It is expected that the first result will be available by 9.30 am. With EVMs in place, counting should be fast and error-free.

Results will be telecast live by Ri Khasi channel from 8 am onwards. CNN-IBN, in collaboration with The Shillong Times, will also carry special coverage on the poll results and anaylise political ramifications of the verdict or the lack of it.

The general expectation is that, as in the past, no single party is going to get absolute majority, and coalition is an inevitable reality.

Therefore, it will have to be seen which combination of the parties cobble up a lasting coalition. Political situation in the interregnum is going to be fluid. A total of 324 candidates, including 69 Independents and 19 women, are seeking their electoral fortune this time round.

Hundreds of poll officials and counting agents of candidates will be involved in the vote counting.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made at all the counting centres to ensure that no unauthorised persons enter the centres during counting of votes.

Besides placing several counting tables at all the centres, the Election Department has put up a result board near the Secretariat building to help people keep track of the latest results or learn about the winners.

In East Khasi Hills, three counting centres in Shillong have been arranged for counting of votes for 17 constituencies in the district, while votes for Sohra and Shella constituencies will be counted at the office of SDO (Civil), Sohra.

Counting of votes for Nongspung, Sohiong, Mylliem, Malki-Nongthymmai, Laitumkhrah, Mawlai, Nongkrem and Mawsynram constituencies will be held at St Anthony's College, while the vote count for Jaiaw, Mawkhar, Mawprem, Laban, Sohryngkham and Dienglieng seats will be taken up at U Tirot Sing Indoor Stadium.

Forest Silviculture Building will be the vote counting center for Lyngkyrdem and Nongshken constituencies.

Congress had put up 59 candidates followed by UDP (53), NCP (48), BJP (23), MDP (18), LJP (18), KHNAM (16), HSPDP (15), GNC (4) and CPI (3).

The March-3 elections saw Meghalaya record the highest voter turnout of 89.5 per cent since its statehood.

Election to Baghmara constituency has been rescheduled for March 22 due to the demise of sitting MLA and Congress candidate Sengran Sangma.

Meanwhile, ahead of Friday's vote counting, all eyes are set on former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma.

Many people have contended that the 2008 Assembly elections will be the "ballot test" of the Garo strongman's career.

Sangma, who returned to the State politics in this Assembly elections, has apparently put up a formidable fight against the Congress, even as exit polls have suggested a clear edge to the 9-time member of Parliament.

Almost all "exit polls" gave full marks to Purno Sangma's NCP in the veteran's home turf.

The NCP has fielded 50 candidates, which comprise young educations, technocrats and sportspersons.

Sangma, who is also the chief ministerial candidate, is pitted against Independent MLA Billykid Sangma in the prestigious Tura constituency.

SHILLONG: Ka Dorbar Ki Nongsynshar Ka Ri Hynniewtrep (Federation of Khasi States) has urged upon the new government, to be installed in a few days from now, to notify formation of an interim Meghalaya Adivisory Council of Indigenous Chiefs to be headed by the Chief Minister and serviced by the Planning Department and set up a Transparency Commission to curb corruption in the State.

The organisation made the appeal on Thursday in view of the election manifestos of majority of political parties stressing on the need to empower traditional institutions and work for clean, efficient and corruption-free governance in Meghalaya.

"The Advisory Council should comprise representation from the various traditional heads like Syiem, Daloi, Lyngdoh, Sirdar, Sordar Shnong and Rangbah Shnong. It should also have three representatives from among District Council Affairs Department, the media, women, youth and organisations of farmers and entrepreneurs," Federation of Khasi States chairman John F Kharshiing told reporters here.

He said the proposed Council should be provided a mandate to propose suitable legislation in the State Assembly within a period of three months.

It may be noted here that during his tenure as Chief Minister Late BB Lyngdoh had appointed a High Power Committee comprising MLAs to frame a legislation on empowerment of traditional institutions. The committee was also notified by the State Government on February 22 1989. Nothing, however, was heard about this committee later on.

Mr Kharshiing also suggested setting up of a Transparency Commission instead of the Vigilance Commission, which, according to the organisation, should tie up with Transparency International of Berlin to set transparency standards in major government departments of PHE (for potable drinking water), Health, Agriculture, Community and Rural Development (C&RD), Power, Industries, etc.

