News

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...

Silchar, Dec. 19: The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) will “relieve” two senior Cabinet members from “ministerial duties” and assign them full-time party work in view of next year’s Assembly polls in Mizoram.

Party president and Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga, addressing the 37th “general assembly” of the MNF in Aizawl yesterday, said home minister Tawnluia and local areas development minister K. Vanlalauva would soon be asked to quit.

The chief minister said the two ministers were chosen through a consensus for their role in the MNF.

Assembly polls in the hill state are due in November...

Imphal, January 19: After six-long days of entertaining, delighting and informing Kolkattans and giving them an opportunity of getting a glimpse of Manipur its history and cultural heritage as manifested in its dance, music, martial arts, folk theatre etc., and also its crafts and cuisines, its art and cinema, the curtains finally came down on the 'Festival of Manipur - A culture of Peace', on this evening of 19th January 19, 2003. Budhadev Bhattacharya, the West Bengal Chief Minister graced the closing ceremony as the Chief Guest and Harsh Vardhan Neotia, Chairman of Swabhurni presided over...

Shillong, Jan. 19: In poll parlance, a sensitive booth usually connotes a place where the authorities apprehend violence. In a departure of sorts, polling stations within the striking distance of rampaging elephants in the hills of Ri Bhoi and other Meghalaya districts have also been declared ?sensitive?.

The Election Commission has sought help from the forest department to ensure that voting is not disrupted by the elephants, who are posing an ?equally serious threat?.

The state election commission today said the forest department has been asked to provide logistic support to polling...

Kohima, Jan. 19: Stressing the need to bury the hatchet among warring militant outfits in Nagaland, the Naga Hoho and the Church have submitted a ?unity formula? to the NSCN (I-M). The two influential establishments have sought a firm commitment from the insurgent outfit in this regard.

A delegation comprising Hoho leaders and Church representatives met Isak Chisi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah in New Delhi, apprising the duo of the need for reconciliation.

?The reconciliation is crucial to a permanent solution. We have made our stand very clear, that all other underground groups should also be...