IMPHAL, March 14: The one month long unilateral ceasefire offered by the state government and the 15 day truce of the Army authority received a serious setback when suspected militants struck in a big way killing one Assam rifle jawan and one 7 month old infant in a bomb attack at Sangakpham, Chingmeirong under Heingang police station last evening. One Assam Rifles personnel and four civilians were also injured in the powerful bomb blast. The bomb was found planted near the gate of the newly constructed residence of 12 MR CO Lokendro. Reports said the bomb exploded with a powerful intensity as...

IMPHAL, March 14: The Union home ministry has agreed to release Rs 4 crore as security-related expenses to the Manipur government within this week. The ministry's clearance came after Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam requested reimbursement of expenses incurred on account of counter-insurgency operations. With the state facing financial crunch, the government has been diverting funds from other sources for maintenance of law and order and counter-insurgency operations. Koijam, during his recent New Delhi visit, urged the Centre to release funds for reimbursement to ease the problems being...

AGARTALA, March 14: The infant morality rate in Tripura is comparatively low compared to the national average. Official data show that the figure in the State stands at less than 45 per thousand while the national rate is 68 per thousand. This includes one-third of new-born babies (neo natals of day one to day 28) at the national as well as the State level. The infant mortality rate in the State is expected to dip further in the future. The doctors and para-medicos in the State are being imparted extensive training on health care and treatment of new born and infants. Special workshops are...

NEW DELHI, March 14: The proposal to include the Majuli island in the World Heritage Site Map by the UNESCO would be taken up afresh by the Government of India in the next timetable of the UN body that starts from 2002-2003. The proposal would now be taken up jointly by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest and Union Tourism and Culture Ministry. The Tourism and Culture Minister. Ananth Kumar faced with criticism from members in the Rajya Sabha members here this morning, for the delay in pursuing the case, agreed to jointly take up the proposal with the Environment and Forests ministry...

GUWAHATI, March 14: The Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) has roped in nine regional as well as national parties to fight tooth and nail the BJP, Congress and the AGP in the coming Assembly polls in the State. Addressing mediapersons here this morning, PA Sangma, former Lok Sabha Speaker and senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) stated that the parties in the alliance are - Asom Gana Sangram Parishad (AGSP), Purbanchaliya Loka Parishad (PLP), Asom Jatiya Sanmilan, Janata Dal (Secular), Revolutionary Communist Party of India (RCPI), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP)...