"Many large public sector units such as GAIL, OIL, etc have already tied up with Transparency International (TI) which has raised their transparency rankings in the corporate world. Unfortunately, India ranks 72 in the TI index of least corrupt countries," Mr Kharshiing added.

The process to ink the deal with Genpact was put on hold due to the poll code of conduct, but now the proceedings have been put on fast track and the agreement is expected to be signed in a fortnight's time, IT Minister RG Lyngdoh said.

The foray of the BPO major is in line with reports that the Tata Consultancy Service has also signed an MoU with Assam government for its entry into the region.

With IT giant Symantec also entering into the region for devising educational programmes, Lyngdoh hoped that other IT companies would now follow suit and tap the huge human resource potential of the region.

"Every year thousands of educated youth from North-East are going out and mostly being employed in IT-enabled companies, which includes Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs).

The youth will now have a reason to smile as BPOs are setting up shops in the region," he said.

A total of 150 acres of land have been kept aside for setting up of IT estate in Meghalaya, the Minister said, adding that free wi-fi connection will be distributed in the business hubs of state capital.

"Setting up of the BPOs in the North-East will reduce the training and operation costs of the companies and it will also help the employees to save their income," he said. (PTI)

Shillong: Resentment prevailed among students here over the timing of severe power cuts ahead of Board and University examinations in Meghalaya.

This was the second time that the Meghalaya State Electricity Board (MeSEB) had to resort to load-shedding especially at a time when the examinations are round the corner.

The MeSEB decided to effect load-shedding after the water level at Umiam dam reservoir had reached its dangerous level due to scanty rainfall coupled with large consumption of power by the industries at Export Promotion Industrial Park in Byrnihat.

''It is a big shame that the government has failed to provide electricity ahead of examinations,'' said a local student Ivan Sohtun, who accused the government of preferring industrial units to the students.

UDP, an ally of the ruling Congress-led government, also lashed out at the government for its defective power policies.

UDP spokesman BM Lanong said Meghalaya should have extracted the power dues worth more than Rs 100 crore from the Assam government.

''The state government could have used the money to purchase power from outside to tide over the crisis in the state,'' he said.

The Khasi Student's Union has also urged the government to relax the hours of load-shedding in view of students preparing for their upcoming exams in the State.

MeSEB officials, who had to face people's criticism here, said the Board was equally concerned with the ongoing power-cuts and said they were hard-pressed to take this drastic step due to shortage of monsoon rain last year.

However, MeSEB officials said the only solution lay in continuous rain for ten or twelve days to fill up the Umiam dam reservoir, the power life of the State. (UNI)

Earlier, the woman had lodged an FIR with the police that her step-daughter identified as Lina Lamin had gone missing from her residence at Lawsohtun here since February 20.

Police also informed that as per the statement of the stepmother, the girl’s real name is Ragni Devi and not as stated in the FIR (Lina Lamin).

However, police informed that they have asked the mother to produce the girl and the father within one week.

It may be mentioned that the matter has also been taken up by the Childline.

SHILLONG: BJP and NCP units of R&R Colony Welfare Society on Thursday clarified that the clash that took place on March 6 at R&R Colony was not a political conflict but it occurred due to "personal reasons."

This article will miss the punch lines because it is written a day before the election results. It will in fact appear just a couple of hours before the final countdown. But perhaps anticipation has its own thrill because as of now, all 331 candidates are winners. Call it delusion of grandeur or optimism gone bananas, but every candidate you talk to is a sure-shot winner. Some are already preparing for the grand feast and the victory march, their chances being as bleak as the Iceland snowstorm, notwithstanding.

Now why should a contestant not be upbeat until the results are declared, a friend queries. Don't all examinees hope to pass the examination even if they have not been able to answer all the questions and have filled their answer scripts with baloney? I guess that is what people call the 'never say die' attitude. Ironically this buoyancy is not that of individual candidates alone. Every party is hopeful of getting a majority and forming a government on its own. While we know this is political masochism and the foolhardiness of desperadoes, it also shows just how difficult it is for political parties to articulate the stark reality. To say that the United Democratic Party (UDP) is winning four out of four seats in Ri Bhoi district is not just dim-witted but to have the faith of Job.

