News

Kohima, Jan. 10: When the top guns of the NSCN (I-M) — Thuingaleng Muivah and Isak Chisi Swu — paid homage to the memorial of the apostle of non-violence at Rajghat, it hardly surprised anyone in Nagaland. The Mahatma has been a household name here since 1946 and is considered a “friend of the Nagas”. In contrast to the “lukewarm response” to the visit of the two leaders a day earlier, when TV channels beamed pictures of the two NSCN (I-M) leaders at Rajghat yesterday, Naga old-timers said “the gesture of the collective leadership was a reflection of the esteem in which the Nagas held Gandhi”...

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.

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Imphal, January 10: In a significant development the Central Bureau of Investigation, CBI has submitted charge sheet against former Chief Minister RK Ranbir and seven others including former PCS Secretary and FCS Director in connection with the 1991-1992 rice scandal involving over Rs 2 crore that rocked the State. Mention may be made here that the Special Court (PC Act) had on Jan 5 this year rejected anticipatory bail application filed by RK Ranbir. In its verdict, the court ruled that there was no basis for granting the pre-arrest bail and instead advised RK Ranbir to surrender to the Court...

NEW DELHI, Jan 10 – The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is likely to eventually take-over the Naga peace talks from the Government of India’s chief interlocutor, K Padmanabhiah even as the Central Government prepares the ground for holding talks on substantive issues. The day-one of the NSCN (IM) leaders began with a visit to Raj Ghat where they laid wreath on the Samadhi of the Father of the Nation. Accompanying them were about 100-odd other delegates mostly representatives of the various students bodies, NGOs, cultural organizations among others.

Like any visiting head of the State, the NSCN...

TINSUKIA, Jan 10: The dead body of North Eastern Coal Fields official, Pabitra Hazari, who was kidnapped by the NSCN(K) militants on Tuesday, was recovered this morning by the police inside the jungle. Hazari was kidnapped from the Malowpahar area while he was returning after inspecting the work at Tikok open cast mine.

Police got the information about his body at about 10 pm yesterday through the gaonburah of Malowpahar village. A note, signed by Commandant Salvati, where it was written that ‘this is the consequence of dealing,’ was recovered. His body bore bullet injuries behind his head...