G Plus Vol 3 Issue 45 by G Plus

Police transfers: for ‘vested’ or in public interest? Lead Story

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VOLUME 03 | ISSUE 45 AUG 27 - SEP 02, 2016

PRICE `10

City cops rescue Adishri in 14 hours flat

Priyanka: awesome enough for Assam?

Guwahati goes tattoohappy Trends

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Rabia Begum G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016 New CHIC on the block

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G PLUS AUG 27 - SEP 02, 2016

Lead Story

Rahul Chanda

City cops rescue Adishri in 14 hours flat Timeline: Abduction to arrest

the arrested culprits | Adib zamali/G Plus

Police manages to rescue Jayanagar girl Adishri in a span of 14 hours arresting many who might have handed over the child to a rebel group. But the incident raises questions about how can an educated family of doctors hire a maid without verifying her antecedents

he kidnapping case of a Grade 2 student of Delhi Public School, 8-year-old Adishri Dutta came as a rude shock for Guwahatians on 25th August but the next morning her parents as also the concerned city folk were relieved by the news that the city police had safely rescued the minor from the abductors. Outgoing commissioner of police, Mukesh Agrawal, talking to media said that the investigation was totally scientific and technical and the entire city police put in more than 100% to solve the case. The police was happy that the child was rescued safely and on top of that the criminals were also arrested. But how did police solved the case in a mere 15 hours? What was the operation and what were the kidnappers’ plans? G Plus details the entire story. The incident Adishri Dutta went missing from the gates of the Indraprastha Apartments in Jayanagar area near NERIM on Thursday afternoon. She had gone out with the domestic help after which both went missing. Adishri’s parents filed a complaint with the city police suspecting abduction. The CCTV cameras installed at the apartment complex captured the maid, identified as Rumi Das, taking Adishri out

of the complex. Rumi was seen talking on her mobile while going out of the complex. The CCTV footage, according to police, showed that both went out at 12.26 pm sharp. Both parents, Diganta Dutta and Aminakshi Dutta, are medical practitioners and were away at work while Adishri remained at home as schools were closed on Thursday for Janmashtami, said the police. Other children at the apartment said that they saw Adishri with Rumi going out for ice-cream. According to police, at around 1.40 pm, Adishri’s father reached home from GNRC hospital and was not able to find Adishri. He called up all his relatives and on not being able to get any clue about the child reached Dispur Police Station at 2.30 pm. The DCP Crime, Luis Aind and ADCP East District, Bibekananda Das were already present in the police station and after getting the information immediately started working on the case. Police action As Jayanagar falls under Basishtha Police Station, Diganta had to lodge an FIR there but after the police received the missing complaint at Dispur Police Station they immediately swung into action and alerted the entire city police information system. The po-

lice visited the Indraprashtha Apartments and collected whatever evidence they were able to gather including the CCTV footage. They alerted the police of the neighbouring districts and the neighbouring states and in the meanwhile collected the CDR (Call Detail Records) of Rumi Das. A highly placed source in the police said that the major obstacle for the police was that Adishri’s parents did not have any information about Rumi. They did not even know her address and Rumi just had one phone which was switched off. Within one hour the police got the CDR and after analysing the various numbers contacted by Rumi Das also got the CDRs of the other frequently contacted numbers. Police then sent many units across the city and after analysing all the CDRs it surfaced that Rumi Das was moving towards Nalbari- Barpeta side. The city police units, especially the Crime Branch and the Basistha Police, rushed towards Mukalmua and Rampur. The phone locations of all the suspects were traced continuously and finally they zeroed in on the suspects being at Khudra village in Bamonbari under Sarthebari police station in Barpeta District. Finally at 2.30 am the city police team with Barpeta police swooped in on Anwar Hussain’s house there and found Adishri sleeping on the floor. The Crime

 12.26 pm – Rumi Das comes out of Indraprastha Apartments in Jayanagar area with Adishri Dutta  12.30 pm – Rumi Das boards the Alto car at Jayanagar Chariali with Adishri. Nirmal Kalita was already waiting in the car  1.40 pm – Adishri’s father reaches home and on not finding Adishri and the maid starts calling relatives  2.30 pm – Adishri’s father Diganta Dutta reaches Dispur Police Station and informs the police that Adishri is missing  2.45 pm – Rumi Das reaches Mukalmua seeking shelter from Danish  3.00 pm – Police reaches Indraprastha Apartments and starts collecting evidence; also alerts all city and neighbouring district and state police  4.00 pm – Police receives CDR of Rumi’s phone and police units launch a manhunt across the city  7.00 pm – Police ends analysing all the CDRs and starts tracking the suspects  8.00 pm – Police comes to know that the suspects with the victims are moving towards Nalbari and Barpeta area  8.30 pm – City police alerts Barpeta police and teams of city police leave for Barpeta  10.30 pm – Police reaches Mukalmua and finally the police comes to know that the suspects and the victim are at Sarthebari  11.00 pm – Police talks to the local police and gathers information about the suspect’s village and the house owners  12.00 pm – Police encircles the Khudra village in Sarthebari and studies the movement of the suspects  2.20 pm – Police zeroes in on Anwar Husssain’s house and rescues Adishri safely; also arrests Rumi Das, Nirmal Kalita and Anwar Hussain Police rescues young Adishri within a span of 14 hours Branch police team had strict instructions that the safety of the girl was of utmost importance and if required, to allow the abductors to flee so to save the life of the girl. But the team not only rescued the girl without a scratch but also arrested the three accused Rumi Das, her friend Nirmal Kalita and the shelter provider Anwar Hussain. The city police team brought the girl with the three arrested accused to Basistha Police station where she was handed over to her parents. Meanwhile, the team had asked the Barpeta Police to arrest the other suspects namely Pinku Ahmed, Md. Lokman Ali (a Madrassa school teacher) and Md. Danish Ali (a local Congress member). The involvement and the modus operandi Police is still investigating the case. Sources in the police said that Rumi Das belongs to Tihu and in spite of being married and having three children she has some kind of relation with Nirmal Kalita. Nirmal and Rumi planned the kidnapping and were contemplating asking for a huge ransom. Meanwhile, they were also in talks with Pinku, Danish and Lokman Ali to help them in the crime. After taking the child from the apartment for having ice cream, Rumi told her that they will

go and see the Saraighat Bridge. Nirmal was ready with a cab at Jayanagar and three of them went to Mukalmua where Danish was expected to give them shelter. But he refused perhaps because the news was already out and had gone viral. So they went to Rampur but did not get shelter there either. So finally, they went to Anwar Hussain’s place at Sarthebari. The police source said that the girl was supposed to be shifted from that location the very next day morning with the morning azan. Rumi, after being arrested talking to G Plus, said that the teacher (Lokman Ali) had asked her to commit the crime which means he was the mastermind. There are also reports that Lokman Ali is a linkman of rebel organizations like NDFB (S) but the police is still investigating that angle. The cab driver, which media reports suggest is of an Ola cab, is missing and Nirmal Kalita, talking to G Plus after being arrested, said that it was a Maruti Alto cab and they had hired it. He said the driver was not known to him but police is searching for the driver. Police said that it was a crime for ransom and not for trafficking but the question that remains is how can an educated family of doctors not verify the maid before entrusting the child to her care. rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

G PLUS AUG 27 - SEP 02, 2016

City

Police transfers: for ‘vested’ or in public interest?

Rahul Chanda

Recent transfers in Guwahati commissionerate  Mukesh Agarwal, Commissioner of Police, Guwahati is transferred and posted as Addl. Director General of Police (L&O)  Hiren Nath appointed as new Police Commissioner of Guwahati  Amanjit Kaur, SP Jorhat, transferred as DCP Traffic, Guwahati Police Commissionerate. L-R, Commissioners Jyotirmay Chakravarty, Mukesh Agarwal, hiren nath | G Plus photos

With Guwahati changing three police commissioners in just one and a half years, G Plus tries to find out what are the criteria under which police officers are transferred

n January 2015, the city witnessed a major change in the functioning of the police department as the system under the Superintendent of Police was replaced by a commissionerate and ADGP Jyotirmay Chakravarty became the first commissioner of police of the city. Just after a six-month tenure he was transferred and ADGP Mukesh Agrawal was made the commissioner of police. Recently, the Assam Police witnessed a major reshuffle in top level of cops and now IGP Hiren Nath has taken charge as the commissioner of police. Thus Guwahati, in just one and half years of the formation of the commissionerate, has got three commissioners. So what are the criteria in which police officers are transferred? Who takes the decision and are police officers transferred due to vested or in public interest? G Plus tries to explore the reasons behind transfers of officers. Jyotirmay Chakravarty According to a very highly placed source in the police reserve, before the formation of commissionerate, many police department vehicles in the reserve were requisitioned by other high profile people for their personal use. But after 1st January 2015, such incidents stopped. The commissioner did not allow personal use of the departmental vehicles. According to the source, high profile people like PAs of politicians, relatives of senior police officers etc. had to take permission from the commissioner directly to