Meghalaya may be the lowest ranking state in the country insofar as governance is concerned but we have made our share of headlines. We have the richest candidate and a woman to boot. Who says women are not empowered? Ms Deborah Marak owns a whopping 112 crores. This translates to an enviable 28 million dollars and places Marak in the same league as the Tatas, Birlas and Ambanis of this world. We do have a lot to cheer about. If Ms Marak as Deputy Chief Minister for a very brief while owns so much, think of the assets of the Chief Minister and his two male deputies. The only problem is that Marak is a woman candidate, a former MLA/minister and not just a pretty wife zealously nursing the assets of her better half as some women here are doing.

If someone were bright enough to do a wealth ranking of the wives of the three above-mentioned men, the results would send make us dizzy. You see, this proves the adage that women are more transparent than men. So Deborak does not even wince when she boldly declares her assets both financial and otherwise. We women need more than a fig leaf to cover ourselves and therefore prefer to let our endowments speak for us. Proponents of the Mait Shaphrang Movement are right when they say that Khasi men own nothing. They spend so much energy earning that they are good at nothing else thereafter. Oh the poor Khasi male! Are they not an emasculated lot?

While people disdainfully discuss Ms Maraks assets there is also an unmistakable glint of greed in their eyes and the million dollar question as to how she made it into the super league. Should she lose the election, Marak would do well to sit down and share her secrets in one of those bestselling 'how to do it yourself' books on creating wealth through politics. I can guarantee she would sell 2.7 million copies in Meghalaya alone. The rest would be lapped up by Indians who also have a definite penchant to 'get rich quick'. If she wins this time then at the end of five years she would have made enough to write an even better magnum opus. As a woman I am proud that we have one compatriot who is financially more empowered than all the sixty men put together. On International Women's Day we should invite Ms Marak to talk to us instead of listening to all the insipid whining about 'the man on top and woman below' kind of clichéd narrative. In fact Ms Marak's story is so inspiring it calls for another NDTV story, don't you think? She will soon be named along with Mayawati and Jayalalitha complete with the birthday bashes that have a 200 pound cake. But shame on you men for being beaten hollow by a woman!

Mind you Meghalaya has 27 crore-patis. This is no mean achievement. And we all know where this money has come from. Someone with a creative mind should design giant-sized Thank You cards and send one to the Planning Commission, one to the UPA Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi and one to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Without their patronage how could our simpleton politicians earn their millions? And considering that we have entered the Guinness record for drums, guitars, this, that and the other, now we need to enter the ranks of the Fortune 500 companies but as political entrepreneurs. Would that not be innovative? By 2013 we will have thousands competing for those sixty seats. After all don't we all have a right to the pie in the sky? I invite all my friends who watch from the sidelines and drool at somebody's millions to do the following. Gird your loins now. Fold up your sleeves. Get ready to plough the constituency of your choice. Let us all run the race in 2013 or maybe even sooner.

Now while we discuss millions there are some guys who believe power is more potent. Campaigning in Tura, Dr Mukul Sangma speaking in chaste Hindi said, 'Hum mein hukumat karne ka takat hai'. Good one Dr Sangma! Your hukumat in the Power Department yielded Rs 8 crores from the hand-picked companies who signed the memorandum of understanding with you. Where has the 8 crores been credited, pray? What happens if the deals are called off? Will the onus then not fall on you to repay the companies when they sue Meghalaya for retracting from the stinking deal? For you it is a do or die situation. To save your skin you would need to cobble together a government where you can do the 'hukumat'. But with whom? UDP? They are all for scrapping the Agreement. With the NCP? It is a tall order getting your bete-noire to see eye to eye with you on this one. So any which way you turn the tide does seem to have gone against you. But am I speaking too soon?

Dr Mukul Sangma must have taken a break from campaigning to watch Jodha-Akbar. Where else could he have picked up the term 'hukumat' which Hindi speaking friends swear is a term used by Mughal kings to describe their rule over slavish subjects with an iron hand (takat). Ironical that someone from the backwaters of Garo Hills can use such an imagery in a liberal democratic set-up such as ours. But it is possible that Dr Sangma uses that kind of language with his voters, many of whom allegedly cross the borders every day to swell up his vote bank.

