MORIGAON, June 8 – The Cabinet Sub-Committee formed by the Government of Assam to study the demand for inclusion of Tiwa, Mising and Rabha autonomous councils into the Sixth Schedule of Indian Constitution visited Morigaon on June 5. The committee headed by Dr Bhumidhar Barman, Minister for Health comprising another three Cabinet ministers of Assam government met several Tiwa organisations, public representatives and examined the demand of 6th schedule autonomy to Tiwas.

As many as six organisations namely – All Tiwa Students’ Union (ATSU), Autonomy Demand Struggling Forum (ADSF), Sadou Asom...

GUWAHATI, June 8 – Despite Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s tall claims of peace having returned to the State, kidnappings in Assam seem to be witnessing a rising trend since he took over on May 2001. The latest kidnapping of a senior Minister’s son in the State has come as a big blow to the Chief Minister’s claims. There are also indications that extortion by militants is rampant across the State. Security sources revealed here today that since the Congress came to power in 2001, the incidences of kidnappings have increased steadily over the years. Thus, 82 people were abducted in 2001. In 2002...

NEW DELHI, June 8 – The deadline for downsizing of ministries may be less than a month away but the North East is about to have its first victim, with tremors shaking the Gegong Apang Government in Arunachal Pradesh.

Honeymoon between the BJP and Chief Ministerrevealed Gegong Apang seems to be shortlived and appears to be have been even shorter then the rival Congress Party calculated. Speculation is rife that Apang himself along with his ministerial colleagues may walk over to the Congress Party before the deadline of July 7.

Serious political crisis has hit Arunachal Pradesh, with Apang...

GUWAHATI, June 8 – At a time when the Assam Government is demanding declaration of floods and erosion in the State as a national problem, more than 30 flood and erosion protection schemes are pending at various stages of completion because of the failure of the Centre to release funds. State Water Resources Department sources told The Assam Tribune that 37 major schemes are at various stages of implementation, as the Central Government has not released funds for completion of the same. Sources said that the major schemes that could not be completed due to paucity of funds include the Palasbari...

Aizawl, June 7: Various organisations of the Barak Valley have united under the banner of the Northeast Plains People Traders and Youth Federation to resolve differences between the Mizos and the non-Mizos living in the region. In a letter to the Mizoram government, the federation said it was keen on working towards improving the relationship between the different communities living in the state and had even formed the Plains People Fundamental Rights Protection Co-ordination Committee for the purpose.

The letter said the committee had decided to convene a meeting of the various voluntary...