Guwahati, Jan. 28: A resurgent Prafulla Kumar Mahanta fired the first salvo in the battle for control of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), accusing president Brindaban Goswami of not leading the party properly.

The founder president of the AGP and former chief minister reached Tezpur, Goswami?s hometown, with his aides this afternoon and made a grand entry into the venue of the regional party?s three-day triennial conference. Slogan-shouting supporters in motorbikes and four-wheelers heralded his arrival there.

The election to the post of AGP president is slated for tomorrow.

Before leaving for...

New Delhi, Jan. 28: The Centre has decided not to divest its stake in the Bokajan factory of the Cement Corporation of India (CCI) because it has been consistently posting profits, unlike most other plants of the public sector unit.

This is the second instance of Delhi retaining its share in an Assam-based PSU after hinting at a selloff. The divestment axe was expected to fall on the Brahmaputra Valley Fertilisers Corporation Ltd in Namrup, too, but the government changed its mind and decided to pump in over Rs 600 crore to revamp it.

Between 1998 and 2003, the CCI unit in Bokajan recorded a...

Shillong, Jan. 28: Cellphone users here today decided to move court against the Centre?s directive to migrate to post-paid connections. The demonstrators, under the banner of Consumers Protection Forum, took out a procession today to protest against the move.

Reliance Telecom Ltd, the only cellphone service provider in the Northeast, has made it mandatory for its subscribers to migrate from pre-paid system to post-paid by depositing Rs 1,000, under New Delhi?s directive. The subscribers will file writ petitions in the Shillong bench of Gauhati High Court tomorrow.

Reliance authorities here...

Silchar, Jan. 28: Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga will inaugurate the region?s second border trade centre at Zokhawthar on the state?s border with Myanmar on Friday. Official sources at Aizawl said the centre would facilitate extensive trade in goods produced in India and Myanmar.

Minimum tariff would be slapped on the indigenous industrial and agricultural products to boost trade and curb cross-border smuggling, a source said.

The first trade centre at Moreh on the Manipur-Myanmar border was commissioned in 1995 following the signing of a protocol by the two countries.

Zokhawthar, a...

Mayodia, Jan. 28: Tucked away in the Upper Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh, Mayodia does not tease the senses like Tawang does or possess the picture-postcard ambience of Pasighat. But this tiny gateway to the Indo-China border is fast becoming the most-favoured destination of those who want to experience the magic of snowfall without having to go too far.

Mayodia Pass, located at an altitude of 2,655 metres above sea level, can be accessed through Anini town. It witnesses heavy snowfall in January and February, which is the period when adventure-seekers from Upper Assam throng the place.

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