News

Imphal, March 28: The Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) today owned up to the abduction of Bonn-based social worker Heinrich Wolfgang and said his fate depended on the outcome of a “weeklong investigation” by its cadre into the motive behind German funding of development projects in Manipur.

A spokesman for the militant outfit said Wolfgang would remain in captivity till such time the integrity of his NGO, Evangelicher Entwicklungs Dienst, was established.

The statement was issued even as a team of representatives of local NGOs and the Church was preparing to resume negotiations with the abductors...

SHILLONG, March 28 — Meghalaya Finance Minister Dr Donkupar Roy today presented a Rs 25.22 crore deficit budget for the year 2003-2004 but announced additional resource mobilisation measures to reduce the gap to the tune of Rs 5 crore only.

Presenting the first budget of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance Government in the State, Dr Roy hoped “it would bring in a ‘positive chance’ in the fiscal scenario in the State.” The budget estimates envisage an opening deficit of Rs 18.95 crore and a total receipt of Rs 14,428.04 crore against an expenditure of Rs 14,434.31 crore resulting in a projected...

NEW DELHI, March 28 – Bowing to growing pressure, Union Environment and Forest Ministry has ordered an inquiry into the death of an elephant in Chattisgarh last month that involved Parbati Barua, even as the lone woman elephant-expert held it was the lack of timely and efficient veterinary support and not training, which resulted in the death of the elephant.

The controversy surrounding the death of the wild tusker in captivity has generated a lot of heat with involvement of animal rights groups, NGOs and experts including former Union Minister, Maneka Gandhi who lodged a complaint against...

DIMAPUR, March 28 – “The Church in Nagaland sees that the Naga struggle will destroy itself and the Nagas unless the damaged human relationships that have pitted tribes, factions and parties against one another are addressed, healed and restored,” viewed Rev Kari Longchar, director, peace affairs, Nagaland Baptist Churches Council (NBCC), in his paper presentation titled “The Nagas Struggle and Crisis: NBCC’s Position.”

The 3-daylong seminar held here on “Peace and Reconciliation” laid stress on the role of the Church in shaping the thinking, values and living of all Nagas, besides pointing...

SHILLONG, March 28— Unscientific mining claimed the lives of atleast seven coal mine labourers in the Nangalbibra coalfields in South Garo Hills on Tuesday, according to delayed reports received here.

The miners accidentally dug into an abandoned mining hole at Dothichiring area following which water gushed out engulfing them. This also led to the collapse of the cave entrance, sources said adding that the toll is likely to go up as all the bodies are yet to be extricated.

Death of miners in cave-ins is common in the coal fields of South Garo Hills, where 40 workers were killed under similar...