IMPHAL, February 19: The state Chief Minister, Radhabinod Koijam, held talks with Union defence minister George Fernandes this evening at the latter's residence in New Delhi on the question of expansion of the People's Front ministry, but no final resolution could be arrived at, sources in New Delhi said. The meeting was attended among others by the Union minister of state for food processing, T Chaoba, and several members of the state team accompanying the minister. The sources said the meeting could not reach any concrete decision concerning the matter of expansion of the ministry, and it...

IMPHAL, February 19: In a sensational case, a woman has filed a petition against the State Government seeking Rs 5 lakhs as compensation attributing the death of her husband to the Government's (School Education Directorate) failure to pay advance medical expenses. The petitioner Thambal Bibi of Lilong Turel Ahanbi filed the case before the Gauhati High Court Imphal Bench. The deceased husband Md Badaruddin Shah who was working as assistant teacher in the Lilong Mayai Turel Ahanbi Primary Madrassa had kidney failure. Khaidem Mani who appeared in favour of the petitioner said that Badaruddin...

AGARTALA, February 19: The work on putting up a fence along the international border in Tripura will begin on 15 March. The decision was taken at a meeting here. The Chief Minister, officials of the state government, Union home ministry, BSF, Border Road Organisation and the four D of Tripura were present in the meeting. Initially the work will begin along a 40-km stretch, officials said. The BRO earlier sought approval from the Union home ministry. Rs 9 crore has been approved by Centre at the first phase for implementing the project. It has been estimated that about Rs 27 lakh will be needed...

IMPHAL, February 18: In a major development in this insurgency-prone region, the newly-sworn-in Chief Minister of the People's Front Ministry, Radhabinod Koijam has said that his Cabinet will examine the feasibility of giving "safe passage" to the underground insurgents during the Yaoshang, the biggest festival in Manipur so as to enable them to take part in the great festival this time. Yaoshang festival will start from March 9 and it will continue for five days. While this special gesture of the new People's Front Ministry lasts, the various security forces and Manipur Police would likely be...

NEW DELHI, February 18: As economic and strategic factors take precedence over political consideration in the India-Myanmar relationship, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has mooted the idea of allowing trading in goods of third country across the border points in the Northeastern States with Myanmar. This along with the proposal to allow cross-border movement of people, besides gearing up infrastructure facilities like setting up banking and communication facilities are being suggested to revive the dwindling border trading through the Moreh-Tamu border. Suddenly, a lot appears to be at...