News

KOHIMA, Jan 30 ? Incidence of HIV infection among intravenous drug users (IVDU) has registered a declining trend but the ante-natal cases and the spread of the dreaded disease through sex is on the rise in Nagaland, the sixth most-affected state by HIV/AIDS in the country. The incidence of HIV infection among drug users appears to be reducing due to greater awareness and targeted intervention projects carried out by NGOs and Nagaland AIDS Control Society, state chapter of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) for the past couple of years, according to official sources here.

Although...

AGARTALA, Jan 30? Reports of sporadic clashes between political rivals are pouring in from various parts of the State as the poll fever grips the State. There were at least three fierce pitched battles between the ruling CPM cadres and Opposition cadres in West and Dhalai district. While two persons were injured one hut was also set afire by the miscreants. Police sources said, all measures are being ensured to prevent such fall-out and appeals were made to the political leaders to restrain their workers from going violent.

The District Magistrates (DMs) four districts of the State are also...

GUWAHATI, Jan 30? The All Assam Koch Rajbongshi Sanmilani and the All Koch Rajbongshi Students? Union have called upon the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to take immediate steps to include Kochi Rajbongshi community in the list of Scheduled Tribes.

In a memorandum to the Prime Minister, the Sanmilani and the Students? Union said that the Koch Rajbongshi community fulfils all the criteria required for inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes but unfortunately, the community was not included in the Comprehensive Revision Bill for SC and ST, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August...

SHILLONG, Jan 30 ? With the outstanding power-bills of the North East States due to North Eastern Electrical Power Corporation (NEEPCO) touching a staggering Rs 1395 crore, the NEEPCO has threatened to regulate power supply of the defaulting States. While the axe is likely to fall on all the States in the region in due course, action is initially expected to be taken against Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura as these States are yet to come forward to settle their dues, NEEPCO sources revealed.

The biggest defaulter, however, is Assam with the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) owing over Rs 912...

NEW DELHI, Jan 30 ? Amidst mixed reactions over his appointment as the Union Minister in-charge for Department of Development of the North Eastern Region (DONER), Dr CP Thakur has offered his services to mediate with the underground outfits, even as he emphasized the need to complete ongoing projects in the Region.

The unexpected shifting of Arun Shourie from DONER and his replacement by Dr Thakur has caught all by surprise here. Sri Shourie?s understanding of the complex problems facing the region and a close rapport with all section of the political leadership were among many advantages...