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DreeApatani Festival ASSENG/2015/64205
PAGE 12
Vol. II
PRANEETH ENTERS FINAL, JAYARAM CRASHES OUT OF CANADA OPEN
Issue 16
Dibrugarh, Monday, July 4, 2016
Man missing Golaghat, July 3: A man named Jugesh Ghosh (68) and resident of Sreemantnagar was found to be missing from last six days. As per the information provided by the family members the man started from his home on June 28 for Jorhat by train and from the very day has not returned home. It has been reported that Ghosh is sufferring from brain disorder. He was wearing a check shirt. The family has reported the matter to the nearest police station and GRP. There is no information regarding the same. (Correspondent)
Turtle rescued Dibrugarh, July 3: Showing concern for nature and wildlife, Dr. Dibya Jyoti Kalita, a Dibrugarh based young physician towards rescued a turtle from traders and handed it over to the forest department. Kalita stated that he rescued the turtle as a couple of traders was trying to sell it to some persons in the Milan Nagar (East) area of the town. As the traders refused to part away with the turtle, Kalita bought it for Rs. 7000/- and later informed the forest department. People have lauded the efforts of the doctor. (Staff Reporter)
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Come Bohag Bihu, the bridge over All Papum Pare District Students’ Union Brahmaputra between Dhola - Sadiya urges NEEPCO authorities to heed to the will he gifted to people of Assam : CM demands of the local committee Rishu Kalantri. Tinsukia, July 3
A Staff Reporter Itanagar, July 3
At 9.15 kilometres, the country’s longest bridge, between Dhola and Sadiya in Tinsukia district of Assam, will be commissioned before Bohag Bihu next year. This was announced by none other than the chief minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal during his inspection visit of the under construction bridge here on Sunday.
Voicing their support towards the 12-hour bandh called by the Pare Project Land Affected Welfare Committee (PPLAWC) against the Pare Hydro Electric project (PHEP), NEEPCO Ltd on July 5 next, the All Papum Pare District Students’ Union (APPDSU) urged the NEEPCO authorities to heed to the demands of the local committee before the situation turns volatile in the project sites.
After inspection of the crucial bridge, that would drastically improve road connectivity to the border state of Arunachal Pradesh - sharing international border with China, the chief minister held a meeting at the conference hall of the camp site office of Navayuga Dhola Infra Projects Limited, which is executing the bridge project over the river. The meeting was attended by BJP MP from Dibrugarh Rameswar Teli, BJP MLA from Tinsukia Sanjay Kishan, BJP MLA from Sadiya Bolin Chetia, DIG (ER) B.P.Rava, deputy commissioner of Tinsukia Puru Gupta, Superintendent of Tinsukia police Mugdha Jyoti Mahanta, Superintendent of Sadiya Police B. Lindolkar, circle officers from Doomdooma and Sadiya, engineers looking after the construction of the bridge and senior officers of construction company. Contd. on Page 4
CM Sarbananda taking stock of the progress of the 9.15 - km long Sadiya-Dhola Bridge. Pic - UB Photos
Road blockade hits CM tour at Tinsukia Delay forces CM to cancel review meeting ET Bureau Tinsukia/Doomdooma, July 3
A major road blockade on national highway 37 at Tippuk under Doomdooma police station following a road accident on Sunday morning hit the chief minister Sarbandand Sonowal cavalcade on his way to 0 point at Dholla. The blockade, forced the chief minister to halt at Makum until the national
highway was cleared from protesters, resulting in a huge delay in his scheduled programme. As a result chief minsiter Sarbananda Sonowal reached the bridge site at Dhola around 2.30 in the noon and had to cancel the review meeting with senior officers from various departments of the district due to shortage of time. Earlier, in the morning a speeding truck (bearing registration number AS 23 BC
5295) ran over a resident of 7 No lane of Tippuk tea estate under Doomdooma police station killing Sarat Sonowal on the spot. The locals blocked national highway 37 at Tippuk in protest of the road accident. It was only after assurances by deputy commissioner of Tinsukia Puru Gupta, Superintendent of Tinsukia police Mugdha Jyoti Mahanta and BJP MLA Sanjay Kishan to meet their demand, protesters withdrew the blockade.
Season 5 of Nyishi Idol Rape accused arrested within 48 hours begins at Itanagar Indrajit Tingwa Miao, July 3
Staff Reporter Itanagar, July 3
The Miao Police in a prompt action based on an FIR filed on 1 July by the victim arrested one Sanjib Chakma from Bat Camp area near Miao today within 48 hours of recieving the report. The victim is about 30 years of age and mother of five children aged between 3 months and 12 years. She was living with her husband and children in the same area as that of the accused.
In the mega auditions of the fifth season of the Nyishi Idol, organized by the Nyishi Art and Culture Welfare Society (NACWS), 28 participants were selected today to move ahead in the elimination rounds. Inaugurated formally by WRD Minister Kumar Waii, the competition saw 65 participants from various Nyishi-inhibited districts performing for a spot in the elimination round. Contd. on Page 3
As per the victim,the accused's wife had come to their place on 30 June informing them that her husband Sanjib was threatening to kill her following an altercation and requested the victim's hus-
band to stay the night over at their place to control the situation. The victim's husband left with the accused's wife and stayed over at their place that intervening night. During that very intervening night of 30 June and 1 July, the accused Sanjib is said to have come to the victim's place and raped her.
“If the NEEPCO management had made an agreement to appoint 50 ITI trainees after the completion of two
years course, why are they backtracking”, questioned the APPDSU, and said that if this is the attitude of NEEPCO then the state government and general public should not sign any MoU/ MoA with NEEPCO as the power developer would only betrayed the people of the state. The APPDSU strongly stated that it would never tolerate the injustice inflicted upon the local affected families of Pare Project undertaken by the NEEPCO, and demanded that the company look into matter seriously and fulfill the demands of PPLAWC at the earliest.
It also highlighted how the locals had sacrificed their cultivation land to NEEPCO Ltd for nation development, but were misled by the power developer. Reiterating that it would stand by the project affected families, the APPDSU also demanded that the state government led by Chief Minister Kalikho Pul and the Minister of Power intervene in the matter. The PPLAWC had demanded the immediate appointment of 50 ITI trained youths and immediate cancellation of special recruitment drive for STs/SCs/ OBCs
Sonowal asks Chief Secretary to prepare modalities for legislation to assess property of Ministers, MLAs, Government officers, and ex- Ministers, ex-MLAs and retired officers A Staff Reporter Guwahati, July 3
In a move to bring in transparency and weed out corrupt practices in governance, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal asked Chief Secretary to prepare modalities for a legislation to assess property of the Ministers, MLAs, Government officers, and exMinisters, ex-MLAs and retired officers.
In a statement Chief Minister Sonowal said, “The new legislation will add more teeth to weed out corrupt practices and will recommend stringent action like confiscation of property if property disproportionate to their known sources of income is found”. Sonowal also directed that a system should be put in place where in all grade-I and grade-II officers of the State Government will have to
submit their property return (immovable) within December 31. Officers of the Public Sector Undertakings and autonomous bodies will also come within the ambit of the new system. All gradeI and grade-II officers have to submit their property return up to June 30 by August 31, 2016. Officers failed to comply with the new rules will invite stringent action like denial of timely promotion, bank loan, pass port etc.
Flood caused by Subansiri inundates more than 20 villages in Lakhimpur
On the afternoon of 1 July, the victim alongwith her husband had come to the Miao P.S. and lodged an FIR. A case was promptly registered vide Miao PS C/No.23/16 u/s 376 IPC. Investigating Officer Lady SI B.Mingki and her team under supervision of OC Miao P.S. Inspector N.Ete immediately swung into action to nab the culprit and finally was successful this afternoon.
CDFC, AYA organizes marathon Race
cmyk
To augment the movement initiated by Apatani Youth Association (AYA) ‘Clean Ziro Green Ziro”, the Central Dree Festival Committee (CDFC) in collaboration with the AYA and PHE department has this morning organized a marathon race under the theme “Mission Open Defecation Free and Adopt Sanitary Toilet” (MODFAST) under Swatch Bharat Mission Gramin. Seven hundred people from all walks of life – students, NGOs, para-military, general public took has taken part in the race, a race for MODFAST, by covering entire village of Apatani Plateau despites hindrance caused by intermediate rain. Starting from Dree ground, men has to take the route through Tajang, KalungReru, Hari, Biirii, Hong, Bamin-Michi, Mudang-Tage,
gineer PHED while briefing the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin took the Swachhta Pledge.
Dutta, Hiija village and then back to Dree ground by covering a distance of 18 kms while women had to cover 10 kms.
Kani come in second and third place by completing in 01.02.00 and 1:03:31 hours respectively.
Chiging Novin who completed in 59.47 minutes become the fastest runner to win the men’s No one place while Mudang Mali and Yachang
In women category, Taku Yami who completed in 40:41 minutes stood in first place while Tailyang Anu and Mudang Kania with their
record of 44.35 and 45.44 minutes begged second and third prize respectively. The winners have been awarded with a trophy, certificate and cash prize each. Earlier, while flagging off the race, Toko Jyoti, chief en-
Lower Subansiri deputy commissioner Kemo Lollen who is the chief patron of CDFC, Superintendent of Police Tage Habung ,vice chairman of CDFC, Hage Dolo secretary general CDFC and all the executive members of CDFC, Taku Chatung AYA president and his team of executive members, officials of PHED of district were also participated the race. The motto of race is to make Apatani plateau free from open defecation through Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin by changing the behavior of its people to shun the traditional practice open defecation.
Houses of Dhunaguri village being submerged by flood water triggered by rising level of Subansiri River water in Bihpuria. Pic - UB Photos ET Correspondent Lakhimpur, July 3
After the arrival of the monsoon in the state, heavy lashes of rainfall have been continuous in entire North Assam along with Lakhimpur District. As a result of it, the major rivers of the area have been overflowing during the past forty eight hours. In the meantime flood caused by the river Subansiri, the largest river of the mighty Brahmaputra, inundated more than twenty villages in the southern part of
Lakhimpur District. Flood affected the normal life of those villages under Lohit Khabolu Gaon Panchayat. Villages like Rantijan, Mudaibil, Kanhiduar Miching, Rantijan Miching, Bordubi, Alichiga, Patnawala, Maluwal, Bordubi Chanang, Natun Shalmara, Kandali etc are under water since morning yesterday. Water penetrated into many households of these villages and wreaked anomalies to the people. Besides the common people, the livestock have to suffer a lot being deprive of sufficient food. The water level of the
river is still growing and the flood inundated the paddy fields of a few villages under Madhya Telahi Gaon Panchayat. The overgrowing water already inundated the paddy fields of Khaga, Halowajan, Magurmari, Jugalpur, Ghancharai villages under this GP and damaged the newly planted paddy crops. No officials from Lakhimpur District Administration have arrived at the affected nor they have initiated necessary steps to provide relief to the flood victims. On the other hand, the river has kept erosion continue at several places in the district.
cmyk
Yachang Tacho Ziro, July 3
DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, JULY 4
PAGE 2
ASTRO FOR YOU Aries A tough, action-packed day ahead! There may be difference of opinions with friends over trivial matters, but you will thrive on it. But all pending work will be completed, much to your relief. It's a promising and optimistic day. Taurus There is every possibility that you will enjoy a good rapport with people around you. You will think with your stomach today, craving for delicacies. Such a feeling might be because of repressed hunger. Something refreshingly different might be on the cards today. Gemini Your mind will be uneasy and anxious due to some reason today. You will be unable to express your anxieties. You will be able to secure the love of your partner by sharing your feelings. You need to let go of the past and strive to keep on moving forward with confidence. Cancer Today is a good day for you. However, don't expect a windfall. It is just one of those days when you will be in a good mood, irrespective of your problems, if any. You will treat your subordinates well, and they will show their appreciation. But if you think the atmosphere at your workplace is good, wait till you reach home. Your family will be exceptionally sweet to you, and your life partner will be all over you. And the financial condition won't be too bad either. What more can one asks for in life? Leo Motivating people through your own actions is one way; the other is to let your words do the talking. Both are equally effective.. With a bit of help from the stars, today, it is your words that shall hold more weight than your actions, as you make optimum use of your presentation skills. It seems like a good idea to keep an open mind and learn new things that will go a long way in improving your communication skills. So, reconsider taking another look at the latest that technology has to offer to you. Remember, good communicators make better managers at any given opportunity. Virgo Today you will be highly motivated. Your creative talents and abilities set you apart as an excellent artist. Words will flow if you give vent to your creativity, and if you choose to sing or dance, you will be the focus of attention. You are to pursue the performing arts or writing as hobbies. Libra You will showcase your ability and skills today in your work field and impress people. You will develop and express your inner love for art and artistic things and you will purchase a new work of art today. Scorpio You can be fondly called as 'the perfectionist' today. Right from being punctual to following a systematic method for your work, you do it all. All in all, you set an ideal example for the people around you. Sagittarius Look before you leap. Cupid has strung his bow and aimed an arrow at you. Love's labour will easily aid you to woo a young, tender heart. But don't be swept away by easy prospects and guard your reputation at all costs. Capricorn You will starve for some free time, but will find it difficult to steal even a minute from your busy schedule, even if it is for unwinding your overworked soul.. In times like these, one can hardly think straight, let alone be innovative. You will, however, work your way out by prioritising matters. By the end of the day, your efforts may get paid off, leaving you with the thought that it was all worthwhile after all! Aquarius You find solace in travel today. But if you plan to include others, beware, as you may end up doing all their dirty work too. But, you will find fulfillment even in that, which, is your strong point. You know how to turn a weakness into strength. Pisces Those who work hard to move towards their goals will do well today. It is a good day for business. You will be able to do a lot of new things in your job-business today. You will definitely succeed, but you need to work hard without getting disappointed.
PRASAR BHARATI (India's Public Service Broadcaster) ALL INDIA RADIO : DIBRUGARH (M.W.529.1m/KHz567 F.M. 101.30 MHz) Phone No.-03732325456 E-mail -dibrugarh@air.org.in Facebook Page-All India Radio Dibrugarh Programme Highlights 4-7-16 (MONDAY) 6-10 A.M-Swasthya Charcha (Health Programme) 6-15 A.M-Sponsored Programme-"Jaga Grahak Jaga" 6-50 A.M-Lokageet 7-15 A.M-Aajir Dinto (Morning Information Service) 7-30 A.M-Geetanjali(Assamese Modern Song) 8-35 A.M-Surar Panchoi(Composite Programme of Assamese Film Songs) 9-05 A.M- Antara(Composite Programme of Hindi Film Songs) 12-05 P.M-Singphow Songs 12-45 P.M-Sponsored Programme-"Sajai Tolo Jeewanar Path" 2-00 P.M-Kunhipaat 2-30 P.M-Western Music Programme 3-30 P.M-Mishing Geet 3-45 P.M-Programme in Miju Mishmi 4-05 P.M-Programme in Khamti 4-25 P.M-Programme in Wancho 5-00 P.M-Programme in Idu 5-20 P.M-Programme in Tangsa 5-40 P.M-Programme in Nocte 6-15 P.M-Ganya Raijor Anusthan 7-45 P.M-Daakpakhili 8-00 P.M-Ekalabya(Sponsored Programme of KKHSOU) 8-30 P.M-Geetor Shorai, Artist-Umesh Gogoi, Production-Rajen Gohain Sd-/H.O.P
Unguarded Khatkhati Police Check Post jeopardizes safety of residents ET Correspondent Bokajan, July 3: The Khatkhati Police check post over NH-39 in Assam Nagaland interstate border has suddenly been dismantled and left unguarded much to the surprise of the local residents. The check post incidentally happens to be the last police check into the state of Nagaland and was operating round the clock to put in place a tight policing mechanism along
the border. Additionally, the check post has been keeping a tab on the movement of criminals and anti-social elements since past 3 decades. The area has always been in the news for its notoriety of armed exponents. There has also been a steady rise in auto lifting cases as this place borders Nagaland and lifted vehicles can easily be smuggled into the sister
Spl Correspondent Sivasagar, July 3: Umesh Chandra Rajkhowa, a "Maujadar" during the days of British India to have acted as the same of the Silakuti Mauja in Sivasagar district for long 42 years, died at his own residence at Phukan Nagar in Sivasagar town on Sunday morning following weakness and fever related to age. Born on 3rd October, 1911 in Sivasagar, the veteran and one of the aged citizen of the town was a good cricketer during his days as a youth. At a time when living a healthy life till the age
the people of modern days, the secret of longevity of late Umesh Ch Rajkhowa was a matter of curiosity to many. Numerous well-wishers from different parts of the Sivasagar town thronged into his residence as news of his demise spread out. Various organizations and people related to various fields have expressed their depression on the death of the legendary person. Rajkhowa has left his wife, three sons, daughter, daughter in laws and grandsons.
Debabrata Saikia welcomes AICC decision to appoint Ripun Boro as APCC incharge President A Staff Reporter Guwahati, July 3: Congress MLA from Nazira and leader of the opposition in the Assam assembly, Debabrata Saikia has welcomed the decision of the AICC to appoint Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora as the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) incharge president till the appointment of a full fledged president. “I welcome the decision of the AICC i/c General Secretary,Assam, Dr. C.P.joshi in nominating one of the senior Leaders of APCC Shri Ripun Bora , M.P.,Vice President APCC as in-charge President,APCC till appointment of a full fledged PCC President,”
said Saikia in a statement before the media today. “Though, After the sudden demise of the President APCC Shri Anjan Dutta, day to day activities of APCC was going on, now with the appointment of Shri Ripun Bora , MP as I/ C President , APCC, I expect the party to move forward with more vigour and urge upon all party workers to extend their best for strengthening the party,” added Saikia. Meanwhile according to AICC sources, senior congress leader and former central minister Paban Singh Ghatowar and Rajya Sabha MP Bhubaneshwar Kalita are front runners for the post of a full fledged APCC president.
It needs to be mentioned here that the police personnel attached to the check
ET Correspondent Nazira, July 3: Trade union leader, Ex-President of the ACMS Nazira branch, well known artist of the Tea tribe community and state Shilpi Pensioner Horen Rajuwar passed away at his own residence at Nazira Legeripukhuri on last 2nd July. He was 85 and survived by his two sons and three daughters. He was closed to the late chief minister Hiteshwar Saikia. MLA of Nazira Debobrate Saikia, Ex-Min-
post recovered at least 6 Pistol, 7 stolen vehicles including an excavator and over 1000 kg Ganza as per reports in the past three months. Residents, VDP committees and many concerned citizens of this industrial town calls to restore the previously operational state of the police check post considering the interest of the local residents.
ET Correspondent Margherita, July 3: A Legal awareness meeting was today held at Margherita Surabhi Mahila Samity Hall. The main subject of the programme was about The Protection of Children from Sexual offences and Free Legal Services. The programme was organised by the District Legal Services Authority, Tinsukia in collaboration with Legal Awareness Network Centre, Margherita.
The programme was conducted by District Legal Services Authority, Tinsukia Secretary Dipu Barman where Judicial Magistrate Anghuman Bhattacharje, Advocate Gautam Borkatoki and Papu Sah including representatives of various organisations, different NGOs and women organisations of Margherita were present at the Programme.
ister Hemoprova Saikia, ExMP Durpod Borgohain, different persons and several organizations of Nazira condoled in the death of the Horan Rajuwar.
