AGARTALA, February 18: In a significant development, the outlawed militant organisation National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT) suffered a vertical split on ethnic lines again. Nayanbasi Jamatia, a top NLFT leader from the beginning, has deserted the outfit with 12 followers, all belonging to the Jamatia community, to surrender before the Assam Rifles. The desertion of one of the most dreaded guerrillas of the organisation has served a severe blow to the NLFT. The group may surrender formally to Assam Rifles next week. According to reports, Nayanbasi and his followers fled from the NLFT...

IMPHAL, February 18: Unidentified gunmen shot dead the ADC of Moreh this evening at about 6.45 at Moreh bazar, said police sources. According to reports received here the slain Moreh ADC, M Chaoba (50) was a resident of Keishamthong Hodam Leirak. He was posted as Moreh ADC only about 4/5 months back, said sources. Prior to the assassination the ADC had received a telephone call at his quarters, said sources and added that he left after receiving the call in his Gypsy along with the driver. The assailants who were apparently waiting for the ADC walked up to the Gypsy at Moreh bazar and pumped...

GUWAHATI, February 18: Anup Chetia, general secretary of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), currently under detention in Bangladesh, was on Sunday convicted by a Dhaka court and sentenced to three years in jail for illegal possession of foreign currencies of as many as 16 countries. Reports from Dhaka said Mohammad Humayun Kabir, the special tribunal judge, also fined Chetia alias Golap Barua 5,000 Bangladeshi taka or about $92 in addition to the three-year prison term involving 'hard labour.' Chetia, now 50, was arrested by Bangladesh immigration and security officials from...

GUWAHATI, February 18: The All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) has no objection in extending support to any national or regional political party which supports the cause of the Bodos in the ensuing Assembly polls, said the newly elected president of the ABSU Rabi Ram Narzary. Talking to The Assam Tribune, Narzary said that till date the ABSU has not discussed possible poll alliance with any political party. He said that the ABSU has already identified 31 Assembly constituencies to field Independent candidates. Narzary further said that the ABSU is in favour of maintaining good relations with the...

IMPHAL, February 18: The newly sworn in Chief Minister of Manipur, Radhabinod Koijam, accompanied by 13 other leaders of the state left for New Delhi today to hold consultations with Central leaders on the issue of expansion of the currently one-man People's Front ministry. The chief secretary, Rakesh has been given the responsibility of looking after the state administration by the Chief Minister during his absence, according to a reliable source. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Union Minister of state for food processing T Chaoba, Speaker S Dhananjoy, former Chief Minister RK Dorendro...