New Delhi, Feb. 8: Back from another peacemaking mission to Bangkok, Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga said leaders of as many as three militant groups of the Northeast were expected to visit New Delhi within a month to begin negotiations with the Centre.

The militant leader-turned-politician met leaders of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) and a couple of other groups during his visit to the Thailand capital. He undertook the mission at the behest of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Zoramthanga said he held ?extensive? discussions with the NSCN (I-M) leadership on...

CHAPAR, Feb 7 ? The river Manas is creating havoc in North Salmara subdivision of Bongaigaon district for the last few years. It has eroded villages, educational and religious institutions, cultivating land and fisheries in Mererchar, Dubachuri, Sikatari and Madhufal areas.

The river which flows through a densely populated area here, has been changing its meandering course every year, and in the process swallowing up hundreds of bighas of land every year. In Dubachuri, it has eroded the villages, the paddy and horticultural fields fisheries out of which the masses earn their daily bread...

NEW DELHI, Feb 7 ? North East Peoples Forum?s (NEPF) bid to turn into a formidable regional political force has run into rough weather, with the majority of the region?s BJP State units expressing strong reservation to the proposal preferring to fight the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls alone.

The BJP Central leadership after taking note of the views of the State BJP office bearers assured them that a final decision would be taken in consultations with them. If the prevailing mood of the BJP State units were any indications then alliance with regional parties could be ruled out. The Assam State...

Guwahati, Feb. 7: Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) president Brindaban Goswami has finalised the first list of the party?s new executive committee after marathon sessions with his supporters and senior leaders of the party. Though a majority of the 106 office-bearers were finalised yesterday during discussions at his chamber in Dispur, three more names were added during a second round of discussions at his residence today.

The ones included today are Biraj Sharma (vice-president), Padma Hazarika (finance secretary) and Atul Bora (general secretary).

Goswami will announce the second and final list by...

MPHAL, Feb 4 ? As many as 23 persons have been killed in insurgency related violence in different parts of the State in the first month of the new year. The deaths occurred either during encounters between security personnel and insurgents or the victims were killed by unidentified armed persons. On January 1 a sergeant of the outlawed Revolutionary People?s Front(RPF) identified as Khundrakpam Arunkumar alias Bimol of Takyel Kolom Leikai was killed by the personnel of 33 Assam Rifles during an encounter near Lamjao at about 4 am.

On January 5, constable Brajanglal of 14 Bn CRPF was killed in...