ET Correspondent Golaghat, July 3: Golaghat Multi Storey Parking Place is becoming a spitting hub for some people. The present scenario is depicting the scene as all the pillars, wall have been full of spits of beetle nut and other Guthkhas. It is to be known that the very place was inaugurated by local MLA and then Minister Ajanta Neog but the present condition have become pathetic. It is to be known that the same was inaugurated on 6th January and it has been 1.5 years that such a public building is lacking hygiene despite of being amidst the town. Moreover it is clearly written in the walls that spitting is prohibited and fine of rupees five hundred will be taken but all remains in writing and there is no proper implementation of the same. These days Magic and other vehicles are seen operating from the ground floor region.
Images of various shapes appearing on Golaghat roads too ! ET Correspondent Golaghat, July 3: After deteriorating condition of the roads of Jorhat, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh now the roads of Golaghat is too undergoing changes as images of various shapes are found appearing on due to excessive wear and tear. The road leading to Halmirah , Hindi School Road Chariali,
Tapan nagar Chariali, Islampatty area are seen with big spots developing on the roads and is becoming nuissance to vehicle lovers and other people. It is to be known that the spots are filled with water due to heavy rain and when the fast moving vehicles passes over by them then the passersby becomes the sufferers
ET Correspondent Teok, July 3: An unidentified dead body of a youth was recovered from Teok-Sotai gaon near a pond of the 37 National Highway under Bhogdoi police station of Jorhat district today. According to source the dead body was wearing
as the dirty water is being splashed over on their clothes. Meanwhile, NH 39's condition have become the worst of all as no care has been taken of the very road since years. The people are hoping and expecting the present state government to solve these problem at the earliest .
Advt.
Unidentified body recovered at Teok
Name Change
a long pant and a blue shirt and also numbers of minor injured spots were also found at the body. The real identification of the dead body was not clear till this news composed. Concern police officials registered a case and tried to investigate the matter.
I, Raj Kumar, service no. JC581216 F Rank SUB, of 19 JAK RIF, by swearing affidavit before Notary, Margherita declare that the actual name of my son is TANUJ K U M A R DHIMAN. Advt.
Legal awareness meeting held at Margherita
Dwellers appeal government to look into the matter tion. The people of the locality had made pleads before the concerned authorities since the time of the Congress Government but bore neo fruit. Now the people of the flood prone area came out to repair the road themselves spending their hard earned pennies which included old ones and even women. The people of the locality had appealed to the newly formed BJP government to look into the matter with seriousness and take adequate step to lessen their pains.
state. Residents here spend sleepless nights as risk of their vehicles getting lifted runs high. There is a growing sense of insecurity amongst the residents for the unguarded post would in turn encourage the passage of criminals and contraband in and out the state without fear.
Umesh Chandra Artist Horan Rajkhowa dies at 104 Rajuwar passes away of 70 seems impossible for
People repair road with their own pennies at Sivasagar Utpal Sharma Sivasagar, July 3: Resented with the poor and pathetic condition of the Paharadar road, the people of Bhati Bon-Gaon in Sivasagar district came out of their house in hundreds with spade and other instruments for repairing the road on Sunday morning. It may be mentioned that the road has been left unrepaired since long time leaving the people who have to use the same for making communication with the rest of the district in a very distressed situa-
Multi Storey Parking becomes a spitting place
TENDER NOTICE Sealed quotations are invited by the undersigned toward three unserviceable vehicles and one unserviceable Motor Cycle pertaining to SIB, Itanagar. Interested parties may submit sealed quotation (one against each vehicle) along with SBI Bank Draft (in the name of DDO, SIB, Itanagar) of amount as shown in column below as earnest money. Quotations should be submitted latest by 15:30 hrs of 08/08/2016. Interested parties may inspect the vehicles lying in the office premises from 06/07/16 to 06/08/16 between 10:30 to 13:00 hrs. Sealed quotations shall be opened on 09/08/2016 at 12:00 Noon by members of a duly constituted Board of this office in presence of bidders and the bidder to whom the tender is awarded shall have to lift the vehicle within three days of auction. The Board reserves all right to Accept/Reject tenders or Cancel the auction without assigning any reason thereof. Details list of vehicles are as follow:Sl Vehicle No No.
Type
Model
Earnest Money to be deposited
1
AR-01B-1150 Tata Bus LP 1510 05.05.2004
Rs.20000/-
2
AR-01B-4060 Gypsy (HT)
17.05.2005
Rs.10000/-
3
AR-01A-6460 Gypsy (HT)
20.03.2002
Rs.10000/-
4
AR-01A-0890 Yamaha RX 135
15.02.1997
Rs.700/-
NB: The Vehicle at Sl No.3 (Three) is lying at Koloriang, SIB Office, near District Hospital, Disreict-Kurung Kumey.
Local people engaged during the repair of the road. Pic - Utpal Sharma
Sd/Assistant Director SIB(MHA), Govt.Of India Old SSB Wats Complex P.O.R.K Mission Chimpu, Itanagat.
DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, JULY 4
PAGE 3
1 arrested on extortion charges, organizations demand stringent punishment ET Correspondent Pasighat, July 3: While opening the lid of untold miseries faced by many government officers from repeated extortion bid by various individuals or organizations, EE, PWD, Pasighat, Er. Tameng Jamoh blew the whittle against one Pranab Yangfo by lodging an FIR against him for having repeatedly taunting him by demanding Rs. 50 lakhs following which Yangfo was arrested. According to the FIR lodged at Pasighat PS by Er. Jamoh, Pranab Yangfo and his accomplices has been demanding of Rs. 50 lakhs from him which was later bargained down by themselves to Rs. 25 lakhs. When Jamoh showed his inability to pay such huge money. Yangfo also suggested Jamoh that money could be adjusted against any work to which Chief Engineer and state government wouldn’t object. Jamoh also reveals in the FIR that, Yangfo, who later lowered his demand to Rs. 20 lakhs failing which he warned Jamoh that he
can do anything as government is with him and his boys are frequent to jail whom he introduced earlier as surrendered militants and volunteers of Chief Minister. “Fearing for life of myself and my family, despite no money, I urged one of my fellow to arrange Rs. 1 lakh while they left and another Rs. 5 lakhs was deposited in his A/c No.32008698588 next day and urged Pranab to spare me. But despite my heartfelt appeal to spare me as I could arrange that much, Yangfo came back again and started taunting me by visiting my office and residence. And apprehending that they could kidnap or harm me physically, I had to lodge this FIR”, added Jamoh in his FIR. When OC Pasighat PS Atan Taki was contacted, he informed that, the Pasighat PS while acting swiftly over the FIR lodged yesterday, conveyed the messages to Aalo, Yingkiong, Pangin police etc and accordingly, Aalo police detained them
across the state irrespective of community and region. Gige Pertin, Gen. Secy. AUPO, Lungkang Ering, President, ABSU (E), Otem Doke, Asst. Fin. Secy. AAPSU all strongly appealed every section of societies or communities to denounce such anti-social elements without giving or linking it on communal lines and demanded for stringent punishment to offender/s so that others won’t dare to commit such acts in future.
on Friday afternoon while Yangfo and his team was fleeing from Aalo road. Accordingly, Pasighat police brought him here and under Pasighat PS Case No. 116/16 U/s 384/34 IPC Yangfo was arrested and he was sent to 14 days judicial remand by magistrate today, informed I/O of the case SI ABS Ahmed. Meanwhile, Adi Baane Kebang East Siang Unit, Adi Students’ Union,
Adiland & Upright Peoples’ Organization, All Bogong Students; Union (E), AAPSU has deeply condemned the extortion act of Yangfo and demanded the concern authorities not give any bail until proper investigation is done. ABK East Siang President, Okom Yosung and Secretary Admin, Talut Siram put emphasised that, such offenders should be condemned from all section of the society from all
However, when asked for his side of statement over the case, Pranab Yangfo told this reporter that, extortion is not his habit and of allegation of extortion is totally baseless. “I am also a one of society’s recognized person, why should I involved in such cases, and I am going to move defamation case against it once out from jail”, added Yangfo who was trying to evade the further question of this scribe. On being asked that, he is said to be a habitual offender, he replied that, the statement is baseless and
Assam finance Dept. all set to introduce ‘File tracking’ mechanism for transparency A Staff Reporter Guwahati, July 3: As a stride towards infusing transparency in governance, Finance Department is all set to introduce ‘File tracking’ mechanism in its department. This file tracking system will be a part of Finance Department’s 100 day programme which will allow all concerned including the public to track the position of a file. Finance Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sharma informed Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal about this new innovation at a meeting held at the conference room of Assam Secretariat on Saturday. Once this new system is inducted in the Finance Department, it will be replicated in all the departments of the government. Moreover, the Finance Department has also taken steps to disburse Fixation of Ceiling (F.O.C) to all departments and offices electronically within 100 days.
Finance Department will also take the recourse of ‘on-line’ system to prepare budget and distribute the same to all offices and maintain a constant link with the Reserve of India through a Core Banking Solution ‘e-Kuber’. Besides taking help of ‘on-line’ mode for preparing salary bills, preparation for a comprehensive data base for all government employees are in the agenda of priorities of the department. Chief Minister Sonowal also stressed on furnishing timely utilisation certificates against different schemes by the departments. Emphasising on the timely completion of the welfare schemes, Chief Minister Sonowal asked all the departments to ensure completion of all major schemes within three years. Sonowal also said that if a particular department can not fully complete the scheme within the stipulated
period, the head of the department would show the cause for it. Dr. Sharma informed that in order to ensure timely execution of the schemes, the Finance Department is sincerely contemplating to bring in a legislation. He also informed that Assam Treasury Rules and Subsidiary Ordinance and Delegation of Financial Rules would be updated very soon along with creating a pensioners data base for the State. Moreover, the meeting also deliberated upon finalising ‘100 days programme’ for Tourism Department. Chief Minister Sonowal stressed on the need for a comprehensive and planned development of the tourism sector in Assam. A new Tourism Policy for Assam also featured in the department’s 100 days programme. Moreover, two brand ambassadors and on-line book-
Assam girl breaks 50 years record in prestigious Delhi University Bijoy Handique Jorhat, July 3: Assam girl Shusmita Neog from Bahona Kamar Gaon from Jorhat district in Upper Assam created history by breaking, in her master exam 2015-16 in Geography from Delhi Schools of Economics under Delhi University, which was declared in June last week, informed DU sources here via e-mail here today. Shusmita Neog, daughter of Horesh Neog, a social worker off Jorhat- Komar goan, Bahona and Manju Neog, who is the Headmistress of Kalyani High School, Kalyani stated that their only girl-child Sushimita was a mediocre at her studies, but was very hard working. It may be mentioned that Shusmita scored 91.8 % who managed to break the 50 year long record of Dr Rakha Tullah Khan who scored 79 % in past 50 years ago, but Shusmita managed to record, to be highest after the span of 50 years, which helped the Assam girl Shusmita to have scored 91.8% in recently declared MA results in Geography from Delhi School of Economics, and would pursue her higher studies in disability at a overseas uni-
Shusmita with her parents in her residence versity, said Suhsmita Neog while talking to this correspondent at her residence at Komar Goan Village, in Bahona under Jorhat district here today. Sushmita scored 83.6% in her BA examination from Miranda House, under Delhi University and joined Delhi School of Economics for her post graduation. Did her schooling from Carmel School, Jorhat then did her class –XII from Assam Rifles Nodal School, Jorhat. She thanked her teachers of Carmel School and Assam Rifles Nodel School, Jorhat from where she was inspired to go ahead to pursue higher degree under Delhi University, was luck for her, said Sushimita. Her parents took great pain
to drop her at the school door step every day since class five, then she appraise her great fans from Assam Rifles Nodal School, Jorhat, which helped her to flip and fly to Delhi Varsity for her degrees where she could expose her talents and break her record. Shusmita who achieved her dreams reaching the top known to be a girl of multitalents. She not only brought pride to the institutions where she studied but she brought pride and laurels to the entire Geography lovers, said Dr. RB Singh, Head, department of Geography, Delhi School of Economics. Dr. RB Singh also informed that Shusmita is a girl with high aim, a girl with pure mind and a loveable heart. She is helpful to everyone
ing system for the tourist lodges have also been mooted to attract tourists in the State. Chief Minister Sonowal also exhorted the need for adequate publicity of State’s tourism potentials like wild life, cultural heritage, tea and rural tourism, sports and river tourism et el. He also asked the department to adopt planned approaches to increase inflow of tourists. For the development of Umrangshoo lake in Dima Hasao and introduction of night ferry service to Majuli, appropriate steps will be taken. Chief Minister also asked the department to take initiative to attract tourists even during the rainy season. The Chief Minister has also been informed that the Tourism Department would take project worth Rs 32 crore for the development of Kamakhya Temple within the next 100 days. A Tea Museum involving Rs. 3 crore will also be con-
structed in Dibrugarh. Sonowal said that since the heritage of Assam is intrinsically intertwined with tea, the proposed Tea Museum should reflect the uniqueness of Assam as the largest tea producing state and make it a national and international attraction for tourists. If necessary State Government will allot more funds for the project. Sonowal also stressed on the need for making tourism industry as the hot spot for creating employment avenues and asked the department to do the needful for skill development of local youths as tourist guides. Moreover, the department will create a ‘single window system’ for according approval to all cinemas made on Assam tourism. Minister for Finance, Tourism etc Dr. Himanta Biswa Sharma along with host of senior officers were present at the meeting.
and attitude does not exist in her dictionary and she is sweet little girl for everyone among her friends. It needs to be mention here that Shusmita was topper in Delhi University since her graduation. Recently she was invited to attend seminars in Thailand, Spain, Portblair, Hongkong, Canada, London and to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), for which she was excellent in giving speech for their most wanted topic respectively, as her work for the internship was found very impressive as well as expressive on remote sensing, stated Major Gen. Charles Frank Bolden from NASA, Dept of Remote Sensing, 300 E Street SW, Suite 5R30, Washington DC, 20546. Shusmita is proud today to have her lovely family with parents, uncle, aunts and cousins for whom she got everything since her childhood days, said while talking to this correspondent. After her compilation of PhD Degree from an overseas university, she would sit for Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), and would stress for the society to help the disables, as she has been pursuing her study with special papers for the blind, said Sushmita Neog (who is presently working as an assistant Professor of Miranda House, New Delhi)
Season 5 of Nyishi Idol begins at Itanagar Contd. from Page 1 Accordingly, 28 participants were selected on the basis of their performance today, while district winners of Kra Daadi Idol and East Kameng Idol were granted direct entry into the elimination round. Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, WRD Minister Kumar Waii, who is also chief patron of NACWS, appreciated the committee for scanning out talents and for providing exposure to them. He also assured his assistance in future events and made a donation to the organizing committee. tanagar Market Welfare Association president Yumlam Achung also lauded the efforts of the NACWS and assured to donate Rs 1 lakh towards the event. Giving an overview of the purpose of the competition, NACWS organizing chairman Ashok Tajo Sonam said that the society intends to bring artists of the state under one roof and promote the Nyishi dialect among youths. It also hopes to seek out talent from the remotest of areas and provide a platform to talented and deserving candidates. Explaining the elimination rounds, artist and executive member Tai Tugung informed that the audience poll and judges’ marks will be divided equally at first, and subsequently the points provided by judges will keep increasing as the competition moves further ahead. Voting will be stopped during the semi-final and finals, and the judges will decide on the winners, he informed.
some section of people are trying to tarnish his image. According to the FIR statement of Er. Jamoh, accused Yangfo has hinted of having some nexus with some high profile government officer/s or political leader/s who have paved ways for Yangfo to carry out extortion activities from Itanagar to Pasighat PWD Division. The state government led by Chief Minister Kalikho Pul including CE, PWD, Itanagar need to clarify over the issue, otherwise, they will be presumed backing Yangfo for such illegal activities as claimed by Yangfo to Er. Jamoh while extorting money. There are many officers like Jamoh who are often harassed by such goons but most of them bear the brunt silently, but Jamoh’s blowing whittle against such acts will perhaps encourage others to come openly against the hidden open practices due to which some officers are said to have taken voluntary retirement from government services.
Will find out who supplied weapons to terrorists: Hasina Dhaka, Jul 3 (PTI): Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today vowed to trace the "roots" of the culprits who supplied weapons and explosives to the terrorists who killed 20 people, mostly foreigners, in a barbaric attack on a cafe here. Her remarks came during a meeting with Japan's State Minister of Foreign Affairs Seiji Kihara at her official residence Ganabhaban. "Describing the terror attack at Gulshan cafe as unfortunate, The Prime Minister said we must find out the roots of the culprits who supplied weapons and explosives to the terrorists for the barbaric attack," Ihsanul Karim, press secretary to the PM, told the media after the meeting. Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka's upscale diplomatic zone came under attack on Friday evening by gunmen. Seven Japanese nationals were among 20 killed during the attack.
Six of the seven Japanese killed in the terror strike were surveyors for Dhaka s Metrorail project. The Japanese government has sent the minister to Dhaka after the attack. The assailants killed two police officers, who tried to enter the cafe, to break the siege. Army commandos stormed the eatery yesterday and rescued 13 hostages, killing six attackers while capturing one alive. The Army said 20 people were found dead on the premises during the raid, all possibly slaughtered late on Friday, hours before the commandos raided the cafe. It has been confirmed that the hostages killed included nine Italians, seven Japanese and an Indian. Three Bangladeshis were also among the dead and one of them was a US citizen.
Team of flying squads conducts intensive checking at various shops at Naharlagun ET Bureau Yupia, July 3 : Team of flying squads comprising EAC Naharlgun Hento Karga, District programme officer Dr.R.R. Ronya,DRCHO Dr. Jomnya Ado,District Transport Officer Remar Gab, District Information and Public Relations Officer Y. Jerang, Sub Inspector PS Naharlgun P.N .Jomoh and team of IRBN Jawans today conducted intensive checking at various shops at the premises of Govt Higher Secondary School, Konkan Nalla, Naharlagun Market complex, Tomo Riba State Hospital and KV-I school complex. During the raid many small gumties were found selling tobacco products near GHSS Konkan Nalla and public bus station. The team seized the products and warned the owners about the COPTA 2003 and its consequences. Simultaneously, the team also sensitize the shopkeepers and hoteliers on COPTA and requested them to abide the rules and regulations. COPTA 2003 ( The Cigarette or other Tobacco Product ( Prohibition of advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) is an act of Parliament of India enacted in 2003 to prohibit advertisement and regulations of the tobacco products business in India. The provisions are as follows; the Act prohibits smoking of tobacco in public places, except in special smoking zones in hotels, restaurants and airports and open spaces. Places where smoking is restricted include auditoriums, movie theatres, hospitals, public transport (aircraft, buses, trains, metros, monorails, taxis,) and their related facilities (airports, bus stands/stations, railway stations), restaurants, hotels, bars, pubs, amusement centres, offices (government and private), libraries, courts, post offices, mar-
kets, shopping malls, canteens, refreshment rooms, banquet halls, discothèques, coffee houses, educational institutions and parks. Smoking is allowed on roads, inside one's home or vehicle. The meaning of open space has been extended to mean such spaces which is visited by public, and includes open auditorium, stadium, bus stand. Advertisement of tobacco products including cigarettes is prohibited. No person shall participate in advertisement of tobacco product, or allow a medium of publication to be used for advertisement of tobacco products. No person shall sell video-film of such advertisement, distribute leaflets, documents, or give space for erection of advertisement of tobacco products. However, restricted advertisement is allowed on packages of tobacco products, entrances of places where tobacco products are sold. Surrogate advertisement is prohibited as well under the Act. Tobacco products cannot be sold to person below the age of 18 years, and in places within 100 metres radius from the outer boundary of an institution of education, which includes school colleges and institutions of higher learning established or recognized by an appropriate authority. Tobacco products must be sold, supplied or distributed in a package which shall contain an appropriate pictorial warning, its nicotine and tar contents. Cigarette packets are required to carry pictorial warnings of a skull or scorpion or certain prescribed pictorial warnings along with the text SMOKING KILLS and TOBACCO CAUSES MOUTH CANCER in both Hindi and English. The Act also gives power to any police officer, not below
the rank of a sub-inspector or any officer of State Food or Drug Administration or any other officer, holding the equivalent rank being not below the rank of Sub-Inspector of Police for search and seizure of premises where tobacco products are produced, stored or sold, if he suspects that the provision of the Act has been violated. A person who manufactures tobacco products fails to adhere to the norm related to warnings on packages on first conviction shall be punished with up to 2 years in imprisonment or with fine which can extend to Rs. 5000, in case of subsequent conviction shall be punished with up to 5 years in imprisonment or with fine which can extend to Rs. 10000. A fine up to Rs. 200 can be imposed for smoking in public place, selling tobacco products to minors, or selling tobacco products within a radius of 100 metres from any educational institution. A person who advertises tobacco products shall on first conviction shall be punished with up to 2 years in imprisonment or with fine which can extend to Rs. 1000, in case of subsequent conviction shall be punished with up to 5 years in imprisonment or with fine which can extend to Rs. 5000. The Act repealed The Cigarettes (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1975. The owner/manager/incharge of a public place must display a board containing the warning No Smoking Area - Smoking here is an offence ╜ in appropriate manner at the entrance and inside the premises. In place where tobacco products are sold must display appropriate messages like Tobacco Causes Cancer and "Sales of tobacco products to a person under the age of eighteen years is a punishable offences
People busy buying delicious dishes from the shops for the ensuing Eid in Sonari. Pic - UB Photos
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Deplorable condition of drainage Education Minister issues citation letter NDFB-S cadre system makes people suffer to NDA topper Avinash Chetry of Assam arrested at Kokrajhar ET Correspondent Mangaldai, July 3: It is really a matter of concern that while it has become very common even to offer public felicitation to the first division holders in HSLC and HSSLC examination in the state, not a single function has so far been arranged in the state to celebrate the rare achievement made by an Assamese youth that too in the most prestigious institution of the country so that the younger generation could be inspired and encourage.
