News

AIZAWL, April 30 – The 12-hour bandh called by Mizoram's three major Opposition parties paralysed normal life but passed off peacefully, reports PTI. Except policemen and a few bandh organisers, people did not venture outside as all the Central and State government offices, financial and educational institutions remained closed.

The organisers, the Congress, Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) and Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) combine, called off the bandh at 1530 hrs, one-and-a-half-hour earlier "as the bandh was a total success."

The bandh was organised in protest against the alleged...

GUWAHATI, April 30 — The final notification for the conservation of the historic temples at Hajo by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is under preparation and it is expected to be carried by the Gazette of India within a short time. Already, the ASI has issued the preliminary notice for the purpose. The Gazette of India carried it in its December 9, 2003 issue. According to the rules, objections to the Gazette notification, if any, should be made within two months of the publication of the same. According to ASI sources here, there was no objection to the preliminary notification. The...

SHILLONG, April 30 — Mining of the uranium deposits in the West Khasi Hills would ultimately bring in rich dividends for Meghalaya as a whole, Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) authorities have reiterated in the wake of prominent NGOs of the State vehemently opposing the proposed project. Advisor to the UCIL, CF Lyngdoh told reporters that if allowed, mining of uranium in the Domiasiat area of the West Khasi Hills would actually lead to economic progress of the people of the State at large.

Brushing aside apprehensions of hazardous radiation, Lyngdoh said, if required, people living...

GUWAHATI, April 30 —Faced with near starvation, dispirited bands of militants belonging to both the ULFA and the NDFB are terrorising even the lower middle class people all over the State for money. The latest incident in Karbi Anglong, where two railway employees were shot dead by NDFB militants, is an indication of that, security officials say.

According to security sources, bands of militants are moving around the State without any support from their respective organisations. Evading the security dragnet and without any cash, they are now forced to target even the people belonging to lower...

NEW DELHI, April 30– India has asked for details of the recent arms seizure in Chittagong even as Bangladesh reiterated its claim about presence of wanted terrorists and criminals in the country. The five-day Border Security Force (BSF) and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) talks that started on an uneasy note yesterday saw both sides engage in claims and counter claims. While the BSF delegation denied the contention of its counterpart, Dhaka appeared reluctant to share details of the arms seizure estimated at about Rs 1,000 crore maintaining that investigations were still on, sources said.

The five...