GUWAHATI, March 3: Top SULFA leader Lohit Deuri and 12 of his accomplices, including three personal security officers, were arrested this evening for assaulting businessmen and indulging in vandalism at the Fancy Bazar. The former militant's personal security officers, provided by the government, were also disarmed by the city police. The arrested persons will be produced before a magistrate tomorrow. Police said Deuri's personal security officers and a group of SULFA members went to Fancy Bazar, ransacked some shops and beat up shopowners and employees after an altercation over money matters...

IMPHAL, March 2: With the unilateral ceasefire coming into effect since yesterday no untoward incident was reported from any part of the State today. According to police sources, since yesterday calm and a semblance of order has prevailed with no report of any shootouts or killing. Senior police officers informed the press that no report of any violence has come in ever since the ceasefire came into effect. However, except PREPAK, which had cocked a snook at the truce offer, no official response from any other underground organisations have been forthcoming till date, informed Higher Education...

GUWAHATI, March 3: Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam's first gambit in Manipur, a month-long unilateral ceasefire against separatist guerrillas in the state, began on Thursday. The move is being seen as an attempt by the government in the insurgency-hit state to build up public opinion in favour of peace and get the rebels to the negotiating table. The truce, coinciding with the Manipuri festival of colours called Yaoshang that begins next week, will apply to as many as 17 militant groups in the state that shares a porous border with Myanmar. "We are keen to evolve a negotiated and peaceful...

NEW DELHI, March 2: The prestigious Srimanta Sankaradeva Awards were given away by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to five eminent personalities from the fields of art, culture and literature at a glittering function here today. Barring a last-minute disappointment in the form of the President K R Narayanan's inability to attend the function on health ground, the function earned laurels for the Assam Government, with speakers including the Prime Minister lauding the efforts to bring the awards to the national mainstream from Assam. A messages by the President was read out by the Chief...

AIZAWL, February 28: The Mara Students' Organisation has submitted a memorandum to Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on the issues of job reservation for the community and enhancement of the powers of Mara Autonomous District Council, reports PTI. The 12-page memorandum sought job reservation of at least 10 per cent for the Maras, most of them inhabiting Mizoram's southern district of Saiha and the areas under MADC. The student body wanted appointment of one Mara representative in the Mizoram Public Service Commission and opening the commission's branch office at Saiha to ensure job...