Kohima, May 8: Authorities in Nagaland are suspicious of the high percentage of turnout of citizens to exercise their franchise in the parliamentary polls. Even as rampant proxy voting was recorded in Kohima on polling day by a team of journalists, statistics from other Assembly segments are more surprising.

In Longleng district’s two constituencies, Tamlu and Longleng, over 99.8 per cent voting was recorded. Only 33 persons from the 30,866 electorate in Tamlu have not voted according to the election office records here.

From the 16,790 voters in the Siyuchong-Sitimi Assembly constituency...

SHILLONG, May 8 – A new terrorist outfit by the name and style of the ‘Pnar Liberation Army’ (PLA) has emerged in the trouble-torn state of Meghalaya, police sources have indicated. The recent killing of an unidentified militant in Tibong village, near Damcherra in Cachar Hills district, has indicated the birth of the new outfit named after the Pnar (Jaintia) tribal Community, Director General of Meghalaya Police L Sailo told reporters. Tthe formation of the organisation could be due to the ongoing communal unrest in Cachar Hills district, in which people belonging to the Khasi-Pnar community...

GUWAHATI, May 8 – Guwahati, the gateway to the North-east, is fast turning out to be its crime capital as well, if the developments in the recent past are any indication. With its rapid expansion in terms of size and population, the city has witnessed a spurt in the number of crimes, including murder. But even more worrying is the fact that many of the murders have left the police clueless, with the culprits still at large. Swanomoyee Devi (98) of Jyotinagar was murdered on December 15, 2003 in broad daylight and her belongings, including a Maruti car, stolen. Success still eludes police...

GOLAGHAT, May 8 – International underground organisations having links with militant outfits like the NSCN and the Karbi National Volunteer (KNV) have set up a market on the Assam-Nagaland border in Golaghat district to sell arms, drugs etc, to the local ultras.

Local people here alleged that extremist outfits, aided by international groups, have set up bases in the border areas from where they have extended their illegal trade in drugs and arms and ammunitions. Such anti-social activities have made life miserable for the people here.

It has also been alleged that militant outfits...

Agartala, May 8: The Neepco has threatened to suspend power supply unless the Tripura government clears its dues immediately. The threat issued by the North Eastern Electrical Power Corporation (Neepco) by a formal letter yesterday sent officials of the power department into a tizzy because the state is facing a severe funds constraint.

Sources in the power department said the Neepco has demanded immediate payment of Rs 34.23 crore as dues.

They, however, stressed that much of this amount has already been paid and that efforts were on to convince the Neepco authorities about the actual...