S P O T L I G H T

BTC approval on February 13
Guwahati, February 10
The Assam Cabinet will approve the formation of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) on February 13, with the Bodoland Liberation Tiger (BLT) assuring full protection to the non-Bodos in the proposed area. Assam Tribal Affairs Minister Bharat Chandra Narah said today that the Cabinet would formally approve the recommendation of the Cabinet subcommittee on February 13. The Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) is the upgraded version of the present Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC), to be formed under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. UNI

Nepal to extend emergency
Kathmandu, February 10
Nepal says that emergency will be extended for another three months to curb Maoist activities even as Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba told the Press this evening that the Army had successfully controlled rebel violence. The government imposed emergency on November 26 last year after extremists broke four month-long ceasefire talks and carried out a series of attacks on the security forces and government installations on November 23. He ruled out the possibility of talks with the militants and said action would continue until they surrender and submit weapons. UNI