use the vehicles which he would allow only if there was a valid reason. So, the police freebies to some well connected people of the city were withdrawn which irked many. Also, according to many police officials, Chakravarty was a no-nonsense man who worked within the law and did not hesitate to question higher authorities if the occasion so demanded. A very highly placed source in the police department said that as Chakravarty held democratic ideals very dear, his move of permitting the special police officers and KMSS chief Akhil Gogoi to stage a protest in a certain part of the city irked the authorities sitting in the secretariat who decided to transfer him out to a different role. So that was the fate of the first commissioner of police. Mukesh Agrawal The performance of Mukesh Agrawal was lauded until his last day in office as the abducted 7-year-old Adishra Dutta was safely rescued from her abductors within a span of 24 hours. Also, according to OC level officers in the police commissionerate, Agrawal is a smart police officer who knows how to deal with complex situations. Agrawal was successful in solving crimes and arresting criminals and he even maintained good relations with the higher officials and the politicos. The OC said that Agrawal was very friendly to other police officers and at times very helpful. One OC even said that Agrawal had taken many measures to decrease the crime

rate in the city and the crime rate has indeed come down drastically. The sources in police also said that during the tenure of Agrawal, special police teams where formed who used to be in civvies patrolling the usual city hangouts of drunkards and drug addicts like Chanmari Flyover, Paltan Bazar, Maligaon Station, Pandu, Chatribari, etc. giving a tough time to the indulgers and their gangs to relax their guard. These indulgences are one of the major causes of crimes at nights in the city. So both the former commissioners performed well and yet one was transferred in six months and the other in one year. What are the reasons behind the transfers? The reasons A very senior police official in Assam Police, talking to G Plus in anonymity said, “There are many reasons for transfers and such decisions rest squarely with the government. If there is a promotion then there can be a transfer. If an officer completes his/ her tenure there can be a transfer. If junior officers are promoted there can be transfers. So there is no prescribed criterion for transfer; it is a routine practice done by the government.” When asked whether the decisions are politically motivated, the officer said that the politicians in the government are public servants and so they decide the transfers in the interest of the public. The officer also said that sometimes when there is a movement of one officer it leads to the movement of many

officers together. Another senior police officer talking to G Plus said that many times transfers are made in public interest. But when a politician has a close associate in the police force who asks for a better placement then the same might be done with some vested interest. Many times the police officers even have to pay to the politicians for transfers. The officer also said that now that there is a new government, maybe it is forming its own team to work for the development of the state. He said, “I think a chance should be given to the new government to form its own team and start working for the public interest. After a few days the public will anyway come to know whether the team worked in public or for vested interest.” He said that as the government is elected by the public it has the right to form its own team and transfer the officers. Accordingly, if it does not perform the public can judge and criticize. Whatever be the reason, the Guwahati commissionerate at least should not keep witnessing changes within six months or one year and there should be a platform where even the public can participate in choosing the team which will work for them. This is a debatable point as elections already give the public that platform. Yet, it would certainly be in the interest of the public if the criteria under which the officers are transferred be made transparent and known to the public. rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

 Sushanta Biswa Sarma, APS, 2i/c, 6th APBn, Kathal, is transferred and posted as Addl. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central), Police Commissionerate, Guwahati vice Dr. Rubul Gogoi  Dibash Ranjan Das, ADCP (Border), Police Commissionerate, Guwahati is promoted as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Border), Police Commissionerate, Guwahati vice Shri Lachit Baruah  Debraj Upadhaya, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Admn), Police Commissionerate, Guwahati, is transferred and posted as Superintendent of Police, Nagaon, vice Shri YT Gyatso  Arabinda Kalita , posted as new DCP (Admin) , Guwahati Commissionerate

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G PLUS AUG 27 - SEP 02, 2016

North East Tea Conclave & Expo 2016

GPLUS NEWS

Tea Park coming up near airport 26th August 2016, Guwahati: Confederation of Indian Industry & Directorate of Tea, Government of Assam, organized North East Tea Conclave & Expo 2016 with tea contest, buyerseller meet and exhibition at Vivanta by Taj, Guwahati today. The inaugural and lighting of lamp was done by Honourable Minister, Mr. Chandra Mohan Patowary, Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Assam in presence of esteemed dignitaries from the tea industry from all over India. He addressed the audience with a warm welcome to Land of Goddess Kamakhya and God gifted state, Assam. He further stated that tea is a very important industry for the development of country’s economy. He suggested small tea growers to form self-help groups. Small tea growers are officially around 79,000 and unofficially over a lakh. He mentioned that a Tea Park is set to come up near the Guwahati airport with warehouse facilities and railway connectivity. He extended full support towards overall development

of the industry and also mentioned more runways and number of flights at Guwahati Airport. Mr Bidyananda Barkakoty, Convener NE Tea Conclave & Expo 2016 & Vice Chairman, Tea Board of India mentioned that it is a very sad state of affairs where Conclave for Tea Industry is conducted after a gap of 9 years since the International Tea Convention in 2007. He further stated that when Assam contributes over 50% tea production of the country it is not a good sign. So it was proposed to conduct such conclaves every alternate year, one in a tea growing state and the other in a tea consuming state alternately. The session on “Opportunities & Challenges of India - Tea Industry & Trade” was addressed by Mr. Ravi Agarwal, Vice Chairman, CII North Bengal & Past Chairman, FAITTA along with other panellists from the tea industry. He stated, “The biggest challenge is to create shortage of tea.” The panel discussed the various challenges including protecting quality of

tea, right wages to the workers, global warming, high GST and consumers opting for other beverages. Overall, the image of tea needs improvement through quick service restaurants. There are several opportunities as India is the main hub for value added tea export market due to its favourable location. Aggressive tea marketing campaign and brand building is the need of the hour. It was followed by a session on Speciality Tea Manufacturing & Marketing where the introductory remarks were offered by Sanjio Kumar, IFS. Executive Director, Tea Board, NE Zonal Office. Mr. S. Soundaranjan, Director Tea Development, Tea Board gave an overview of tea factory machines for micro sector and shared several success stories, number of tea factories in Assam being highest 708 and 121 in Arunachal Pradesh. North East Tea Conclave & Expo 2016 was a major success with a huge turnout of audience and major participation by small tea growers who got much extended support from big planters for further technical knowhow and growth of the tea industry.

Witness the admirable exhibitions at Techniche 2016

GPLUS NEWS

Holus Holus, the product of a canadian startup H+ technologies, is a tabletop holographic platform that converts any digital content from a computer, tablet or smartphone into a 3D holographic experience. To put it simply, whether it is a board game, a DNA structure or the solar system, your content comes alive - view it from four different angles and interact with it in ways that have never been possible. Holus can be used as a family entertainment system, business tool or for developers to create their own holographic experiences. Holus provides a natural and intuitive way of engaging with information. Unlike many entertainment and wearable systems that tend to isolate people, Holus aims to create a “social campfire” experience that brings people together without having them miss out on real life moments.

A SET A-SET robotics is one of India’s leading robotics institute. It has the distinction of creating Manav, India’s first humanoid robot. A-SET

has a wide range of robotic devices including its famous wheelchair that one can control with one’s mind, which proved to be a blessing to paralysis patients. From hexapods to bipeds to mind-controlled robots, A-Set has left no avenue of robotics unexplored Meet A-SET the institute that created Manav.

I2U2 Robot I2U2 is one of the world’s simplest telepresence device. A telepresence device is essentially a robot that can move around and allow you to see the environment around the robot and allow you to interact with the people around the robot. All one has to do is turn on an app on one’s phone and direct the robot to interact with its surrounding. Telepresence robots are already gaining popularity in countries like Japan, and I2U2 will be the first step toward spreading this innovation to India.

Team Indus Team Indus is a for-profit organisation headquartered in New Delhi, India. The team of professionals

from various backgrounds science, technology, finance and media is the only Indian team leading the charge of India to win the Google Lunar X Prize mission announced in year 2007. In 2015 January The Team Indus were awarded $1 million for having successfully completed a test of their landing system. The spacecraft is envisaged to transport the two rovers in the lunar lander, from earth’s surface to orbit around the moon. The lunar lander will be the primary communication and control center and will also absorb the lunar touchdown impact.

Puzzlebox Puzzlebox is a company that focuses on telekinesis and neuroscience in robotic applications. It has created myriad of robotic devices such as its Puzzlebox Telekinesis, a custom-fit EEG set that can be used for playing games and typing using only one’s brain. Yes that’s right! That means you can play video games with just the power of your mind. Another astonishing product is Orbit, a remote controlled helicopter again directed by one’s brain. Don’t miss out on this incredible showcase.

Puzzlebox is a revolutionary taining peace and security within company that creates telekinetic ro- its borders, the Indian Army is also botic products. going to make for an incredible exhibition.

Limbitless

Limbitless Solutions is a nonprofit organization devoted to building a generation of innovators who use their skills and passion to improve the world around them. They use additive manufacturing to advance personalized bionics and solutions for disabilities. With the belief that no family should have to pay for their child to receive an arm, Limbitless wants to lead by example and encourage communities to innovate with compassion.

Indian Air Force Allow yourself to be stupefied by the discipline, skill, and proficiency that makes the Indian Air Force one of the strongest in the world. The Air Force will astonish you with its wide range of technologically superior equipment and weaponry, its missiles, and most importantly a military chopper that will be exhibited as a part of the same. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn about our nation’s Air Force.