So there you are people. Prepare yourselves for the shock and the surprise. It is as yet touch and go and one is unsure who will have the 'takat' to sit on the 'gaddi' and 'chalao' their 'hukumat' for the next five years. Sounds like Meghalaya has suddenly back-slided into the Mughal Raj. I know that a good number of candidates have already planned their maiden speeches for the upcoming budget session. Indeed we will all be glued to our television sets to see them taking their first few tentative steps in the House. Some pollsters believe that an 89.05% turnout means that ghosts have not been completely eliminated. Whether this is possible in a scenario where the EPIC is mandatory and security forces are literally breathing down the voter's neck is debatable. But it may not be entirely impossible wherever vigilance is slack and election officers are threatened.

They say people have come out in large numbers because they want to assert their rights and want a change. Whether they have done it the right way or been short-changed with money while at the queue is anybody's guess. When a TV crew interviewed an elderly lady in Mairang and asked her who she would vote for, she gave a toothless grin and said "Bah Kitdor Syiem". What does that tell us? That some people live on in their constituents' memories and it is easy to mobilize them by calling on the name of the dead.

That is political awareness for you! But die-hards like me never give up hope in a hurry. We are still expecting change even if that means a change of a few faces in the Assembly. Who wants to watch incoherent saints yawning away their big mouths in the House? But I must warn the Assembly Secretariat. They will have to prepare a room not for cat-napping but for members who sleep through sessions. There are a couple of geriatrics who might need to be shifted to a bed because they snore too loudly during business sessions.

Meanwhile, people keep your chin up and fingers crossed as we await the results in orgasmic anticipation.

The Congress, for once, seems to have played its cards well. It has done so by taking an extravagantly populist measure in the budget which has befuddled its opponents. Curiously, if it hasn't attracted much criticism from the economists, the reason perhaps is that they have recognized the electoral potential of the waiving of farmers' debts to the tune of Rs 60,000 crore. The massive size of the package can be gauged from the fact that it amounts to providing Rs 15,000 to each of India's 40 million farmers. The government has clearly tried to be pro-aam admi with a vengeance.

Since the known preference of the "neo-liberal" corporate sector and the "pink" papers is for Manmohan Singh's pro-reforms agenda, the economists and the business magnates are evidently willing to swallow the bitter pill of this huge "socialistic" expenditure in the hope that it will help the Congress in the state elections and in the next general election. In fact, there is now every possibility of the next general election being brought forward to just after the monsoons to enable the Congress reap the benefits of its generosity to farmers.

In addition, there is another crucial factor. It is the nuclear deal, which may well be signed and sealed before long. The belief is that as the Congress climbs the popularity chart with its profligate pro-poor steps, which also includes extending the rural employment guarantee scheme all over the country, the party will push through the deal, which is also favoured by the "pink" papers and the tycoons. The probable time table is that a substantive step will be taken in the next few weeks, thereby challenging the Left to pull down a patently aam admi government. If that happens, the Congress's expectation is that the please-all budget, which has sops for the middle classes as well, and the n-deal will help the party face the electorate with great confidence.

One of the calculations which may have guided the Congress is that the Left, which is facing internal trouble in both its strongholds of West Bengal and Kerala, has lost some of its earlier clout. In all likelihood, its tally of Lok Sabha seats will drop from the present 61. As such, it is no longer necessary for the Congress to let the Left dictate terms as it has been doing over various issues, including the reforms agenda and the nuclear deal.

As such, it is no longer necessary for the Congress to let the Left dictate terms as it has been doing over various issues, including the reforms agenda and the nuclear deal. The Congress probably also believes that the surge which the BJP experienced in the aftermath of the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections is over. While Narendra Modi has realized that not everyone in the centre, especially Rajnath Singh and Sushma Swaraj, will help him fulfil his national-level ambitions, an even more serious problem has cropped up for the BJP because of the antics of Raj Thackeray.

