News

IMPHAL, Dec 30 –The year 2002 was marked in Manipur by a spurt in insurgent activities and hectic confabulations among the non-governmental organisations and the political parties in the State who resolved on April 31 to protect territorial integrity of Manipur at a meet organised by the United Committee Manipur at State Guest House here. There was a State-wide protest against the Centre’s decision to extend ceasefire purview between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Issak-Muivah) – NSCN-IM) to Manipur. The State also witnessed spontaneous public outcry...

SHILLONG, Dec 30 — What is a gain for Meghalaya, is a loss for Assam. The Union Government on December 20 rescinded its earlier order shifting the Commissioner of Central Excise Office from Shillong to Guwahati. BJP State president Dr W Kharshiing, told newsmen here yesterday the Union Government in a new order issued on December 20 has notified that the Central Excise office would remain in Shillong. The Centre had earlier ordered the shifting of the Central Excise office to Guwahati following an appeal by the MPs from Assam on the ground that the State was responsible for 90 per cent of the...

ITANAGAR, Dec 30 — Scheduled Tribe Commission chairman Dileep Singh Bhuria today said that no constitutional body should ever try to snatch away the basic rights of the tribals, which they have been enjoying since the time immemorial, over ‘jaal’ (water), jungle (forest) and ‘zamin’ (land), and described the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, as an irritant to them, reports PTI. Addressing a press conference here, Bhuria, who is on a five-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh to assess the welfare of the Scheduled Tribes, expressed his concern over large-scale eviction of the tribals in various parts of...

AIZAWL, Dec 30 — In a welcome break from the past, Mizoram was largely free from militancy throughout 2002 but collapse of peace talks with Bru militants and frequent agitations by state government employees demanding pay hike from a cash-strapped administration remained areas of concern during the year, reports PTI. Stray militancy-related incidents hit some of the state’s areas bordering Manipur but no civilian or security personnel lost lives due to militant activities, in sharp contrast to previous years. However, more than 70 associations of state government employees frequently launched...

NALBARI, Dec 30 — Two major militant outfits — the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) — have losing ground as in the current year 2002, they have lost altogether 590 cadres — 83 of them killed in encounters, while the rest of them either surrendered or were arrested by the security personnel. The security were also successful in preventing all new recruitments. Police and other security personnel engaged for counter insurgency in Nalbari district which is considered a hotbed of insurgency made a significant development in combating...