Indian Army

Indian Railways

Bask in the glory of our nation’s awe-inspiring Army. Inspect the advanced technology and weapons that one of the world’s largest military force uses. Meet the brave men and women who guard our country’s borders and learn about their lives, their experiences, and the equipment they handle. Apart from ensuring national security and unity, defending the nation from external aggression and threats, and main-

The Indian Railways is the 4th largest railway network in the world, and it transports 8 billion passengers (the highest in the world) every year. That comes down to about 22 million passengers a day! Without our railway system all forms of logistics and transport would be hindered. Learn about the efficient system the railways employ to manage all their traffic and about their sophisticated equipment and engines.

G PLUS AUG 27 - SEP 02, 2016

Crime

7 Reasons why a Botanical Garden in Fancy Bazaar is not the best Idea for our city! Public Speak GPLUS Feature

Sunny Borah: Guwahati is one of the most beautiful cities in India. If you go to other cities, you will come to know what is called a dry city. Most of the Indian cities are dry and dusty. Chandigarh, Srinagar, etc. are the few exceptions. If the government wants to open a botanical garden, then it should acquire 100 of acres of land near the outskirts of the city and plant different varieties of trees and plants. If the government wants to make Guwahati truly green, it should encourage every household to plant more trees within its premises.

Fancy Bazaar and the erstwhile jail land is in the heart of the city

This proposed idea of botanical garden although great, should be around a natural landscape suitable for it. NOT in the midst of a commercial hub at Fancy Bazaar.

Fancy Bazaar has concrete dust and pollution; not an appropriate place for a botanical garden With hoards of vehicles around the area, a botanical garden is certainly not advisable amidst of the concrete jungle of Fancy Bazaar

Why not a Town square which would be ideal?

Jayant Jalan: Every area’s residents say they need to be consulted. Parking, civic amenities are a big need. Garden or not at least a parking for 1,500 vehicles is a must. Garden is up to the government, they own the land. Plus all the area haters out there, fret not, we have seen almost no development compared to the revenues, so we have no expectations besides the parking either!

A town square would be one of the best ideas for the area as it would serve the purpose of a crowd gatherer and add to the beautification of the place, plus, give the open space to Guwahatians that we deserve.

A Botanical Garden already exists??!

What is the full name of the Zoo? The Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden! Well, here’s to ‘a new idea’. Maybe the Government could focus on improving the current botanical garden rather than investing in a new one in Fancy Bazaar of all space.

Fancy Bazaar - Central, Commercial and Congested

Arguable Logic and questionable Government spending? There aren’t enough conventions centres in the city and we need one desperately. One failed attempt is the Maniram Dewan Trade Centre owing to its distance from the citycenter.

Anurag Deb: I completely agree. I hope these options can reach the chief minister and Himanta Sir. They can definitely utilise it.

Tufail Ahmed Quddus: I totally agree the rhyme and reason in the article. A botanical garden in Fancy bazaar may not be a good idea because it’s a vital and primarily commercial area. The government should build a commercial hub with great landscape and lots of open spaces. If one deeply thinks over it then this place can become a globally recognized commercial hotspot.

The commercial locality of Fancy Bazaar already has dearth of space. The 52 bighas of land must be put to better use; preferably to clean up the congestion.

Why not a convention centre?

Ajay Agarwal: A botanical garden, a commercial complex, parking all can well coexist with such a huge space. Just needs a proper Modi type socioeco-economical planning. Where there is space, there is everything. A little bit of greed to balance between environment, economics and public convenience and a good planning can accommodate all. Let’s keep Guwahati simple and vibrant.

We know that the Government always has a crunch of funds. So why not leverage from this commercially lucrative space? Even if 10 bighas out of 52 have can be commercially exploited, the Government can generate enough revenue to develop the remaining 42 Bighas for Car Parkings, Convention Centre, Gardens, Children’s Park and of course a wonderful town square with lot of open spaces in the city center.

Manish Jain: Parking is the necessary part. Instead of a park a commercial hub needs parking. Not a damn park. Prince has commented rightly why not the riverside is used just as Mumbai’s Marine Drive.

Prince Singha: Why is the govt not taking any initiative for the beautification of the riverside?

G PLUS AUG 27 - SEP 02, 2016

Campus

Juthika Baruah

90% Cottonians oppose Himanta’s diktat on uniforms citing infringement of tradition

 Education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma issues instructions to make uniform compulsory for Cotton College students  The decision has been taken to maintain discipline  Students opposed the move of the education minister on grounds of infringement of tradition  The principal of the college says that the college will follow the instructions of the government file photo of cotton college | Adib zamali/G Plus

The move of the education minister in announcing uniforms for students of Cotton College has been opposed by the students saying that the age old tradition will be infringed upon

n its 115 year old history Cotton College will now have uniforms as announced by state education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The announcement came immediately after the violent clash between Uber drivers and the college students on 11th August last. The decision of the minister has been opposed by the students of Cotton College saying that it is an age old tradition of not wearing uniforms in the college and it cannot be changed now. The question arises as to why the students oppose to wear uniforms. Will the uniform stop them from conducting any misdeed or will the students be deprived from showing

off the privilege of being a Cottonian? G Plus has talked to a number of students, parents and the Principal and has come to know that 90% of the students do not want to wear a uniform. A student of Degree 3rd year said that they do not want uniform as they are the students of final year and it is not acceptable for them to come in a uniform in the last year. “Giving uniform is not a solution for every problem. The college has completed 115 years and in these years it has become a tradition of not wearing uniform. People from every nook and corner know the college and no one has to identify the college with its uniform,” the student said.

Another student of degree third semester said that they do not support the move of the education minister. “Every department has its own uniform. Then why do we need a separate uniform? We cannot compare with other colleges as in the history of 115 years Cotton College students have not worn a uniform and will not do so in the future,” the student asserted. Moreover, the Principal of Cotton College, Nirada Devi said, “The move of having college uniform is in process and we will go according to the instructions of the government. The education minister suggested the formation of a two-member committee to probe the clash and the committee

Jihadi suspicion: Man nabbed for unconventional clicks of Kamakhya Temple

uwahati police nabbed a man who was identified as Nasiruddin Sheikh on Tuesday while allegedly clicking photographs of sensitive sites at Kamakhya temple. It was on the basis of suspicion that the police nabbed Sheikh as he had clicked as many as 177 photographs of the Shakti shrine including toilets and car parking area of the temple with his mobile phone camera which is strictly prohibited. “We apprehended him for taking pictures of prohibited areas within the temple complex. He took certain photographs which other visitors normally

has decided to make uniforms compulsory to maintain discipline in the college. We are in process of selecting the dress code. The principal said that they have taken two months’ time for the selection of the uniform. The General Secretary of the college Amlanjyoti Deuri also opposed the decision saying that the tradition of the college should not be relinquished. According to another student the college will not gain any new identification after having implemented the uniform. “The colleges under Delhi University do not have uniforms which does not mean that they do not perform well or they do not indulge

in any misdeeds. And those colleges receive good grades. Similarly, Cotton College is a top level institution which no one can deny nor can it be changed,” said the student. Reacting to the move of Himanta Biswa Sarma, a student of Handique Girls’ College said, “We welcome the move of the education minister of having uniform for Cotton College as each and every college should be given equal treatment. Among 100 colleges, if 99 colleges are given uniform, why one college should be left out? A uniform signifies the discipline of the college. And the most important thing is that in a college there are students from high class, middle class and lower class and everyone cannot afford the same quality of clothes. When a student from the economically backward class cannot wear good clothes they feel uneasy in the company of the elite student. With the introduction of the uniform such discrimination will be eliminated. Therefore, giving uniform is a good step,” she added. A student said, “Uniforms were introduced almost a decade ago to make sure students do not indulge in any misdeeds, but uniforms don’t really hold students back from doing what they want to. Students in one way or the other will always break rules. College is a different experience altogether. I am glad that I got admission into Cotton College not only because we do not have uniforms but also because it is a centre of excellence.” Speaking to G Plus, a guardian said that uniform is good to represent a school or college but in case of Cotton College the decision is something different as it is since 115 years that students of the college has not worn uniform and this shouldn’t be changed now. juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

Riding two wheelers without helmets prohibited in city

GPLUS NEWS

do not take and suspecting him as a Jihadi we arrested him. Normal visitors do not usually take photographs of such areas as they know that such areas are restricted but Sheikh went ahead and clicked the photos,” said an official of Kamakhya police outpost. Detained Nasiruddin has revealed before the police that he works in a school in Dhubri. “We are corroborating his statement and have contacted Dhubri police,” said the police official. However, Sheikh said that he had last visited the Kamakhya temple in 1993 and now that the temple has been developed the same took him by surprise and

therefore he clicked the photographs. It was also informed that Sheikh is fond of photography and since he did not have access to conventional cameras he pursued his passion with his mobile phone camera. Sheikh has been handed over to judicial custody and investigation on the matter is in progress. Intelligence agencies on earlier occasions have warned that Kamakhya temple is on the target list of Islamist terrorists. Security in Kamakhya temple was beefed up in July this year following suspected entry of five people from Bangladesh through Meghalaya to Assam.

s directed by District Magistrate, Dr. M. Angamuthu, riding of any sort of two wheelers without wearing helmet has been strictly prohibited within the jurisdiction of Kamrup (M). DCP Traffic, DTO (Enforcement),

DTO (registration & licensing) has been strictly instructed to follow the order. The order has been imposed keeping in mind the rising number of accidents in the city, due to riding without helmets.