The Congress probably also believes that the surge which the BJP experienced in the aftermath of the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections is over. While Narendra Modi has realized that not everyone in the centre, especially Rajnath Singh and Sushma Swaraj, will help him fulfil his national-level ambitions, an even more serious problem has cropped up for the BJP because of the antics of Raj Thackeray.

As it is, the party's relations with the Shiv Sena have not been very smooth in recent months in view of the latter's support for Pratibha Patil in the presidential election and for Sharad Pawar for the prime minister's post. Now, with both Raj and Uddhav Thackeray playing the anti-north Indian card, it is obviously impossible for a major north Indian party like the BJP to go along with its saffron ally in Maharashtra.

What is more, the violence unleashed by the Navnirman Sena in Mumbai and elsewhere in Maharashtra, and by the ABVP in Delhi university, has again focussed attention on the saffron camp's propensity for creating trouble to drum up support. It is unlikely that such tactics will endear the BJPs to one of its main groups of supporters, the increasingly consumerist middle class, which prefers an orderly life so that they can eat, drink and be merry.

It is for these reasons that the Congress may have believed that an election later this year is preferable to one at the scheduled time in 2009. And taking a leaf out of Indira Gandhi's highly successful garibi hatao campaign in 1971, the Congress has tried to shift its focus from the high growth rate to an overgenerous package for the underprivileged. In doing so, its celebrated band of economic experts from Manmohan Singh to P. Chidambaram to Montek Singh Ahluwalia have evidently chosen to ignore the textbook warnings against fiscal imprudence.

Since loan waivers can undermine the banking system while the employment guarantee scheme is already said to be draining away funds without creating any assets, the government has evidently decided to depend on "bad" economics for the sake of "good" politics. Yet, this is inescapable in a still largely poor country where excessive emphasis on the market forces can prove to be politically damaging since it can suggest an element of heartlessness to the suffering of the poor.

Considering that suicides by farmers had reached scandalous proportions, the government clearly had no alternative but to make a massive allocation for the countryside. Now, it will have to wait to see whether its economic profligacy will be electorally profitable. (IPA Service)

Sir,

The Meghalaya Election Watch (MEW) survey revealed that 27 aspiring Members of Legislative Assembly are crorepaties. The topper is Ms Debora C Marak, Health and Family Welfare Minister. Well, she has looked after her health and family very well, but not her constituency. Rongrenggri is one of the most backward and poorest constituencies in the state.

Shockingly DD Lapang's name is missing in the list of crorepaties. Will any body believe that he is not a crorepati? He should actually top the list.

'Crorepaties' and corruption! Are they inter-related? Certainly yes. If not, where on earth all the wealth come from? If the crorepaties say that their wealth came through fair means then they should also declare their source of income in the affidavit.

Noted columnist Patricia Mukhim has rightly suggested that rich tribals do not deserve income tax exemption. The government of India should levy income tax on the rich tribals. In this way they will be made to pay something back to the society.

In the list of crorepati candidates is also a former ANVC cadre, who is contesting from Rajabala constituency. His assets worth Rs 37. 67 crore. Many leaders of militant groups, which are under ceasefire with the government, are building huge 'palaces' for themselves and their kin. Yet, no one asks where from the money came. The government also does not do anything in this regard.

In list of corrupt states of North-East, Communist Tripura is at the bottom. 'Christians states' like Meghalaya and Nagaland are most corrupt. In Nagalnad, candidates publicly admit to distributing money to the voters. Is it not a breach of election code of conduct? Wonder what the Election Commission will do!

Yours etc.
Albert Thyrniang
Via e-mail

Sir,

Politicians have opened a Pandora's Box by recommending the names of their leaders for the highest civilian award of the country ie; Bharat Ratna. This has created a controversy by many people jumping into the bandwagon and recommending various names for the awards. The authorities have conveniently taken a shortcut by dispensing with the Bharat Ratna award this year. This is an escapist policy and not a panacea for the problem. We Indians have the uncanny knack of treating the symptom and not the disease. It is ironical that there have been no clear cut criteria or guidelines for selecting the awardees. Consequently the ruling party used to give this award for their henchmen and favourites. We Indians especially politicians and bureaucrats are consistently following a bad precedent of showing loyalty to the boss. It is high time we should make a change in this attitude and try to achieve organisational/Company/National objectives rather than appeasing their bosses

