AGARTALA, March 19: The new ruling council of the Tripura on March 19 Tribal Areas District headed by Chief Executive Member Kripa Mohan Reang was sworn in at the ADC headquarters at Khumlawng. There are four executive members besides the Chairman and CEM in the new Council. Instead of nine as it was in the previous Council headed by Debabrata Koloy. Spokesman of the ADC ruling party, Indigenous Peoples' Front of Tripura, Bijoy Hrangkhawl said that later one more executive member might be inducted in the Council. He said, the IPFT would move the Centre to create a post of vice-chairman in the...

GUWAHATI, March 20: Perhaps protection of human rights is not at all an issue that gets a priority in the scheme of things of the state government. Or else, there is no plausible answer to the question as to why the post of the Chairperson in the Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has remained vacant for about one year now, or why the AHRC has been functioning with two posts of member lying vacant since February, 1997. The flaw in the Government's attitude can be best understood if one compares the state of affairs concerning the AHRC here with those of the State HRCs in other parts of the...

SHILLONG, March 20: Meghalaya Home Minister THT Rangad on March 19 said the monthly stipend of Rs 2000 for the surrendered militants in the State was not adequate, report Agencies. Rangad, who is also incharge of police, said the State government could not commit itself to giving more than the stipulated amount. Replying to a question raised by K C Boro and Sujit Sangma, both from the Congress, during the ongoing Budget session at the State Central Library here, the Home Minister said: "I feel the amount is quite low. It is a central package, but right now we cannot give any commitment of...

AGARTALA, March 20: Police today confirmed the death of the National Liberation Front of Twipra's self-styled "defence minister" Utparna Tripura last week. NLFT "commander" Nayanbasi Jamatya has stated in fax messages sent to local dailies that the outfit's "official" faction, comprising leaders like Mantu Koloi, Dhanu Koloi, Biswa Mohan Debbarma, had engaged Utparna Tripura to "eliminate" him. Tripura as well as another cadre reached the camp where Nayanbasi was staying but were shot dead. Nayanbasi recently fled the outfit's headquarters in Thangnan area under Chittagong Hill Tracts in...

AGARTALA, March 19: The Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) today formed a four-member executive committee headed by Kripa Mohan Reang, ending for the time being the fortnight-long stalemate over the issue. Besides Reang, a surprise choice for the post of the chief executive member, the four other executive members who were administered the oath of office were Mohan Debbarma, Benoy Debbarma, L.V. Darlong and Krishna Kanta Jamatya. The oath of office was administered by law secretary A.B. Pal at the headquarters of the Autonomous District Council (ADC) at Khumlung under Jirania police...