G PLUS AUG 27 - SEP 02, 2016

Snippets

New killer Japanese disease Moya Moya afflicting state

GPLUS NEWS

GNRC conducts CME on Moya Moya disease The disease is estimated to be the cause of 6% strokes among children The disease is mainly genetic and is more common among the Mongoloids Moya Moya is increasing due to lack of awareness about its causes and symptoms

dr. navanil barua addressing the gathering | Adib zamali/G Plus

The disease which was first detected in Japan is today increasing in Assam and the northeast as it mostly and genetically afflicts Mongoloids

eople of the northeast and Assam suffer from many diseases and to add to the list another

new disease, Moya Moya, has come to light which is basically a stroke caused due to lack of blood supply.

People know about stroke and paralysis but are not aware why and how it occurs. Moya Moya is a disease

is in which people become paralysed after stroke due to blood clotting. “The disease is caused by blocked arteries at the base of the brain which affects both children and adults. It was first detected in Japan and this condition also often afflicts members of the population in the northeast of India due to genetic ties,” said Dr. Navanil Barua, Director, Department of Neurosurgery, GNRC Hospital. Dr. Barua said that the condition is responsible for 6% of strokes among children and it has been observed that the genetic causes are found to be prevailing at 10% for families while 90% cases are seen for the first time. “In case of children the disease is caused due to lack of blood circulation and in adults, bleeding seems to have one of the symptoms. In this region the disease requires surgical treatment to prevent premature mortality of the affected person,” said Dr. Barua. Following stroke, the affected person may develop paralysis of the whole body and subsequently succumb to death at a very early age. The

Don Bosco to celebrate canonization of

Mother Teresa 1 9 years after the death of the Nobel Laureate who spent 45 years serving the poor and sick on the streets of Kolkata, Mother Teresa will officially be declared a saint on 4th September. Along with other parts of the world, the schools, colleges, and other institutions of Guwahati have planned a row of events lined up to celebrate the canonization ceremony of Mother Teresa. The Arch Diocese of Guwahati is organising a day-long programme on 9th September to celebrate the canonization of Mother Teresa. As part of the program, a peace rally by school children will be taken out from Judges Field to Don Bosco School, Panbazar. Soon after that, floral tributes will be paid to Mother Teresa by Dr. Dhruba Jyoti Saikia, Vice Chancellor, Cotton College State University at Don Bosco School. A poem recitation on Mother Teresa by Prof. Amarjyoti Choudhury, former VC, Gauhati University and a special song on Mother Teresa by renowned singer Tarali Sarma will be the added attractions. Moreover, various competitions among city schools like quiz, essay, dance, painting, singing and collage along with an exhibition will also mark the eventful day. Principal of Don Bosco School, Father Sebastian Mathew said, “Mother Teresa being a person known throughout the world received the Nobel Prize and had come to Guwahati thrice. The first time she visited Guwahati was on the invitation of the Interact Club of Don Bosco.” He said that the youths in Guwahati should know about the values which she had and taught the

GPLUS NEWS

Mother Teresa being welcomed to Don Bosco High School during her first visit to Guwahati

world for which Don Bosco will be distributing small booklets which will give the people knowledge about Mother Teresa and her values. The canonization ceremony of Mother Teresa will be celebrated by Pope Francis in Rome and it is likely to be the largest event of the Holy Year of Mercy. Pope Francis had officially cleared the path to Mother Teresa’s sainthood on 17th December, 2015, when he recognized the “miraculous healing” of a Brazilian man whose multiple brain abscesses were cured after his wife prayed to Mother Teresa. According to the norms, the Catholic Church requires one “medical” miracle before a deceased Catholic can be declared “blessed,” and another such miracle, occurring after that declaration, before he or she can be canonized as a saint. Canonization is the act by which the Orthodox, Oriental Orthodoxy, Roman Catholic, or Anglican Church

Celebration Schedule

declares that a person who has died was a saint upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. A canonization ceremony usually involves a special mass conducted by the Pope and is attended by huge crowds of believers. The date chosen for her canonization is the eve of the 19th anniversary of her death and the date previously established at the Vatican for the conclusion of the Year of Mercy pilgrimage of people like her who are engaged in works of mercy. On 10th September, a teachers’ seminar on the topic “Mother Teresa: The Joy of Giving” has been organised with award winning violinist Dr. Sunita K. Bhuyan and many others conducting it as resource persons.

treatment of this disease is surgery only through which blood supply to the brain is increased and so the stroke can be prevented. “The disease which is mostly genetic is more here in Assam as the Mongoloids are more in northeast. Recently, a preventive surgery was done in GNRC which was the first surgery in the north-eastern region. It was done on an 11-year-old child and was a preventive surgery. The surgery was done to prevent the stroke and people should be aware that in order to prevent stroke and paralysis surgery is important at the very first stage,” informed Dr. Barua. In this regard an international CME was organised at GNRC Hospital on Moya Moya disease under the leadership of Professor Katsumi Takizawa, Department of Neurosurgery, Japanese Red Cross Hospital, Asahikawa, Japan. The professor is researching on the disease as it is showing signs of increasing in the north-eastern region due to inadequate awareness about the same, its causes and symptoms. On 12th September, a Thanksgiving Eucharist will be held at Cathedral Church, Dispur where all the bishops of northeast, provincials, priests and religious of the Archdiocese & Laity will attend. A public function on the same evening at the Gauhati Medical College auditorium where Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is expected to attend will be the other highlight of the day’s programme. Mother Teresa was widely known as a living saint as she ministered to the sick and the dying in some of the poorest neighborhoods in the world. Although some people criticized her for not also challenging the injustices that kept so many people so poor and abandoned, her simple service touched the hearts of millions of people of all faiths. Shortly after she died in 1997, St. John Paul II waived the usual five-year waiting period and allowed the opening of the process to declare her sainthood.

Hoisting of the Mother Teresa Flag 5th September

Floral Tribute to Mother Teresa Theme Song on Mother Teresa

All institutions

Exhibition on Mother Teresa 8th September

9th September

Press Meet

11:30 AM

Mother Teresa Peace Rally

9:00 AM

Floral Tribute to Mother Teresa A recitation on Mother Teresa

09:45 AM (Don Bosco Panbazar)

Special song on Mother Teresa Mother teresa Fest

10:30 AM (Don Bosco Panbazar)

10th September

Teachers’ Seminar on Mother Teresa

9:30 AM-1:00 PM (Don Bosco Panbazar)

12th September

Thanksgiving Eucharist

4:00 PM (Cathedral church Dispur)

Public Function

6:30 PM (GMCH Auditorium)

G PLUS AUG 27 - SEP 02, 2016

In Conversation

“Guwahati is adequately secure” Rahul Chanda

Lt Col Suneet Newton, PRO, Ministry of Defence

uwahatians want to know you better. Can you tell us where you were born and brought up, your education? How did you enter the defence sector and what are the major profiles you have handled so far? I am from Jhansi, in Uttar Pradesh, and have done my schooling from there. After completing my degree from Wilson College, I joined the army through CDS in Chennai. I have served at many places and under different profiles across the country. This is my 4th posting tenure in North East and now I am posted here as Public Relation Officer for North East. Guwahati is the hub for North East media and the PRO Defence Guwahati assumes a lot of importance in terms of reach. As a PRO, my job is to act as an interface between the defence forces and media - mainly print and the electronic. Also I have to basically keep the public informed regarding defence. During your tenure in the northeast and other states you had several experiences. Can you share any interesting or tough experience? Any experience that will remain memorable for you? In the army we do not talk about any particular anecdote saying that it was something that was tough or something important. After 23 years of service, I would only say that as an army officer I have seen and experienced lots of things. I have even been in counter-insurgency operations both in J&K and the NE, and held peace-station administrative roles. Each profile and role was different. I am proud and privileged to be in the Indian Army. The country’s security forces are doing our job to the best of our capabilities and our aim is to ensure that the country remains safe. In the line of duty every step is an experience; so mentioning any one single will be difficult. Talking about Guwahati how secure do you think the city is compared to other cities in the country? Guwahati is adequately secure. For the general information of the public, the army does not operate inside Guwahati since it is a police district. The security scenario in Guwahati is quite dynamic and as the public would have noticed there have been no major incidents in the city …. that speaks highly of the police force and the quality of policing. If you look at the security forces - whether it is the CRPF or the Assam Police or even if I talk about and major installations like the Guwahati airport and so CISF, they are playing a very important role in ensuring that the level of security and levels of alertness are maintained at all times. How involved is the army with the people of Guwahati? Just as there is a relationship between the police and the public, does army also maintain a public relationship? The Army is always there with the