Mithun Baruah Margherita, July 3: Margherita Town Committee whose 8 wards are under Bharatiya Janata Party unfortunately still suffering and repenting why they voted Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at Margherita Town Committee election as because the drainage systems of all the wards are in deplorable condition which get over flowed during raining season.
A senior citizen of Margherita said to this correspondent that at Margherita lower market which is also a commercial hub of the region during rainy season the whole market remains under water which falls under ward number of 5 of Margherita Town Committee and Anand Sharma is the Ward Commissioner of this area. Some shopkeepers of Margherita lower market said to this correspondent that “we requested several times to Anand Sharma to clean the drains of Margherita lower market but the drains of Margherita lower Market are still same as before where during rainy season the water over flow from the drains. Anand Sharma only gives us assurance that all drains of Margherita lower market will be cleaned up but never does”. “Customers who come to buy goods have to close
The youth from the state is Avinash Chetry- a worthy son of Assam has created a record in the 61 glorious history of National Defence Academy (NDA) - the prestigious institution for the triservice which is the only of its kind in the world and brought laurel to Assam by emerging as the first Assamese youth to receive
their noses as a foul smells come out from the drains when the rain stops by which we get difficulties in selling our goods to them due to foul smells that comes out from the unclean drainage system”, added shopkeepers. The similar condition too happens in ward no. 3 of Margherita where Bhim Karmakar is the Ward Commissioner and also the ViceChairman of Margherita Town Committee.
“The people of Margherita have voted for change, so BJP have won all the Eight wards of Margherita Town Committee and should look after all the problems of Margherita Town and also should focus on all round development works of Margherita Town or else there will be position of the Congress Party again”, said a senior citizen of Margherita while talking to this correspondent.
Come Bohag Bihu, the bridge over Brahmaputra between Dhola - Sadiya will he gifted to people of Assam : CM Contd. from Page 1
According to sources, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal expressed anger over the delay in the work and sought explanations from the concerned officials. CM was informed about the fact that the construction of the approach road from both the end, Sadiya to bridge approx 2.5 km and Dhola to bridge, has stuck due to problems in land acquisition. The local people are not satisfied with the compensation which is a cause of great concern.
After a lengthy discussion, the chief minister directed concerned officials to resolve all issues and complete the construction of the bridge before Bohag Bihu next year under any circumstances. Cancelling his review meeting due to delay, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal moved to Baitho temple and Borpathar and offered praying to the god. From there he moved for a public meeting at Digboi Tingrai as per his scheduled programme and would hold the night at IOC guest house in Digboi.
After CMs announcement, finally, the bridge sounds to get completed about seven years after construction commenced on the Rs 876 crore strategic project crucial from the point of view of movement of armed forces and it's artilleries. There is no bridge fortified for passage of tanks around Tinsukia from where troops can cross over to this side of Arunachal Pradesh sharing border with China. The completion of the bridge will not only improve connectivity for locals but will be a booster for defence forces.
DANCING GLORY
the President’s Gold Medal (PGM) being the ‘Best Cadet’ and to command the passing out parade (POP) in the NDA, but as it appears here in the state that no students or social organizations, political parties, intellectuals or even the media are not concerned with this rare achievement made by Cadet Captain Avinash Chhetry.
Avinash Chhetry is the second NDA cadet from the North Eastern region to receive the PGM after Yumnam Romen Singh of Manipur who received the PGM in 2008. The prestigious PGM was awarded to Avinash Chhetry for standing first in the overall order of merit. For his performance as the best all round army cadet, another gold medal was also awarded to him while he also received a silver medal for being the best cadet in outdoor train-
ing. The news of the rare achievement of the true son of the soil was brought to the media.
However, according to information received here, Minister for Education and Health Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma has come forward to write a letter of citation on behalf of the State government to cadet captain Avinash Chetry. “Your achievement will definitely encourage and motivate many youngsters from the state who aspire to be at the helm of forces and serve the nation. As you set sail to embark upon a journey full of challenge and adventure, you are wished the very best for everything for a prized and glorious career ahead” with these words Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma offered the letter of citation to Avinash Chetry vide official letter reportedly issued on Friday.
Absconding excise superintendent finally suspended ET Correspondent Mangaldai, July 3: Finally the Commissioner and Secretary of the Excise Department R Prasad vide notification no. EX.77/2016/20 dated the 30th June has placed the absconding Excise Superintendent of Udalguri Jagannath Bora under suspension with immediate effect. The excise department of the State Government took a long period of three months only to issue the suspension order against the corrupt Superintendent of Excise who has been absconding since March 29 last following the registration of a criminal case under the sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The decision of the Excise department to place the Superintendent of Excise under suspension was however taken up only after publication of news item in The Assam Tribune on June 16 last The absconding official Jagannath Bora was functioning as the Excise Superintendent of Udalguri with the additional charge of Darrang district. On March 20 last, the accused Excise Superintendent Jagannath Bora accompanied by one
Executive Magistrate and one Excise Inspector and a team taking the plea of carrying out raids as per the instructions of the Election Commission of India entered a IMFL Off shop at Tangla town in Udalguri district and demanded a huge amount from the licensee Sanjoy Sen with the threatening of taking strict action on the wine shop. Finding no alternative, the owner of the Wine shop paid the amount to the Superintendent of Excise. But the lady luck was not in favour of the Excise Superintendent. His presence in the wine shop and the moment of demanding and taking the money from the licensee of the wine shop was recorded in the CCTV. The licensee filed an FIR at Tangla Police station along with the footage of the CCTV and accordingly the Tangla Police registered a case vide number 38/16 under section 384 of IPC read with section 7/13 (i)/(B) of Prevention of Corruption Act. Since the filing of the FIR, the accused Superintendent of Excise has reportedly gone on mysterious missing without availing any official leave. The
Police conducted raids in his residence at Tinisukia several times but had to return empty handed as his house was found under lock and key. The District Administration and the police meanwhile have officially communicated with the Excise department of BTC, Excise Commissioner and the state government. Significantly the Commissioner of the Excise department vide letter issued on April 20 last on the basis of the report submitted by the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Udalguri had requested the government to take action against the absconding corrupt Excise Superintendent Jagannath Bora but the Commissioner and Secretary of the Excise department in the State Secretariat R Prasad surprisingly took seventy days to initiate the disciplinary action on the absconding officer. Conscious circles in Udalguri and Darrang districts have appealed the state government and the police to carry out search operation in the residences of the absconding Superintendent of Excise to find out black money that he allegedly used to earn by corrupt means.
NDFB-S cadre arrested at Kokrajhar ET Correspondent Kokrajhar, July 3: Security forces apprehended a cadre of National Democratic Front of BorolandSongbijit faction (NDFB-S) from Rupnathpur area under Kachugaon PS in Kokrajhar district today. Based on an input about presence of militant outfit cadres in the area, a joint team of security forces belonging to Police, Army, SSB and Cobra launched an
operation where militant cadre was arrested. The cadre was identified as Ristw Narzary alias Adaw, (21) of Rangapara village under Kachugaon PS of Kokrajhar district, was locally trained cadre. He was actively involved in extortion of money for the banned outfit organization as well deliveries of rations and other administrative stores, which includes medic. A pistol, two round live bullets recovered from him.
Kin of media person attacked at Diphu Sushanta Roy Diphu July 3: Incident of brutal attack up on elderly person whose son is the owner and publisher of a Diphu based English daily yesterday night by 2 unidentified miscreants has sparked of wide protest among the press fraternity of Diphu. According to Bimol Ronghang, owner of ‘Hills Bulletin’, 2 unknown youths came to his residence yesterday night around 10.30 PM looking for him, the youths called his name from outside, his father Bonsing Ronghang came out looking for the visitors and noticed that one of the youth was holding a handgun, sensing trouble he told the youths that his son is not present. The youths instead of leaving from his residence kept on insisting that they have come to de-
liver certain news regarding strike; all on a sudden one of the youth hit his father with a iron rod in his head and fled away. The injured was taken to Diphu Civil Hospital where his condition has been stated to be out of danger by the attending doctor. The incident came about at a time when the Diphu based media houses and individual scribes have been receiving threats from various ultra organizations for not entertaining reports calling for strike and of disruptive disposition. The media fraternity of Diphu in an emergency meeting held today evening condemned the incident of physical attack on the kin of media persons who are responsible citizen of a society. A case has been registered at Diphu police station and enquiry has begun to nab the culprits.
Labour officials to implement SSB , 37th Bn observed its working journalist and newspaper raising day at Mangaldai employees service condition ET Correspondent Guwahati, July 3: In exercise of the power conferred by the provision of Section 17-B (1) of the working journalists and other newspaper employees (conditions of service) and Misc. Provisions Act, 1955, the Governor of Assam has appointed officers as Inspectors under the Act to exercise the power to implement the provisions of the said act and to implement the recommendations in force time to time within their jurisdictions shown against them, said in a press release issued from the administration. The Addl. Labour Com-
missioners, Assam, Head Quarter, Guwahati and All Deputy Labour Commissioners, Head Quarter, Guwahati with jurisdiction in the whole of Assam, will exercise the power to implement the provisions of the said act in the whole state of Assam. All Asst. Labour Commissioners, All Labour Officers and All Labour Inspectors will exercise the power to implement the provisions of the Act within their own jurisdiction. The Inspectors so appointed shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).
ET Correspondent Mangladai July 3: The 37th Battalion (Bn) of SSB celebrated its 10th Raising Day today here at its Battalion campus with a day long programmes. Various other sports and recreational activities were conducted for ladies and children to celebrate the occasion with befitting manner. A colourful cultural programme was organized in which culture troupes from border areas presented a colourful cultural programme. Speaking on this occasion, Manmohan Singh, Commandant said that during last 10 years of deployment the Bn has effectively dominated the area along the Indo -Bhutan international border in Udalguri district. The Bn has been able to stop trans border crimes and illegal activities in the border ar-
eas. The Bn has achieved its aim of creating sense of security among the border population. A zero tolerance policy has been adopted against the anti-national elements and criminals. He also asked all the Bn personnel to keep the motto of "Service, Security and Brotherhood" in mind while discharging our duties. He also informed that various civic action programme and developmental activities will be undertaken in the month of July & August in the various adopted schools and border villages. He has also stated that Bn will continue to perform its duties with honesty and dedication to achieve new benchmarks in the ensuing year . This was stated in a hand out of the SSB , 37th Battalion , Mangaldai today. Earlier in connection with
the raising day celebration a weeklong inter Coy sporting activities have been organized and final matches were conducted on this occasion. Friendly football matches were also conducted with 3rd IR Mizo Battalion and with 210th COBRA Battalion, Dalgaon. It is was also stated in the official hand out that apart from performing normal border duties, the Bn was assigned with the responsibilities to perform law & order, election duties and was actively involved in carrying out various civic action activities and welfare activities launched by the Govt. The Bn has been organizing various medical & veterinary civic action programme and free Ambulance services to the needy border population.
2nd day of BRICS Youth Summit 2016 held at Guwahati with yoga and meditation
Students perform Husori during Golden Jubilee celebration programme of Hema Chandra Dev Gowshami College, Demow Nitaipukhurin. Pic - UB Photos
ET Correspondent Guwahati, July 3: The second day of the BRICS Youth Summit 2016 held today at Vivanta Taj in Guwahati begins with the Yoga and Meditation Session followed by the 4 working sessions wherein the members from the
BRICS member nation namely., Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa deliberated on the Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Social inclusion, Youth Voluntarism and Youth Participation in Governance.
Similarly, on the 3rd Day of the Summit on July 3, it will begin with the Yoga and Meditation followed by presentation of working session reports and finalization of the adoption of the Guwahati BRICS call on Action on Youth.
Earlier on June 1st, the BRICS Youth Summit 2016 was inaugurated by the Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in the presence of Union Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Jitendra Singh. Assam Legislative Assembly Speaker Ranjit Das, Chief Secretary V.K
Pipersenia, Former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and other host of dignitaries including Ministers, MLA’s, Leading Citizens, senior officials of the Govt and Members of the BRICS Nation also attended the inaugural ceremony at the Hotel Ashoka Brahmaputra.
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CVO allegations false, malicious: NEEPCO Agencies Shillong, July 3: Satish Verma, Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO), NEEPCO has come under scanner for filing alleged false complaint against P.C. Pankaj, Chairman and Managing Director of the corporation, who had superannuated recently and two other senior officials and also allegedly protecting the HR Manager Abhishek Kumar who is facing suspension. A day after Verma lodged complaints with police against the NEEPCO chief, in a statement issued here on Saturday NEEPCO said that the attempt of the CVO is to tarnish the image of the management . “The allegation that
Govt removes Assistant Public Prosecutor Agencies Shillong, July 3: The state government has removed an Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) who was appointed to defend a minor rape victim based on the complaint of the victim. Earlier last week, the rape victim in a letter addressed to the Special Secretary Law L M Sangma had exposed alleged unethical practice of the lawyer who appeared for the victim as APP in her case and as also as defence counsel of the accused in a separate case. The victim had cited conflict of interest on the part of APP, and sought the intervention of the Law department to change the APP. The victim said that the lawyer had not protected her interest while dealing with the case in KHADC court. The victim was also shocked to know that the same APP was the defence counsel of an accused in a rape case at Mawryngkneng when she attended as a witness related to the case in the lower court. “I feel that it is clearly a conflict of interest and goes against the ethics of the legal fraternity and this may be the reason that the APP dealing with my case never gave me courage to have hope,” the victim had said in the letter. Following this, the Law department has effected the reshuffle of Assistant Public Prosecutors in the state.
Dhaka attack: Govt sounds alert across Indo-Bangla border PTI Agartala, July 3: An alert was sounded along the 856-km long border with Bangladesh in view of the terrorist attack in a restaurant in Dhaka late Friday night, a top police official said on Sunday. He said as soon as the report of terrorist attack in Dhaka was received here, BSF and all other security forces including state police, were alerted so that no unwanted element could cross the border to enter in Indian territory. Twenty hostages, including 19-year-old Indian teenager Tarishi Jain, were hacked to death by terrorists inside the cafe popular with expats in the diplomatic zone before commandos launched an assault killing six attackers and capturing one alive.
CMD had extorted money from Kumar, Manager (HR) posted in vigilance wing is false, malicious and without any basis. In fact the management had initiated disciplinary proceedings against Kumar on this very account which the CVO is trying to scuttle by various dubious means,” NEEPCO said. According to NEEPCO, the CVO had facilitated the non- compliance of suspension order by way of sending Kumar to an unknown destination from the date of suspension. ” It is surprising that the CVO has filed the FIRs now on behalf of Kumar for the alleged extortion between May 2014 to
North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited August 2014 which itself smacks of ulterior motive. Moreover, the intention of the CVO in filing a FIR against senior officials of NEEPCO on behalf of Kumar is itself questionable”, NEEPCO
said. According to NEEPCO, the allegation of the CVO that between June 23 – 30, senior officials did not allow him to discharge his duties by sealing the office of his sub-
ordinate officer Kumar is also false. “In fact the CVO has been obstructing the due process of disciplinary proceedings against Kumar by illegally allowing him to continue to work in vigilance wing , Shillong inspite of his transfer out of Shillong,” NEEPCO said . Further the CVO allowed Kumar to go on tour to an unknown destination to facilitate non -receipt of the suspension order by Kumar “who is still absconding and not recording his attendance”, the statement said. “As regards sealing of the office chamber of Kumar is concerned, the same has already been unsealed on receipt of communication from vigi-
lance department”, the statement said. Stating that the allegation that Rs 48,000 was extorted from Kumar by senior officials is false, NEEPCO said that the allegation has been made with mala-fide motive. NEEPCO refereed to the media reports that Verma, CVO , NEEPCO was issued a charge memo by the Ministry of Home Affairs, for being absent from duty, unauthorisedly travelling without permission and for violation of service conduct rules for officers of All India Services. “This only reflects the conspiracy angle to malign the image of the NEEPCO management” the statement added.
Experts from Austria, Germany work on NE railway line IANS Agartala, July 3: The broad gauge lifeline of northeastern states is in danger and it's because of the loose soil beneath the railway track. So engineers from Austria and Germany are now working hard to find a solution even as the Northeast Frontier Railway has decided to divert parts of the track in Dima Hasao district of southern Assam. The track that traverses southern Assam, Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura was converted from metre gauge to broad gauge last year. However, within weeks train services had to be suspended—first because of rain and landslides, and then due to loose soil beneath the railway track. "The railway track in Migrendisa in southern Assam was badly damaged due to incessant rain and landslides. After the debris was cleared train services resumed, but because of the loose soil the track got curved," Northeast Frontier Railways' Chief Pub-
lic Relations Officer Pranav Jyoti Sharma said. "Before laying the new railway track, profiling of the area, soil testing and other technical matters were checked by various agencies, including the Research Development and Standard Organisation under the Railway Ministry," Sharma reasoned. So what is the way forward? "Northeast Frontier Railways has decided to divert about 200 metres of the track near Migrendisa. Work is expected to get completed, subject to favourable weather condition," Sharma said. NFR Chief Administrative Officer Ajit Pandit said: "We have roped in several engineers from Austria, Germany as well as India to use their expertise at the affected spots. Our workers and engineers are working round-the-clock to restore rail service." However, voices of discontent are rising in the area. All-Barak Youth Stu-
dents Association (ABYSA) has demanded a CBI probe alleging irregularities in the laying of the railway track. "After spending Rs.5,000 crore and waiting for two decades, train service on the broad gauge was inaugurated in November. But within weeks a major fault developed," ABYSA Chief Convener Baharul Islam Barbhuiya said, adding that the soil testing report should be made public. He also alleged that poor construction materials were used while laying the railway track. The outfit has written to the railway ministry's vigilance adviser Sunil Mathur, explaining the alleged irregularities in laying of the railway track. Recently a high-level NFR team led by General Manager H.K. Jaggi visited the site where tracks have developed fault to assess the restoration work and diversion of the route. The lone railway line from Guwahati passes through Lumding in Nagaon district in central Assam and southern
Experts from Austria, Germany work on NE railway line
Assam, connecting Agartala and parts of Manipur and Mizoram with the rest of India. The Guwahati-Silchar railway route is the lifeline for southern Assam comprising Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi, Dima Hasao districts, and the mountainous states of Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram. The region is dependent on this railway route for supply of food grain, fertiliser, petroleum products, construction materials and other commodities.
