GUWAHATI, April 13: Intermittent showers since the morning failed to wash away the colours of Rongali Bihu as revellers soaked in the festive ambience at Bihutolis across this capital city. By the time the rain started, the customary flag-hoisting and swahid tarpan (homage to martyrs) at various Bihutolis was over. A large number of people dressed in their festive best attended the inaugural functions. At the historical Latasil playground, where the Guwahati Bihu sanmilani is celebrating its golden jubilee, Bhupen Hazarika was the guest of honour. The poet-singer-filmmaker was supposed to lead...

AIZAWL, April 13: Central power corporations like the NEEPCO, NHPC and Power Grid Corporation, which have been undertaking high prices power projects, have become soft targets of the insurgent groups in the Northeast region, a top police official said here on Thursday, reports PTI. Citing the example of abduction of Power Grid Corporation officials by Manipur's Hmar People's Convention-Democrats (HPC-D) on Wednesday in Mizoram-Manipur border area, the police official, on condition of anonymity, said the rebel groups were indulging in extortion and found the Central power corporations as soft...

IMPHAL, April 13: Relatives and friends of People's Liberation Army rebels today found a statue of Lord Mahadev at the martyrs' tomb of the outfit located at Cheiraoching hills here. They had converged there after the Imphal bench of the Gauhati High Court directed the state government to allow them to pay floral tributes to PLA rebels killed by security forces. The outfit observes April 13 as "Martyrs' Day". The statue was allegedly installed by security personnel to prevent the PLA supporters from paying tributes. Ten PLA rebels, led by its "acting chairman", Kunjabihari, were killed in a...

JORHAT, April 13: Rongali Bihu marks a joyous beginning to the Assamese New Year. But for the Gogoi family from Tingkhong in Upper Assam's Dibrugarh district, this season of joy has turned into one of despair. Unlike in the past two years, the Asom Gana Parishad-led government's decision not to offer "safe passage" to ULFA militants this Rongali Bihu has been a major disappointment for the Gogois, who had been hoping to see their 27-year-old son Abhay during the festival. Abhay joined the ULFA just before the last Assembly elections in 1996. His native village of Tingkhong has long been an...

AGARTALA, April 13: Tripura Public Service Commission (TPSC) which has been dogged by severe controversy for acting under political will of the ruling party and recommending jobs in a partisan manner depriving eligible candidates, came under severe criticism from no other than the Agartala Bench of Gauhati High Court on Thursday when Justice BB Deb terminated appointment of eight Panchayat secretaries. The High Court flayed the TPSC for resorting to unfair means in an unprecedented and uncalled for manner surrendering to the government's desire in appointing those Panchayat secretaries. On...