I suggest the following guidelines for Bharat Ratna and other Padma awards

1. Politicians and people who are directly involved in politics should be excluded from the purview of this award.

2. Sycophants, flatterers, leg pullers, back baiters, liars and people with crab mentality, ego etc should be automatically disqualified from consideration of award

3. Achieving personal glory should not be a consideration for the award unless it is matched with improving the country's image in the outside world

4. Canvassing or lobbying for the award by the candidate or his near/dear ones should be treated as a disqualification

5. Award should be given to living legends and should not be given posthumously

6. The jury of the Award should consist eminent personalities drawn from various fields like Art, Literature, Culture, Sports, Public Service, Science & Technology etc headed by an eminent serving or retired Supreme Court judge

7. People who have given outstanding contribution in any field can be considered for the award

8. In addition to outstanding achievements the candidates being considered for the award should have impeccable human virtues like honesty, integrity, patriotism, morality, sacrifice, selfless service etc

9. The candidate being considered for higher awards should be a true nationalist and should feel free from the clutches of caste, region, religion etc

10. The award winner should be a role model for others to emulate

11. Candidates being considered for the award should have pride as an Indian National and should be proud of Indian Culture, Civilization and traditions

12. People who have raised the image of the country by their outstanding deeds should be considered

13. Unsung heroes and those who got very less returns in material terms should get preference

14. Persons who have been honoured by International Institutions and Foreign countries should get due weightage

15. The awards should help to inspire others to follow the great deeds of the awardees

16. Award should be accompanied by a citation so that the common man understand and appreciate the reason and justification for giving award to the person

While minor deviations/dilutions can be done in some factors considering the weightage of other factors, no compromise in the criteria should be made for the highest award. It is better not to give award rather than giving award to an undeserving candidate.

Let us make these awards an instrument of national pride and not a cake for the petty politicians to fight. Let us also herald the beginning of a new era of the revival of the great Indian civilization and make this rich country of rich and abundant resources a true "Mahabharata" in letter and spirit.

The suggestions given are only indicative and not exhaustive. Government can consider formulating comprehensive policy so that in future awards are given to deserving candidates and not to the henchmen or yes-men of the party in power. This is essential to preserve the credibility and sanctity of the award and not to make a mockery of the awards.

Yours etc.,
E M Adithyan
Via e-mail

Chief Election Officer GSG Ayyanger told newsmen on Thursday that counting would be conducted at 19 centres in 17 subdivisions of four districts and is likely to be completed by 12 noon.

Postal ballots would be counted first and after that EVMs would be opened, Ayyanger said adding the result would be officially announced in the afternoon.

The Election Commission of India would make the gazette notification of the result on March 10 to end the process of polling in the state.

Polling in the State was held on February 23.

Meanwhile, Tripura Director General of Police, KTD Singh said all police stations and border outposts along the 856 km Indo-Bangla border in the State were alerted ahead of the counting.

BSF was also alerted to check infiltration of any criminals or insurgents from across the border, he said adding the strength of police stations and outposts were increased.

Besides, temporary police pickets were set up in sensitive areas to avert violence and patrolling on foot in remote and insurgency-hit areas by paramilitary forces was intensified, the DGP said.

Several preventive arrests were made and regular checks are being conducted by police in hotels, rest houses and dharamshalas, while vehicles moving on high ways were being frisked, he added.

Complaints of proxy voting from different parts of the state were pouring into offices of returning officers (RO) and mediahouses with political contenders and their agents demanding re-polling in certain stations.

The authorities were verifying such complaints.

Proxy and under-aged voting in urban and semi-urban polling stations was rampant in in Kohima and Dimapur districts.

Election agents of contending parties were seen openly keeping liquids to erase the indelible inkmarks from fingers of young voters before the very nose of security personnel.

Admitting that there were many complaints about such malpractices, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) C J Ponraj told newsmen that the first time experiment of entrusting village council authorities had paid dividends, particularly in Mokokchung district, as villagers could cast their own votes.

The traditional practice of village council members casting ballots for the entire village drastically came down this time, election department officials calimed.