Gauge conversion for Lumding-Silchar and Badarpur-Agartala route was sanctioned in 1996. It was declared a national project in 2004, thereby ensuring uninterrupted funding from the central government. However, the project was hit by insurgency between 2006 and 2009, and work resumed after that. The Silchar-Jiribam (52 km) in Manipur and Silchar-Bhairabi (120 km) in Mizoram gauge conversion projects are part of the LumdingSilchar line.
With IWTTP in place, Tripura to get food, fuel via Bangladesh
With IWTTP in place, Tripura to get food, fuel via Bangladesh
PTI Agartala, July 3: With formal inauguration of the revised Inland Water Transit and Trade Protocol (IWTTP) having provision of third-country access with Bangladesh, steps have been taken to ship essential commodities including foodgrains and fuel to Tripura via the neighbouring country, a minister said on Sunday. "Initiatives have been taken to bring the essential commodities, including fuel and foodgrains, by using the waterways of Bangladesh through Ashuganj port on the river Meghna," Tripura Revenue and PWD Minister Badal Chowdhury told reporters here. Chowdhury said the Assam-Agartala National Highway (NH-8) is almost closed due to damage along a 20-km stretch at Lowepoia in Karimganj district of bordering Assam due to rainfall and water-logging. Hundreds of trucks have been stranded for almost a month, making it diffi-
cult to transport supplies to Tripura. The consignments will be shipped from Kolkata port to Bangladesh's Ashuganj port, which is just 50 kms from here. He said IOC and FCI have taken initiatives following Tripura government's repeated request to the Centre to transport the commodities through Bangladesh. The revised Inland Water Transit and Trade Protocol (IWTTP) with the provision of thirdcountry access was formally inaugurated on June 16 by Bangladesh Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan. He inaugurated the transit facility at Ashuganj port. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, in a meeting with PWD Minister Chowdhury, officials of IOC, FCI, Railways, PWD and transport departments on Friday last, asked them to take initiative to transport the essential goods through the neighbouring country. Bangladesh allowed FCI to transport 35,000 tonnes of rice in 2015.
MHA official meets repatriated Brus in Mizoram
Financial crunch may delay fifth pay panel nod Agencies Shillong, July 3: Following the implementation of 7th pay commission recommendations for the Central government employees, there is a move on the part of the state government to start the process of constituting the 5th state pay commission, but the state’s poor financial position may delay the process. Besides the ban on coal mining continuing in the second year, the state’s exchequer is also affected by the restrictions imposed for the sale of
liquor in the state. At least Rs 600 crore per annum is the revenue loss to the state government due to NGT ban on coal mining since April 2014, while the loss due to the closure of several liquor stores will be Rs 80 crore per year. When contacted, a Minister said that the state cabinet will take the final decision on the issue of setting up of fifth Pay Commission. Earlier, the finance department had shortlisted a few names for the appointment of a Chairman and members of the
pay commission, but no decision has been taken by the government. Sources said that there is pressure on the part of the state government to notify the pay commission even as any decision in this regard may put the government under financial strains. There are indications that the state government even at the cost of state exchequer may go populist by constituting the pay commission and accepting its recommendations end of next year aimed at 2018 Assembly polls considering the
large chunk of government employees who can decide the fate of the government. It was with the promise of forming the fourth pay commission that the new Congress led government assumed charge in 2008. In 2009, during the tenure of DD Lapang as the Chief Minister and Mukul Sangma as Deputy Chief Minister in charge Finance , the state cabinet had announced an overall pay hike of 32 per cent for all its employees with
retrospective effect from January 1, 2007 based on the recommendation of the Fourth Pay Commission headed by retired IAS official KK Sinha . The Fourth Pay Commission was notified on September 20, 2007. As it is mandatory to revise the pay of the employees every ten years, the deadline for the employees to get the new salary as per the new pay commission will be early part of 2017 as the last pay hike took effect from January 2007.
Police rescue 8 Mizoram girls from being trafficked IANS Aizawl, July 3: At least eight tribal girls from Mizoram were rescued from a car while being trafficked to Gujarat, police said on Sunday. As many as two tribal youths were also arrested in this connection, the police said. "They were rescued from a small vehicle on Saturday night while being trafficked to Gujarat via Guwahati,"
police inspector Ratanmani Debbarma told the media. "During interrogation the girls gave different versions about their journey. Seven of them are the inmates of refugee camps in Kanchanpur (in north Tripura) where tribals from Mizoram live. Another teen aged girl is a class nine student from Mizoram," he said.
Debbarma said that to know the details the police have called the refugee leaders who said they were unaware of the girls' journey. "Their parents said they face acute poverty here. They were sending their daughters to Gujarat in search of jobs in beauty parlours. However, the parents could not give corroborative facts and other details. We are investigating the matter,"
the police official added. The girls were aged between 15 and 25 years, while the two men are aged between 35 and 40. About 31,300 Reang tribals, who call themselves 'Bru', have been living in seven makeshift camps for the past 19 years in Kanchanpur area adjoining Mizoram.
They had fled ethnic violence in western Mizoram following the killing of a Mizo forest official at the Dampa Tiger Reserve. Despite several initiatives by the Mizoram government to bring them back, the refugees have been reluctant to go back to their villages unless their demands for food and security are met.
MHA official meets repatriated Brus in Mizoram
PTI Aizawl, July 3: Joint Secretary (Northeast) of Ministry of Home Affairs, Satyendra Garg on Saturday visited Damdiai village in Mamit district on Mizoram-TripuraBangladesh border and met leaders and other members of the Bru community who have been repatriated to Mizoram from Tripura. Additional Secretary for the state Home department Lalbiakzama, who accompanied the MHA official said that Garg gave a patient hearing to the issues raised by the leaders of the Bru community saying the government would try to solve their problems. Bru Coordination Committee (BCC) Chairman Elvis Chorkhy told PTI over phone from Damdiai that Garg said that a Monitoring Committee in which repatriated Bru leaders would also be represented, would be constituted to monitor the problems
faced by the resettled Brus and find ways to solve them. Chorkhy said that the BCC submitted a memorandum to the Centre demanding establishment of the Special Development Program as envisaged in an agreement signed between the Mizoram government and the erstwhile underground Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) in 2005. The BCC also urged the Centre to increase rehabilitation and resettlement package for each repatriated Bru family from Rs.80,000 and also temporary shelter for the repatriated Bru family be upgraded to semi-permanent shelter. "We suggested measures for solution to land problems for the Brus who left Mizoram in 1997 and also asked for establishment of Central Schools in the Bru inhabited areas as the community lagged behind in education," Chorkhy said.
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MeT issues orange alert in U'khand post heavy rains, cloudburst Dehradun (Utta rakhand), July 3 : In wake of heavy rainfall and cloudburst in different parts of Uttarakhand, the Meteorological Department on Sunday issued an orange alert and said there can be isolated heavy rains in the next 24 hours. An Orange alert is for weather conditions, which have the capacity to impact significantly on the people in the affected areas. The issue of an Orange level weather warning implies that all recipients in the affected areas should prepare themselves in an appropriate way for the anticipated conditions. "There can be isolated
heavy rains in the next 24 hours. The water level has also increased in few places. We will keep the alert for the next 24 hours," Meteorological Department director Bikram Singh told ANI. He said there was red alert earlier, but now they have issued an orange alert. "Thereafter, there will light rains in few places. The warning has been given to the administration and it is working properly," he added. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat earlier today chaired a meeting to review the ongoing rescue and relief operations in the areas affected by heavy rains and
Clinton quizzed by FBI over personal email use
Hillary Clinton Washington, Jul 3 : The FBI quizzed Hillary Clinton for three and a half hours as part of a probe into her use of personal email while serving as secretary of state, an issue that has loomed large over her campaign to become America's first woman president. "Secretary Clinton gave a voluntary interview this morning about her email arrangements while she was Secretary," Nick Merrill, spokesman of Clinton Campaign, said of the interview that took place at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters here. "She is pleased to have had the opportunity to assist the Department of Justice in bringing this review to a conclusion. Out of respect for the investigative process, she will not comment further on her interview," Merrill said yesterday. His use of the word "voluntary" indicates that Clinton was not subpoenaed for the inter-
view. The FBI is investigating whether the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and her aides mishandled any classified information on a private email server she used while serving as secretary of state during the first term of President Barack Obama. Clinton, 68, denies handling classified information in her private emails. She said she set up the email address for reasons of convenience. However, a state department inquiry accused her and other former US secretaries of state of poorly managing email security. The Justice Department is now seeking to establish whether this constitutes a criminal offence. The interview signals the bureau's protracted criminal investigation could be entering its final phase, with a long-awaited decision nearing. (PTI)
Marijuana may help treat Alzheimer's: study Los Angeles, Jul 3 : Compounds present in marijuana may promote the cellular removal of a toxic protein associated with Alzheimer's disease, a finding that could help treat the brain disorder, a new study has claimed. "Although other studies have offered evidence that cannabinoids might be neuroprotective against the symptoms of Alzheimer's, we believe our study is the first to demonstrate that cannabinoids affect both inflammation and amyloid beta accumulation in nerve cells," said David Schubert from Salk Institute in the US. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that leads to memory loss and can seriously impair a person's ability to carry out daily tasks. Scientists have found preliminary evidence that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other compounds found in marijuana can promote the cellular removal of amyloid beta, a toxic protein associated with Alzheimer's disease. It has long been known that amyloid beta accumulates within the nerve cells of the ageing brain well before the appearance of Alzheimer's disease symptoms and plaques, researchers said. Amyloid beta is a major component of the plaque deposits that are a hallmark of the disease. But the precise role of amyloid beta and the plaques it forms in the disease process remains unclear, they said. In the new study, researchers studied nerve cells altered to produce high levels of amyloid beta to mimic aspects of Alzheimer's disease. They found that high levels of
amyloid beta were associated with cellular inflammation and higher rates of neuron death. They demonstrated that exposing the cells to THC reduced amyloid beta protein levels and eliminated the inflammatory response from the nerve cells caused by the protein, thereby allowing the nerve cells to survive. "Inflammation within the brain is a major component of the damage associated with Alzheimer's disease, but it has always been assumed that this response was coming from immune-like cells in the brain, not the nerve cells themselves," said Antonio Currais from Salk. "When we were able to identify the molecular basis of the inflammatory response to amyloid beta, it became clear that THC-like compounds that the nerve cells make themselves may be involved in protecting the cells from dying," said Currais. Brain cells have switches known as receptors that can be activated by endocannabinoids, a class of lipid molecules made by the body that are used for intercellular signalling in the brain, researchers said. The psychoactive effects of marijuana are caused by THC, a molecule similar in activity to endocannabinoids that can activate the same receptors, they said. Physical activity results in the production of endocannabinoids and some studies have shown that exercise may slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, researchers said. The findings were published in the journal Ageing and Mechanisms of Disease. (PTI)
Meteorological Department director Bikram Singh cloudburst. The relief and rescue operation is going on at a war footing in the villages of Uttarakhand.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), Army, Indo Tibetan Bor-
der Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), the state police and the revenue department teams are engaged in this job. The death toll in Pithoragarh and Chamoli districts of state has risen to 16. In seven villages, including Bastari under Didihat tehsil of Pithoragarh, 13 people have been rescued alive from the debris. So far, 10 dead bodies have been recovered, while about 17 people are still buried under the debris. In four villages of Chamoli district, six people have been killed, while three others are
missing. Meanwhile, RishikeshBadrinath national highway is still blocked at some places. Gangotri and Yamunotri national highways have also been disrupted at several places in Uttarakashi district. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the Public Works Department (PWD) personnel have been pressed into service to reopen all the three yatra routes. Almost all major rivers in the state are flowing near the danger mark. In view of this, the authorities have asked the people living in low lying areas to move to safer places. (ANI)
Modi Govt. has failed to carry out its constitutional obligations: Mayawati Lucknow, July 3 : Hitting out at the Narendra Modi-led government for working solely for the betterment of bureaucrats and putting the interests of the common man aside, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Sunday accused the Centre of failing to fulfil its constitutional responsibilities. Addressing a press conference here, Mayawati launched a fresh wave of attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre and accused them of following the corrupt footsteps of the previous Congress government. "The BJP keeps using phrases like 'jungle raj and 'gunda raj' for UP and our party strongly condemns that. After the
Ayodhya violence, the BJP government was removed and President's rule was imposed and an atmosphere of peace was restored. During polls, the BJP promised that they will fix the law and order once they came to power, but they seem to have forgotten that," she said. Asserting that the BJP was threatened by the growing power and popularity of the BSP, Mayawati further stated that the saffron party had been using different ploys and tactics and making false promises like the one of bringing back black money. "PM Modi promised the entire nation that he will bring back the black money in 100 days as soon as his government forms, but
Mayawati nothing like that happened. Keeping this in mind, the people of UP should not fall under such tricks and further strengthen the BSP so that the party can work for the betterment of the people," Mayawati said. Further accusing the Centre of leaning more towards
the betterment of the bureaucrats and the creamy layer of the society, she called on the government to stop playing politics over everything and extend complete support to Uttarakhand, as the state wdealing with natural calamity issues. (ANI)
Quran 'desecration' case: SAD calls for strict action against AAP MLA New Delhi, July 3 : Asserting that the charges against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Yadav for allegedly desecrating the Quran were extremely serious, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday called for strict action after a thorough probe into the matter. Speaking to ANI here, SAD leader Manjeet Singh called on the AAP to maintain caution as they proceeded with their campaign since Punjab is a border area. "Right from the 80's Punjab has seen many problems. First the Guru Granth Saheb was disrespected and now Quran Sharif is being desecrated. AAP is welcome to fight the elections, however, they should not
create any troubles there," Singh said. Talking about AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal, who is all set to roll out his party's "youth manifesto" today at the start of his three-day Punjab tour, Singh added that the Chief Minister must first focus on fixing the problems of the national capi-
tal and then branch out to other states. "He should first control the youth of Delhi. He had tried to defame the youth of Punjab in drug issue. Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal are defaming the youth of Punjab regarding drugs. For mere votes, these people have defamed the
people of Punjab who have stood for the country," Singh said. Earlier, the fresh charges against ( AAP) MLA Naresh Yadav for allegedly desecrating the Quran by the Sangrur Police in Punjab, came as a major blow to the party, which is gearing for the 2017 polls in the state. Yadav was yesterday named in an FIR related to a recent case of alleged 'd e s e c r a t i o n ' o f t h e Quran. The Sangrur Police booked Yadav after the alleged mastermind in the case, Vijay Kumar, disclosed that he had desecrated the Quran at the behest of the Mehrauli MLA and was offered Rs. one crore for the same. (ANI)
Toronto, Jul 3 : A 22year-old Canadian has been sentenced to 10 months in jail for punching and kicking a Sikh man in a racially motivated attack that had drawn strong condemnation from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Gabriel RoyerTremblay, 22, was convicted of assault for punching and kicking Toronto resident Supninder Singh Khehra on a street in Quebec City in March. Khehra had said at the time that Tremblay and
two of his friends shouted and swore at him in French and pointed at his turban, before he was punched in the eye and kicked. 29-year-old Khehra said his turban flew off of his head during the assault. Police arrived at the scene a short time later and arrested Tremblay and another man, who was later released without charges. The incident had drawn widespread condemnation in Canada, including from Prime Minister Trudeau, who said at the
time that such "hateful acts" have "no place in Canada". Royer-Tremblay was also convicted of several other offences, including obstructing police and methamphetamine possession. His lawyer, Benoit Labrecque, told CTV News Toronto that six months of the sentence was for the assault against Khehra, and the other four were tied to the other offences. Royer-Tremblay was also given two years' probation on Thursday.
The crown had sought a total jail term of 18 months, while Labrecque argued for a 90-day jail stint served on weekends. Khehra submitted a victim impact statement to the court that said he no longer feels safe when walking alone on the street, and is coping with a great deal of stress related to the incident. With credit for pre-trial custody, RoyerTremblay will spend eight more months in jail. (PTI)
SAD leader Manjeet Singh
'Anti-national' Owaisi should be put behind bars: JD (U)
JD (U) leader Ajay Alok Patna (Bihar), July 3 : The Janata Dal (United) on Sunday launched a scathing attack on AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi for his decision to provide legal aid to five IS suspects arrested by the NIA from Hyderabad and demanded his arrest besides the cancellation of membership as a parliamentarian. "There is uniform civil code in many states..so does that make those states Hindu or Catholic? But it definitely creates the Islamic states. Owaisi is the greatest anti-national. He said he will provide legal aid to the people associated with the ISIS. Such kind of persons should be put behind the bars and their Parliament membership must be cancelled," JD
(U) leader Ajay Alok told ANI. The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief had on Friday announced that his party would provide legal aid to five IS suspects arrested from Hyderabad earlier this week. Backing his party's decision, Owaisi said that the legal system would have anyways offered legal help to the accused and urged the media not to blow the issue out of proportion and be a hindrance in the legal process. According to reports, Owaisi had earlier decided to support the accused after the family members of the five youth met him and claimed that they are innocent. (ANI)
Russia finds remains of crashed firefighter plane Moscow, Jul 3 : Russian firefighters today found remains of a crashed plane that went missing with ten people on board while putting out wildfires in Siberia. The tail of the Il-76 emergencies ministry plane which went missing on Friday was found north of Irkutsk, the region straddling Russia's Lake Baikal, where catastrophic fires have been raging for weeks. "Remains of four crew members were found," the emergencies ministry branch in Irkutsk said in a statement. Efforts to find other bodies were hampered by smoke and difficult terrain, it said. Earlier the ministry said that ten people were on board the plane, which stopped making contact early Friday. "We're clearing an area for landing a helicopter to recover ... bodies that we will find," Deputy Emergencies Minister Leonid Belyaev told state television. Footage from the crash site showed the tail of the transport plane laying on charred ground with the rest of the fuselage appar-
ently completely burned. A Russian aviation agencies source told TASS news agency that the plane most likely lost control because of interference from hot air from the wildfire that it was trying to douse with water. "It's possible that hot air from the wildfires got into the engines, the plane lost propulsion and could not gain altitude, hit the top of the trees and fell," the source was quoted as saying. The plane's tail was discovered by another firefighter on today morning, said the Russian forestry agency's aviation unit. Last week another firefighter died on duty in Russia's far-eastern Kamchatka region, the regional government revealed. The forestry agency's aviation unit said today that over 43 thousand hectares of forest land is burning in Russia, mostly in Siberia. But Russia's Greenpeace which monitors wildfires via satellite data said government figures are vastly underestimated, with 415 thousand hectares burning in Irkutsk region alone. (AFP)
CNG prices in Canadian jailed for punching, kicking Sikh Delhi go up by 25 paise per kg New Delhi, July 3 : CNG price in the national capital witnessed a hike by 25 paise per kg, Indraprastha Gas Ltd. (IGL) announced. The price has been revised to Rs. 36.85 per kg in Delhi and Rs. 42.20 per kg in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad respectively. CNG price in Delhi is raised by 25 paise per kg, whereas, in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad it is likely to be around 30 paise.
