Imphal, January 11: An all-party emergency meeting presided over by Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today conveyed to the Centre that the territorial integrity of the state would be maintained ‘at any cost’.

The meeting was held in the wake of the NSCN (I-M) leaders’ demand for formation of ‘greater Nagaland’ placed during the ongoing peace talks with the Centre in Delhi.

The resolution adopted at the meeting said the people of Manipur would ‘‘unitedly oppose attempt by any authority to disintegrate the state’’.

‘‘The territory of Manipur belongs to Manipuris (different communities...

IMPHAL, Jan. 11. — An all-party ‘peace-talks monitoring cell’ was set up here today with chief minister Mr O Ibobi Singh as its convener following what is viewed here as disturbing signals regarding the territory of Manipur emanating from the NSCN (I-M)-Centre talks.

“I will even give up my chief ministership if it would save the territory of Manipur from being divided,” Mr Ibobi Singh said. “We are are ready to meet the eventuality at any cost,” he added at the em-ergency meeting of all state political parties that was hastily convened at 10.30 a.m. at the CM’s conference hall here. It was...

Imphal, Jan. 10: The gunbattle between guerrillas of the Manipur People’s Liberation Front (MPLF) and jawans of the Border Security Force continued for the third day today in Sajik Tampak area of Manipur’s Chandel district, bordering Myanmar. In yet another show of firepower, the MPLF last night launched simultaneous attacks on security forces at eight separate places in Manipur. Though the attacks did not result in any casualty, they did trigger confusion among law-enforcing agencies.

The rebels attacked Assam Rifles outposts at three places — Keirak, Kongjom and Wabagai — in Thoubal...

Shillong, Jan. 10: The Congress is likely to face a stiff challenge in the two Meghalaya districts of East Garo Hills and Ri Bhoi in the forthcoming Assembly polls. Considered as traditional Congress bastions, the two districts, represented, among others, by former chief ministers S.C. Marak and D.D. Lapang, are likely to be affected by the “anti-Congress wave” created by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Another factor likely to hurt the party’s prospects is the “agreement” between the NCP and the United Democratic Party (UDP) to help each other out in key constituencies.

Also doing...

New Delhi, Jan. 10: The first meeting between deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani and the NSCN (I-M) brass was warm and cordial, with the visitors again complimenting the sincerity of the Centre’s efforts to understand and resolve the Naga problem. “We were warmly welcomed by the deputy Prime Minister,” NSCN (I-M) chairman Isak Chisi Swu said after calling on Advani in North Blo ck along with secretary-general Thuingaleng Muivah.

Although both sides were tight-lipped on the issues discussed, the NSCN (I-M) leaders clearly indicated the broad framework on which the substantive talks would revolve...