NEW DELHI, March 16 ? Dawn of a new information technology era in the North East is likely to be hit by fund crunch even in the face of the Ministry of Information Technology?s assertion that the Community Information Centre (CIC) project was on tracks and all of proposed 487 centres in the region were scheduled to be set up by August 15. Implementation of the ambitious CICs Project may be more then just a mouse click away, if the doubts expressed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee attached to IT Ministry, has any substance. The Committee headed by Somnath Chatterjee has pointed out that...

KOHIMA, March 18 ? The NSCN (I-M) today said the killing of 11 of its cadres in an encounter in Manipur was an ?act of barbarism? and urged the Centre to clarify its stand on the incident and book the culprits to uphold the current Naga peace process and prevent ?undesirable reprisals,? reports PTI. Condemning the killings of its cadres in Chandel district yesterday, Information and Publicity wing of the underground outfit in a statement here claimed their cadres were on their way to celebrate ?Naga Republic Day?, when the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel allegedly ambushed them...

Imphal, March 18: Chief Minister O Ibobi who also holds the Finance portfolio today presented Secular Progressive Front ministry?s first state budget for 2002-2003 encompassing a sum of Rs 2670.42 crores during the resumed session of the 8th State Assembly. The Budget estimates having a deficit of Rs 680.95 crores shows a decrease of Rs 99.07 crores over the Revised Estimates of 2001-2002. The revenue receipts are estimated at Rs 1346.42 crores. The revenue receipts include devolution of central taxes and duties, statutory grants etc as per the norms laid down by the 11th Finance Commission...

Dimapur, March 18: The Government of People?s Republic of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) reacting sharply to the incident in which eleven of its cadres were killed by the Indian Reserve Battalion, IRB has questioned the ?act of insanity? perpetrated at around 8 pm on March 15, at Pallel in Chandel district. The NSCN (IM) publicity wing said, IRB personnel ambushed the NSCN (IM) cadres traveling in a vehicle. They were on their way to celebrate Naga Republic Day. It further said, among the under unfortunate 16 NSCN (IM) cadres, 4 of them escaped amidst rains of bullets, while one Sergeant Hirakalung was...

DIBRUGARH, March 17 ? The simmering inter-state border dispute at the Koriapani area near Margherita has cooled down after cordial meetings between senior civil officials of Tinsukia district and Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. There have been reports that some miscreants encroached into Assam territory at Koriapani recently and declared that the place was a part of Arunachal Pradesh. On Friday, the Tinsukia DC, Samir Kumar Sinha and his Changlang counterpart, Talem Tapok, aided by the Margherita civil SDO, Ratul Chandra Duarah, sat in a friendly meeting and discussed the fracas and...