| Adib zamali/G Plus

Having had a long posting in the northeast and having faced many counter-insurgency scenarios both in Jammu & Kashmir as well as Assam, Lt. Col. Suneet Newton, who is currently posted as the defence spokesperson and Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Defence, talks exclusively with G Plus about Guwahati and the involvement of the Army with the public. public. Various activities are carried out, some for the general public and some for focus groups – but the relationship between the Army and the public is ongoing and dynamic, based on the needs and the demands of prevailing conditions. Most activities are not splashed on the media as we do it as part of our duty of service. I will give you an example. About a week back, Headquarter 51 Sub Area at Army Cantonment had a ‘Know Your Army’ exhibition. This is the kind of involvement Army has in a place like Guwahati. You might have read in newspapers that ‘Know your Army Camp’ was open to general public. This is basically a kind of endeavour and event where the army showcases whatever it possesses today to provide security to people. Through interaction at the exhibition, we came to know that the youth in Guwahati are interested in joining the Army. Young boys and girls get information and interest is generated for the youth to join the Army and with these kinds of events, it gives them an understanding of what the Army is and what career options it can provide. In the month of June, the Indian Army carried out a major exercise called Exercise Jalrahat. Jalrahat was basically aimed at urban centres like Guwahati to highlight the problems of floods during the monsoon season. We had carried out the live exercise along the river bank in Bharalamukh and had an exhibition at AEI, Chandmari. In case of urban flood which nobody can predict and which depends on the intensity of rainfall, the army in conjunction with other major players like the Assam State Disaster Man-

agement Authority, the NDRF, paramilitary forces, government agencies, state medical services carry out flood relief operations in a synergized manner. It was held at a national level but the focal point was Guwahati. There was a naval component taking part in this exercise which was basically aimed to first get ourselves into practice in realistic settings. It was also to demonstrate to the public that in case of urban flood how these agencies will provide immediate relief in the shortest possible time. During this exercise there was a static demonstration in Assam Engineering Institute in Chandmari where a lot of things were shown to the public - how from household items they can create flood relief equipment for themselves. The army in Guwahati is playing a major role for the welfare of exservicemen, veterans and Veer Naris (widows and dependents of ex-servicemen). Regular fairs are held where they are invited and made aware of their rights and services and their problems are taken care of. We also have pension adalats. Pension adalats are held to look into grievances and any situations where people are not getting their dues. These adalats are periodically held where people from Controller of Defence Accounts, Allahabad come. The last pension adalat was held in December 2015 when the CGDA – Controller General Defence Accounts – had also come down. In addition to that we have a lot of placement cells. Recently, we also had a skill development mela where a lot of corporates were also involved. Skill development trainers had come for this particular mela. They gave inputs

and suggestions on how ex-servicemen can develop their skills and with gained knowledge how they can be skilfully employed. I would like to share about the Sambhavna Projects. These are army projects for the welfare of the people and it has been appreciated by the people especially in the rural areas. These army projects, along with other government development work add to development. We take up small issues. For example, in a village school there might be no washrooms for girls – a practical problem. It may take time for government toilets to come up. So here local units in that area are deployed. If local people highlight the requirement of girls’ toilets in schools the army immediately creates that. These Sambhavna Projects have been appreciated in rural areas. Last year, for the first time, we had the Bodo Territorial Council Football Premiere league in the month of October. This premier league was held in BTAD area and about 8-10 teams participated. You should have seen the enthusiasm in the youths. It was a mega event which was a huge success. These are things army has been doing in the rural areas. Is there a platform where these rural people can approach the Army? There isn’t any particular formal platform per se, BUT it is a very simple thing and totally uncomplicated. Local Army Units deployed in a particular area are interacting directly with the people like the Village Head, a school teacher, or a prominent citizen of that place. One has to simply project the case to the local unit commander and if the requirement is genuine, it is tak-

en into consideration with subsequent action. Talking about the security scenario, as you have a lot of experience in North East, which are the strong rebel groups existing in Assam? As of now if you see, most of the rebel groups have been neutralized. Observing the last one and a half years, synergized operations have been carried out by the Army in conjunction with Assam Police and other central para-military forces under the aegis of the Unified Command. Due to the momentum of these operations, the rebels are unable to strike at will. There is relative peace in the state today, as compared to the situation earlier. Let’s take the recent Kuldeep Moran case. Ulfa has kidnapped a BJP leader’s son and for the first time they have released a video with idea taken from other international rebel groups like ISIS. What do you want to say about it? I will not comment; this is beyond my mandate. I am sure that the police and security forces are looking into it. In Guwahati and Assam, people are talking a lot about Jihadis and the potential threat that the carry. Do you think there can be any kind of Jihadi existence in Assam? Again, it will be very difficult to say and I also have been reading the same in newspapers. But if you ask me, I don’t have any information whether they exist or not. Certainly this matter has come to public domain and I also have come to know all these things through newspapers. The police will be the best people to answer. Please say something about your hobbies. I am an avid reader and my passion is cross country running. I am also fond of boxing and golf. Keeping fit and being healthy both mentally and physically is important. Do you have any message for Guwahatians? I can see that Guwahati as a city is developing at a rapid pace. We as citizens of Guwahati, and I feel privileged to be one, should make a positive and constructive contribution towards the steady development of this place. And I would also like to add that Guwahati is a clean and environmentally congenial place, we as the citizens of Guwahati should make all possible efforts to maintain and enhance this cleanliness. Especially, the facets of Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan should be implemented in a positive manner. In addition Guwahati which happens to be the Gateway to the North East is growing by leaps and bounds and it is like the other parts of North East India blessed with wonderful people with a clear sense of purpose. We should maintain this peace and sense of unity and work towards the development of Guwahati and the northeast. rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

G PLUS AUG 27 - SEP 02, 2016

Photo feature

Janmashtami celebrations in city: a riot of colors, a day of worship

GPLUS Feature

Day long celebrations with participation from ISKCON and various other social sections

Location: Geetanagar mandap field.

G PLUS AUG 27 - SEP 02, 2016

Society

Rajgarh Road to transform into 4-lane street KALYAN DEB

 The project will be initiated in two phases that will transform the entire road into 4-lane

Stretch to have 4-lane 1130 meters

 In the first phase a stretch of 1,130 meters will be transformed into 4-lane with the breadth being 18.5 metres

Fund allotted for the project Rs. 9.5

crore

Breadth of the 4-lane road 18.5

 In the second phase the rest of the stretch till Bhangagarh will have a breadth of 17 metres

meters

Overall budget of the project Rs. 26

crore

 Of the estimated Rs. 9.5 crores for the first phase of the project Rs. 8.17 crores is meant for civil work File Photo of Rajgarh Road | Adib zamali/G Plus

he transformation of Rajgarh Road into a 4-lane street has been much discussed. The importance of Rajgarh Road in the not-too-distant past could never be undermined as before the Chandmari flyover was constructed in 1985, vehicles travelling to RG Baruah Road were routed through Rajgarh Road connecting RG Baruah Road with Chandmari. In July last, the PWD (Public Works Department) had submitted an estimate to the district administration with regard to converting Rajgarh Road into a 4-lane street. However, the proposal has not been implemented till date. Despite being one of the major routes of transportation and a vital connecting route between the GS Road and RG Baruah Road, Rajgarh Road falls victim to severe traffic congestion due to commutation of a large number of vehicles throughout the day with the monsoon season triggering water-logging when the road gets submerged in knee-deep water. The condition has worsened with the implementation of GMDA/ JICA water supply project in the area for which the road was tampered with but not restored. Since the water sup-

 On Rajgarh Road, the stretch from Chandmari (near railway crossing) to Barnali Service Station (petrol pump) will be converted into a 4-lane street

Eviction drive to be carried out in the next 15 days ply project is yet to be completed it may become a deterrent to the initiation of the 4-lane project. According to the project, the stretch from Chandmari (near railway crossing) to Barnali Service Station (a petrol pump) in the area (a stretch of 1,130 meters) will be converted into 4-lane that will have a breadth of 18.5 metres including the median which will be 1.5 metres. However, several hurdles have to be overcome for the materialization of the project. There are several bottlenecks on the road due to long term encroachments and the only solution is an eviction drive. Two such bottlenecks have been identified on the initial 1,130 metre stretch. “As per the survey two bottlenecks have been identified and we have taken the matter up to the circle officer. Those who have extended their boundary walls onto the government land have been approached. It appears that the encroachments have been done in the space for the drainage system by the road. So we have considered carrying out an eviction drive within the next 15 days with the consent of the district ad-

ministration and the road is expected to be ready by the end of 2017,” said Pulak Das, assistant engineer, PWD. It was also informed that the initiation of the project will be carried out soon after the completion of the water supply project. While, the first phase of the project, i.e., the stretch from Chandmari (near railway crossing) to the petrol pump will be constructed early enough, the remaining stretch till Bhangagarh will be carried out in the next phase. However, the second phase will require extensive scrutiny and consensus of the residents of the area. The challenge lies in the initiation of the second phase of the project as there are several bottlenecks in that stretch right up to Bhangagarh. For this stretch up to Big Bazaar the department has approached the deputy commissioner for land acquisition. The district administration will scrutinize the myadi patta allotment to the establishments and the part of government land that has been encroached. “After the scrutiny process is carried out the district administration will carry out an eviction drive on

the remainder of the stretch. As estimated, the breadth of the road on this stretch will be 17 metres as it has been found that around 3 metres of government land has been encroached. We have congested the median from 1.5 metres to 0.5 metre in order to maintain the breadth of the main lane. As per the estimated breadth the establishments will be paid a compensation which will be the double the value of land as per government valuations. However, the discussion is in process and we are expecting land acquisition at the earliest,” Das added. The estimate of the entire project is Rs. 26 crores with which the entire stretch of Rajgarh Road will be transformed into a 4-lane street. However, of the total amount, a major chunk will go as compensation for land acquisition from the establishments in the area. While the work order has already been passed the department now awaits the allotment of funds for the project. There is no second opinion that the notable step will significantly ease the traffic on Rajgarh Road. kalyan.deb@g-plus.in

