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Shillong, March 24: Meghalaya forest minister Sing Mulieh today defended the recent sacrifice of two leopards as part of a tribal ritual, saying he would personally not allow the law to get in the way of religion.

Members of a tribe that practises the Niam Tynrai religion sacrificed the animals, both of the Felis Bengalinsis species, during the Rong Khli or Shad Khla festival at Nongtalang in the Jaintia Hills.

Leopards are categorised as “rare and endangered” under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

The forest minister, who is from the Jaintia Hills, said he would not allow...

SHILLONG, March 24—Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy today assured the House that the State government would spare no efforts to ensure that the proposal of the Constituency Delimitation Commission to change the boundaries of the Shillong and Tura parliamentary constituencies are not given effect to.

Describing the move of the Commission as “a very emotional issue”, for the majority Khasi tribe in the state, the Deputy Chief Minister, who is also incharge of elections, urged all members and all political parties to give a united stand in opposing the proposals of the Commission.” Dr...

March 24: Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio’s call for a merger of all Naga-inhabited contiguous areas under a single administrative roof has once again ruffled the feathers of the three neighbouring Congress-ruled states.

Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam have reacted sharply to the NDA-friendly Nagaland chief minister’s remarks on “Greater Nagaland”, saying that such a demand was unacceptable to them. They were of the opinion that the statement could only add to the “confusion”.

During his visit to New Delhi last week, Rio had suggested to the Centre that all Naga-inhabited contiguous...

JORHAT, March 23 — Impressed by the unmatched cultural repository preserved at the Vaishnavite monastic institutions in the river island, Majuli, Lerici Foundation, which is an officially recognised implementing agency for UNESCO, and based at Milan in Italy, has evinced interest in undertaking a bilateral research project on the State’s archaeological treasures in collaboration with the Gauhati University.

With the Foundation recently deputing French archacologist Raphael Rousseleau, who works for the organisation, to inspect and assess several sites of historical, cultural and...

Kohima, March 23: Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio is considering creating two new departments, one for women and the second for the development of backward areas, in addition to the existing 76 in the state.

“The department for development of backward areas will concentrate on Tuensang and Mon districts,” Rio said in his maiden public address in Kohima during the “celebration of victory” ceremony today.

Planning minister Shurhozelie, Speaker Kiyanielie also attended the function. Kohima falls under Northern Angami-1 constituency.

Rio said the two new departments would be created after...