SOMEWHERE IN ARUNACHAL PRADESH, August 16 His name is Chipo Menon. He is the military and political supervisor of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) for Tirap and Changlang in Arunachal Pradesh. He holds the rank of 'Lt. Col' in the organisation and is considered a natural successor to Khaplang, who is reportedly suffering from prostrate cancer. "Chipo combines the shrewdness of his Malayalee father and the physical agility of his Wancho mother" remarked a military officer. What prompted him to drift towards NSCN (K) is not known. His father was an IAS officer, and so his...

SIBSAGAR, August 17: They take pride in identifying themselves as Assamese. They speak proudly about their glorious heritage. But, when asked to speak out their preference categorically in matters related to personal interest and archaeologically important sites they are encroaching upon, they prefer their personal interest to the archaeologically important sites or monuments, be it the Momaikata Garh, the Talatal Ghar, the Kareng Ghar, the Rang Ghar or the Phakuwa Doul (Jaymati Doul), among others. The state revenue department has armed them with "Myadi Patta" in most of the cases, making...

GUWAHATI, August 16: Differences still persist among the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leadership over selection of party candidates for at least two Lok Sabha seats out of the eight the party will contest in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, sources in the party maintain that differences will be sorted out and the party will to finalise the candidates on or before August 20. Three senior party leaders are keen to contest from the Guwahati constituency which was bagged by Congress in the 1998 elections. Former Lok Sabha member from Barpeta, Ataur Rahman, one of the party vice-presidents...

NEW DELHI, August 16: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has proposed to establish a National Register of Citizens besides promising to introduce multi-purpose identity cards for all citizens. Apart from making a passing reference to prepare the register, the NDA's agenda released here today by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee makes no mention about the foreigners issue or the insurgency problem of the Northeast. BJP's stand on the controversial Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act find no mention either. All that the 10-page manifesto says about its proposed programme...

GUWAHATI, August 17: The National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) today alleged that Indian intelligence agencies like the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) were involved in the recent attacks on the family members of NDFB activists. In a statement, B Erakda, secretary, information and publicity of the NDFB, said Indian intelligence agencies were worried over the recent agreement between the NDFB and the BLTF. He said the NDFB and the BLTF had decided not to fight each other and work jointly. Because of this, the Indian agencies were trying to create differences between the Bodo groups...