 The remaining Rs. 1.33 crores will be used for other purposes such as shifting of electrical poles, etc.  The overall estimate of the project is Rs. 26 crores  For the initiation of second phase land acquisition by the district administration is awaited as the stretch has several bottlenecks  Following the scrutiny of the myadi patta allotment to the establishments an eviction drive will be carried out  Those who give away land for the project will be paid a compensation double the value of land as per government valuations

Weather report for the week Guwahati

SUN 28 August

MON 29 August

TUE 30 August

WED 31 August

THU 01 September

FRI 02 September

Cloudy, t-storm

Sun, t-storm

Shower, partly sunny

Clouds than Sun

Sun, t-storm

Clouds than Sun

36/ 26 °C

33 / 25 °C

32 / 25 °C

34 / 25 °C

38 / 30 °C

38 / 29 °C

SATURDAY

27 August

Clouds than Sun

35 / 26 °C

G PLUS AUG 27 - SEP 02, 2016

Concern

Cars to vanish from ‘No Driving Zone’ HB Road, Fancy Bazar

Juthika Baruah

#Surrogacy bill gets preliminary clearance

Radioactive Akash@ desiRadar a child needs love of a mother & father both to develop physically & mentally.if u have doubt ask the orphans,how they feel #surrogacy

The traders of Fancy Bazaar opposes the walkway project undertaken by GMC The traffic of HB Road will be diverted towards MG Road and JC Das Road

Komal :) @Komal_Indian Single parents & homosexual couples can’t opt for #surrogacy coz it’s not in our ‘ethos’ ! But producing 10 babies is in our ethos ! Wow Isn’t commercial #surrogacy is a woman’s reproductive and economic freedom. @ SushmaSwaraj alisa @ ‫ ‏‬alisa_sahu whats the point in restricting single parents,live-in couples & homosexual couples from surrogate babies..!!! #surrogacy file photo of hb road at fancy bazar | Adib zamali/G Plus

The Hem Baruah Road Residents’ and Traders’ Association opposes the proposed walkway project from Khubchand point to Alka Hotel

Tweet!?

Nikita Gupta@ AthenaAtWar1 Total ban of commercial #surrogacy will lead to underground network booming across India, just like Thailand. Gov’t should reconsider.

Hem Baruah Road in Fancy Bazaar to be made No Driving Zone

new project has been undertaken from Khubchand point to Hotel Alka, Fancy Bazaar, by transforming the stretch into a “No Driving Zone.” The move has been opposed by the traders and residents of the area on the grounds that it will hamper the normal life of the public. The project to be undertaken at Hem Baruah Road, Fancy Bazar, is proposed to be a walkway project and no vehicles will be allowed to ply towards the parking at the old jail complex through the road. A large number of families residing in the locality for around 100 years have senior citizens, women, school-going children and office-goers all of whom use private vehicles for commuting on a daily basis. As the Mohendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital is nearby the residents, especially the elderly citizens, frequent the hospital and in emergency people use their vehicles on the road. Turning it into a No Driving Zone will totally disrupt the life of such people. Hem Baruah road is the main arterial road of Fancy Bazaar and therefore the traders have opined that under no circumstances the flow of traffic through this road be stopped

What the

or diverted. “The decision is arbitrarily taken and far from the consent of the stakeholders of the entire area. Our consent for such a decision affecting our lives and livelihoods was not taken at all during the decision. Majority of the people in the area do not approve of the project,” said one of the members of Hem Baruah Road Residents’ and Traders’ Association, Iftekhar Hussain, while speaking to G Plus. Hussain said that earlier the footpath in the area was widened in the name of beautification in spite of objections from the local citizens and now the footpaths have become peddling havens for the street hawkers and vendors and poses a big problem for free movement of all pedestrians. “The widened footpaths are now in a dilapidated condition where people often twist their ankles, stumble and fall and have become a concern for public safety but the authority turns a deaf ear when such issues are raised. Also a carnival was arranged in December, 2013 without consulting the local people where the entire traffic flow to the area was stopped for a few days and due to the carnival the

businesses had to bear heavy losses,” informed Hussain. In a memorandum submitted by the Association to the Commissioner of Guwahati Municipal Corporation it was mentioned that vehicular parking in the area was abolished for the free flow of the traffic through the area and parking space was allocated inside the old jail complex but for the convenience of the general public battery operated carts should be operated from the jail complex till Khubchand point in a systematic manner. It was after the digging of the road that the traders came to know about the walkway project and that the entire stretch from Khubchand to Hotel Alka will be a no driving zone. The SS Road, which has been virtually fully occupied by street vendors and hawkers, is full of dirt and filth. If the HB road is made a No Driving Zone, it is a reasonable assumption that the hawkers will occupy virtually the whole road for which pedestrians will face many problems. “The SS Road from Sikh Temple point to MG Road, MM Road and parts of SRCB Road are still unusable for the general commuters over the years due to the

encroachments by street vendors and is totally occupied by the hawkers. The earlier government had failed to safeguard the interest of the general public at large and the shop owners in particular. Hussain said that there are around 10,000 shops in the entire stretch and the employees will be affected due to the walkway project as customers who pass through the road to park their vehicles in the jail complex will have to go through the MG Road which is a long route and this will act as a deterrent for them to come to the market. “We earn our livelihood from our business establishments which we own at the aforesaid location and given the situation with the continuation of the said project we will lose business and thereby our very livelihoods will be in jeopardy,” said one of the shopkeepers. The MG Road and JC Das Road are always overburdened with traffic and any more traffic diversions through these roads will be catastrophic in terms of time and money loss. juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

Gunjan Jain@GunjanOfficial Cabinet’s #surrogacy bill, unfair to single parents & homosexual couples or protection of the rights of women lending their womb? #debate Shuvankar Mukherjee@ shuvankr After #surrogacy Bill, Coming Soon, “Restrictive Condom Sales Act” Only Married Males will be able to buy after showing Certificate #LOL {Ajay}@AjayTalks Commercial #surrogacy in India is a tool to exploit poverty for the benefit of rich & needs to be regulated. $r@¥@n.?@vuruturusravan That was a great move by government for introducing #surrogacy bill in India.. Gee@GayatriiM Why no one is talking about 20 million orphans across India. Barely under 1% get adopted. Why not make adoption process easier ? #surrogacy Vivek@vivek_fca #surrogacy Medical compulsion exception.is ok...else a dirty dimension of taking advantage of Poverty Womb on Rent, disgrace to motherhood

G PLUS AUG 27 - SEP 02, 2016

Art

Assamese expats’ Bihu rendition mesmerizes cosmopolitan GPLUS NEWS London crowd

ondon, 21st Aug, 2016 – The Indian High Commission, UK celebrated India’s 70th Independence Day at the 100 year old Indian Gymkhana Club in London. The High Commission had invited the Bordoisila Bihu Gosthi, London to represent Assam and perform Bihu. The team rendered a well-choreographed Bihu showcasing the traditional dance form amongst the massive crowd that at-

Subhrajit Roy

tended the event. The team dedicated its performance to the millions in Assam who have been affected by the recent floods. Of the many programmes, the Bihu performance was just one of two programmes where every song and every instrument was played live on stage. The colourful traditional costumes were the centre of attraction

apart from the graceful dance movements of the nasonis and many from the audience were seen to be speaking to the performers enquiring about the gorgeous muga mekhala chadars that they had adorned. The post performance applause and the number of people who came forward to appreciate, compliment and click pictures with the performing artists went on to say that the team did manage to put Assam in the hearts of the 6000-plus audience who participated in the Independence Day celebrations. Apart from the High Commissioner of India in the UK and other senior dignitaries, the Union Minister of Food and Public Distribution, Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan, also attended the event. The other highlight of the event was the attempt to paint a huge Indian flag using wood blocks with the objective of entering this as a feat in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Love, Sacrifice and Forgiveness

n a recent experiment with Rabindranath Tagore’s creations, noted Odissi exponent Anjana Moyee Saikia blended the flavour of Tagore’s essence with her own style of presentation. Adapted into Assamese from original Bengali by Madhurima Baruah Sen, the dance drama “Shyama” was staged recently at Rabindra Bhawan in Guwahati on 20th and 21st August, 2016. Produced under the banner of Darpan Dance Akademi, presented in association with Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Govt. of Assam and supported by Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, the enactment was designed, directed, choreographed and performed by Anjana Moyee herself. One of the classic “romantic tragedies” of Indian literature, the dance drama revolves around the central character Shyama, a court dancer, her beloved Bajrasen and her secret admirer Uttiyo. Bajrasen, a foreign merchant, who brought the “Indramani” necklace (a necklace of rare emeralds from the Subarna islands) with the intention of not selling it but gifting it to

