IMPHAL, April 19: Two negotiators, including a Christian pastor, held abortive talks with the Kuki National Front (Military Council) last night to secure the release of United Naga Council (UNC) president K.S. Paul Leo. Leo was abducted by KNF (MC) militants on Tuesday from National Highway 39 near Kethelmanbi village (in Kangpokpi sub-division) to deter the Nationalist Social Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) from supporting the Kuki Revolutionary Army - a rival outfit. The KNF(MC) has, in fact, demanded that the NSCN(IM) stop propping up the KRA as a precondition to Leo's release. The...

GUWAHATI, April 18: Tension prevails in the Mankachar sub-division of Dhubri district following heavy exchange of fire between Bangladesh Rifles and Border Security Force personnel for more than eleven hours, in which at least 10 civilians were injured. Official sources said that the Bangladesh Rifles personnel started unprovoked firing at the Kakripara border outpost in Mankachar sub-division at around 4 am this morning, following which, the BSF personal also returned the fire. Sources said that according to information available here, the Bangladesh Rifles personnel even used mortars and one...

NEW DELHI, April 18: Sixteen Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were today killed when Bangladeshi troops ope-ned fire and resorted to shelling in the border village of Boraibari in Meghalaya, Home Secretary Kamal Pandey, said, reports PTI. The Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) have been resorting to shelling on BSF posts as well as civilian areas, he told media persons quoting reports reaching here from BSF border camp. An international news agency quoting BDR chief Major General Fazlur Rahman reported from Dhaka earlier that one Bangladesh soldier was also killed and several...

SHILLONG, April 18: Meghalaya Chief Minister EK Mawlong today said Pyrdiwah village in East Khasi Hills district bordering Bangladesh was still under the occupation of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) since Monday, reports PTI. "Bangladesh Rifles is still continuing to occupy Pyrdiwah village since Monday," Mawlong told PTI here. Mawlong said he had informed LK Advani about the incident and the Union Home Minister had asked him "to send all the details." After a meeting with Cabinet members and high police officials, the Chief Minister said a fax was sent yesterday urging him to 'take proper steps in...

GUWAHATI, April 18: Kamalesh Goswami, a manger with NIIT Asia Pacific, stays in distant Australia. He could not make it to Assam during the Bihu celebrations last weekend. Unlike the previous years, however, Goswami was able to watch the Bihu celebrations here while sitting in his North Sydney home. Kumud Borah, who describes himself as "a die-hard Assamese now staying outside my beloved motherland", was also able to participate in the Bihu celebrations, albeit not in person. There are thousands of Assamese, like Goswami and Borah, who were able to be a part of the Bihu celebrations, despite...