NEW DELHI, Feb 12 ? In a big boost to NDA?s ally gathering spree, two regional parties of the North East including Mizo National Front (MNF) and Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra (INPT) have formally joined the ruling alliance. While MNF was formally admitted into the NDA fold yesterday by Defence Minister George Fernandes, who is its convener, a formal alliance between BJP and INPT was announced by BJP spokesman and Union Commerce Minister Arun Jaitley here today.

Meanwhile, in a letter to Mizoram Chief Minister, Zoramthanga, the Defence Minister welcomed the MNF into the NDA. "The NDA...

NEW DELHI, Feb 12 ? Taking a serious note of the unabated illegal infiltration from across the border, the Supreme Court today directed the Central and the State Governments of Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and West Bengal to file a status report on the latest position within four weeks. What is significant is that the three-member Bench of Justice Rajendra Babu, Justice GP Mathur and Justice AR Laxman directed that the petition on IMDT Act pending before the apex Court be posted for final hearing. The hearing on the writ petition filed by Sarbananda Sonowal challenging the validity of the IMDT...

IMPHAL, Feb 11 : Amidst the controversial construction process of the women?s market sheds in and around Khwairamband Keithel, in the busiest market places in the heart of Imphal town, a design committee for the construction of these markets sheds was recently constituted in the State. The committee has been authorised by the State authority to work out the needful, reliable sources said here on Tuesday.

The four member design committee for the construction of the market sheds have been constituted on January 29 last with eminent artist and scholar Thoidingjam Tombi as it?s chairman...

New Delhi, Feb. 11: After months of hectic negotiations, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has roped in yet another coalition partner in the Northeast. It has finally managed an agreement with the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) in Tripura, an organisation that has a support base among the state?s tribal population.

The agreement was signed by BJP vice-president Pyarelal Khandelwal and INPT general secretary Rabindra Debbarma at the party headquarters today in the presence of other delegates from both sides.

The joint statement that was prepared after the meeting...

Imphal, Feb. 11: The Bishenpur superintendent of police escaped a militant ambush today but four of his escorts were hit by bullets. The injured included the driver of the vehicle. Five passersby, including a soldier on leave, were also injured in the crossfire.

Official sources said a police team, led by P. Dhanakumar Singh, the SP, was patrolling the Imphal-Churachandpur Road for Ibobi Singh?s convoy to pass through when the militants struck.

Singh?s team was crossing the Thongjaorok bridge under Bishenpur police station when militants fired at his vehicle from both sides of the road. The...