The Commission constituted a booth level assistance committee, comprising village council office bearers and village chiefs, to assist presiding officers to verify the bonafides of a voter.

‘Most peaceful poll’

Security forces on Thursday complimented the state administration for conducting the ‘most peaceful election ever held in Nagaland’ on Wednesday.

The polls, held to elect the 11th Nagaland assembly, witnessed an impressive turnout of 85 per cent with no report of any major violence or casualty, a defence release said here.

This was due to the 'tireless efforts’ of the army and Assam Rifles, which worked in close coordination with the state administration and police and provided a platform to the Naga people to cast their vote freely and without any coercion, it said. (PTI)

The brick hit the back of Bhowmick's head when he was returning home from the party office at Dhaleswar last night, police said.

He fainted and was first rushed to Agartala Medical Hospital and then shifted to Gobinda Ballav Pant Hospital where he died due to haemorrage in the brain, hospital sources said.

Bhowmick’s nephew has been arrested, police said.

Bhowmick (78) was a bachelor.

He was the Health Minister of first Left Front government in Tripura in 1978. (PTI)

Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has said that around 1296 ‘extremists’ were arrested, 163 of them detained under National Security Act and 21 killed during 2007. The Chief Minister, who is also the in-charge of Home, was replying to a supplementary starred question raised by MLA L Nandakumar Singh in the ongoing budget Session on Thursday. He also clarified that all extremists arrested by the police were not detained under NSA and added that they were detained under the Act after proving their degree of nexus before the district magistrate. Ibobi also made it clear that section 3 (3) of the National Security Act (NSA) 1980 confers power on district magistrate of the concerned district to detain a person if it is satisfied that such detention is necessary to prevent him from acting in any manner prejudicial to the defence of India. (NNN)

IMPHAL: Hunger striker Irom Sharmila Chanu has on Thursday pledged to continue her fast even after the Friday court appearance.

Every year, as a legal procedure, Sharmila has to be produced before the court and the latest of such routine affair falls on March 7.

Sharmila, who has been on hunger strike demanding for the repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the whole of Manipur since November 2000, was talking to reporters on Thursday at her hospital-bed at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital here, where she has been confined.

Ever since she had taken this extreme step some odd seven years ago, Sharmila has been under forced-feeding with liquid food through her nose.

Addressing media persons, Sharmila, the Gwangzu Awardee, also expressed apprehension over the state Governor SS Sidhu's address to the state legislative assembly on police modernization and recruitment of security forces to control the law and order situation of Manipur.

She uttered in dismay while asking as to where have all the public movements against the "draconian acts" has gone. She, however stated that whatever she has been doing, is for the general public to open their eyes and thwart against the black laws.

Sharmila, regarded as the 'iron lady' of Manipur, also said with full of emotional tone that seven years have passed since she had taken a decision to fast unto death demanding the repeal of the AFSPA while lamenting that she has been fed on non-natural food by spending lakhs of rupees. Till now, Sharmila did not feel that she has taken the wrong path, which many critics have thought she had, according to her. But she said that it is now like all hearts have been covered by dust.

She also said that since the issue which she has been fighting for, is a state concerned, she will continue to protest till her last breath. She also said that when the public leaders in the state started to bear the expenses incurred upon her treatment from their own pockets, she feels that her agitation might complete. (NNN)

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has asked rebel outfit ULFA to come forward for direct and unconditional talks with the government.

Mr Gogoi, while replying to the debate on Governor’s address in the ongoing Budget Session in the Assembly, said all militant outfits who had held negotiations with the Government of India or are negotiating with "the government," had participated in direct talks.

He pointed out the case of Mizo insurgent group the leader of which Laldenga participated in the peace talks, saying NSCN (IM) leadership Isac and Muviah were also holding talks with the government.

"What ULFA did was create a group, Peoples Consultative Group (PCG) to negotiate with the Centre rather than come forward for direct talks," he said.

Mr Gogoi also said, "We are keen to resolve the insurgency problem of the state politically. In 2006, to facilitate peace process, we had announced unilateral ceasefire with ULFA. However, during the period the group amassed arms and engaged in killing of the people," the Chief Minister alleged. He further said militant outfit National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) was presently under ceasefire with the government. (NNN)