The Union Cabinet today approved the request of the Assam Government for conversion of the Institute of Advanced Studies in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati into an autonomous grants-in-aid

IB says ATC miscommunication caused the aircraft collision threat

The blame-game over the February 11 near-miss involving Air India and Aviation Research Centre (ARC) aircraft over Jorhat in Upper Assam continues, with the Intelligence Bureau (IB) blaming the incident on "miscommunication" by air traffic control (ATC).

In a missive to the civil aviation ministry and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) last week, an IB officer of the deputy director rank squarely put the blame on ATC. Sources said the IB claim is based on findings of an internal probe that checked all relevant records.

Kaziranga National Park (Assam), Feb. 23 : Assam''s popular Kaziranga National Park, which is home to the endangered one-horned rhinoceros, continues to be a major draw for tourists, both domestic and foreign, despite travel advisories issued by several countries against visiting Assam following blast incidents in the recent past.

While domestic tourists have increased from a million to over 3.4 million, the number of foreign tourists'' has risen from 7,000 in 2001 to 13,000 at present.

The national park is listed as a world heritage site.

Guwahati, Feb 21 : A splinter faction of Assam's main rebel group, the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), which prefers to have talks with the Central Government for a negotiated settlement to the separatist issue, said the parent group, which opposed such a move, could sabotage the forthcoming general elections.

The `pro-talks' group, which walked out of the ULFA, declared a unilateral ceasefire last year expecting a reciprocal gesture from the Central Government to restore peace in the region.

Guwahati, Feb. 18 : Though the United Liberation Front of Assom (ULFA)''s influence in Assam is waning, people here fear that the organization has established close links with the Bangladesh-based terrorist outfit HUJI (Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami) and it is suspected to be involved in creating trouble in country's northeastern states.

The Government of India is taking steps to smash the ULFA-HUJI terror link for ensuring peace and normalcy to the area through regional co-operation.

Bangladesh had become a safe haven for ULFA''s top leadership.

Guwahati, Feb. 18 : Despite being rich in wildlife and having several national parks, Assam could not become a major tourist centre due to militant activities for many years. But now it is trying to bring about a change. Efforts are being made to develop new tourist places such as Bogamati hill area.

Endowed with fascinating natural scenery, Bogamati hill area in particular is nature lovers'' paradise.