost five years of the signing of the ceasefire agreement between New Delhi and the Isak-Muivah faction of the NSCN, the ongoing month of May 2002 would be one of the hectic period, at the Thai capital, Bangkok while the Centre?s special inter-locutor for Nagaland, former Union Home Secretary, K Padamanabhaiah and the director, IB, K P Singh are busy holding fresh round of talks with Muivah from Thursday back home a huge collective delegation of the Naga leaders, under the banner of apex tribal body, Naga Hoho is preparing to leave the country to reach...

NEW DELHI, May 2 ? In a bid to further the Naga peace process, Centre?s interlocutor for Nagaland, K Padmanabhaiah and Intelligence Bureau chief KP Singh will hold fresh talks with the leadership of the key insurgent group NSCN (I-M) from Thursday in Bangkok and are likely to discuss various aspects of the ongoing ceasefire. Padmanabhaiah and Singh are expected to meet NSCN (I-M) leaders T Muivah and Isak Swu during the two-day talks, which are taking place about three months ahead of the expiry of the ceasefire deadline of July 31, informed source said Wednesday. Padmanabhaiah has in the past...

GUWAHATI, May 3 ? Former president of Asom Sahitya Sabha and the founder Editor of Dainik Asam, Kirtinath Hazarika died at a city hospital at 8-25 pm today. He was 77 and is survived by his wife, two sons and a host of relatives. The noted litterateur and revered journalist of the State suffered a massive stroke while he was shopping at Silpukhuri area here at around 2 pm today and was immediately rushed to Down Town Hospital in a critical condition. He was in coma for hours before he was declared dead, hospital sources informed.

Kirtinath Hazarika was born on July 22 in the year 1925 at...

NEW DELHI, May 3 ? Under pressure to act fast to resolve the Bodo tangle, the Union and Assam Government today decided to jointly draft the modifications to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution envisaging safeguards of the non-Bodos in the proposed Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC). The first meeting at the political level on the Bodo issue between Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi and Union Home Minister, LK Advani was used by Assam Government to clarify its position on creation of BTC and the amendments to the Sixth Schedule aimed at protection of the non-Bodos.

An official-level committee...

Imphal, May 02: A determined effort is underway inside the Congress Party to bolt the door upon the possible entry of Lok Sabha MP Th Chaoba into the party. Apparently agitated over the possible return of Chaoba, disgruntled party workers have launched a swift signature campaign to ruin his homecoming. The detractors are hopeful that considering his past records of promoting dissidence he will not be allowed another stint in the party. Chaoba is reportedly lobbying with the Congress high command including party chief, Sonia Gandhi and Mani Shankar Aiyer for his comeback along with some...