Agartala, Feb. 24: In a novel inauguration, an elephant today presented a book called Hathi, Hathi (Elephant, elephant) to Tripura governor D.N. Sahay with a smart salute.

Parul Prakashani, the state?s leading publishing house, came up with this idea for the inauguration of its latest title, keeping in mind the state?s rich tradition involving the animals.

Tripura?s gigantic elephants, stalking its rich forests, have attracted attention from far and wide since time immemorial. So much were they coveted that they have also been instrumental in even inviting invasions.

In 1816, Mughal emperor...

Aizawl, Feb. 24: Human Rights and Law, a local NGO, today said Mizoram?s rights record was nothing to be proud of. Addressing a news conference here today, the organisation?s president, Vanramchhuangi, said they have received several requests from outside to do something to improve the record as the state ranks third in rights violation in the country.

?Our friends from other groups have asked that we do something about what they see as gross human rights violations in the state as we have been ranked third next only to Gujarat and Kashmir by a television channel. They want academic...

Agartala, Feb. 24: The countrywide 24-hour bandh called by the Leftist trade unions to press for a 22-point charter of demands, passed off peacefully. Yesterday, chief secretary R.K. Mathur issued a circular directing government employees to attend offices today, warning that unless they did so action would be taken against them.

Employees, however, stayed away from state and central government offices even though there was hardly any picketing. Students and businessmen also enjoyed a forced holiday.

There were no incidents of confrontation between rival party workers and supporters. Despite...

Aizawl, Feb. 24: The Mizoram People?s Conference (MPC) took another step towards disintegration with one former MLA and three party headquarters secretaries submitting their resignations today.

The troubled regional party of Mizoram has already been facing much difficulty. One sitting MLA F. Lalthanzuala and another ex-MLA H. Laltanpuia left the party in December after it suffered major setbacks in the November 2003 Assembly polls.

However, the trouble for the MPC seems to start only as tomorrow?s party general conference is going to witness a tug of war between the sitting president...

Medziphema, Feb. 24: The country?s top horticulturists congregated at the School of Agricultural Science Research and Development here today and exchanged their views on making the sector more sustainable in the Northeast.

Participating at a three-day seminar at the institution, more than 150 delegates from across the country are putting their heads together to prepare a horticulture roadmap for the region. The experts were working on a model for diversifying agriculture, especially in the Northeast, because the bio-diversity here and in Sikkim is ideal for horticulture and organic farming.

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