SHILLONG, February 23: The encounter between the ULFA and Meghalaya Police in West Garo Hills district yesterday foiled the militant group's mission to loot the Helidayganj branch of the State Bank of India. The district SP, B R Rana said over phone from Tura that the ULFA boys were hiding in a village with a plan to loot the SBI branch. Six militants were killed on the spot and four others arrested in an encounter with the police at Nishanipara village, about 60 kms from Tura around 3.30 pm yesterday. Giving details of the incident, he said, acting on a tip-off, a police team rushed to the...

NEW DELHI, February 23: Rattled by the apprehension that the ruling AGP might use the surrendered ULFA cadres to rig the forthcoming polls in the State, Assam Congress party has decided to move the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking its direction to the State Government to rein in the armed elements. The decision to approach the EC was taken by the Assam Congress Parliamentary Party at an emergent meeting here chaired by the APCC president, Tarun Gogoi and attended by all senior leaders of the party, including Manmohan Singh, disclosed the convenor of the forum, Madhab Rajbongshi...

GUWAHATI, February 23: Members of the State Assembly today expressed serious concern over the proposal mooted by a section of Bangladeshi intellectuals to divide India to form a confederation comprising Bangladesh, Northeast States of India and West Bengal. Raising the issue during the zero-hour in the State Assembly today, Dilip Kumar Saikia (AGP) said that the State Government should take up the matter seriously with the Government of India. He pointed out that way back in 1947, the leaders of the erstwhile East Pakistan tried their best to include Assam in their country but that move was...

AGARTALA, February 23: At least nine Congress MLAs and 33 security personnel were injured after a pitched battle broke out between them on the opening day of the 21-day budget session of the Tripura Assembly here today, reports UNI. At least nine opposition Congress MLAs and 33 watch-and-ward staff and security personnel, including an Inspector General, a Deputy Inspector General and two Superintendent of Police, were injured in the 30-minute scuffle. Trouble began as soon as the Governor entered the floor of the Assembly to give his customary speech. There was complete bedlam as opposition...

IMPHAL, February 23: Not withstanding the repeated assurances by Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam that the Samata Party led People's Front ministry will be somewhere between a jumbo and small sized ministry, an inflated 33 member strong Council of Ministers was sworn in today at a glittering function at the Raj Bhawan. The effective strength of the ministry including the Chief Minister is now 34. Of the 33 sworn in today 24 are Cabinet Ministers while nine are MoS. The Cabinet Ministers are Haobam Bhuban (BJP), O Joy (MPP), M Hemanta (MSCP), Gangmumei Kamei (FPM), Kh Amutombi (SP), Nimaichand...