New Delhi, Jan. 20: An expected Bodo agreement stumbled in the last stretch before breasting the tape, compelling the Centre to merely extend the ceasefire between the security forces and Bodo militants for a month from tonight.

The ceasefire, which had held the fragile peace in the Bodo region, was scheduled to expire tonight.

Expectations were high that an agreement would be wrapped up at the end of today?s tripartite negotiations between the Assam government, the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) and Union home ministry officials. Even a memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been prepared and...

JAGIROAD, Jan 18 ? The historical Jon Beel Mela at Jon Beel, five kilometres from Jagiroad town, got under way on Thursday with a three-day programme. The mela began with the feast offerred by Gova king Deep Singh Deoraja on the beach of Jon Beel.

It is pertinent to mention that the hill tribes surrounding the area come to that place and exchange their agri products with the food items from the plain tribes. That is, the ancient bartar system is still prevailing there till today. For this annual events, hundreds of tribesmen from Karbi Hill and Khasi and Jayantia Hills of Meghalaya reach here...

GUWAHATI, Jan 19? Trucks carrying fish to different parts of Assam as well as the other north-eastern States are being forced to pay thousands of rupees at the check posts all along the National Highways and ultimately the burden is shifted to the customers. According to the Assam Wholesale Fish Traders Association, the current demand of fish in Assam is met by importing fish from States like Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, as the local production is not adequate. The association said that recently the Assam Government had levied an entry tax of eight per cent, which is not...

GUWAHATI, Jan 19 ? Bhutan?s Ambassador to India Lyonpo Dago Teshring today said that it was in the interest of both the South Asian neighbours to strengthen peace and stability in both Bhutan and Assam. He said there is scope for mutual operation between Bhutan and Assam.

Ambassador Teshring, who was speaking at the Rabindra Bhawan here this evening while attending the launch function of the Assam chapter of the Indo-Bhutan Friendship Association, said that Bhutan and Assam have common interests and common concerns. Refraining from commenting either on militancy in Assam or on the presence...

SHILLONG, Jan 19 ? The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), J M Lyngdoh Saturday said that he was satisfied with the poll preparations in Meghalaya going to the Assembly elections on February 26. Addressing a press conference here, Lyngdoh said the preparation was much better than that of the last elections in 1998. The CEC said that he was hopeful that the election in the State would be smooth as the State was more peaceful than Tripura and Nagaland.

Lyngdoh praised the State election authorities for covering 80 per cent of the total 12,79,740 voters under photo Identity Cards, and said that...