NEW DELHI, March 21: Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today managed to buy himself some time in the civil suit relating to the multi-crore Letter of Credit (LoC) scam, with the Supreme Court adjourning the hearing of the case till July. The final hearing of the suit filed by Nabin Kalita was deferred on the plea of the Assam Government counsel who wanted the case to be heard after the State Assembly elections scheduled for next month. "It was pointed that elections are to be held next month in the State and at this the case should not be heard," Assam Government's senior counsel, Vijay...

IMPHAL, March 21: A high level meeting of select ministers and officials, held today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam, has decided to depute a ministerial team to establish contact with the office bearers of the 6th schedule demand committee, which launched an economic blockade on the national highways from this morning, and to initiate talks regarding their demands. It may be mentioned here that previous governments have already agreed in principle to the demand for extension of the 6th Schedule of the Constitution to the hill areas of the state. The meeting also...

IMPHAL, March 21: At 81 years, veteran Congress leader Rishang Keishing is brimming with energy. The former Congress Chief Minister is now "the lone man in the Opposition bench." Nevertheless, the veteran politician continues to spring surprises for the treasury benches with his volley of lively debates. After the Radhabinod Koijam-led People's Front commanded the support of 57 members in the 60-member Manipur Assembly (the effective strength of which is 59), the senior Congress MLA cut a lonely figure in the Opposition. However, his vast experience in governance in a parliamentary democracy...

GUWAHATI, March 21: The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), M S Gill has issued instruction to the State Administration and the Police to keep all the surrendered militants under strict control during the election process, particularly on the day of the polls. He has also warned that the District Magistrates and the Police would be held responsible if anything goes wrong. Addressing a press conference here today, Gill said that the Election Commission has also issued instruction to confiscate all illegal weapons and take action against all the undesirable elements to ensure free and fair polls...

IMPHAL, March 21: The Manipur Human Rights Commission today recommended the commissioner of works to pay a sum of Rs 3 lakh as compensation to the wife of a Manipur police constable, late N Joykumar Singh of Thoubal Thivam Leisangkhong who was killed in an accident on the Jamuna bridge in Thoubal district. The deceased constable met the accident at about 8.30 pm on May 12 1999 while returning home after attending a wedding ceremony. He left behind three minor sons and one daughter. The commission ruled that out of the compensation amount, Rs 1 lakh is to be paid either in cash or cheque to the...