his soul mate whom he has never met. Levelled with charges of theft from the royal treasury, the “Nagar Kotal,” the King’s guard chains up Bajrasen and forcibly takes him to the prison. Shyama has a glimpse of him from her palace window and falls in love with him at first sight. Following the accusation, she finds her own way to rescue him and persuades the Kotal to spare Bajrasen. Noticing her concern for him, Bajrasen realises that she is the girl of his dreams. On the other hand, infatuated Uttiyo, who is a lovesick for Shyama, comes to know that she is seeking someone valiant enough to rescue Bajrasen from the injustice. Uttiyo, who has never expressed his affection to Shyama, makes up his mind to take the blame on himself. Being blinded by her love for Bajrasen, Shyama grabs the opportunity and gives Uttiyo a ring which the King had given her. Showing the ring as a proof for the alleged theft, Uttiyo surrenders before the Kotal and finally sacrifices his life. Initially, Bajrasen is delighted to

be free from the false allegations. His happiness doubles when he comes to know about Shyama’s contribution to his freedom and yearns to see her again. However, he is also curious to know how Shyama managed to secure his freedom. When the truth of Uttiyo’s sacrifice becomes known to him he immediately abandons her. Between happiness and sadness, love and revulsion Bajrasen begs the Almighty to forgive his loneliness and inability to forgive Shyama and save Uttiyo. The philosophy behind such a prayer to the Almighty reflects the fact that we all want forgiveness when we ourselves are unable to dispense it. The critical situation of the romance and tragedy was well portrayed by Anajana Moyee; she took the character of Shyama to a magnificent high. Supporting her were Sasanka Samir (Bajrasen) and Tapan Kumar Baruah (Uttiyo). The martial art between Bijit Kumar Das (Kotal) and Debajit Deka (Prahari) added to the drama. Similarly, the multiple dance numbers performed by Roopchanda Sarma, Shyamalima Das, Banalata Baishya and Samragyee Kashyap who have also played the roles Sakhis, gave synchronicity to the enactment. Light design by Kaushik Borbora made the adaptation a visual treat and the play was well supported by the music design of Yachinur Rahman. But the music in “Shyama” is totally different from what was expected. Directed by Tarali Sarma, the music of the presentation brought a flavour that usually is need associated with Tagore. As a result, the enactment cannot be termed as a perfect adaptation, although the translation has been well scripted. In spite of having many signature moments and elements of visual treat, the presentation lacked uniqueness just because of the music.

 The BBG: Bordoisila Bihu Gosthi was formed about 2 years back by a few professionals based out of London with the prime objective of promoting the rich Assamese culture and heritage amongst the local British populace and the rest of the world. In 2015, their innovative concept ‘Axomor Husori British-r Suburit’ was highly appreciated and they partnered with the Assamese Society of Bangalore and New Delhi to promote this concept and implement it in various residential suburbs of London, Bangalore and New Delhi. Since then, the team has been performing Bihu and other forms of Assamese folk dance and music in prestigious forums of London like Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (in aid of Asha Foundation), Nehru Centre in programmes arranged by the Indian High Commission to promote the northeast. In most of these programmes, the audiences were primarily people from the rest of the world and this has helped the Gosthi take the small steps towards their objective.

NOTICE

It is for information to all concerned that applications for fresh and renewal Pre- Matric and Post-Matric scholarship for candidates belonging to Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes are invited for the year 2016-17 through National Scholarship Portal www.scholarships.gov.in as on line as per instruction of Govt. of India. Proposals will be entertained through on line portal only for students studying in Govt./ Govt. aided/ Govt. recognized/ Madhyamik/ Middle/ Primary School/ University/ Higher Secondary/ Colleges including Medical / Technical Institutions etc. Sl No.

Schemes

Qualification

Family Income (in Rs.)

Post Matric Scholarship to ST (90:10 Central : State Share)

From Class XI to Higher studies M.Phil/ PhD/ IT Polytechnic/ Vocational etc.

2.50 Lakhs or below

Post Matric Scholarship to OBC (90:10 Central : State Share)

--do--

1.00 Lakhs or below

Pre-Matric Scholarship to ST (90:10 Central : State Share)

Studying in Class IX & X

2.00 Lakhs or below

Pre Matric Scholarship Studying in Class I to X 44,500 or to OBC (50: 50 Central : below State Share) All students belonging to ST and OBC studying in various educational institutions will submit Fresh- Renewal proposals for Scholarship for the year 2016-17 through the aforesaid website. The proposals will have to be submitted within 31/8/16 which may or may not be extended any further. All the Heads of educational Institutions are requested to follow the guidelines issued by Govt. of India for selection of students of their respective institutions which is available in the website www.scholarships.gov.in For detail information log in to National Scholarship Portal. While filling up of format of application form in the National Scholarship Portal, the students are advised to bring/ carry the following documents as stated below — 1. For registration, date of birth as per birth certificate, Mobile No. or email ID. 2. The student will log in to the portal with his/ her application ID and password received in the registered Mobile No. or email ID after Registration. 3. The students will select his/ her course of studies in their school/ Colleges etc. which are already registered in the portal and fill up the format. 4. While filling up the format the following information / documents will be required which has to be presented before the Head of the Institution for verification after submission of applications online :a) Admit Card, latest mark sheet, pass certificate, bank certificate, Bank A/C No. with IFSC, income certificate, caste certificate, fee receipts of current year, bonafide certificate issued by the Head of the Institutions. The Heads of Institutions are instructed to verify and approve the applications as per guidelines of Govt. of India received pertaining to their respective institutions by logging into the above stated portal using their login user-id/ password of the institution based on the authenticity of the claims for onward action by the undersigned. The Head of the institution will be deemed responsible for the approval of the applications on the basis of the guidelines which is available in the website of NSP under URL www.scholarships.gov.in. All the required information regarding details of guidelines are available in connection with awarding of scholarship in t aforesaid website. DIRECTOR : WPT & BC, Assam, Ghy – 6 Janasanyog/805/16

G PLUS AUG 27 - SEP 02, 2016

Guwahati goes tattoo-happy; art form catches up big time with 500 artists and 50 studios  3300 BC: Otzi’s skin bears 57 tattoos.  2160 BC: Tattoos were common in ancient Egypt.  1000 BC: The art of “henna” tattooing began to spread.  700 BC: Romans and Greeks would tattoo slaves.  600 BC: Effect tattoos had on Christianity and Islam.  306 BC: Emperor Constantine bans tattoos due to Christianity.  1600: Tattoo, as an art, began to grow in Japan.  1766: James Cook makes reference to the word “tattoo.”  1800: Sailors and soldiers popularize tattoos, Europe sees an increase in popularity during the 19th century.  1850: Circus brings out tattoos.  1668: Modern Meji Japanese makes tattoos illegal.  1870: First American tattoo shops open and British tattoo artists open a studio.  1876: Link between tattoos and French prisoner is made.  1891: O’Reilly invents the first tattoo machine and become famous.

Great piece of Art needs patience-Artist Ripz

“Tattoos have a power and magic all their own. They decorate the body but they also enhance the soul.” - Michelle Delio, The Exotic Art of Skin Decoration.

io Olympics 2016 witnessed India’s first silver medal for Badminton by PV Sindhu but not many know that world champion, Carolina Marin of Spain crashed out in the group stage on her Olympic Games debut as a 19-year-old at London 2012. She responded to the setback by having the Olympic rings tattooed on her left wrist and has barely looked back since, winning several titles and championships. Tattooing is enjoying a big renaissance around the world. Body art has now become the latest way of expressing oneself and by celebrities and icons like Beckham, Angelina Jolie and several others believe as much. In this art form the human body is the canvas. The oldest established tattoo was exposed in 1991. It was found on a

mummy known as Oetzi, an Iceman dated to be at least 5,300 years old. The skin bore 57 tattoos wherein 85% of the tattoos line up with acupuncture points. It is clearly indicative that tattoos were used for medicinal purposes. Tattoo artists don’t work on a normal canvas. They work on the human body. To create a masterpiece of art on the human body, tattoos artists must possess unique artistic skills and also proper knowledge in the medical field. Slight negligence or laxity may be fatal for clients if other body fluids get contaminated with blood from an infected person. Getting a tattoo can take up to several hours. Tattoos are very expensive and artists usually charge per square inch. Permanent tattoos can be removed with a laser treatment

but it is more expensive and painful than the actual tattooing itself. Hence, designs must be carefully chosen as not many are aware that tattoos can enhance the aura and even heal energetic defects. But for those who can’t take the puncturing, there are temporary tattoos. Also one may opt to get tattooed under anaesthesia.

Tattoo as an art catching up in Guwahati Popular tattoo artist of Guwahati, Ripz Basak, who owns Ripz Tattoo and Piercing, shared how he pursued his passion after quitting an MNC job in Bangalore. “The love for the art always lingered. I somehow managed to undertake a six-month tattoo course in Thailand. Returning to Bangalore I continued my studies and did

 1939: Jews were branded with tattoos during the Holocaust.  1945: Japanese identify tattooing with the Yakuza Mafia.  1950: Hippie movement bears tattoos.

