IMPHAL, April 14: Seven Kuki villagers were shot dead and nine others seriously injured in a joint attack by suspected National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) and Kuki Revolutionary Army militants in Awang Keithelmanbi village under Kangpokpi subdivision on Thursday night. The bodies of six villagers were found yesterday, while 10 injured persons have been admitted to hospital at Kangpokpi. Though three persons were later shifted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences here last night, one of them died. Sources said over 40 heavily-armed militants raided the village at 10 pm...

AGARTALA, April 14: Complications have surfaced over the issue of Congress nomination to the crucial Banamalipur Assembly constituency, which will face byelection in less than a month. The PCC has forwarded the name of Mahitosh Saha, brother of slain sitting Congress MLA Madhusudan alias Bhola Saha as the party's nominee for the bypoll. But the dissident faction of the PCC opposed to president Birajit Sinha later sent the name of reputed dental surgeon and chief of the doctors' cell Manik Saha. Besides, the women's front of the party has also demanded the nomination of state unit president and...

GUWAHATI, April 13: A cloudy weather since this morning failed to dampen the festive spirits of the people of Assam as the celebration of the Assamese new year festival Rongali Bihu got under way with traditional gaiety. Braving the inclement weather, thousands of people thronged the Bihutolis in the city to enjoy themselves till late in the night as prominent artistes of the State performed cultural programmes in the Bihutolis. Noted singer and the Sangeet Natak Akademi chairman Bhupen Hazarika is the star attraction in Guwahati as the people are eagerly waiting for his stage performance. To...

GUWAHATI, April 13: The Task Force that was constituted by the two-day seminar on 'Vision of Cotton College in the New Millennium' held here on May 26 and 27, 1999, suggested upgradation of this century-old College of the State into a Deemed University. Why? What are the justifications for that?? "If Cotton is to survive the onslaught of degeneration and remain always a beckoning light for the country's coming generations in matters of excellence in the field of academic activities it should be freed from the present affiliating system so that it can exercise academic freedom, with...

SHILLONG, April 13: The unfurling of the pat silk Bihu flag by Meghalaya Chief Minister EK Mawlong marked the inauguration of the three day-long Rongali Bihu celebrations at the Meghalaya Rongali Bihu Sanmilan at Asom Kristi Kendra here today. It was in the true spirit of Bihu festivity and bonhomie that none minded the fact that the flag was fluttering upside down! Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister hoped that the Bihu festivities would further cement the brotherly relations between the people of Meghalaya and Assam. He also declared that his government would extend all possible...