Sikkim still cut off
GANGTOK, Feb 6 — Sikkim continued to be cut off from rest of the country following the ongoing 48-hour general strike in the neighbouring Darjeeling hills for the second consecutive day today. The Sikkim Nationalised Transport (SNT) vehicles and those affiliated to the Mainline Taxi and Jeep Drivers Association did not ply along the National Highway 31, sources said. A considerable portion of the NH 31 A, which links Sikkim with the rest of the country, falls within the territory of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council.

Indrani Rahman dead
NEW DELHI, Feb 6 (UNI) — Noted classical dancer Indrani Rahman died in New York city yesterday, following a massive stroke, family sources here said. She was 68. Indrani was the daughter of Ragini Devi, the pioneer of the thirties classical dance revival. Indrani performed as a soloist and with her ensemble of dancers all over the world. She led two major cultural troops to China in the mid fifties, where she performed before Mao Je Dung, Chou En Lai and Ho Chi Minh. In recent years, Indrani performed and taught across the USA. She was currently at the faculty of the famous Julliard School at Lincoln Centre in New York. She had been honoured with the Padma Shri. Indrani is survived by her son Ram Rahman and daughter Sukanya Rahman.

WPO delegation to visit Pak
Tribune News Service
NEW DELHI, Feb 6 — A 100-member delegation of the World Punjabi Organisation (WPO) will visit Pakistan next week on a goodwill mission. The delegation would include several prominent persons from different walks of life like cricketer Bishen Singh Bedi, the Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Punjabi folk singer Surender Kaur and satirist Jaspal Bhatti, a WPO official said. During its week-long stay in Pakistan the delegation would visit Punja Sahib, Nankana Sahib and meet Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the official added.

NSCN ‘ready’ for talks
KOHIMA, Feb 6 (PTI) — Leaders of the banned National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issac-Muivah) are ready to meet the Centre’s representatives “anywhere, anytime” outside India but are doubtful of the Government’s sincerity on finding a solution to the vexed Naga problem, a top Naga leader has said. “NSCN-IM leaders are ready to meet Indian leaders but the Centre is not responding.