Centre-NSCN (IM) talks in Bangkok in March 
The crucial round of peace talks between the Centre and NSCN (IM), scheduled to be held in New Delhi but postponed due to forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, will be held in Bangkok in March. Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga, a former rebel and facilitator in the Naga peace talks met Mr Muivah and others in Bangkok recently to prepare the groundwork for the upcoming Naga negotiations and discuss certain problems that had cropped up in the peace process. In the last round of Centre-NSCN (IM) talks also held in Bangkok in last December, it was decided that the next round of talks would be held in Delhi early this year. However, this round of talks had proved quite tough with Mr. Muivah insisting that the Centre had closed the door on a future settlement as the Prime Minister during his visit to Nagaland last October had remarked that formation of ‘Greater Nagaland’, the key demand of NSCN (I-M), was impossible without a political consensus.

SERC in Tripura  to check revenue losses 
The Tripura government has appointed a single member State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) to determine power tariffs and give licences for new power projects, in a bid to rein in heavy revenue losses due to subsidy. State Power Minister Manik Dey said the National Thermal Power Commission (NTPC) Chief Executive Officer Sashanka Sekhar Chakraborty would be Chairman of the Commission, which was constituted under the directive of the Union Government.

6th Schedule status to all ethnic tribes: Gogoi
All ethnic tribes would be conferred the 6th schedule status and uniform development of all the tribes would lead to overall development of the State, stated Chief Minister Mr Tarun Gogoi while addressing the open session of the 6th Tiwa Xahitya Xabha at Amsoi in Nagaon district. The Chief Minister also said that economic development of all the tribes alone could bring peace in the State. He insisted that per capita income must be at par with the national figure. He also added that Xahitya Xabha could help in maintaining peace and prosperity in the society. Chaired by the outgoing president Tulsi Bordoloi, the open session was also attended by several ministers and MLAs of the State.

11th district of Nagaland inagurated 
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has recently inaugurated Paren, the eleventh district of the state. The new district, which was curved out from Kohima district, is 139 kms away from the state capital Kohima and has an area of 2,300 sq km with a population of 16,825. Nagaland, which obtained statehood in 1963, had seven districts. In 2001, Dimapur was curved out of Kohima district. As assured in the manifesto and the common minimum programme of DAN for better administration, the DAN Government inaugurated two more districts of Kiphire and Longleng, curved out of Tuensang district on January 24 and 26. Mr Rio said the DAN Government has taken several measures for pursuing implementation of all commitments in the CMP.

NSCN (IM) seeks clarification     
The NSCN (IM) has given a month’s time to three senior politicians of Manipur to clarify their position in connection with the kidnapping and subsequent murder of eight-year-old Elizabeth, daughter of Manipur Minister Francis Ngajokpa, alleging they were involved in the incident.  A party spokesman said that James Kuki alias Letsei Haokip, the alleged prime accused, who is at present in the custody of the outfit after being captured at Dimapur last month, told the NSCN activists that he had visited two senior ministers of Okram Ibodi Ministry and ‘Manipur Speaker’ immediately after the murder of the girl in last November. NSCN (IM) information and publicity in-charge Kraibo Chawang said at Dimapur: “We want a clarification from the persons concerned.” Chawang said they would give one month’s time to the politicians for “clarifying their positions and the outcome would be bad if they failed to do so.”

Rape accused kills wife, children  commits suicide      
An accused in a rape case hacked his wife, son and daughter to death and later committed suicide at Shantirbajar in South Tripura district. Police said Billal Mian (40) killed his wife Mahiroom Bibi (28), son Amir Hussain (10) and daughter Ria Begum (8) while they were asleep. Billal, a vegetable vendor, later committed suicide by consuming poison. He was accused of raping a village girl about two years ago. The victim subsequently committed suicide. The judgment in the rape case is due to be pronounced in the next couple of days, the police said.

Army advocates adequate security for Nathula Pass   
The Army is not against opening up of the Nathula pass near the Sino-Indian border in Sikkim but have advocated that adequate scurity arrangements be put in place. Maj Gen Prakash GOC of 17th mountain division said, “We are all working towards one goal. The opening up of Nathula is expected to bring about economic benefits to the region and the Army will be in the best position to help out in that.’’ The 17th mountain division of the Indian Army is in charge of Sikkim. However, he said the Army had some security concerns that had been forwarded to the Government. “We only need to take certain steps to take care of the security concern. Why should we be oppose Nathula’s opening?’’ Major General Prakash asked. He said clearance to start work on infrastructre for Nathula would shortly come and work would start within a few months. Major General Avadesh Prakash replaced Major General Deepak Anand as the GOC of 17th mountain division this January. 

ABSU to back  five candidates   in LS polls    
With the dates of Lok Sabha polls already announced by the Election Commission, the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) has stepped up preparations for the electoral battle and decided to back candidates in five LS seats in the State. Addressing  the press at Sikhna Jwhwlao Jothumsali here today, ABSU president, Rabiram Narzary,  said that his organisation would support five candidates in the parliamentary polls. He, however, did not reveal the names of the candidates and constituencies.

