SHILLONG, Nov 21 ? Chief Minister DD Lapang has been accorded ?Z? category security cover by the Centre keeping in view the increased threat perception. Stating this here on Friday, the Chief Minister said that besides the usual ?Z? category security cover, he would be allotted a separate bungalow in New Delhi.

Reiterating that Meghalaya is a peaceful state, Lapang, however reasoned that he was given the country?s top security cover as ?taking advantage of the peaceful situation, militants from other states are entering Meghalaya.?

Several militants, including those from the ULFA and NDFB of...

SHILLONG, Nov 21 ? Enhanced economic co-operation between the United Kingdom (UK) and India is helping the North East, British High Commissioner to India, Sir Michael Anthony Arthur has claimed.

Addressing a press conference after holding discussions with Meghalaya Governor MM Jacob, Chief Minister DD Lapang and senior Government officials here on Friday, the High Commissioner said Indo-British relations were currently ?very buoyant.?

?A host of statistics amply indicate how this relationship is flourishing,? he pointed out, adding that bilateral trade of goods and service between the two...

DONGKAMOKAM, Nov 21 ? It is strange that most of the develop-ment funds released by the Central or State Governments for the development of Karbi Anglong district are being diverted right under the nose of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), to NC Hills. Wozor Mukhrang, joint secretary, United People?s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), expressed his deep concern in a press release.

The release further stated that Khorsing Engti, Chief Executive Member (CEM), KAAC, hardly attends the secretariat office of the Autonomous Council 30 days in a year. He either stays at Howraghat or Guwahati...

KOKRAJHAR, Nov 21 ? The golden langur (Presbytis geei), a critically endangered primate species found only in a few select parts of Assam and Bhutan, is waging a grim battle for survival ? thanks to the rapid degradation and fragmentation of its habitat.

Listed in the IUCN Red Data Book 2003 as ?globally endangered,? the golden langur?s habitat is restricted by the Brahmaputra on the south, and by the Sonkosh and the Manas on the west and the east respectively. At present its population is estimated to be around 5,000, spread over the habitats in Assam and Bhutan, according to a recent survey...

NEW DELHI, Nov 21 ? Jnanpith awardee Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami, who is trying to broker peace talks between the Government of India and outlawed ULFA, has resented the killing of ULFA cadres by the Army. Reacting to the recent incidents, Dr Goswami said that at a time efforts were on to start a peace process, the gruesome killings by the Army was uncalled for. The cadres could have captured alive and put behind bars, she said.

The Delhi University professor said that she got herself involved only after ULFA gave her to understand that they would keep off violence when the peace process was on...