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Shillong, Jan. 22: The NCP?s one of the high-profile candidates-to-be ? chief minister F.A. Khonglam ? may, in fact, be denied nomination for the coming elections. Khonglam?s ?indecisiveness? ? he has so far masked his poll plans in secrecy ? may cost him an NCP ticket, with the patience of party leaders fast running out. Irked party leaders questioned the chief minister?s intentions, asking him to either formally apply for a ticket or declare if he wanted to go to the voters as an Independent.

NCP leaders are also angry over the fact that Khonglam, of late, has landed in several...

New Delhi, Jan. 22: The NSCN (I-M) today appeared peeved at Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh?s claim that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had assured him of not altering the state?s boundary, seeking a clarification from New Delhi on the issue.

However, the talks, which were extended by a day, remained unaffected.

The fact that the negotiations did not fall through was a breather for both sides, indicating that they were committed to a negotiated settlement. The NSCN (I-M) leaders, however, were not at all charitable to Ibobi Singh?s claim on the Prime Minister?s assurance.

Real...

NEW DELHI, Jan 21 ? The shifting stands of the Assam Government and hawks within the Bodo leadership have emerged as the prime factor for the breakdown of peace talks with the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) leading to a stalemate. While both the Assam government and the BLT packed their bags and left for Assam, the sudden turn of events, however, left the Central Government peeved. The draft Bodo Accord was kept ready and an appointment with Deputy Prime Minister, LK Advani was fixed for his presence in the accord signing ceremony before the deadlock forced the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)...

GUWAHATI, Jan 21 ? In the Sanjay Ghosh killing case, seven prosecution witnesses today deposed before the ad-hoc Additional Sessions Judge Kamrup P K Phukan here, reports PTI. The witnesses were all residents of Majuli river island in upper Assam where social worker Sanjoy Ghosh of Avard-NE was working and abducted by the ULFA on July 4, 1997.

None of the witnesses turned hostile. One of the accused, ULFA cadre Kaniya Hazarika, who was charge-sheeted by the investigating agency CBI and is in judicial custody now, was also present in the court. The next recording of another witness would be...

NEW DELHI, Jan 21 ? The formal round of negotiations between the Union Government and the NSCN (IM) got underway here today, even as the Central Government has shelved plans of immediately appointing a political interlocutor. The day-long talks between the Government of India and NSCN (IM) was held in two rounds at a secret location away from the media glare. The NSCN (IM) delegation was led by chairman, Isak Chisi Swu and included Th Muivah, their spokesman R H Raising, Grinder Muivah and Samson Jajo among others.

The Government of India was represented by its chief interlocutor, K...