Dimapur, April 1: Condemning the abduction of German social worker Heinrich Wolfgang by Kuki militants in Manipur, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) today appealed to the abductors for his safe and unconditional release at the earliest in the interest of peace and justice for all.

The German national, working for the Financial Management Service Foundation as peace trainer, was abducted by militants of the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) on March 23 near Maphou dam area in Imphal East district.

Though it was initially believed that the abduction was carried out for ransom...

Guwahati, April 1: In a move that could open a Pandora’s box in the insurgency-ravaged Northeast, the Assam Assembly today began a debate on including the thorny subject of “sovereignty” in a dialogue between the Centre and the Ulfa.

The debate was prompted by a private member’s resolution moved by AGP members Dilip Kumar Saikia and Sarbananda Sonowal. The duo urged Delhi and Dispur to accept the Ulfa’s main condition for talks — inclusion of the issue of Assam’s “sovereignty” in the agenda — because the deadlock would never be broken if both sides remained adamant.

Initiating the discussion...

SHILLONG, April 1 — The sleepy hamlet of Lynshing went agog last Sunday. The villagers had an occasion to rejoice — a function to felicitate their representative in the Legislative Assembly, Martle Mukhim. With nothing much happening in this remote village in the war area of East Khasi Hills, the simple function turned festive. There was music in between short speeches by village elders. And there was arrangement for the traditional Khasi bamkhana literally meaning community feast.

Except for a few, almost all the 1400 villagers gathered in the village field and enjoyed every moment of the...

GUWAHATI, April 1 –The Assam Legislative Assembly today passed a unanimous resolution to declare Majuli river island a culturally protected area. The resolution, moved by Rajiv Lochan Pegu of the Congress was supported by legistators of all the parties and groups. Moving the resolution, Sri Pegu stressed the need for protecting the rich Satriya cultural heritage of Majuli. He said that though Satriya dance has been recognised as a classical dance form of the country, it may lose its originality if steps are not taken to protect the Satriya cultural heritage. He pointed out that the UNESCO...

GUWAHATI, April 1 – The failure of the Union Ministry of Water Resources to release funds for both the ongoing and new schemes since 1999-2000, has brought implementation of 71 flood management schemes in the State to a grinding halt, said State Water Resources Minister Nurzamal Sarkar here today. He was addressing a press conference.

Moreover, the Minister said, the Union Water Resources Ministry in its budget for 2002-2003 had kept a meagre provision of only Rs 10 crore for the State, which had a liability of Rs 54 crore for the ongoing and completed flood management schemes. However, these...