Trends

Ronmi Bora

freelance tattooing never missing the opportunity to ink when asked for. I had my tattoo kit always ready. “In 2008, I came to Guwahati and I decided on giving my hobby, my passion a fresh start. I decided to take it as a career come what may. “Tattoo during those years was an extremely a new thing here and not much appreciated or accepted. Those who sported tattoos were somehow not quite respected. It was a big challenge for me working against the mindset of the people. Client footfall was also very less during those days. “Gradually time changed. Tattoo started gaining popularity and people started looking and respecting it as a form of body art or beautification. Slowly students who aspired to become tattoo artists came in. Today, we have clients ranging from 18 years to 60+ years. Some come with their own concepts while some just wish to get inked. I sit with the clients and customise and work on their designs. There aren’t any fixed rates for tattooing. However, depending on the place and quality costs may vary.” Biswa, a visualizer by profession, says, “Tattoo is my hobby. Trends are changing over time and nowadays tattoos seem more of a fad than one’s own identity. But I feel one must understand the depth of getting ink as emotions matter. Merely just following a herd won’t serve the purpose of experiencing this exotic art form.” According to artist Mac, owner of Black Needle studio, quality of tattoo art is improving in Guwahati. The city has approximately 500 tattoo artists and 50 of them have their own studios. With the addition of new inks, mechanisms and very talented artists, tattooing has certainly reached a new high in Guwahati. After all, tattoos are stories in your heart, written on your skin.

The etymological origin of the word ‘tattoo’ is believed to have

two major derivations; the first is from the Polynesian word ‘ta’ which means striking something and the second is the Tahitian word, ‘tatau’ which means ‘to mark something.’ From a simple scientific standpoint – tattoos are created with the insertion of coloured materials beneath the skin’s surface or epidermis.

In 1891, Samuel O’Reilly patented the first electric tattooing machine. It was based on

 1961: New York outlawed tattoos after the Hepatitis outbreak.

Edison’s electric pen which punctured paper with a needle point. The basic design with moving coils, a tube and a needle bar, are the components of today’s tattoo gun.

 2006: Oklahoma becomes last state to legalize tattoos.

Cover ups & tattoo modification are in much demand - Artist Ripz

Tattoo by Artist Mac

ronmibora@g-plus.in

G PLUS AUG 27 - SEP 02, 2016

Ward Watch

Hengrabari Swaraj Nagar residents remain helpless onlookers to a fast deteriorating locality

Kalyan Deb

WARD NO

Concentrated area: Swaraj nagar Ward Number: 25 Councillor of Ward : Niranjan Hazarika Phone Number: 98644 44847 Sub-division : 25 (c) Area sabha member: Shyamal Hazarika Phone Number: 98547 16747

Issues: Water logging, poor road condition, inadequate water supply Adib zamali/G Plus

t has not been more a couple of decades that the Hengrabari area had seen a boost in terms civilization, inhabitation and commercialization. The area is covered with lush greenery on one side with most of the land belonging to the forest department while the other side has several business and residential establishments. After years of being in a deplorable condition the area has had a taste of development. With the growing development of the stretch from Ganeshguri to VIP Road the area has attracted huge real estate development within a short span of time. However, there are many roads where the development scenario is bleak. From the stretch mentioned, there are several arterial roads that connect various surrounding areas such as Super Market, several parts of the Downtown Hospital area just to name a couple and the scenario in these areas is discouraging to say the least.

The adversity: Swaraj Nagar is one of the many arterial roads of the area that connects Forest Gate in Hengrabari to Super Market in Dispur via Sarumotoria that houses the celebrated Bagheshwari Temple which adds to the significance of the area. Divided into five by-lanes, Swaraj Nagar is the most convenient route for commuters who want to travel to Super Market or other parts of GS Road. Even

as the other by-lanes of the area have enjoyed the fruits of development, By-lane No. 4 remains in shambles. While it was only after the collective effort of the surrounding lanes that the roads were well-constructed, the fourth by-lane remains a victim of flood and poor road condition. “It was in 2005 that the lane was constructed last after we approached the PWD but the road did not last too long. Due to inflow of rainwater through the drainage systems of the surrounding bylanes the road gets submerged in waist deep water,” said Bhupen Kalita, a resident who is conversant with the condition of the area. Over the years the lane has also intermittently had tasted development but each time things deteriorated due to certain unfortunate reasons. For numerous times the residents have come forward to collectively provide a facelift to the condition of the road within their limitations but a permanent solution has not been reached till date. Bylane 4 also has a connecting lane to By-lane 3 which, along with housing several residences, provides an outlet to the drainage system. The stream further flows towards Bahini River via By-lane 4. It is due to the inadequate capacity to contain the rainwater that the silt flows over the roads and even rushes towards the residences on the lane during heavy downpour. Meanwhile, an unplanned

JICA-assisted Guwahati Water Supply Project in a low-lying, water-logging prone area has added to the misery of the people. After the completion of the project a mere layer of soling was done rather than restoring the road to its previous condition. The same caused the formation of several craters throughout the stretch of the lane.

Addition to the trouble: While the residents have been working towards the resolution of the problem another piece of trouble came knocking on the door. It has been a month that the local residents started facing a major scarcity in water supply. Most of the residents survive on the

water supplied by GMC which is the prime source of water. However, the water pressure since the past month has not been adequate to fill the containers. “It was for the first time in over two decades that we had to locate a different source of water. There is a hand pump in place but the water cannot be used for drinking. Water supply is provided by the second half of the day from around 2 pm to 6 pm. While earlier, the tank used to get filled by 4 pm itself, since the past few weeks the water tank has not been filling which results in water running out by next day noon. We have a water container in place that can capacitate 1000 litres but for the first time we had to buy 900 litres of water recently,” said Rita Deb, a local resident.

SN Tamuly, echoing similar views, said, “While checking the water pressure for several days it was found that the first hour is not at all adequate and similar is the case in the last hour. So, it gives us around 90 minutes to two hours to fill the water tanks.” It has come to light that water supply is being provided to more than the capacity of the pipeline that has over the years caused the decrease in the water pressure. Meanwhile, remaining hopeful of the much deserved development, residents of the area have decided to come up with an initiative through which any such problem can be solved with collective effort. kalyan.deb@g-plus.in

Councillor Say: During a conversation with G Plus, councillor Niranjan Hazarika mentioned that it is due to fund deficiency that the construction of the road has not been carried out. He also informed that the major reason of water logging in the area is due to blockade of a part of the drainage system behind the Dispur branch of State Bank of India. “The people of the area had opposed the move following which we had visited the area. We were also accompanied by the then commissioner of GMC, S. Viswanathan but since the blockage is near a private property so an adequate outlet to the drainage system could not be provided. However, in order to mitigate the water logging problem we carry out de-siltation process on a regular basis,” the councillor said adding that the road condition will be developed by the initial months of 2017. On the problem of water supply Hazarika expressed his views and said that it is due to leakages at several places that the problem has come up. He also mentioned that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-assisted Guwahati Water Supply Project will be implemented at the earliest - by next year.

G PLUS AUG 27 - SEP 02, 2016

Sports

Guwahati to host ISL opener

NEUFC vs Kerala Blasters FC on 1st October

Kalyan Deb

Hero ISL 2016 season schedule Day

ero Indian Super League, the unrivalled competition that emerged as the third best attended football league globally in its second season, is once again set to capture India and the world’s attention starting Saturday, 1st October, 2016. The promoters, Football Sports Development Ltd., announced the Hero ISL 2016 fixtures featuring 61 games spread across 79 days played in a home-away league format followed by two-legged semi-finals and the final. The ‘Super Sunday’ final is scheduled on December 18, 2016. Venue for the finals will be announced at a later date. All the matches will kick off at 1900 hrs (IST). With just over a month from now, Guwahati will witness a galaxy of stars descending to lighten up the spirit of the beautiful game in the northeast with Hero ISL 2016 opening ceremony scheduled on 1st October. With ISL focus on the region, John Abraham owned club North East United FC would hope it inspires his boys to give a jump start to their campaign when they take on Sachin Tendulkar owned Kerala Blasters FC. Coincidently, 2016 would turn out to be the third consecutive opening clash rivalry between John and Sachin in a row, North East United having won 1-0 on 4th October 2014 at home and

losing 1-3 on 6th Oct 2015 at Kochi. The two ISL Titans – inaugural champs Atlético de Kolkata (ATK) and defending champs Chennaiyin FC will get down to business putting their pre-season training plans to test as early as second day of the league. ISL 2015: A Recap The second edition of Hero Indian Super League witnessed an unparalleled response in the history of Indian Football. ISL established astounding ratings for the sport on air and surpassed the Spanish La Liga in terms of average stadium attendance to be the third most attended football league globally. Hero ISL brought Indian football to the world stage with its high quality football. The globally viewed competition had a whopping 186 goals scored in the second season as compared to 129 in the inaugural season at an average of 3.09 goals per game. Indians assisted in 45 goals and scored 48 that included two hat-tricks by Sunil Chhetri and Haokip. Stevin Mendoza won the Golden Boot for the Champions scoring 13 goals in the season. Over 1.65 million fans made their way to eight city-based club’s home stadiums to witness this unrivalled football event unfold.

Date

Time

Match

Home Team

1st Oct