Rebel merger

• Guwahati, July 13: Naga Rengma Hills Protection Force, a Nagaland-based outfit has merged with the NSCN (I-M) with 50 cadres, including its 'commander-in-chief' Riligu Kainito. The merger proposal was accepted in a meeting of the steering committee of the NSCN yesterday, the NSCN (I-M) said in a statement today. Rengma is a community in Nagaland.

Bridge probe

• Dimapur: An initial inquiry by officials of the PWD (roads and bridges) has confirmed that rampant sand gravel and stone extraction from the bed of the Chathe river led to the collapse of the three-decade-old RCC girder bridge in the Fouth Mile area of Diphupar on the outskirts of Dimapur town, killing four persons and injuring five others on Tuesday.

Checkgates

• Guwahati: Assam transport minister Chandra Mohan Patowary on Thursday said the transport department has decided to close three interstate checkgates located at Srirampur, Boxirhat and Dighorkhal. Patowary said there will be no checkgates of the transport department anywhere in the state.

Honour

• Guwahati: The Asam Sahitya Sabha will confer the Katha Sahitya title to Pitambar Dev Goswami, the xatradhikar (head priest) of Auniati Xatra in Majuli, at 11am on August 6 here.

Fake notes

• Hailakandi: The CRPF on Thursday recovered Rs 18 lakh in fake notes from three Mizoram women at Abdullahpur, 20km from Hailakandi town in Assam.