GUWAHATI, March 24? The banned ULFA has sent out a ?desperate appeal? to the Centre to hold talks with the outfit and solve the ongoing insurgency issue in Assam. ?We desperately want a solution to the ongoing conflict in the State and the three conditions have been already set out by us,? said the editorial of the banned outfit?s mouthpiece Swadhinata (Freedom) in its latest issue which was e-mailed to a few local media here today. The ULFA wants that talks be held in a third country, under UN supervision and that the issue of Assam?s sovereignty be discussed.?

Imphal, March 24: Owing responsibility for the abduction of Chandel DC Y Thamkishore on March 18, NSCN (M) secretary general Thuingaleng Muivah said that the officer will be released unharmed if the Indian Government returns all the weapons seized from its cadres during the Pallel incident within the next few days. In an interview carried out by the Amsterdam based Naga International Support Centre (NISC) yesterday, the NSCN (IM) chief said ?the situation has been created by the armed forces of the Government of India. The GoI then must apologize for the treacherous attack and return all...

Imphal, March 24: Yambem ongbi Niroda, the distraught wife of the abducted official Y Thamkishore has fervently appealed to the gunmen who abducted her husband to release him safely and without any harm. Niroda who has been in Chandel since her husband was whisked away by the gunmen returned to Imphal today as the last seven days or so have not yielded any positive development. Speaking to newsmen at her Uripok Yambem Leikai residence this evening, the woman who has gone through sleepless nights and anxious moments said the abductors have so far not spelt out the reason why her husband was...

NAHARLAGUN, March 23: Arunachal Pradesh Minister of State for Home Rima disclosed that extortions and kidnapping of Arunachalis by militants from neighboring states- especially led by both the factions of National Socialist Council of Nagaland has assumed an alarming proportions in the recent past.??Serving extortion notice and kidnapping our people by NSCN and NDFB militants of Assam and Nagaland in the recent pass has become a matter of great concern for us,? Rima said. ?The home minister was responding to a Zero Hour notice raised by Takar Marde of Congress (I) in the last day of ensuing...

GUWAHATI, March 23 ? The 12th Assam Valley Literary Award was presented today to noted litterateur Rebati Mohan Dutta Choudhury, more popularly known as Sheelabhadra, his pen name, to his readers, for his contribution to the field of literature. The Award was presented to Sri Dutta Choudhury at a glittering function at the Rabindra Bhawan here by noted Oriya litterateur and president of the Sahitya Akademi Ramakanta Rath. Accepting the Award, Sri Dutta Choudhury observed that awards, however, do not signify excellence. Recognitions from the wise is the primary thing. But, he said that he was...