GUWAHATI, April 1 ? The Assam Legislative Assembly today passed the Assam Right to Information Bill to provide for right of access to information to the citizens of the State. The Bill aims to provide right to information to promote openness, transparency, and accountability in administration and to make democracy more meaningful. The Bill, with the report of the Select Committee of the House, was moved in the Assembly by the Minister of State for Home, Sri Pradyut Bordoloi on behalf of the Chief Minister, Sri Tarun Gogoi and it was passed by voice vote.

As per the Right to Information Act...

GUWAHATI, April 1 ? The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) today asserted that it would never compromise on the ?sovereignty issue?. In an article published in The Freedom, the newsletter of the organisation, the leadership said that no military adventurism can compel the organisation to dilute its resolution of sovereignty of Assam. The firm determination of new patriots is the asset of our fight against the ?occupation force?, the leadership said. The leadership also alleged that despite systematic killings under the patronage of the Government of India, the ULFA cadres are still united.

NEW DELHI, April 1 ? ?There is no need to use Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) in Assam. We have existing laws to deal with terrorists in the State,? Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said here tonight. Talking to The Assam Tribune over phone, Gogoi said non-implementation of POTA would not have any effect on Centre-State relations. He further said Assam has been able to contain terrorism effectively with the existing laws like Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, Disturbed Areas Act, among others.

Imphal, April 01: After 12 days of captivity in the hands of UGs, District Commissioner of Chandel, Yambem Thamkishore was finally released March 29 last. He was abducted near the PWD office Chandel, on March 18 last by suspected cadres of UKLF and NSCN(IM). According to reliable sources in New Delhi, the DC was released without the government having to concede to the demand for the return of recovered weapons from the NSCN(IM) men killed by the IRB on March 16 night. Talking to the IFP this afternoon, he expressed his gratitude to the people from all sections of the society, NGOs, Maira...

GUWAHATI, March 31 ? The State Government has taken a policy decision to introduce voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) in the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) and a preliminary report in this regard has already been sent to the Planning Commission. This was disclosed by the Minister for Finance and Power Sri Devanand Konwar. Participating in a meet-the-press programme in the Guwahati Press Club today, Sri Konwar said that in the first phase, the government has submitted a proposal for introducing VRS in the ASEB for 200 persons and a detailed scheme in this regard would be forwarded to the...