KOHIMA, Feb 18 — Congress has asserted that participation of all underground groups and segments of society is “absolutely imperative and indispensable” to find a durable solution to vexed Naga political problem, reports PTI. In a resolution adopted at Nagaland PCC general body meeting here Saturday, the party said it had from the very beginning recognised the Naga issue as a political problem which could be resolved only through political process. It welcomed the “genuine efforts” by respective parties involved to find an honourable settlement to the protracted problem and insisted that...

Imphal, February 18: A fierce gun battle ensued between BSF troops and a group of militants while the BSF were advancing towards Lezangphai from Santing in Churachandpur district today. Three companies of BSF under the command of CO of the 64th Bn were fired upon from hill tops by the militants. The BSF retaliated and a fierce gun battle of four hours ensued, said BSF DIG PK Misra. The attack was mounted from three directions. BSF personnel, put on election duty for the second phase poll in Churachandpur district have been able to push back the militants from Lezangphai, he claimed. BSF...

KAMALABARI, Feb 17 — Majulials — the people of Majuli, the largest fresh water island on the earth, are now consolidating their unity more and more every passing moment to put up a rock-solid front in their campaign for securing the World Heritage Site status for their unique island, — which is the seat of Assamese Vaishnava culture and religion and a treasure house of diverse ethnicites. The campaign for securing the World Heritage Site status for Majuli is spearheaded by the Majuli Island Protection and Development Council (MIPADC), — an NGO headed by Dr Arun Kumar Sarma, MP. Dr Sarma is a...

GUWAHATI, Feb 17— The Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (BRPL), the only major industry in the backward lower Assam area, is facing crisis due to the wrong policies of the Government and the refinery may even face closure if the Central Government does not come forward to grant excise duty exemption and transport subsidy. For the first time in its history, the BRPL suffered a net loss of Rs 57.44 crore in the last financial year and for the current financial year, the estimated net loss will be to the tune of Rs 200 crore. According to figures available, the BRPL earned a net...

Imphal, February 17: The two factions of the underground Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, KYKL have reunited, bringing to an end a long and bitter feud that has cost dozens of lives. The two factions, one led by Namoijam Oken and another by Achou Toijamba had split in 1996. The two leaders, in a joint statement issued in this regard, acknowledged that the split had occurred due to a misunderstanding, and that it had caused serious harm to the public. The joint statement said the decision to reunite keeping in mind the urgent need for unity among all underground groups in Manipur and the north east...