News

UKHRUL (Manipur), Dec 26 — The Assam Rifles had been successful in minimising the activities of the NSCN(I-M), though the outfit is still recruiting cadres and carrying out extortion nearly a month after the ban on it was lifted, according to a senior AR official, reports PTI. NSCN (I-M) cadres are sticking to ground rules of the ceasefire, but are carrying on recruitment drives and extortion in Ukhrul district, the operational area of the Assam Rifles, AR Commander 10 Sector Brig V Suresh Nair told reporters here Monday. The outfit is also operating with the militant Kuki Liberation Army (KLA...

TURA, Dec 26 — Coal export from Garo Hills to Bangladesh which was supposed to take off from early October is likely to begin any day now. The export of coal from Gasuapara coal export point in South Garo Hills was hampered due to threats by militants of the banned ANVC who wanted a cut. The militants are believed to have demanded 25 lakh rupees as ‘tax’ for the export which is alleged to have been paid by the coal dealers’ association of Gasuapara. Peoples Liberation Front (PLF), another militant group, has also demanded over one crore from the exporters as ‘tax’ Coal from Nangalbibra is...

GUWAHATI, Dec 26— Illegal Bangladeshi migrants are eying Mukong Selek Jonai Tribal Belt along Assam-Arunachal boundary in Dhemaji district much to the chagrin of local tribal population there. Already over 5000 ‘non-bonafied’ persons with doubtful citizenship status are trying to settle down in the far-flung belt at the expense of the sons of the soil from that area while the local administration is turning a deaf ear to the repeated demands from Mukong Selek Jonai Tribal Belt Protection Action Committee for eviction of these illegal occupants from the area.

The Action Committee office...

NEW DELHI, Dec 26 – In a poor reflection of endeavour of the North-eastern states, all the states in the region including Assam have missed targets of compensatory aforestation, even as questions have been raised about the manner in which the Supreme Court’s direction has been interpreted. For all the tall promises made by these States to conserve its forest resources, it has little achievements to show for results, if the accomplishment of compensatory aforestation is anything to go by. Worse still State like Manipur has not even bothered to prepare a working plan to conserve forest, while...

GUWAHATI, Dec 26 – The Central government’s promise of providing an amount of Rs 500 crore during the 9th Five Year Plan period for taking up flood control measures remained on papers only as the State received only Rs 54 crore during that period, highly placed Flood Control Department sources said. Sources told The Assam Tribune that during the last two years of the 9th Plan period, the Department did not receive any money from the Central Water Resources Ministry. The funding pattern for the 10th Five Year Plan period is yet to be finalised, but the Department has submitted detailed project...