The prices would be effective from midnight tonight, IGL said in a release. With the objective to boost CNG refuelling during non-peak hours, IGL will continue to offer a discount of Rs. 1.50 per kg in the selling prices of CNG for filling between 12-5 a.m. at select outlets. IGL reported that the price hike has been necessitated due to recent appreciation of US dollar vis-a-vis rupee. (ANI)
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DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, JULY 4
Pak FM asks Imran Khan to apologise to PM Sharif's daughter
Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar Islamabad, July 3 : Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has asked Imran Khan to apologise to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz for falsely accusing her in an incident involving police misbehaviour with one of his sisters and said the PTI chairman should behave in a responsible manner. In a statement issued on Saturday, Dar said that Khan should act in line with the moral values expected of a national leader and apologise to Maryam after knowing the facts of the incident. Dar added that Khan was in the habit of reacting to "hearsay and
rumours without verifying facts" of the cases involved. "Being the head of a political party, Imran Khan should adopt responsible behaviour," said Dar, who has been looking after government affairs in the Prime Minister's absence. Reacting to the comments, a PTI spokesman said that Khan would never apologise to Prime Minister Sharif's daughter. The PTI chief's sister Uzma Khan had said on Friday that security personnel in Maryam Nawaz's protocol harassed her and her family in the Gulberg-III area of Lahore. (ANI)
"Forget about the idea of ever defeating us': Taliban chief tells U.S
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NEIGHBOURS
Dhaka attack: Bangladesh HM blames "home grown" terrorists Dhaka, July 3 : Clarifying that there is no presence of Islamic State in the country, Bangladesh's Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan today said the terrorists, who killed 20 hostages at a Dhaka restaurant, were home grown and are trying to connect with the militant group. Khan said the militants, who attacked the upscale cafe Holey Artisan and took the visitors hostage on Friday, were Bangladeshi nationals. "You see Islamic State
is a slogan. There is no existence of IS in Bangladesh. This is home grown terrorists and wants to contact with IS. This is the main thing. But all are our home grown and our national. It is not from other countries. It is our people. They are sometimes Jamaat-Ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), sometimes other different groups and now they are trying to contact with IS," Khan told ANI. Bangladesh's Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan The Home Minister condemned the terrorist at- lives including foreign massive terrorist attack that happened in the 1st tack and apologised for nationals. the deaths of innocent "You have witnesses a of July. You have seen it.
All the terrorists were killed and 20 innocent foreigners lost their lives including our three Bangladeshi people. Very innocent people, they were here to have the tea and actually we are very sorry," he said. "We all Bangladeshi we are very sorry. This is very shocking, painful effect for us," he added. 20 people were killed by the gunmen during the attack. The 12-hour-long hostage crisis ended after a two-hour long assault by armed forces' commandos killing six gunmen
Dhaka terror attack: PM urges nation to stand united against terrorism Dhaka, July 3 : As Bangladesh mourns the terrorist attack on a Gulshan eatery in the diplomatic area of Dhaka, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon the people to have confidence in her government. "When Bangladesh is emerging as a self-reliant and self-dependent country, a vested local-international quarter is conspiring to obstruct the country's advancement," the Daily Star quoted her as saying in a televised address to the nation. She condemned that incident and said the attackers are mislead-
ing youth in the name of religion. "By holding innocent people hostage at gunpoint, they want to portray the country as a dysfunctional state . They have resorted to terrorism after failing to win the hearts of the people democratically. They are misleading the softhearted youths in the name of religion and killing people by giving them arms,"she said. Hasina said the peaceloving people of Bangladesh would not allow the conspirators to be successful in their ulterior motive. "Together with the countrymen, we will resist
their conspiracy at any cost," she said. Urging people to stand firm against terrorism, Hasina said that everyone has to be united in resisting "the limited number of terrorists". Promising to root out terrorism from the country, she said, "No conspiracy will be able to hamper our progress. Let's forget all differences and work together for establishing a secure and golden Bangla as dreamt by the Father of the Nation." She reiterated that Friday's attack demeaned the religion and humanity. 20 people were killed by
the gunmen, who attacked the upscale cafe Holey Artisan and took the visitors hostage. Though it was reported that the Islamic State claimed responsibility on the attack, the U.S. State Department has said it cannot yet be confirmed. Meanwhile, authorities have stated that all the attackers from the deadly assault were Bangladeshi citizens, and five of them were militants that police had tried to arrest previously. Police Inspector General Shahidul Hoque told CNN that two police officers had been killed in
a gunfire exchange earlier in the standoff. The nationalities of the 20 hostages, who were found dead inside the Holey Artisan Bakery cafe after Bangladeshi troops stormed the cafe early Saturday morning ending a nearly 11-hour siege, have also been released. Nine of the victims were Italian, seven were Japanese, one was from India, two were Bangladeshi and one was a U.S. citizen of Bangladeshi origin, according to the country's Joint Force Command. Six terrorists were killed and one was captured alive. (ANI)
Pak discusses border management plan with US Afghan Taliban chief Haibatullah Akhundzada Islamabad, July 3 : Afghan Taliban chief Haibatullah Akhundzada has warned the United States of more attacks in Afghanistan while stating that the deaths of Mullah Omar and Mullah Mansoor have not impaired the insurgency. In his first recorded 'Eid message' since taking over command in May after the death of Mullah Mansoor in an airstrike, he asked the US to end what he called the 'occupation of Afghanistan.' In a formal statement released on Saturday, Akhundzada said U.S. President Barack Obama's recent decision to expand the U.S. military role in authorising further airstrikes against militants will not deter Taliban.
"We condemn this effort of prolonging this war and occupation and remind the Americans that the Afghan nation has bravely faced all your might over the past 15 years," the Express Tribune quoted Akhundzada as saying. "We are waging sacred jihad against your invasion as a single nation, forget about the idea of ever subduing, defeating and forcing us to lay down our arms," Akhundzada added. Akhundzada further said the new policy will only result in more deaths of American troops and waste of resources. "You are facing not a group or faction, but a nation. You are not going to be the winner," he added. (ANI)
Security forces recapture posts in Afghanistan's Wardak province Kabul, July 3 : The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) have recaptured a number of security posts in Jalrez district of the country's central Wardak province. Provincial governor's spokesman Abdul Rahman Mangal said the security posts were captured by the Taliban militants two days ago, adding an operation was
launched to clear the area from the militants' presence. He said that few security personnel sustained injuries during the operations and around 15 Taliban insurgents were either killed or wounded. The Taliban militants late on Friday night launched coordinated attack on security posts in Jalrez district and managed to capture several security posts. (ANI)
Islamabad, July 3 : Top civil and military authorities of Pakistan have conveyed to a high-level US Senate delegation that Islamabad's effort to manage its border with Afghanistan is vital for its security. The issue was highlighted by top civil and military officials in their meetings with a high-level American delegation and US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Richard Olson, who extended Washington's support to Pakistan's border management efforts. The US Senate delega-
tion, led by Senator John McCain, Chairman of Senate Armed Services Committee, met Army Chief General Raheel Sharif at the GHQ in Rawalpindi. ISI chief Lt Gen Rizwan Akhter also attended the meeting.
Army Chief General Raheel Sharif
The military leadership informed the U.S. delegation of Pakistan's concerns about illegal movement at its border with Afghanistan and shared the proposed border management plan, which includes building gates at all eight border crossings with Afghanistan to regulate the movement of travellers across the
border. The US delegation's visit comes at a time of bilateral tensions following the United States questions on Islamabad's commitment to fight terrorism and its role in bringing normalcy to war-torn Afghanistan, the Express Tribune reports. The military chief also dilated upon security challenges faced by Pakistan and its contribution in regional stability and global peace. Matters of mutual interest and regional security, with a particular reference to the Afghanistan situation were discussed. (ANI)
This attack will only make Bangladesh more 'resolute', says Indian HC Dhaka, July 3 : Asserting that Bangladesh has not seen an attack similar in both scale and devastation as the one in Dhaka last night,Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringlasaid on Saturday, that the horrific episode represented a higher level of action by the terrorists. Speaking to ANI here, Shringla said that he paid a visit to military hospital and offered his condolences to the parents of Tarishi Jain, the Indian girl who was a victim of the terrorist attacks. "Obviously terrorism has taken its toll and I think the world has to stand united. As our
Prime Minister has said, terrorism is an issue that concerns all countries, we all have to work together to fight the scourge of terrorism," he stated. The diplomat further stated that the attack has been devastating, but also said that the there is a lot of resilience in Bangladesh and people here have learnt to fight against adversity, right from their struggle for liberation to their fight against poverty. "So, I am confident that this will not put the people of Bangladesh back, in fact it will make them more resolute and more forward and we in India are happy to work with our friends in Bangladesh in that endeavour,"
Shringla said. Meanwhile, condemning the attack which killed 20 people including one Indian, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and expressed his condolences. "The attack in Dhaka has pained us beyond words. I spoke to PM Sheikh Hasina & strongly condemned the despicable attack," the Prime Minister said in a series of tweets. Asserting that India stands firmly with its sisters and brothers of Bangladesh in this hour of grief, he added that his thoughts are with the bereaved families. "I pray that those who
are injured recover quickly," Prime Minister Modi added. Earlier today, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj confirmed that an Indian national had been killed in Dhaka and expressed her condolences to the family of the victim. 20 people were killed by the gunmen who attacked the upscale cafe Holey Artisan and taking the diners in hostage in the diplomatic area of Dhaka last evening. The 12-hour-long hostage crisis at the cafe popular with foreigners ended after a two hour long assault by armed forces' commandos killing six gunmen. One assailant has been
held by the security forces. Most of the victims were killed brutally with sharp weapons. Thirteen hostages were rescued in the operation which included two Sri Lankans and a Japanese. Though it was reported that the Islamic State claimed responsibility on the attack, the U.S. State Department has said it cannot yet be confirmed. The Islamic State has claimed a number of past attacks in Bangladesh through its media affiliates, but the government has consistently denied presence of the militant in the country. (ANI)
yesterday morning and capturing one alive. The nationalities of the 20 hostages, who were found dead inside the Holey Artisan Bakery cafe after Bangladeshi troops stormed the cafe early Saturday morning ending a nearly 11-hour siege, have also been released. Nine of the victims were Italian, seven were Japanese, one was from India, two were Bangladeshi and one was a U.S. citizen of Bangladeshi origin, according to the country's Joint Force Command. (ANI)
33 killed in flash floods in Pakistan's K-P province Peshawar, July 3 : At least 33 people, including eight security officials, were killed after torrential rains hit parts of KhyberPakhtunkhwa (K-P) province of Pakistan, triggering flash floods in the area. Officials said as many as 17 people are reportedly missing in Ursoon Village while as many were injured due to flash floods in the area. Around 30 houses were demolished in the rains that began late Saturday and were concentrated mainly in K-P, which has been badly affected by flooding in recent years, reports the Express Tribune. Chitral is the worst hit district so far, where flood waters swept away a mosque, several houses and army post in the remote village of Ursoon, reports the Express Tribune. Separately, two Chinese engineers were killed and five local workers injured when the roof of a construction site collapsed at Tarbela Dam owing to the rains that began late Saturday, Rescue and relief operations are underway. Earlier in April, rains and landslides killed 127 people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, GilgitBaltistan region and Pakistani Kashmir.(ANI)
Over 60 militants killed in airstrikes in Afghanistan Kabul, July 3 : Over 60 Taliban insurgents have been killed in a series of airstrikes at Arghistan district inAfghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province. The Ministry of Defense (MoD) confirmed that at least 50 militants were killed and 12 others seriously wounded in the raids. Further, 12 militants were killed and two others wounded in a separate airstrike in Aband district of southeastern Ghazni province, the ministry said. So far, the anti-state armed militant groups have not commented regarding the report. Both Badakhshan and Ghazni provinces are among the relatively volatile provinces where the armed militant groups are actively operating in a number of its remote districts. The Afghan forces have stepped up their efforts in curbing the militant groups after the Taliban announced its spring offensive earlier in April. Since then the Taliban militants have staged numerous coordinated and suicide attacks across the country. (ANI)
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Why Southeast Asian Countries Avoid Tilting Too Far Toward the US Despite more U.S. engagement, Southeast Asian countries are getting better at hedging.
BRICS Youth Summit Youth as bridge for IntraBRICS Exchanges
(Photo: globalresearch)
The second BRICS Youth Summit began amidst much enthusiasm with the city welcoming the guests with traditional hospitality. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal lit the lamp and
declared beginning of the three-day second BRICS Youth Summit, India 2016 held from 1st to 3rd July, 2016 . The city of Guwahati - the gateway to the North East - is hosted the prestigious event with the theme 'Youth as bridge for intra-BRICS exchanges'. The inaugural session witnessed addresses by BRICS members and finalized agenda to work out for the working sessions.The convention of youths will focus on enhanced people-to-people contacts of BRICS members - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Over 50 foreign delegates, including ministers and head of executive authorities on youth affairs from BRICS nations, participated in the summit. To take forward the initiatives of first BRICS Youth Summit held in Russia in July 2015 for creation of a permanent platform for development of youth cooperation, interactive and stimulating discussions on various aspects related to youth development took place.The BRICS Youth Summit focused on skill development and entrepreneurship, social inclusions, youth volunteerism and youth participation in governance along with working session reports will be followed by finalization and adoption of the Guwahati BRICS Call to Action on Youth. Role of youth in fostering intra-BRICS bonds has been recognized during the past Summits. Youthful democratic profile of most BRICS countries combined with their economic-vibrancy can be an asset in consolidating exchanges between BRICS countries. Investment in youth will make them stakeholders in future activities of the group. This is also aligned with Prime Minister's desire that our events be participative and people-centric. The subjects covered by thematic debates are Skill Development and Entreneurship, Social Inclusion, Youth Volunteerism and Youth Participation in Governance. The programme for the Summit also includes thematic debates, cultural events, site-visits and interactive sessions with local youth. The Youth Summit was also an occasion to introduce India's North-East to BRICS youth. The Youth delegates also had an occasion to call upon the External Affairs Minister in New Delhi and to meet Assam Leadership and Senior Officials at Guwahati, Assam during the course of the Summit.
Concession to Northeast People 32 Hospitals in Delhi, NCR Over 11 lakh people from Northeast are residing in Delhi and NCR, either working or studying. Many of them, being from poor background, struggle to meet medical emergencies. In a first of its kind in the country, 32 hospitals in Delhi and NCR will give concession on medical treatment to people from Northeast states studying or working in private companies in Delhi, IGP Robin Hibu, Nodal Officer for North East People, Delhi. This is a very good initiative and will definitely help the NE people, especially those from poor background, living in Delhi. It is the first time such concession is given to NE people in India in view of their many helpless situation while eking out a living in cities," said Hibu, who has made great efforts towards this innovative and positive step under the "Reach Out Initiatives to NE people". All 32 hospitals have sent their approval letters. They have also appointed Nodal officers whom, people can contact 24×7 for concession. And the hospitals have agreed to give concessions ranging from 15 to 30 per cent for medical treatment for the people. Unfortunately, most government hospitals, though affordable, lack facilities and are in a pitiable state, hence the decision to approach major private hospitals for proper treatment, especially in serious medical cases. Government hospitals have poor facilities, and during emergency there is no sufficient facilities. Therefore private hospitals is always a better option. Urging people from the NE states to avail the facility and spread the news and create awareness, Hibu, who also hails from the NE region, said: It's a golden opportunity to help our poor NE people working in unorganised sectors and poor students. Patients, availing the opportunity, "can strengthen the bond with mainland people," he said. This facility can be availed only by NE students and employees of private companies here, not for government beneficiaries. The hospitals participating in the initiative are: Fortis Hospitals (various locations in NCR); Escort Heart Institute & Research Centre, Delhi; Aashlok Hospital, Delhi; Holy Family Hospital, Delhi; Medanta Hospital, Gurgoan; B.L. Kapoor Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi; Sri Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi; Moolchand Medicity, Delhi; Columbia Asia Hospitals Pvt. Ltd, Gurgoan; Sanjeevani Hospital, Delhi; Kalra Hospital, New Delhi; Paras Hospitals, Gurgoan; Artemis Hospital, Gurgoan; Park Hospital, (various locations in NCR); Zental Dental Clinic, Delhi; Max, Healthcare (various locations in NCR); Asian Institute Of Medical Science, Faridabad; and Apollo Hospital, New Delhi.
