Dibrugarh, June 21: The “brain” of the Ulfa’s dreaded 28th battalion is back in action, sending security forces into a tizzy with a string of attacks in the twin districts of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia over the past few days. High-level police sources said quoting intelligence that the quartet of Prasanta Moran, Mridul Borpatragohain, Dibakar Moran and Antu Chowdang — known as master strategists — are back in the thick of action after the setback in Bhutan during the later part of last year.

“When these four leaders from the outfit’s 28th battalion get to work, it’s a bad omen,” a senior police...

Silchar, June 21: Known to be inveterate tea drinkers, Mizos are fittingly reaping the benefits of a tea revolution in their tiny state. As many as 343 small plantations sprouted in Mizoram during the past decade, and have now begun producing leaf which experts believe can be processed into high-quality tea.

P.K. Barua, assistant director at the Tea Board’s regional office in Silchar, said Mizoram CTC had the potential to be a blend of the Darjeeling and Assam varieties. “Such a blend of flavour and liquor could give Mizoram CTC a unique position in markets around the world.”

The nascent...

DIMAPUR, June 21 – The NNC’s self-styled Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) has expressed concern over the deplorable situation in the state saying that the common people are living in the grip of terror. The NNC said that the NSCN-IM cadres were freely moving around in several parts of the state creating terror and extorting money from poor villagers. “Our people are unable to stand up to assert their rights but have to suffer as silent lambs with calm resignation in the hands of destructive forces and elements alien to Naga way of life. Today the NSCN-IM portrays that image very clearly...

IMPHAL, June 21– The budget session of the Manipur State Legislative Assembly concluded this afternoon after passing of the Manipur Appropriation Bill 2004. The eighth session of the Manipur Legislation Assembly which commenced from June 14 was earlier scheduled to end on July 5 with fifteen sittings as per Business Advisory Committee decision. However due to the boycott stand of the Opposition, the session had to be proponed.

The 20-member Opposition in the House have been boycotting the session which was chaired by Speaker T N Haokip. Opposition said, they would not be able to attend...

SHILLONG, June 21 – Meghalaya assembly today deferred a privilege motion against an NCP member questioning ‘impartiality’ of the Speaker as the latter had sought the postponement saying he was not keeping good health. Speaker Martin M Danggo, who was to take up the matter today, informed the House his receiving a letter from NCP MLA Edmund Sangma requesting him to defer the privilege motion against him as he was ‘not well and undergoing treatment’ at the hospital.

Quoting a relevant rule, Danggo announced the deferment of the motion 'on any day within the session'. Earlier, the mover of the...