Priest arrested on charge of cheating  
Boodan Chandra Kurmi alias ‘Ma Manasha’, a priest of Ma Manasha Than at Merali Pathar, Chabua, was arrested by Doomdooma Police after receiving complaint against him from one Arup Jyoti Deka and Gadhadhar Chellang of Doomdooma under Tinsukia district. Kurmi, who boasts of having good relationship with various political leaders and bureaucrats, which include APCC president Pavan Singh Ghatowar, Assam Assembly Speaker Pritvi Majhi, Excise Minister Rameshwar Dhonowar, has been allegedly engaged in cheating several people with promises of giving them job, contract, transfer, promotion, etc. The priest has been doing this by showing his photographs with these political leaders and ministers. He has also been demanding huge amount for this. In this way, he allegedly collected lakhs of rupees by cheating people. In the same way, Kurmi had allegedly tried to dupe Deka and Chellang by giving them order copy of licence to run Tinsukia State Excise Warehouse, but the order copy was found to be false and fabricated.  

Assam Minister receives Animal Welfare award  
Assam Forest Minister Pradyut Bordoloi has been awarded by the International Fund for Animal welfare (IFAW) for his work towards the wildlife protection. This is the first time that this award is being given to a politician in India. The IFAW is a US based organisation working for conservation of  bio-diversity and animal   welfare having 65 offices   across the globe.

Meghalaya Govt accused of neglecting poor
The Opposition bench in the Meghlaya Legislative Assembly took a dig at the Governor’s address in the Assembly, by terming it as a reflection of the Government’s “lack of direction and distorted plan-orientation” and demanded a clarification. The Opposition took on the Government on twin issues of development and law and order. Lauding the Government in its efforts to tackle militancy in the State, they, however, pointed out that the police had failed to contain other anti-social activities. Terming the law and order scenario in the State as “disturbing”, they urged the Government to streamline the police department and work towards making it vibrant. Developmental activities were largely confined to the urban areas while the villages grossly neglected, they said adding the Government was working in the interest of the affluent section of the society. Basic amenities and facilities for education are not available in the majority of Villages, NCP member Ardhendu Chaudhury all eged during his speech on the motion of thanks to the Governor in the State Assembly.

Naga doctors remove “gigantic” tumour  
Doctors at Dimapur Civil Hospital have extracted a “gigantic’’ tumour weighing 9.75 kgs from the abdomen of a 50-year-old woman. The tumour, medically termed as “uterine fibroid’’, was removed after a three hours of intricacies at the operation theatre by a team of doctors, led by Dr Victo Wotso and Dr Reho Kheya. The doctors said although such ‘’abnormal-sized’’ tumours are not unnatural

Diagnostic information  centre at Agartala   
To provide world-class medical facilities to the people of Tripura, two of eastern India’s leading hospitals Calcutta Medical Research Institute (CMRI) and BM Birla Heart Research Center (BMBHRC), together launched an information-cum-facilitation center at Jainagar, Agartala recently. Set up in association with M/s Vivekananda Diagnostic Centre of Agartala, the new information-cum-facilitation center will provide information and assistance to patients requiring specialised treatment at Kolkata. To better serve patients and save them from making frequent trips to Kolkata, the center will shortly set up a Telemedicine clinic at its premises.  

Tele-medicine centre at Anipur hospital    
Tele-medicine Centre at RIMS Hospital established under the technical support of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Bangalore and North Eastern Council, was inaugurated recently. Governor Arvind Dave was the chief guest. Speaking at the function, Mr. Dave said that the Tele-medicine Centre will help to a great extent in ameliorating the sufferings faced by the people living in far- flung areas of the state on the medical front. Any effort made by the government for the welfare of the people becomes meaningful only when the benefit of the same is available to the people, he added. The Governor also asserted that tele-medicine is not a new branch of medicine but is actually the delivering of special medical care to the people living in remote areas by  specialists.

Manipur Governor frowns at ministers  
Manipur Governor Arvind Dave has pulled up ministers as well sports officials of the State for the sliding graphs of medals and the dilapidated condition of the infrastructures at the Khuman Lampak sports complex. Mr. Dave who was speaking on the occasion of Sanaroisingi Numit (Players Day) at the Raj Bhavan said, being a sportsman himself and great enthusiast of various games,  he is closely observing the sports achievement of the State for the last three years. Recalling the Vth National Games held at Imphal in 1999, the Governor said in that mega sporting event Manipur got 49 gold, 24 silver and 39 bronze along with the Raja Bhalindra award. However in the latter year till 2003 there is a great downfall of medals despite the participation of state players in several competitions. Why such a downfall, the governor asked. Terming the matter as serious Mr. Dave said it is high time that the matters be discussed among ministers and sports officials and coaches. It is also per tinent to interact with players and locate the reason for the downfall. While giving his candid suggestion the Governor remarked that formulating a sports policy is easy but it will not yield any result if the policy matter remains in paper only. Something has to be done, he added. “It’s a pity that infrastructures of the Khuman Lampak sports complex has been on the decline,” he said.

New UNICEF representative   for Assam  
Rodolf Schwenk has been appointed the new UNICEF State representative for West Bengal and Assam.

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