GUWAHATI, June 15 ? The decision of the State government to cut down on the ?salary and wages? component of the Annual Plan for the year 2003-04 has left it with additional Rs 480 crore for utilisation in development work. This amount of Rs 480 crore combined with Rs 61 crore ?one-time annual central assistance (ACA)? granted by the Planning Commission for the State in the current fiscal will put the State government at a slight liberty to go for sectoral as well as scheme-wise allotment of fund for various departments.

Minister of State for Planning and Development, Himanta Bishwa Sharma...

SHILLONG, June 15?Former Meghalaya Minister K C Boro was kidnapped by suspected NDFB ultras from Lakhipur in Goalpara district in Assam last night along with his wife. According to police sources here, Boro was going to Tikrikilla, in Garo Hills when he, his wife and driver of the vehicle were kidnapped. The former minister, however, reached Tikrikilla safely around 6 am today. His driver is also understood to have been released. But the former minister?s wife is still under custody of the suspected militants giving rise to speculations that Boro has been released to raise the extortion demand...

Guwahati, June 15: A Kuki militant organisation has taken up cudgels for Moreh residents who have received extortion notices from outfits of the Manipur valley.

A leader of the Kuki Defence Force (KDF), which professes to represent the aspirations of the state?s Kuki community, said his group would not tolerate attempts by any militant outfit to harass the people of the border town.

Moreh, located on the Indo-Myanmar border, is a predominantly Kuki-inhabited area.

?We have taken serious note of some valley-based and hitherto unknown organisations serving extortion notes on local residents...

DIBRUGARH, June 14?Three tea executives gone to the netherworld in a mater of a fortnight in the State is reason enough to explore some conflict resolution measures. As most cases of violence in the tea gardens in the state relate to labour unrest and their problems, labour leaders feel that a meaningful implementation of the Plantation Labour Act of 1951 would go a long way in ensuring peace in the estates.

Speaking to The Assam Tribune at length today, the general secretary of the influential Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha, Madhusudan Khandait said? ?We want an amendment to the antiquated...

Imphal, June 14: Manipur power minister Phungzathang Tonsing has denied allegations that he had gifted away a government vehicle and cash to militants, terming the charges as ?false and unfounded?.

The Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), a militant outfit, has accused the power minister of giving away a Maruti Gypsy allotted to the electricity department and Rs 2.6 lakh to a self-styled ?captain? of the outfit without informing the outfit?s leadership.

Police have confirmed that the vehicle was being used by armed militants in Churchandpur district.

A red alert has been sounded in the district...