JORHAT (Assam), Jan 30: Primate population in Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam has increased to 60 during the past three years marking a positive trend in wildlife conservation. Jorhat District Forest Officer MN Duarah told PTI today that the population of the Gibbons, an endangered species, was 50 in 1998 where it rose to 60 by the end of 2001. There are at present 20 families of primates as against 17 in 1998. Duarah said the increase in the number of gibbons by over 10 within three years was quite significant going by the mating characteristic of the apes as Gibbons stick to only one...

GUWAHATI, Jan 30 — The police and the security forces are fighting insurgency with their hands tied because of the militants’ bases in the neighbouring country, Bhutan, said Minister of State for Home, Pradyut Bordoloi. Talking to The Assam Tribune, Sri Bordoloi said that the militants frequently sneak into their bases in the neighbouring country after each strike, making the task difficult for the security forces. He revealed that Assam has around 265 kms of virtually unprotected border with Bhutan and the need of the hour is to seal the border with effective dominance of security forces. He...

NEW DELHI, Jan 30 — Border Security Force (BSF) is likely to be deployed along the Indo-Bhutan border shortly in a bid to check the free movement of insurgents across the international border in the State, even as Assam Government sought additional para-military forces. At a meeting with Union Home Minister LK Advani, Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi briefed him about the prevailing situation in the State in the wake of the sudden spurt in killings by the underground outfits including the ULFA and the NDFB militants.

The Chief Minister who was accompanied by top State Government officials...

Imphal, January 29: Sleuths of the Imphal West Narcotics Cell have busted a racket of Sikhs indulging in collection of money from the public on the false promise of supplying items of a non-existent company with the arrest of 22 members from Hotel Tampha at North AOC this morning. The total amount of money collected by the gang from the public is being estimated, official sources said. The 22 gang members hail from Bijnoor district's Nurpur in Uttar Pradesh. They were produced before media persons today. An official of the Narcotics Cell said the gang members were nabbed when they conducted a...

Imphal, January 30: Altogether 14, 72,784 voters including 1568 service voters will decide the fate of 368 candidates including five women in the forthcoming 8th Assembly election in February. The first phase of the election on February 14 in 40 valley Assembly constituencies will see a total electorate of 8, 88,895 including 461209 females. Another 336 service voters will also exercise their franchise in the polls. The second phase poll falling on February 21 in 20 hill Assembly constituencies will have 582321 voters including 292771 females. The number of service voters is 1232. Of the 60...