Maibang (N.C. Hills), Feb. 23: For Ruben Cashler, a “steam-engine buff” from Colarado in the US, the ride on a steam-hauled train to the last capital of the Dimasa kingdom was the best thing to have happened to him in a long time.

“The sonorous whistle of the mammoth engine, bellowing black smoke and chugging through green fields, dark tunnels and river bridges, was enchanting. I intend to come back with my friends, who are eager to see these steam engines in operation,” Cashler said after disembarking at Maibang.

The American was part of a group of tourists who made the special journey...

GUWAHATI, Feb 23 — A 1967 batch Telco-made steam locomotive came alive on Saturday chugging along the 64-kilometre-long metre gauge route from Lower Haflong to Maibong set in the picturesque surroundings of North Cachar Hills, as the NF Railway ventured into promotion of tourism along its 100-year-old Lumding-Badarpur Hill Section.

As the vintage locomotive steamed in and out of numerous tunnels along the route dotted by a large number of bridges standing since British days, it relived the memory of old-age train safari for many of the small group of tourists converging from different parts...

AGARTALA, Feb 23 — Congress ally Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) in its manifesto has sought to bring all the tribal ethnic groups under one umbrella, “Borok” nation and pledged to turn the Tripura Trial Area Autonomous District Council into “Borok Autonomous Regional Council.” The demand however invited sharp reaction from the ruling Left Front which felt the promise only smacks of INPT’s hidden agenda of ‘sovereign Tripura’s at the instance of the banned NLFT militants. The INPT also promised to identify the non-tribals who entered illegally, and deport them.

The tribal party...

JORHAT, Feb 23 — As a follow-up to the just-concluded first-ever Jorhat Bird Festival, a series of long-term measures to generate awareness, ensure security and facilitate proper roosting places for the migratory winged denizens was initiated in the district recently so as to make the overall environment avian-friendly.

The idea which was conceived by the Jorhat area MP Bijoy Krishna Handique, subsequently roped in NGOs like Prakriti, Keteki and Sewa to mobilise masses living in and around migratory bird habitats at Neamati, Kokilamukh, Jhanjimukh and Majuli, besides generating awareness on...

AGARTALA, Feb 23 — There are enough indications that the Election Commission which had earlier debarred the elite Tripura State Rifles from poll duties would reconsider the restrictions imposed on the force. Sources sad, the two Deputy Election Commissioners, Sayan Chatterje and Noor Muhammed during their visit here recently hinted that in view of the state administration and ruling CPI (M)’s requests the restriction would be withdrawn. The EC had earlier withdrawn the restrictions from two India Reserve Battalions of the TSR.

The Congress and INPT had alleged that the TSR was acting in a...