Last week the U.S. Navy Why is that? sailed two aircraft carriers Despite consensus in through the Philippine Washington that China's Sea in a highly visible increasing toughness - for show of strength, as ana- example, rebuilding islysts in Beijing, Manila, lands in the South China and Washington eagerly Sea and coercing smaller await the decision of a neighbors - is pushing the S o u t h region toChina Sea ward the Hunter Marston U n i t e d tribunal in T h e States, Hague, expected on July Southeast Asian countries 12. The United States and understand China has the Philippines recently "proximity, power, and hisagreed to the locations of tory," as Satu Limaye, difive bases to host rotating rector of the East-West American troops, accord- Center in Washington, put ing to the bilateral En- it. That is, while these hanced Defense Coopera- smaller nations may seek tion Agreement. President U.S. help to stand up to Barack Obama used the Beijing's bullishness, most occasion of his trip to have no choice but to acVietnam last month to an- cept the fact that China is nounce the full lifting of not going anywhere. a weapons embargo on the Nick Bisley, professor of communist country, pav- international relations at ing the way for greater de- La Trobe University in fense cooperation be- Melbourne, explains that tween the two countries. China's attempts to co-opt Referring to China's is- the region are backfiring land building and provo- by forcing Southeast Asian cations in the South China countries to bandwagon Sea, Assistant Secretary of with the United States for State Danny Russel told security. "It is certainly true the House Foreign Affairs that China's behavior is Committee, "despite the leading countries with objections of its neigh- links to Washington to bors… China… has cre- strengthen those ties," ated uncertainty, insecu- Bisley writes. "It is also rity and instability in the true that countries that region." have not traditionally been Washington thinkers are aligned to the U.S. are dequick to perceive a strong veloping ties in response to desire in Southeast Asia to China's behavior." bandwagon with the But this viewpoint is United States to resist overly simplistic, as Bisley Chinese assertiveness. notes. Southeast Asian naBut as the American secu- tions do not want to choose rity presence in the region China orthe United States. deepens with the U.S. "re- And they will not risk balance" to Asia, South- overt security alliances east Asian states are get- with Washington, which in ting better at hedging, their thinking would only eluding a simple coalition further provoke Beijing to with Washington. carve out its interests with-
out considering the reputation costs. Indeed, Southeast Asian leaders are wary of a possible U.S. strategy of containment leveraged against China, which they feel would upset the status quo balance of power in the Pacific. Nevertheless, most small countries in the South China Sea desire more U.S. commitment to their security, not less - while many fear that the United States' interests in Asia may not outlive the Obama administration. Campaign rhetoric in America has added to Southeast Asian concerns regarding Washington's staying power. Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has vocally questioned the value of U.S. taxpayer dollars underwriting the security of allies such as Japan and Korea. Mirroring this rhetoric, the Philippines' new President Rodrigo Duterte on his campaign threatened to cut diplomatic ties with the United States and Australia after the two objected to Duterte's comments about the 1989 rape of an Australian woman in Davao City, where he was mayor. Nonetheless, most Southeast Asian states are hopeful of continued American commitment to the region. "No one in Asia is rooting for an American retreat," Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told the Wall Street Journal in March. "Your role re-
President Obama alongside Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang in Hanoi, 22 May 2016 (Photo: ichef-1.bbci) mains indispensable, whether you are prepared to step up to it or whether you decide to chuck it." In Manila, the lure of Chinese investment has compounded indecision. The Philippines is reportedly weighing a Chinese offer to fund a railroad if the Duterte administration withdraws its case against Beijing in the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the South China Sea. The twin realities of Chinese military might and lavish capital reserves have cowed and charmed less developed Southeast Asian countries in its orbit. Beijing has also shown a remarkable ability to thwart a consensus
among the ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian States (ASEAN), preventing the group from mounting any diplomatic challenge to its position. By leaning on the weaker ASEAN chair Laos and Cambodia in the recent Kunming ASEAN-China summit, Beijing was able to convince ASEAN to retract a joint statement which highlighted concerns over Chinese incursions in the South China Sea. And yet, despite warranted pessimism toward ASEAN among U.S. policymakers, some experts still hold out hope that the group could rally around a common position. Ernie Bower, of Bower Group Asia, a strategic consulting firm in
Washington, D.C., told an audience at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, "ASEAN is going to surprise people." By applying too much pressure, Bower argued, "China, through its actions, may strengthen ASEAN," leaving Southeast Asian countries no choice but to band together to resist Beijing's force. The reality is, no matter the stance ASEAN takes, individual countries will not stick their necks out by overtly siding with the United States in the larger Sino-U.S. competition. Despite renewed U.S. commitment to its allies and partners in Asia, Southeast Asian countries are getting better at hedging and will continue to play the China card. Courtesy: The diplomat
Indians spend most on public transport, communication More than 60% of rural and urban families use bus as their main mode of public transportation, shows the NSSO survey of expenditure on durable goods and services A new study released by study reveals that monthly National Sample Survey per capita expenditure on Office (NSSO) shows that transport in urban areas is both rural and urban India more than double than that depends on public trans- in rural areas. port, spending 90 per cent This data was collected in the of their total transportation 72nd round of NSSO. The expenditure on report, called "Key buses, trains, auto Jitendra Indicators of rickshaws and Household Expentaxis. diture on Services and DuThe share of expenditure rable Goods", was released on trains is less than that on on June 29. other modes of transporta- Expenditure on services tion. While rural India Urban India spends three spends only 4.4 per cent of times more on communicatheir total transportation tion services than rural India expenditure on railways, in absolute terms. In terms of urban India spends around share of expenditure, both 13 per cent. rural and urban areas spend More than 60 per cent of the highest on these services. rural and urban households Rural households spend 25 use the bus/tram as their per cent of their total expenmain mode of public trans- diture on communication serportation, followed by auto vices, while urban houserickshaw, taxi, railways and holds spend 26 per cent. cycle rickshaw. Around The study also reveals that half of urban India and 38 more than 90 per cent of per cent of rural India use households in both rural and the auto rickshaw. The urban areas report expendi-
ture on barber, beauty shop and communication services. Rural India spends 11 per cent of its total expenditure on barbers and beauty shops whereas ur-
ban India spends 9 per cent. Nearly half of rural households and more than three quarters of urban households spend on TV and radio services.
An almost equal proportion of rural and urban households spend on religious services. In terms of share of expenditure, rural households spend 9 per cent and
Image for representational purpose (Photo: im.rediff)
Cleansing of An Augean Stable
Pramila Rani Brahma, Forest minister of Assam (Photo: .assamtimes)
Sir, The status of a minister, as we have been accustomed to know is ascertained by the way he/she behaves. In the erstwhile congress regime, we got to see the ministers beset by sycophants, moving about majestically, always keeping aloof from the common people. Their majestic way of living as manifested by their body language contributed to the defeat of the congress. Scams of high magnitude one after another that rocked Assam proved to be like the last straw on the camel's back. In contrast, we get to see the agility of the ministers inducted into the cabinet of Sarbananda Sonowal. Special mention must be made of Pramila Rani Brahma from B.P.F. Pramila Rani Brahma, the Forest minister deserves Kudos for the agility shown by her. She concedes with a heavy heart that the forest officials are corrupt and that to work with these tainted officials is like swimming against the tide. What we want is immediate action for stopping felling of the trees. Ecological imbal-
urban households spend 6 per cent. Expenditure on durable goods The study defines durable goods as transport equipment, heating, cooling and electricity generation devices, kitchen equipment, equipment for recreation, crockery and utensils, furniture and fixtures, other machines for household work, IT and communication devices, electrical and lighting accessories, productive equipment, sports and medical equipment, miscellaneous durables and jewelry and ornaments. Both rural and urban households spend significantly more on domestic use of durable goods than their enterprise use. Of all the money spent on durable goods, rural India spends 83 per cent on transport-related items. Courtesy: Down to Earth
Best Letter The best letter
of the month in ance is the root cause of many disasters including the one in Uttarakhand. the Letter to the Assam should get ready to face one Editor section worse than that of the Uttarakhand. Are will be awarded not these forest officials to blame for an amount of the natural Catastrophe to befall Rs 200. So Assam? There are hundreds of Mohot Talukdars in the forest department who please keep did enough damage to Assam. Our forwriting. est ministers should take heart and continue her crusade against the corrupLetters to the tion that plagued the department in editor and articles particular and Assam in general. Furshould be sent to : ther, the crusade may look like cleansThe Eastern Toing of the Augean stable in the teeth of heavy odds but given the sincerity day shown by the minister, we hope all the Chowkidingee, culprits of killing rhinoceros along with their accomplices of the forest depart- Near Sankardeva ment will be nabbed and brought to Hospital Mancotta book. Road, Dibrugarh786001 (Assam) Ph: 0373-2328944 Yours etc Email :
Ashok Bordoloi Dibrugarh
editor.easterntoday@gmail.com
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Why India Has No Choice But To Join The Nuclear Arms Race Against Pakistan And China Having acted as the cause kistan. of its formation at one India, which is not a sigpoint, India has been ac- natory to the Treaty on the tively lobbying for a place Non-Proliferation of in the Nuclear Suppliers Nuclear Weapons (NPT), Group (NSG), an elite signed a Civil Nuclear club of 48 member states Agreement in 2008 and that control the export of gained limited access to sensitive nuclear technol- international nuclear trade ogy and after waivPrakhar Gupta ers from the material. While the Nuclear United States and other Suppliers Group. As a part member countries ex- of this deal, India sepapressed strong support for rated its civilian nuclear India's membership bid, facilities from its military China remained defiant use infrastructure and and opposed India's bid for placed them under IAEA Nuclear Suppliers' Group safeguards. By agreeing in the plenary discussion to do so, India has allowed held in Seoul. Reasons the International Atomic behind China's resistance Energy Agency to tag and are not beyond its self-in- track nuclear material imterests, but it is interest- ported from international ing to see that the country partners, thereby ensuring has sighted India's non-sig- that the imported nuclear natory status to the NPT material is not used for its as the cause of its con- weapons program. cern, despite having vio- Gaining access to internalated Article I of the NPT tional nuclear supplies has itself by providing mag- worked well for India, nets and other sensitive which now has diversified nuclear technology to Pa- and reliable sources to fuel
its civilian nuclear reactors placed under IAEA safeguards. It has not only helped India in boosting its civilian nuclear program, but by ensuring international nuclear supplies for civilian reactors, India can now effectively divert a great chunk of indigenous nuclear supply (if not the entire) for the production of fissile material for military use. Before receiving waivers from the Nuclear Suppliers Group in 2008, India - which has just over 1% of proven global uranium deposits, utilised indigenous supplies for both civilian and military use. Membership to the nuclear trade group could have provided India with a much greater access to international nuclear supplies. With greater resources to fuel military use reactors, India's nuclear weapons program is bound to grow faster than it ever has. The balance of conven-
tional power in South Asia rests in India's favour, and this fact has driven Rawalpindi's urge for a larger nuclear arsenal. It hasn't stopped yet, and to cover its growing conventional insecurity, it has developed battlefield nuclear weapons in response to India's 'cold-start doctrine'. India's membership to the nuclear suppliers group would have contributed to a sense of insecurity, and the arsenal that was positioned to cover Pakistan's conventional venerability could have grown exponentially to maintain the strategic balance of nuclear power in the sub-continent. This, in turn, could have set into motion a nuclear arms race, one in which the two nuclear powers tried to bring the other into check and balance. The United States officially endorsed India's bid for membership for its own interests, but the view
in Washington is wide and clear. The United States views India as a counterbalance to China's growing might and influence in Asia, and for this, a renewed nuclear arms race in South Asia is a small price to pay. "What you are doing is creating an action-reaction that is leading to a never-ending escalation cycle that ultimately leads to the development of nuclear weapons including battlefield nuclear weapons," Senator Markey warned US Assistant Secretary for South Asia Nisha Biswal. Growth in India's nuclear weapons program can be attributed to the fact that India has refused to place Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) under IAEA safeguards and has also kept certain civilian use power reactors out of the safeguarded list to feed into the PFBR. Creation of strategic reserves and access to sophisticated nuclear
Image for representational purpose (Photo: ilive) technology is bound to create insecurity in Pakistan, which will respond by expanding the size of its nuclear deterrent. With two allied, hostile Nuclear powers at its doorstep, India has limited options. While India certainly has a conventional edge over Pakistan, it does not enjoy any such privilege over its northern neighbour. The threat bell rang in New Delhi after China's nuclear explosions in 1964 and paved way for India's nuclear gamble in the early 1970s. India's full-fledged testing in 1998 led to explosions
in Pakistan. For New Delhi, a nuclear China continues to be a threat to national security and with this in mind, the policymakers decided to define 'credible minimum deterrence' in line with perceived threats from China. India, caught between two hostile powers, has no other option but to grow its nuclear deterrence in order to credibly deter China's ever-growing nuclear and conventional power. But what can credibly deter China would be anything but minimal with respect to
Pakistan. India now finds itself caught in an unavoidable nuclear arms race, where it's bound to grow its arsenal in response to China's modernization, and in turn provokes a response from Rawalpindi. In the global order, where Pakistan views India as a rival, India views China as a threat and China views the United State as a corrival, only collaborative international efforts to address individual security concerns can prevent a nuclear arms race.Courtesy:youth kiawaaz
The spectre of "Illegal Immigrants"- The White Elephant in the Room Amazing Pottery The people of Assam cel- sured and registered, ebrated the historic man- which meant that vast ardate that they have pro- eas of community land vided the BJP and its al- which lay fallow at that lies, for who would not point of time fell into imin the face of 15 years perial hands. It is thus that of perceived arrogance, "wastelands" cropped up misrule and stagnation at which the ancestors of the hands of the Indian today's ethnic Bengali National Congress? The Muslim population settled whole issue of anti-in- in, along with the "Char" cumlands b e n c y Trishanu Bipul Borah a l o n g aside, t h e another core issue banks of the around the elections has Brahmaputra. been that of the "illegal Assam at historic crossBangladeshi infiltration"- roads? the white elephant in the Today, popular imaginaroom- which this article tion in Assam has become wants to elucidate upon. such that there is a perenHistorical Context nial threat in popular perThe whole issue of ception and imagination, "Bangladeshi infiltration" a threat of a ticking time is much more complex bomb in the form of dethan what it seems on mographic change that
rates of the border districts such as Dhubri should have risen faster post 1971. Truth is, Assam's growth rate, far from being explosive, is even lower than the National average ever since 1971, down from the 34.98 per cent of the 1950s. Dhubri, a Muslim majority district by far, has population growth rates of 45.65 per cent, 22.97 per cent and 24.40 per cent during 19711991, 1991-2001, 20012011 respectively. Constrast this with the growth rates of districts like Dhemaji, Karbi Anglong etc, which have no significant ethnic Bengali population whatsoever. The figures for the same are a staggering
A file photo of 6 september,2015, the northeast students' organization held a rally in Guwahati to demand identification and deportation of illegal immigrants from Assam (Photo: archive.tehelka) paper or in popular nar- can in the future obliter- 107.5, 19.45, 20.30 per rations. To put things into ate all that the Assamese cent for Dhemaji and a historical perspective, people and culture stand 74.72, 22.72 and 18.69 the "influx" goes back to for. At the face of this per cent for Karbi over a century ago when threat, it seems, is the "il- Anglong. Does it not say the colonial rulers, in an legal Bangladeshi" who, much about the white lie effort to maximize land apparently, as the popu- about continued influx? revenue and fix the grow- lar argument goes, has Yes, there has been a rise ing fiscal deficit, at- been "breeding exponen- in the population of tempted to settle East tially", "taking up jobs" Bengali speaking minoriBengali peasants in colo- right from petty wage/ ties in the middle Assam nial "wastelands" and industial labour to those in districts of Nagaon, along "reserve forests". the tea industry to "con- Morigaon etc, but these These "wastelands" in- suming welfare money of districts are nowhere cluded land which had Indian taxpayers" and so close to the Bangladesh previously belonged to on and so forth. Such is border and not industrithe tribal communities the dogged belief that par- ally developed at all that and villages of Assam, ties go to polls with the it would attract a horde of who had no previous in- agenda of delivering illegal economic immistitution of private prop- Assam of this menace of grants. Why would the ilerty in land. the "illegal immigrant", of legal immigrant not The Assamese of that era, solving what the past 30 choose to move to develif the term is used to de- years and the Assam Ac- oped cities of North/ scribe a broader collection cord could not. South India instead? This of people and tribes, were Agreed, economic migra- rise in the number of ethused to shifting cultiva- tion has been the trend nic Bengalis in middle tion where they would, at throughout ages between Assam can be mainly atany point of time, keep a empires and their bor- tributed to factors such as plot of land fallow and ders, but, if it were so, if poverty, lack of family use another for their cur- there had been a continu- planning/ignorance due to rent needs. The British ous illegal influx from lack of proper education, policy of taxation did not across the border till date, sustenance agriculture- all allow this; land was mea- the population growth of which have direct con-
nections with high birth rates. In the light of this, is it not be safe to say that the spectre of "illegal immigrants" has been over hyped, played up for partisan interests? Clearly, whatever influx continues till date( if it does), due to the complexity of the colonial practice of drawing borders across the farms and villages of closely knit communities, is nowhere close to what the numbers were in the period before the establishment of nation state of Bangladesh. Infact, the perceived rise in numbers of ethnic Bengali Muslims might be possibly because of the growth in numbers of the progeny of the ones who came before the date. The Assam Accord clearly set that only those crossing over post 1971 are to be termed are to be seen as illegal, but what is sad today is that, given the turn of things, any Bengali M u s l i m gentleman(woman) can be derided and racially profiled as "Bangladeshi", in a derogatory manner. This happens even more as we move down the order of class, with the poor even more exposed to such brutality and horror of popular narratives, of the phenomenon of othering in their own place of birth. Thousands of people have lost their lives over the past 30 years in communal blood frenzies, right from the pogrom at Nellie in 1983 to Bodo-Muslims conflicts of contemporary times. Implications for India's Act East Policy and neighbourhood diplomacy This brings up the process of NRC updation and detecting "illegal immigrants". Whatever the number the system comes up with, despite serious inefficiencies at the levels of the lower bureaucracy and the ills of corruption, the question arises that once detected, what you do with the "illegal immigrant". And if God forbid the popular paranoia over "five crore infiltrators" is true, what does India do? The last time India faced such a crisis was when she tried deporting thousands of innocent people of Chinese origin who were caught in a crisis after the 1962 war; whose land and property were appropriated by the
Indian State and who China initially refused to accept. This is a well known fact today, something noted novelist Rita Chowdhury explored in her novel Makam which caused a ruckus in the Indian Parliament. India cannot expect that Bangladesh would just agree to take back "infiltrators", neither is there any way of strong arming them into submission, for would that not be an assault to their sovereignty and against the principles of the Panchsheel? What would result would be a nightmarish diplomatic crisis for India in its neighbourhood, which India can ill afford given how India already finds itself in a tough spot with respect to the developments in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, even Myanmar( post #56inch counter insurgency fad). India cannot isolate its neighbours further, especially given the rise of China and its String of Pearls policy along the Indian Ocean Rim, its economic corridors across Pakistan and its ports along the coasts of Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. When it comes to connectivity, both physical and digital, India and Bangladesh are so deeply engaged with each other that there are talks of starting cross border trains, ferrying people and goods across international borders, which is good news for both the North East and its markets. India recently installed a internet gateway that would boost speeds with 10GBPS data connectivity via Bangladesh, which will improve and facilitate stronger internet connectivity and strengthen the digital infrastructure in both the public and private spheres. Bangladesh further plans on opening a consulate in Guwahati for the purposes of visa issuance/ renewal etc. Beyond bilateral connectivity and trade, there is also the Act East Policy and the vast potential it holds for the economy of the North Eastern States to consider. It would be amount to economic suicide if one were to seal the border and discourage trade facilitation, instead of pushing for seamless connectivity
across borders. The BJP's rally cries of "development" are very much dependent on this factor, for only greater investment in the state and the region can change the current stagnation. Act East Policy gives the North East just this chance, for which MNC can resist the idea of setting a base here, via which they can get access to the vast untapped markets of South East Asia. At a time when from regional economic partnerships Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) to Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) to Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and such are ruling the order of the day, stubbornly asking Bangladesh to take back "illegal immigrants" is next to impossible and no Indian government worth its salt would risk it for the sake of a single state of the Union of States of India. Way Ahead Thus, other than simple rhetoric and the partisan purpose it serves, it does not seem likely that the government can do much to settle the issues revolving around "illegal immigrants". Instead what the new government can do is focus on ensuring good, efficient and ethical governance, removing the unholy nexus of agents-contractorsgrass roots politics which milks most of government grants for itself, cracking down hard on the menace of drugs and skill the upcoming youth, ensure investments and industrial development of the state, enable the rise of a proper service sector, develop newer and sustainable cities and townships, solve the issues of urban planing in and around Guwahati, encourage a new breed of Assamese entrepreneurs to come up and provide not just jobs but solutions to the problems that trouble Aai Axom. A proper framework for all this does exist on paper with Central Government and its numerous schemes like Digital India, Skill India etc, the onus is on implementing them well. Courtesy: Nezine
Craft of Manipur
Manipur, the beautiful to make this craft. The state located in northeast- clay, as per them, is availern section of India has able only in the village. several charms to lure The ingredients are the tourists. The enthral- crushed to powder and ling wildlife sanctuaries, water is mixed to create freshwater lake, the clay like consistency. This tribes, and enchanting dull-brown mixture is then cuisine, the kneaded for a attractions Arnab Ghosh long time and are manifold. flattened on However, if you are in- wooden boards. The artiterested about collecting sans use hands and tools handicrafts of a destina- to form the pots and utention you are visiting, you sils with this clay. After will be delighted. Manipur the clay is dry it is exposed has its unique pottery to open bonfire and craft with roots in Longpi heated for several hours village of Ukhrul district. at high temperature. Nuances of Longpi When the pottery is still Hamlei pottery craft hot it is scrubbed with a In many north eastern regional tree leaf called states, pottery exists as a Chiron ni. This gives the craft. But, in Longpi vil- pottery a metal sheen and lage of Manipur the resi- blackish hue. Sometimes, dents practice a unique fine cane is used on type of pottery craft. The handles and lids. Tangkhul Naga tribes stay Usefulness of Longpi in this serene village and Hamlei pottery their stone pottery has The artisans of this village become eminent over the make kettles, bowls, trays years all over the coun- and mugs which can be try. The skill has been bought for personal use as handed down from the well as gifting. These pots
Manipur's unique pottery craft (Photo: craftdurbar) older generations to present ones.The Longpi Pottery was originally made for the wealthy lot and royal clan of Manipur. The uniqueness about this craft is potter's wheel is not used to make the pots. Powdered stone and clay is used to make these handicrafts. The handmade pots and utensils are preferred for their designs and beautiful texture. The pots resemble metal in looks. These pots are quite durable as well. How Longpi Hamlei pottery is made Nearly all family in this Manipur village is well versed in this pottery craft. The locals make use of a special serpentine rock and brown clay
can be used on gas, stoves and even firewood for cooking. They are also safe for use in microwave. These pots are especially suited for simmering over low heat for long time. Unlike metal pots, these pots are made with natural substances and no chemical is used at any step. So, using these utensils is safe from health perspective. Another notable advantage of utensils made of this stone is they retain heat for longer compared to regular metal pots or earthen containers. So, hot food remains hot for long and same happens to cold beverages or liquids kept in the utensils. Courtesy:Nelive
BUSINESS
DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, JULY 4
Sales of Maruti, Honda decline in June Pune, Jul 3: Passenger car sales of Maruti and Honda fell in June as other carmakers such as Hyundai, Toyota and Tata Motors reported growth. The auto industry is banking on the 7th Pay Commission announcement and a good monsoon to boost demand. Market leader Maruti Suzuki India's domestic sales dipped 10 per cent in June, mainly from a disruption in production due to a fire at its key vendor Subros' plant. MSI sold 92,133 units in the domestic market against
Flipkart appears to be India's most preferred ecommerce platform Bengaluru, Jul 3: India's most trusted ecommerce brand Flipkart has emerged as the most preferred platform across the nation. The e-commerce portal stands out on the customers preferences, reported a consumer study conducted by research firm Red Seer Consulting. The platform that offers maximum value for money and a wider meaningful assortment has been voted highest among all e-commerce platforms in India, which includes customer support, ease of return, refund and reverse pick up speed. The survey titled 'The Indian e-tailing Leadership Index' is based on over three thousand customer interviews and six thousand delivery instances across the country. Some of the parameters that customers across India were surveyed include brand trust, value, product variety and availability, ease of return, web and app experience, pricing, delivery etc. Flipkart was ranked overall number one in the study followed by Amazon, Snapdeal, Paytm and Shopclues. The findings of this study gives a big thumbs-up to Flipkart's consumer initiatives that raised the bar for the consumer retail sector, starting with cash on delivery, easy returns policy and same day delivery to instant returns and more recently no cost EMI for customers. In March this year, Flipkart crossed the landmark of 75 million registered users, making it the first online retail marketplace to reach this milestone in a single country after United States and China. This followed another milestone where Flipkart became the first Indian app to cross the 50 million installs mark on the Android Play Store. The Indian e-commerce market is among the fastest growing in the world and the Morgan Stanley report on ecommerce in India released in February 2016 said that Indian e-commerce will grow faster than any other country for the next three years. The same report placed Flipkart as the number one e-commerce company in India with a dominant market share of 45 percent. According to the report, Flipkart's market share of 45 percent is equivalent to the combined market share of the next three players (Snapdeal, Amazon and Paytm).
DECLINING SALES Passenger car sales of Maruti and Honda fell in June as other carmakers such as Hyundai, Toyota and Tata Motors reported growth. Sales of Honda Cars fell 38 percent to 11,407 units, compared with 18,380 units during the same month last year. 1,02,626 units in June 2015. The company said it expects to recover the
MSI sold 92,133 units in the domestic market against 1,02,626 units in June 2015. The company said it expects to recover the production losses during the course of the year.
Renault India said its sales increased 173 per cent to 11,837 units in June 2016. Toyota Kirloskar Motor sales rose by 29 per cent to 13,502 units.
Hyundai Motor India saw a growth of nearly 10 per cent in domestic sales to 39,806 units.
Ford India sales almost doubled to 9,469 vehicles during the month against 4,527 units in June 2015.
production losses during the course of the year. Hyundai Motor India saw
a growth of nearly 10 per cent in domestic sales to 39,806 units. Sales of
Honda Cars fell 38 percent to 11,407 units, compared with 18,380 units during the same month last year. Yoichiro Ueno, President and CEO of Honda Cars India said that since a shift in consumer preferences led to high stock of diesel vehicles at dealerships, the company has been rationalising wholesale dispatches. "June is generally a weaker month for car sales due to monsoon," Amit Kaushik, Country Head (India) at automotive research firm JATO Dynamics said.
"But the 7th Pay Commission award is expected to boost sales in the urban areas. Rural demand is expected to rise owing to a normal monsoon." Ford India sales almost doubled to 9,469 vehicles during the month against 4,527 units in June 2015. Renault India said its sales increased 173 per cent to 11,837 units in June 2016. Toyota Kirloskar Motor sales rose by 29 per cent to 13,502 units. Tata Motors' passenger vehicles sales grew 22 percent to 12,509 units. (Agencies)
CoHo ties up with RentSher to enhance offerings in youth living spaces New Delhi/Gurgaon, Jul 3: India's leading long term managed Co-living space provider for students and youth (working professionals) has tied up with RentSher to provide furniture and appliances on rent in villas, apartments and student dorms currently operating in Delhi NCR. The broad offering includes appliances like 42" LED television, front loading washing machine, double door refrigerators which are today's basic necessities for the students and youth living in cities such as Delhi, Gurgaon, Bangalore etc and range of set up for living, dining areas. However, buying
these products can be both expensive as well as complicated for cost sharing if you are living in a shared accommodation - renting the required products is a better solution for both for the end customer as well as the accommodation provider. Convinced by the rental product solution Coho.in, India's leading long term managed accommodation provider has tied up with Online Rental companywww.RentSher.com to provide complete setup of furniture and appliance on rent in villas, apartments and student dorms, thereby providing the end users with fully
equipped residential facility in a "plug and play" format. CoHo.in, which was started by Zocalo to provide fully-furnished comfortable long term home stay with an objective of creating a co-living community of likeminded people, has discovered a reliable partner in RentSher to equip the place with quality products on a monthly rental basis. In addition to the facilities provided by Coho, the residents can also order for other products such as projectors, laptops, cameras, party products, costumes and dresses on a need basis at preferred rates from RentSher as additional
potential benefits to be derived on account of the Coho RentSher partnership. RentSher is growing rapidly in terms of business in Bangalore, Delhi NCR and now Gurgaon through both short term rentals and long term rentals as in case of CoHo. RentSher's COO and Delhi Head, Karandeep, says: "This is one of the several long term partnerships we have built with home space providers, including PGs, Hotels, hostels and other formats.. Our customers get the hassle free experience as the delivery, installation and AMC is managed by us - all this at a fraction of cost of the product!"
Uday Lakkar, Founder cum CEO at CoHo and Zocalo validates the success of the model. "RentSher could be our one stop shop as we expand our properties and locations across Delhi NCR and provide better housing experience to students and youth. One of the major requirements in Delhi is that of air conditioners on rent with maintenance which RentSher was able to provide, similarly we were able to get TV, Bicycles, PS3 and PS4 Gaming Consoles and other appliance on rent delivered quickly to match our business and community needs," says Lakkar.
Liberty Videocon plans to expand across 40 locations with Branch network ANI New Delhi, Jul 3: Liberty Videocon General Insurance Company Limited, a joint venture between India's Videocon Industries Limited and Liberty Citystate Holdings Pte Limited, part of US-headquartered multinational Liberty Mutual Insurance Group announced its plan to open pan India offices across various locations In India. Liberty Videocon General Insurance has been operating in India since year 2013, with presence in select cities in India. It has announced its plan to open many more offices in various cities in India. Commenting on the development Mr Pankaj Arora, Country HeadRetail Business, Liberty
Videocon General Insurance Company Limited said, "The company has shown robust growth since the launch of operations in 2013, now we plan to take the growth to the next level, by enhancing our presence in many more locations." Mr. Arora was in Delhi during the Flames of Liberty 2016 souvenir launch. Flames Of Liberty is a nationwide intermediary enagement programme launched by Liberty Videocon General Insurance to engage with distributors and agents effectively. As its name indicates, this policy will offer a multiyear coverage to customers and relieve them from renewing it every year. The customers can insure his two-wheeler
Self-driving cars to be developed by BMW with Intel, Mobileye Frankfurt, Jul 3: Eyeing a new technology that enables it to put self-driving cars on the road by around 2021, automobile major BMW will team up with Intel and Mobileye. Seeking to harness their expertise in areas including machine learning and mapping as they race against Silicon Valley companies such as Google, Tesla and Apple to develop driverless vehicles. "Highly autonomous cars and everything they connect to will require powerful and reliable electronic brains to make them smart enough to navigate traffic and avoid accidents," Intel Chief Executive Brian Krzanich said at a joint news conference announcing the alliance. The three companies said their new plat-
form would be made available to multiple carmakers and they expected vehicles with highly and fully-automated driving would be brought into mass production by 2021. Sophisticated cruise control systems already enable "hands off" driving as cameras and computers allow cars to automatically brake, steer and accelerate in traffic at low speeds. But drivers are required to stay in control. Now BMW, Intel and Mobileye will develop cars with even higher levels of automation described as "eyes off," "mind off," and "driver off". This requires much more computing power and software know-how, forcing traditional carmakers to collaborate more closely with technology specialists. (Agencies)
Mr Pankaj Arora, Country Head-Retail Business, Liberty Videocon General Insurance Company Limited. (Photo: libertyvideocon) for two to three years under a single policy document. The policy will offer protection against hike in Third Party (TP) Premium every year and add-on coverage with extra shields. With attractive add-ons, the
policy will provide a Roadside Assistance Cover, Gap Value Cover and Engine Safe Cover. In North India, the Company is eyeing New Delhi and NCR market in a big way. Motor insurance is the key revenue segment
for the Company and currently, the markets of New Delhi and NCR have been fetching significant motor insurance business. The market potential of New Delhi and NCR for motor insurance business is about Rs 500 crore per month for the entire Indian general insurance industry. Banking on this huge potential, the Company will focus on garnering more business in motor insurance segment from this market. The company plans to open more branches in near future to service a larger customer base. In North India, the Company has operations in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan besides New Delhi.
60% stake bought in Turkish firm by Trivitron Turkey, Jul 3: Trivitron Healthcare has picked up a majority stake in healthcare firm based in Turkey at a cost of five million euros giving it access to the Middle East and African Markets for newborn screening kits, according to a top official. "Trivitron has acquired 60 per cent stake in Bome Sanayi Urunleri Dis. Tic. Ltd. Sti which mainly makes in-vitro diagnostic devices," said G.S.K. Velu, Chairman and Managing Director, Trivitron. "Bome is one of the first (companies) to get into in vitro diagnostic device (IVD) manufacturing in Turkey. Products are marketed under 'Trimaris' brand name. Besides, Bome has a 100 per cent market share in new born screening tests screening over 1.8 million babies and (conducting) 10 million tests per year in Turkey," Mr. Velu said. "Initially, we
will invest five million euros for picking up the stake, including the share premium. This buy brings in growth capital and distribution network for Bome," he said. "Bome has been active in diagnostics field since 1989. They have been conducting new born screening tests for the last eight years on behalf of Government of Turkey. Through this acquisition, we get their expertise to run low-cost new born screening in public-private partnership mode. India is yet to start new born screening programme in an organised way and having Bome in our fold will be an added advantage to Trivitron Group," he said. Bome was founded by Mehmet Demirel who, along with his relatives, held 100 per cent stake. It has since come down to 40 per cent. It reported a sales turnover of 22 mil-
lion lira (about Rs.50 crore). The products are exported to Portugal, Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Sudan and Kenya. Bome's production facility is located at Ostim, Ankara, in Turkey. The labs are located in Ankara and Istanbul. The current production lines comprise new born screening tests, haematology solutions, clinical chemistry reagents, rapid urease test, coagulation reagents and sterile and non-sterile deionised water. With this acquisition, Trivitron will have access to Middle East, Africa, South and South East Asian. Trivitron expects a significant growth in the region as it will have access to Bome's production facilities, research and NBS labs. Trivitron now has nine production facilities located in India, Finland and Turkey. (Agencies)
PAGE 10
J.P. Morgan permitted to open 3 more branches by RBI
Kalpana Morparia, CEO, South & South East Asia, J.P. Morgan. (Photo: s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg)
Bengaluru, Jul 3: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed J.P. Morgan Chase to open three more branches in the country, the lender said which will enable the U.S-based bank provide better services to its clients in India and overseas, according to a top official. "We are very excited with the overall growth that we see in India. India has been a large recipient of foreign direct investment which means more and more global MNCs are investing in India," Kalpana Morparia, CEO, South &
South East Asia, J.P. Morgan said. "And given the fact that we are a global bank and have a global platform of products and services to offer, these new branches will further deepen our banking platform." The branches will be located at New Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai. At present, it serves its clients from its sole branch in Mumbai. While other lenders are paring down operations by closing branches, J.P. Morgan seems to be in an expansion mode. (Agencies)
Rs 43,000 crore undisclosed income exposed in 2 FY, says govt
Union Revenue Secretary, Hasmukh Adhia. (Photo: i0.wp) Mumbai, Jul 3: The Income Tax Department has unearthed undisclosed income of Rs 43,000 crore in the last two fiscals, Union Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said. "The Income Tax Department has found a total of Rs 43,000 crore worth undisclosed income from investigations during the past two fiscal years. "While Rs 21,000 crore have been found from department's searches, the balance of Rs 22,000 crore have been disclosed from various surveys," Adhia told reporters here. He did not specify whether the money belonged to individuals or corporates. "The department is currently busy calculating the tax to be imposed on this undisclosed amount," he added. Talking about the penalty to be imposed on the Rs 13,000 crore of
black money discovered in foreign accounts of Indians so far, he said this money will be taxed at the rate of 120 per cent. To a question, Adhia said there are close to 5.4 crore taxpayers, of which 1,50,000 have annual income of over Rs 50 lakh. As many as 1.8 crore are TDS taxpayers. On new taxpayers, he said, "Out of our projected target of having a new taxpayer base of 1.3 crore, 90 lakh have already come within our fold and we have already garnered an additional revenue of Rs 10,000 crore from them during the past two years." Adhia made it clear that the declaration window will not be extended beyond September 30. Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also said there would not be any extension. (Agencies)
EXPOSING THE UNKNOWN The Income Tax Department has unearthed undisclosed income of Rs 43,000 crore in the last two fiscals. The Income Tax Department has found a total of Rs 43,000 crore worth undisclosed income from investigations during the past two fiscal years. While Rs 21,000 crore have been found from department's searches, the balance of Rs 22,000 crore have been disclosed from various surveys.
DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, JULY 4
Features
PAGE 11
ENVIRONMENT How does e-waste affect the enviornment? Electronic waste - usu- black market has thus ally called "e-waste" - emerged, with illegal trafrefers to any and all elec- fickers posing as legititric or electronic items mate disposal services needing to be disposed and then dumping tons of of. This can include - but e-waste in random spots certainly is not limited to across the developing - old cell phones, televi- world. This has led to ensions, computer towers vironmental risks from or inkjet the interp r i n t e r s . Rachelle Gordon nal comAs techponents of nology has continued to discarded electronics, advance, so has the specifically heavy metals. amount of e-waste being Here are some of the main produced globally with ways that different types nearly 41 million tons of of e-waste can negatively electronics being tossed affect the planet and its ineach year. Along with the habitants. alarmingly large amount Air Pollution of this type of refuse is Many rudimentary ethe problem of how it's waste "processing plants" are not ethically run - or being dealt with. Where does e-waste go? safe. For example, some A recent report from the e-waste traffickers burn United Nations Environ- open computer wires in ment Program (UNEP) order to get to the copper found nearly 90 percent inside - a valuable comof e-waste is being ille- modity. The open burning gally dumped and traded. can release hydrocarbons Due to the relatively new into the air, while the issue of e-waste disposal, chemical stripping of many countries - espe- gold-plated computer cially developing ones - chips leads to emissions do not yet have protocols of brominated dioxins and or laws on the topic in heavy metals. A recent place yet. A growing study of the environmen-
tal effects of the largest e-waste landfill in the world in Guiyu, China, found airborne dioxins to be 100 times more prevalent than previously measured. Water Pollution Cathode ray tubes, often found in older televisions, video cameras and computer monitors are often broken apart, the yoke removed and the shell dumped. Contents in the shell, such as lead and barium, could leach through the soil and into the ground water of local communities. This endangers not just the people who drink and bathe with this water but also the different species of wildlife that rely on the water to sustain. Soil Pollution Another study of the Guiyu landfill found wind patterns in Southeast China disperse toxic particles across the Pearl River Delta Region. The area, which contains a population of 45 million, is at-risk due
to the toxins entering the "soil-crop-food pathway," which is one of the most common ways that heavy metals enter the human body. Information Security In addition to being a risk to the environment, ewaste also poses a potential security threat to both individuals and businesses. If a hard drive is not properly erased before it's thrown away, it can be opened, potentially putting sensitive information in the hands of the wrong people. Credit card numbers, financial data and bank account information can all be obtained by those trained to do so. There is a large organized crime ring in Ghana specifically dedicated to searching through discarded computer drives for data. Human Exploitation According to the Borgen Report, there are an estimated 29.8 million people living in slavery across the globe. There are even more people who submit themselves
to dangerous and grueling work for a demeaning wage, as it may be the only work available. Since 90 percent of ewaste is illegally traded, there are many criminals worldwide benefiting from the stripping and processing of e-waste by poorer laborers. These workers are without rights, as they are exposed to hazardous materials on a daily basis. Some may also be intimidated into working long hours, putting them at even more risk. What is being done about the risks posed by ewaste? Because of the alarming rates at which e-waste is being illegally and dangerously dealt with, many international government bodies have promised action. Once the UNEP presented its report in front of the United Nations, a call-toaction was immediately suggested. Unilateral talks between the United States, the European Union and other coun-
Jatinga -Where birds forget to fly Haflong is Assam's only lage inhabited by the hill station. It is a small, Jaintia community, nine breathtakingly beautiful kms off Haflong town. For town in the North Cachar long, Jatinga is believed to Hills district bordering be a unique place in the Nagaland. Nestled 1683 world where flocks of feet above sea level, it birds mysteriously congrethrows up many a scenic gate on certain nights and sight because of its abun- behave against their nadant greenery and a blue ture. Many birds may have mountain chain that touch lost their lives due to it the horizon. Bouts of cool over the centuries. Rebreeze, friendly residents searchers and conservaand the clean surround- tionists have been studyings i n g a d d Mangalsingh Rongphar t h e to its reaattraction, making it sons behind the mystery nearly a slice of heaven on without being able to pin earth! down the exact cause yet. The town is a melting A strong -- and pretty point of many communi- widespread -- misconcepties. Besides people be- tion has also been thriving longing to different tribes along with the popularity like the Dimasas, the of this mystery though. It Karbis, ZemeNagas, is that the birds behave
the size and taste of its oranges. Surrounded by rows of blue mountains, and with blobs of grey clouds hang from their summit, Jatinga is impressive to look at. River Jatinga gurgles by the mountain range. A fourlane highway connecting Haflong with Lumding and Silchar towns snaking down the valley can also be seen from Jatinga. The news of villagers hunting birds have led quite a few non-governmental organisations and bird conservationists to work with them for some time now. Regular meetings and discussions now take place to spread awareness among them about the need to protect the bird species. So even
The mystery of birds behaving against their nature continues in Assam's Jatinga village (Photo: Mangalsingh Rongphar) Hmars, Kukis, Biates and Hrangkhols inhabit Haflong, thus giving the town its own linguafranga, locally known as Haflong Hindi. Haflong is also the contact point for a unique natural phenomenon, known not just in India but outside it too; known not just to nature and bird lovers but to others too. A reason why many people from across the country and outside it have been showing an interest in visiting the area. The point of this particular global interest lies in Jatinga, a picturesque vil-
strangely and thereafter commit suicide. The birds do behave strangely on certain nights in Jatinga but the reality is, they don't kill themselves. Instead, they fall easy prey to hunting villagers. Located on a spur of the Borail hill range, Jatinga today is a modern, developed village comprising 363 households. Its population of 2027 has an impressive literacy rate of 83.91 per cent, which is higher than the average of the entire State of Assam. It is also famous for its fruit production, particularly for
if hunting of birds in Jatinga might take occur at times, no villager is willing to talk about it as openly as they used to once. Even the State Forest Department has expressed its worry about rampant bird killing in Jatinga for years together. However, to understand this age-old hunting binge of birds by Jatinga residents, one has to look at history. The word 'Jatinga', as per the dialect of Zeme Nagas, means the path of rainwater. Before the Jaintias occupied the village, it was inhab-
ited by Zeme Nagas as far back as in 1890s. They were the first to note the strange behaviour of birds after setting forest patches on fire at night to clear them for farming, etc. Flocks of birds used to fall on the fire. It scared the Zeme Nagas who took them to be apparitions falling from the sky. So much so that they vacated the village. In 1905, the Jaintias came to live in Jatinga under the leadership of one Lathangbang Suchiang. Some villagers soon discovered this phenomenon when they went to the forests at night with torches of fire. Seeing flocks of birds racing towards the torches, they however, thought it to be god's gift to them. Villagers say birds behave strangely from August till October. It occurs only in certain natural circumstances though. There should be a moonless night and the entire mountain range should be covered with mist. Also, winds must blow from northwest towards northeast accompanied by light rain. In such a natural situation, birds flying from the northwest towards the north east get caught in that wind and seemingly lose their way. On seeing fire, they begin to fly down towards the source of light. They become motionless once they reach near the fire. And forget to fly. Some villagers, who are still not aware of the importance of conservation of wildlife, then very easily catch them and thereafter kill them for food. Some birds also sit quietly on bushes near the fire. The locals catch them too, with the help of long bamboo poles. This easy opportunity for bird meat has led to the local tradition of lighting fire in the forests on certain nights to catch them alive. However, only a certain species behave this way. This includes birds like Indian Rudy, kingfisher, Indian pitta, green pigeon, black drongo, green
heron, spotted dove, quail, etc. Also, the phenomenon is seen only in a certain mountainous patch of Jatinga. Some experts believe that birds behave in a strange manner in Jatinga because of its unique weather conditions. It may also be due to creation of an electro-magnetic ring around that area which may affect the nervous system of the birds flying over it, leading them to slow down, get confused and begin flying towards the source of light, which in this case is the fire lit by the waiting villagers. Research has revealed that more birds undergo this strange behaviour when their habitat gets flooded with rain water. This bird mystery of Jatinga first found a formal mention in 1957. British ornithologist E P Gee mentioned it in his book "Wildlife of India." There he said, "The whole thing is extraordinary." In 1977, a team of the Zoological Survey of India followed it up by visiting Jatinga. From then on, Jatinga got famous among American, European and Japanese experts. Well known Indian ornithologists Salim Ali, Sudhir Sengupta and A. Rafe studied this phenomenon. But they couldn't pin down a clear idea about it. Salim Ali wrote thus: "The most puzzling to me about this phenomenon is that many species of diurnal resident birds should be on the move when, by definition, they should be fast asleep. It deserves deeper scientific study from various angles." With individual studies by interest groups continuing without reaching a solid basis behind the mystery, Jatinga continues to attract attention of both birders and tourists alike. Courtesy: nezine
A pile of electronic waste on a roadside in Guiyu. (Photo: greenpeace) tries have been scheduled in order to cooperatively deal with this emerging global crisis. Here at home, many legislators are pushing for stricter e-waste policies. How do I dispose of ewaste safely and ethically? There are many ways to properly reuse or recycle electronic devices - and it is not by leaving your junk printer on the curb. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
has started a commission to ensure that e-waste is properly dealt with. Its website offers many resources, including lists of recyclers that are certified to be ethical and environmentally sound. You can also search for different laws or local regulations based on where you live. Many electronics retailers, such as Best Buy and Staples, also offer opportunities to recycle your e-waste. Depending on where you
drop your obsolete devices off at, you may be eligible for tax credits or store coupons. Local communities often have special days dedicated to collecting citizen's unwanted e-waste. Keep an eye out in local papers or websites to find out if your town has a program or day like this. You can ethically and sustainably recycle ewaste - just make sure to do your homework first. Courtesy: electroni crecyclers
Pea plants demonstrate ability to 'gamble' - a first in plants An international team of scientists from Oxford University, UK, and Tel-Hai College, Israel, has shown that pea plants can demonstrate sensitivity to risk -- namely, that they can make adaptive choices that take into account environmental variance, an ability previously unknown outside the animal kingdom. In the study, published in the journal Current Biology, pea plants were grown with their roots split between two pots, thus facing the decision of which pot to prioritise. In a preliminary experiment, the researchers showed that the plants grew more roots in a pot endowed with higher levels of nutrients -- an adaptive response similar to animals allocating greater forag-
luck. On the other hand, when average conditions are good, it makes sense to take the safe option. The researchers found that this is exactly what the pea plants did. Co-author Professor Alex Kacelnik, of the Department of Zoology at Oxford University, said: 'To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of an adaptive response to risk in an organism without a nervous system. We do not conclude that plants are intelligent in the sense used for humans or other animals, but rather that complex and interesting behaviours can theoretically be predicted as biological adaptations -- and executed by organisms -- on the basis of processes
funds you need, whereas the 'safe' option will always fall just short. The pea plants were 'risk prone', meaning they grew more roots in the unpredictable pot, when the mean nutrient concentration of both pots was below 0.01g/L. They were 'risk averse', meaning they grew more roots in the constant pot, when the mean nutrient concentration was 0.15g/L or higher. Efrat Dener, now a master's student at Ben Gurion University, Israel, and the study's first author, said: 'Like most people, including even experienced farmers and gardeners, I used to look at plants as passive receivers of circumstances. This line of ex-
Pea plants can demonstrate sensitivity to risk -- namely, that they can make adaptive choices that take into account environmental variance, an ability previously unknown outside the animal kingdom(Photo: cdn.phys) ing effort to richer food patches. In a series of followup experiments, they then split the roots of each plant between two pots that had equal average nutrient concentrations, but where one pot had a constant level and the other a variable level, asking whether plants would 'prefer' to grow more roots in one or the other. Based on theoretical analyses of how decision makers such as humans or animals respond to similar choices, the researchers predicted that plants might prefer the variable pot (i.e. be risk prone) when the average nutrient level was low, and the constant pot (i.e. be risk averse) when average nutrient level was high. This is because when the average nutrient level is below what is required for the plant to thrive, the variable option at least offers the chance to 'gamble' on a run of good
evolved to exploit natural opportunities efficiently. 'We do not yet know how the plants' sense variance functions, or even if their physiology is specifically adapted to respond to risk, but the findings lead us to look even at pea plants as dynamic strategists and to model their decision processes just as one would model an intelligent agent.' A human example illustrates the problem facing the pea plants: if you have a choice between a guaranteed $800, and tossing a coin to receive $1,000 for heads and nothing for tails, which one should you choose? Most people realise that the first option pays more on average. But imagine you are stranded with no money in a remote place, the fare to get home costs $900, and you are allowed a single toss of the coin. Now the coin-toss gives you an even chance of raising the
periments illustrates how wrong that view is: living organisms are designed by natural selection to exploit their opportunities, and this often implies a great deal of flexibility.' Dr Hagai Shemesh, of the Department of Environmental Sciences at Tel-Hai College, added: 'To see that decision-making models developed by economists for human decision makers and by zoologists to understand animal behaviour can predict the behaviour of plants facing similar choices is fascinating, and points to many interdisciplinary research opportunities. We are eager to present subjects with batteries of tasks requiring adaptive responses, exploring the extent to which optimality considerations proposed for brained agents anticipate the solutions evolved by plants.' Courtesy: sciencedaily
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DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, JULY 4
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Praneeth enters final, Jayaram crashes out of Canada Open ANI Calgary (Canada), July.3 : Ace Indian shuttler B. Sai Praneeth progressed through to the finals of the Canada Open after fending off France's Brice Leverdez in the men's singles event here on Saturday. After going down in the second game, the fourthseed staged a spirited fight back to register 2220, 19-21, 21-12 win against his French compatriot in a thrilling semi-final contest that lasted for one hour and eight minutes. Meanwhile, top-seed Ajay Jayaram suffered a major blow as he has been knocked out of the tournament after going
shuttler B. Sai Praneeth down 21-9, 21-8 at the hands of Lee Hyun Il. In the men's doubles event, Indian pair of B Sumeeth Reddy and Manu Attri also stormed into the final round af-
Crestfallen Djokovic vows to comeback stronger after Wimbledon blow ANI Johannesburg, July 3 : World number one Novak Djokovic has vowed to come back stronger than ever after suffering one of the Wimbledon's shocking upsets at the hands of America's Sam Querrey.Djokovic's hopes of securing a calendar Grand Slam were dented after he suffered a 6-7 (6-8), 1-6, 6-3, 6-7 (5-7) defeat against his American opponent in the rain-hit third-round contest.It was dreadful moment for the Serbian, who had won all the last four majors and did manage to reach at least the quarter-finals of each of the previous 28 Grand Slams. Following the defeat, Djokovic said that it was disappointing to lose the match, but added that it was not the first time he lost the Grand Slam encounter, Sport24 reported. Highlighting his
record of four Grand Slams in a row, the 29-year-old insisted that he has decided to focus on his positives rather than the failures while vowing to emerge as a stronger player in future.The defeat also saw Djokovic face flurry of questions regarding his strangely lethargic effort against Querrey.Reflecting on the same, Djokovic said that he had been suffering from mental and physical fatigue following his maiden French Open title, which he won by defeating secondranked Andy Murray. Djokovic conceded the fulfillment of his long-held ambition of clinching four Grand-Slams was not enough to motivate himself at Wimbledon.With the defeat, Djokovic has also made his earliest Wimbledon exit in eight years.
ter beating IndonesianCanadian pair of Andrei Adistia and Adam Dong 21-15, 21-19 in their semi-final encounter. Praneeth will now lock
horns with French opponent Lee Hyun Il while Reddy and Attri will meet the Canadian pair of Adrian Liu and Toby Ng in the summit showdown today.
Ex-MP Ranji player Kapil Seth passes away ANI Bhopal, July 3 : Former Madhya Pradesh cricketer Kapil Seth has recently passed away. He was 36. According to the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association ( MPCA), the all-rounder was suffering from Hepatitis B. Seth, who represented the state in only one first-class and a List A game in the 2000-01 season, made his sole Ranji Trophy appearance against Vidarbha in November 2000,ESPNcricinfo reported. He smashed an unbeaten 125 while batting along with Ankit Srivastava (204) to strengthen his side from
Madhya Pradesh Cricket Associatio 276 for 8 to 552 for 8 declared. Madhya Pradesh went on to win that match by an innings
and 176 runs. Medium-pace bowler Seth, in his only List A match of the Ranji one-
day competition also against Vidarbha, finished with the figures of one for 27.
Colin Munro's historic ton in vain as Guyana beat Trinbago in CPL clash ANI Port of Spain, July 3 : New Zealand's Colin Munro smashed the maiden century of this year's Caribbean Premier League (CPL) during his side Trinbago Knight Riders's defeat to Guyana Amazon Warriors , thus becoming the first overseas player to reach the three-figure mark in the tournament's four-year history.Munro played a remarkable lone hand that helped the Trinbago Knight Ridersto reach a competitive score against Martin Guptill's Guyana Amazon Warriors. Despite the New Zealander's heroics, the Knight Riders finished on the losing side as Australian Chris Lynn's 43-ball 77 propelled Guyana to a six-
wicket win in the fifth match of the CPL in Trinidad.Besides being the first ton by a non-West Indian it was also Munro's highest score in T20 cricket. He struck 13 boundaries including six Hero Maximums, the rest of team found the ropes just three times.When Munro came to the crease the circumstances could not have been more trying. Fellow New Zealander and Knight Riders' marquee player Brendon McCullum had gone to the very first ball of the innings. A length delivery from Sohail Tanvir swung away from McCullum very slightly and it caught a thin edge through to the keeper. So Munro walked out to bat to face the second ball of the innings with no runs on the board.This did not
touch two-paced and was offering turn for the spinners. The next highest score of the innings was 18 by Dwayne Bravo, with only Darren Bravo and Kevon Cooper also making it into double figures.
Colin Munro seem to put Munro under any pressure as he plundered 16 runs from Paul Wintz's first over, the second of the
match.While every other Trinbago batsman struggled to time the ball on a Queen's Park Oval surface that was a
There was something of a slowdown as Munro moved toward his hundred - the Knight Riders managed just three boundaries in the last five overs of their innings. They finished on 162 for 5 and they had Munro to thank for it. He made 100 runs from 65 balls, the rest of the team managed just 53 runs from the bat from 56 balls. The Amazon Warriors got off to a flier in their chase of 163 to win, with Dwayne Smith looking to carry on from the 62 he made against the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in his last match. He had made it to
26 when a superb Sunil Narine doosra pinned him LBW. When fellow opener Martin Guptill departed in the 10th over, bowled by a Nikita Miller ball that went on with the arm, there was huge pressure on Chris Lynn. In the past Lynn has struggled on turning pitches against high class spin, but here he put those struggles behind him. He made 77 from 43 balls and struck an incredible eight Hero Maximums as he helped Guyana to victory, well supported by Jason Mohammed who finished on 33. The defeat means the Knight Riders have just one win from their first three home fixtures. They will now face an in-form Jamaica Tallawahs in their final home match on Monday.
ET SPECIAL Pic - Arif Siddique
T
he Apatanis ob serve a series of agriculture rites and festival by sacrificing domestic fowls, animals and eggs in different times, starting from the sowing to the harvesting periods for ensuring of bumper yield of crops in the year such as Dree, Tamu, Metri, Chandii and Yahung etc. Chandii Tamu rite is performed during the sowing period, Dree during every growing period of crops and Yahung just before the harvest. The literary meaning of 'Dree' is one who borrows or purchases food grains from others in order to meet out the shortage by addition to one's old and new stock of food grains.
DreeApatani Festival of fowls, dogs, pigs, chickens, eggs, mithuns and cows. The divinities associated with Dree are collectively known as 'Dree or Dri Wuhi' (Gods). For conduction of ritual of Dree, one or two persons are appointed permanently or temporarily from each clan of the village. These persons are known as Dree Kholi or Dree Gora. They collect small quantity of rice or millet from each individual in order to meet the expenditure of the ceremony. The collected rice is kept by these persons.
During Dree festival, a few rites are performed to worship and appease Gods and Goddesses, who protect the crops, and ensure well-being of man. These divinities include Tamu God, Metii God, Sky God and Danyi Pilo (sun and moon). They are worshipped by offering sacrifices
When the time of festival approaches, they prepare rice beer and collect the sacrificial animals, fowls, chicken and eggs for sacrifices. After completion of this preparation they inform the people about the date of performance so that they could store the required food grains and fire woods etc for the taboo period observed after the festival. On the appointed day, the priest, his assistant and other Dree Kholi or Gora sit on the oldest clan 'lapang' of the village after being dressed up as
Ziro is a census town in Lower Subansiri district in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. It has been a favorite town for World Heritage Site for a number of years now. In a meeting of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on December 12, 2012 it was shortlisted for inclusion in the Tentative List for further nomination to UNESCO for inscription in the World Heritage Site. The part of the town which is the centre of economic activities and where the administrative offices are located is called as Hapoli or locally known by the Apatanis as "Hao-Polyang". Ziro is around 115 km from the state capital Itanagar and takes approx 3 and half hours via the improved Hoj-Potin road alongNH229 and 150 km via the Assam route. Earlier the nearest railway station from Ziro was located at North Lakhimpur in Assam near the Arunachal-Assam border which is around 100 km from Ziro. Ziro is the district headquarters of Lower Subansiri district and is one of the oldest towns in Arunachal Pradesh. It was the headquarters of the undivided Subansiri district comprising the present districts of Upper Subsansiri, Kurung Kumey, Lower Subansiri and Papum Pare. warriors. They recite incantations called Dree Barni for a day. For instance, Hong village priest sits on the lapang of Nami clan, which is one of the oldest clans of the Hong village. After the completion of the recital of incantation, they go round all the clans lapang of their village along with sacrificial animals, fowls and eggs and sacrificial structure (Yuygyang). All these things are taken to the place of sacrifice. The sacrifice-place is generally located near the river of Apatani valley. The sacrificial structure or Yuygyang is cut into pieces and thrown into the river and it implies that the pests and insects are to be flooded out from the agricultural fields. The Yuygyang for Dree is constructed from a particular plant called 'pemupello'. Only two pieces are required for the construction of sacrificial structure for Dree. The Yuygyang for Tammu God and Metii are constructed from bamboo decorating it
nicely with bamboo shaves and basket (Byodungchukha). The children and women are not allowed to take the meat of sacrificed animals and fowls. On the festive occasion of Dree, every individual prepares rice beer and women present a vessel of rice beer to their elderly brothers, sisters, son-in-law etc, as a symbol of love and affection. They reciprocate by presenting a piece of bacon or roasted meat of mithun-cow to them. On the same day, the woman and children are involved in rejoicing and merry making singing traditional songs called 'Damingda' which is associated with Dree festival. This song basically welcomes man and god on this occasion, describing the greatness of Apatanis of the past and present, sketches the geographical location 'Khallo Sanii' of the Apatanis and their neighbouring tribes, and recalls beautiful memories of love affairs of man and
woman exemplifying their ancestors Loder-Byai and Umi-Ubyang etc. After observing Dree, seven days taboo period is strictly observed in every village with effect from the date of festival. During this period, people are not allowed to work in the field or garden nor they can bring green vegetables and fire woods. It is believed that if the observance of these taboos is violated the performance at the time of festival may not be successful. Dree festival has been modernised with increasing popularity all over the state as well as outside. The joint celebration at a central place was started in 1967 at Nenchaya near the old Ziro town by the initiation of intellectual group of Apatanis. Since then the date of celebration of the festival was fixed from 4 to 7th July for every year. They not only introduced folk-song and dance competition, but also introduced various games and
sports. On the appointed day, mithun, cow, goat, fowls and eggs are sacrificed at altar of Dree. In olden days, these were not sacrificed except fowls and eggs. The meat of these animals are cooked and offered to the guest along with rice, cucumber and beer. One of the most important change of the Dree celebration is, singing of 'Dree Flag song' in the inaugural function at altar of Dree and modern songs, dance, games and sports introduced which gives great gaiety of enthusiasm. Now-a-
days, they do not strictly follow the religious taboos of Dree. It is celebrated as a seasonal festival of joy and glee when plantations of all crops are over, for the well being of the seasonal crops like paddy, millet etc. This celebration is done to appease the gods and goddess to ensure better crops and prosperity to mankind. The season is marked by maturity of strawberries and cucumber which are the only two fruits utilised in the celebration of Dree. In this community festival the children normally takes maximum part.
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