Imphal, Feb. 27: After campaigning against drugs and liquor, the outlawed Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) of Manipur has imposed a ban on chewing tobacco. The RPF, whose crusade against social evils has earned it the image of an outfit with a conscience, said in a statement here that all brands of khaini and zarda should be neither sold nor consumed in the state from April 13. “Anybody who is found violating the ban will be punished without warning,” it added.

The outfit appealed to elders, especially parents and guardians, to advise their wards against chewing tobacco.

The RPF observes...

Imphal, February 26: In a significant ruling a Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court has asked the Centre and the State Government to pay Rs 2 lakhs to the family members of Laishram Bijoykumar who disappeared after he was picked up by Hindi speaking personnel on the intervening night of June 4 and 5, 1996. Laishram Bijoykumar, a resident of Thangmeiband Hijam Dewan Leikai and a martial art exponent and social worker disappeared after he was allegedly picked up by Hindi speaking personnel on the said night from his residence. Issuing the ruling, Justices Amitab Roy and IA Ansari asked the...

Imphal, February 26: The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in connection with raping of one Meinam Bina Devi of Luwang-shangbam Matai Mamang Leikai by a personnel of 25 Assam Rifles on October 6, 2001 has been moved before the Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court today. The PIL is being filed jointly by Human Rights Alert represented by its executive director Babloo Loitongbam and Human Rights Law Network (Manipur Unit) represented by its coordinator Nonibala Devi Yengkhom against deprivation of bodily integrity and invasion of sexual freedom of the victim. Meihoubam Rakesh, the counsel...

KOLKATA, Feb 26 – Seven persons, including five BSF personnel, were killed, three injured and a number of electronic voting machines were damaged in stray violence during polling for 60-member assemblies in the three northeastern states of Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya today, reports PTI. The turnout in Tripura was the highest – between 75 to 80 per cent, followed by 60 to 70 per cent in Nagaland and 55 per cent in Meghalaya. Taking into account the 50 per cent turnout in Himachal Pradesh the total turnout in the four states is 60 per cent, Election Commission sources said.

Five BSF...

NEW DELHI, Feb 26 — Railway Minister, Nitish Kumar’s second Railway Budget held a mixed bag for the North-East. At least five new trains being proposed to be introduced besides commissioning of the Rangiya Rail Division next month. The budgetary proposals evoked mixed reactions from MPs belonging to the North-East. But they admitted in the same breath that Nitish Kumar’s Budget is at least better than Mamata Banerjee’s Budget. The new trains promised to be introduced included Tinsukia-Mariani Express, a weekly Puri-Guwahati via Asansol, Dibrugarh-Amritsar via Varanasi and Lucknow also a weekly...