The flood situation remained grim in Assam on Tuesday, with the deluge inundating 167 villages in the largest river island Majuli besides washing away a baby rhino in Kaziranga National park.
Thirty nine militants including 32 from the banned United Liberation Front of Asom surrendered before the Indian Army's on Friday at the headquarters of the 21 Mountain Division at Rangiya about 45 kilometers from Assam's capital Guwahati. Of the 39, 32 were from the 709 battalion of the ULFA while four are from Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front and three from All Adivasi National Liberation Army.
Meanwhile, Dr Singh on Monday gave assurance to 24 religious and cultural heads (satradhikars) of Vaishnavite monasteries from Majuli, the largest inhabited river island in the world, to continue the campaign for acquiring world heritage tag for the endangered river island located in the bosom of mighty Brahmaputra River in Jorhat district of Upper Assam.
Laying the foundation of the 500-bed Jorhat Medical College Hospital in Upper Assam on Monday, Dr Singh informed that the Planning Commission had estimated that there would be shortage of about 1 million nurses in the country in the next 10 years. In this regard he said given the scope, the 'educated and progressive women' of the north-east would be able to make good doctors and nurses to cater to the countrywide need of medical professionals.
There has been a disturbing trend in the state of arrested militants going back to the ranks of the banned outfit once they are released from the jail. An official source informed that the state is trying to take a leaf out of an existing act in neighbouring Meghalaya that was formulated to ensure longer jail term for the militants.
Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar on Saturday met representatives from various NGOs in Meghalaya, in an attempt to acquire their consent for uranium mining in the state.In view of the opposition to uranium mining by various NGOs and at least two political parties the Hill State People's Democratic Party and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement the state government had earlier constituted two expert committees to study the possible impact of mining.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will make a whirlwind tour of Assam and Tripura on August 25- 26, according to official sources in Guwahati.
A journey towards the picturesque Tawang through pristine hills of Arunachal Pradesh can't be complete without a stopover at Jaswantgarh Memorial that stands testimony to an Indian soldier's unparallel bravery.
A 300-strong Chinese delegation including military personnel, their families and civilians from across the border came to an Indian Army post located at 15,300 feet atop the Arunachal Himalayas to celebrate the 62nd Independence Day in response to an invitation by the Indian Army.
The proscribed United Liberation Front of Assam has acquired a new generation of Improvised Explosive Devices, the Army has recovered an IED equipped with double-detonators from a bus at Bilasipara in Goalpara district in Western Assam.
ULFA's fugitive chairman, Arabinda Rajkhowa, stated, "We call upon the entire people of our region to boycott and prevent the celebration, in any manner, of India's Independence Day in our Region on 15 August 2008 to consolidate our solidarity in the struggle for liberation from Indian colonial occupation. On this day, a general strike shall be observed throughout the Region from 01:00 am to 6:00 pm.
The Assam government has decided to take stringent measures against medical students who graduate from government colleges but shy away from joining government hospitals to serve the people of the state.The government has already slapped legal notices on 32 such post-graduate doctors to join government hospitals, failing which they will have to pay back the full cost of their medical education. The state has faced a serious shortage of specialist doctors in govt hospitals.
Assam has sounded a red alert in the wake of serial blasts which rocked in Ahmedabad and Bangalore.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi hoped that the fugitive ULFA commander in chief Paresh Baruah would realise the ground realities in the state in the wake of people's show of support to the peace overture of the pro-talks faction of the outfit led by Mrinal Hazarika, former commander of the 28th battalion of the group.
The ULFBV is active in the southern Assam districts having borders with Bangladesh. The outfit has been involved in raiding government establishments in the interiors of South Assam, extortions and abductions for ransom. It has been taking advantage of inter-state boundary with Manipur and Mizoram besides the India-Bangladesh border to dodge the counter-insurgency operations by the police and Army in the South Assam areas.
In a statement e-mailed to the media by the central publicity wing of the ULFA, the outfit has accused its breakaway faction of hatching a conspiracy against the ULFA leadership in the name of mobilizing public opinion for unconditional talks between the ULFA top-brass and the Indian government.
Notwithstanding the latest reverses it has suffered at the hands of security forces and because of the split that has appeared in its ranks with two crack companies declaring unilateral ceasefire, the ULFA still poses the greatest challenge to security forces in Assam.
A Major of the 10th Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry posted at interior Montuk area in Manipur bordering Myanmar was shot dead by havildar Ashok Kumar inside his room in the base camp of the Army unit on Tuesday evening, according to defence sources.
The Congress MP representing Barpeta Lok Sabha Constituency in Assam, AF Golam Osmani who is known for his running feud with the state party leadership, has dropped enough hints that he may abstain for casting his vote during the trust vote. It may prove disastrous for the UPA government if the MP plays truant on July 22.
The Naga rebel group is furious over the 'Centre's attempt to neutralise it in collusion with its rival faction -- NSCN (Isak-Muivah)'.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances