GUWAHATI, May 22? The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is preparing itself to take over the responsibility of internal security duty or counter insurgency operations from the Army in the Northeastern region. The Inspector General of CRPF, North Eastern Region, Raj Deep Singh today informed that as per the recommendations made by the Group of Ministers formed by the Central government, the CRPF was expected to relieve the Army of its responsibility to counter the insurgents in the region and other parts of the country as well by the end of the year 2005.

The para-military force is now...

GUWAHATI, May 22? For the forest guards of Assam, armed with outdated weapons, it is becoming impossible to deal with heavily armed militants, who frequent the reserve forests as well as poachers who have also started using sophisticated weapons like AK Series rifles. The Minister of State for Forest Pradyut Bordoloi admitted that the forest guards are hopelessly under-equipped to check felling of trees and movement of militants. For example, most of the forest guards in Kaziranga National Park are armed with only .315 rifles, while, in a recent incident of poaching, the poachers used AK-47...

SHILLONG, May 22 ?After over a decade, investigation and drilling of uranium deposits by the Uranium Corporation of India (UCI) have resumed in Meghalaya, reports PTI. The UCI has conducted geo-physical survey in Domiasiat area of West Khasi hills and was now negotiating with the individuals. The State government was not involved in the process, Chief Secretary J Tayeng told reporters here Saturday.

Process of excavation of the precious mineral had begun in Meghalaya in 1992 as Rs 450 crore were earmarked for the pilot project but it was reportedly abandoned due to protests from local people...

GUWAHATI, May 21 ? Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) has netted a profit of Rs 174.63 crore during the year 2002-03 registering an increase of 42 per cent compared to last year?s profit. The Board of Directors of the NRL has recommended payment of 30 per cent of the net profit as dividend for the year 2002-03 to shareholders of the company including Assam Government, BPCL, OIL and Oil Industries Development Board (OIDB). The sale of the company during the year 2002-03 rose by 24 per cent to Rs 2805 crore from the previous year?s sale of Rs 2261 crore, lower crude throughput due to lower N-E...

SHILLONG, May 21 ? Meghalaya government today rejected NCP general secretary PA Sangma?s claim of being a facilitator of talks between the Centre and insurgents, saying that the Centre did not authorise anyone to facilitate talks, between some insurgent groups of the state and New Delhi, reports PTI.

?We have received a letter from Union Home Secretary N Gopalswamy saying the government of India has authorised nobody to negotiate with militants of Meghalaya,? state?s home minister R G Lyngdoh told a press conference here.

Sangma, a Lok Sabha member from Meghalaya?s Garo Hills region and...