Somewhere along the Assam-Meghalaya border, April 20: The Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) has accused the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) of floating an associate outfit, the Hajong United Liberation Army, to cover up its “misdeeds” in Meghalaya.

ANVC general secretary Wanding K. Marak told a group of newspersons here today that his outfit was being blamed for crimes committed by the NDFB with the help of its associate. He pointed out that his organisation had been wrongly accused of abducting customs official Dipak Mahanta and six others from Mahendraganj last month....

SOMEWHERE NEAR ASSAM-MEGHALAYA BOUNDARY, April 20 – The Garo Hills-based proscribed outfit A’chik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) today ruled out announcing ceasefire at the initial stage of the possible peace-talks with the Government of India (GoI). Talking to this newspaper, the ANVC general secretary Wanding K Marak said, “Like the erstwhile Mizo National Front (MNF), we are not keen to announce a ceasefire at the initial stage of peace-talks with Government of India.”

The ANVC leader said the outfit was eagerly awaiting a positive response from the Government of India for beginning of...

GUWAHATI, April 20 – The situation in strife torn North Cachar Hills district had improved considerably with no untoward incident reported during the last 48 hours, official sources said here today, reports PTI. Curfew has been relaxed in the district for 12 hours from 0600 hrs but night curfew continues to be imposed to prevent any untoward incident. The district authorities, headed by Deputy Commissioner Syed Iftikhar Hussain, held several meetings with various committees, including the Dimasas and Hmars to defuse the tension. Rail and road transport has resumed functioning normally though...

IMPHAL, April 20 — Manipur is proud of her rich avi-fauna with Mrs Hume’s barred back pheasant (Syrmaticus humiae) and Blyth’s tragopan found in the state being quite spectacular. The Khaleej pheasant found in Manipur is a rich mixture of steely black and white. The Burmese peafowls and jungle fowls are the other long feathered pheasants found in Manipur. But of late, several rare bird species are gradually disappearing from Manipur due to negligence and inactivity of the authorities concerned. Illegal trade in rare birds goes on right under the nose of the law protectors. These activities...

SILIGURI, April 19 — The Bhutan government is taking steps to curb activities of Indian militant organisations in the country, Bhutanese ambassador to India Lynpo Dago Tshering said here today. Tshering said that there were 20 camps of anti-India militants running in Bhutan, including nine operated by the ULFA. Of the nine, four were already destroyed by the Bhutan government, he said adding a number of new check posts were also set up at a great expenditure. Securitymen have blocked the entry points inside Dooars jungles usually used by militants to enter the Himalayan country, he said...