14th september

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Issue 103

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cmyk

Desali needs development and not political charity: Youth

Contd. on Page 3

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Organisations lambasts Congress - BJP for politicalising gas cracker issue news item published in 'The Eastern Today' today, Lurin Jyoti Gogoi, general secretary of All Assam Student's Union (AASU) lambasted the Congress for trying to claim credit for the project. "We have seen that Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi openly gave credit to former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for

A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Sep 13

Leading organizations of Assam today lambasted the Congress and the BJP today for politicalising the gas cracker issue and for trying reap political benefits over the issue. Reacting strongly to a ○

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Cement suppliers’ file petition against government Dmuising Khongjirem Shillong, Sep 14

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Jiko Linggi Desali, Sep 13

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Aggrieved over the pathetic road condition of BalekMirmir Chariali, the All Bogong Students’ Union (E) has written to Deputy Commissioner, East Siang on Friday last and sought

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Special Correspondent Pasighat, Sep 13

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Govt’s attention drawn on pathetic road of Balek-Mirmir Chariali

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Dergaon, Sep 13: The SP, Golaghat today suspended four constables of Assam police following allegations of their relationship with cow thieves. The suspended constables are Habib Hussain, Hemanta Hazarika, Bhaben Baruah and Mithu Saikia. However, sources within the police have criticized the action of the police authority alleging that some officers have been left out while the constables have been made the scapegoat. (Correspondent)

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Contd. on Page 4 ○

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Contd. on Page 3 ○

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After more than 15 days of surface communication in

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formation resulting washed out of the road landscape of 250 meters to almost 90 degree that brought misery to the entire district including the Armed Forces, The 48 BRTF Task Force had the guts to restore for vehicular movement despite various hurdle. The massive restoration work could have involved at least a month however the indomitable challenge taken by the BRTF personnel and officials while working round the clock reinstated the road within 15 days.

Anjaw district cut off following breached at Tiding from landslide after days of torrential rain that spiked the entire

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The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) today announced an agitational programme against the Centre's alleged decision to grant citizenship to the lakhs of Hindu Bengalis who entered Assam illegally from Bangladesh and Pakistan. This was stated by Dr. Samujjwal Bhattacharaya, chief advisor

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Bishnu Rana Tezu, 13 Sep

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of AASU during a press conference held at the Sonari PWD Inspection Bunglow premises today. Quoting from an earlier judgment from the Supreme Court of India on the impact of higher rate of illegal influx to Assam from Bangladesh, the AASU chief advisor said that AASU will never bow down to the evil designs of the Narendra Modi led government at the Centre.

ET Correspondent Sonari, Sep 13

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Blockade at Tiding eased bringing respite for Anjaw

Duliajan, Sep 13: Students’ union election was held in Duliajan College on September 12 with most votes having been grabbed

by AASU backed candidates.

Pandey Nath (President), Midupraban Bora (General Secretary), Rumanch Chetia (Souvenir Secretary) among others emerged victorious. It may be mentioned that although there was a Assam bandh called on the day, 937 students cast their votes to elect the student leaders.

(Correspondent)

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AASU announces agitation against Centre's decision to allow citizenship to illegal Hindu Bengali migrants

a ban on meat violates the rights of the people. Our Government will not impose any ban on sale of meat in any form,” Gogoi said, adding that by this the Government is not promoting non-vegetarianism.

“A vegetarian has the same right as a non-vegetarian to eat whatever food he or she prefers,” he added. ○

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for installing the toilets at a cost of Rs 25 crore and multinational companies from Germany, USA, Denmark and Spain have evinced interest in manufacturing and installing the system, the official said.

The environment-friendly vacuum-based toilets consume much less water than conventional ones despite improved efficiency of the flush, Contd. on Page 4

the project. This is really unfortunate. Everybody in Assam knows that the gas cracker is a fruit of the historic Assam Accord. 855 people have laid down their lives during the infamous Assam Agitation.

Therefore, it is the people of Assam who can only claim credit for the mega project", Contd. on Page 4 ○

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Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the ban on sale of meat by some States is a retrogressive step as it violates the rights of the people to eat whatever food they like. In a

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statement here today, Chief Minister Gogoi said that the ban on sale of meat is a retrogressive step as it curbs the rights of the people to enjoy whatever food they prefer and that the State Government would not put a ban on sale of meat in any form. “The people have the right to choose the food they prefer to eat. Putting

ET Correspondent Guwahati, Sep 13

Election in Duliajan College

Cops suspended

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Ban on meat retrogressive: Tarun Gogoi

Wall magazine inaugurated

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Contd. on Page 3

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Stinking washrooms on trains may become a thing of the past with the railways launching the trial run of vacuum toilet on Dibrugarh Rajdhani from Monday.

Vacuum toilet, a first of a kind in railways, will be on trial in Dibrugarh Rajdhani from September 14, said a senior Rail-

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way Ministry official involved with the project. Fitted in the First AC coach at an estimated cost of about Rs 3 lakh, the vacuum toilet is also equipped with the bio-digester system.

Vacuum toilets are currently operational in aircraft. According to the plan, railways will initially install 80 such toilets on a Shatabdi Express train, the official said. Indian Railway has floated global tenders

A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Sep 13

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Indian railways launch trial run of vacuum toilet on Dibrugarh Rajdhani from Monday

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Allegedly, power transmission wires are being ripped right off the newly erected poles under the scheme “Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyuti Karan Youjana” in the remotest region of Lower Dibang Valley district, Desali and are being used in fences in the villages by a section of the village people. “Desali circle instead of surging ahead into the modern times, is relapsing to jungle age.

Contd. on Page 3

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A high level team led by Chief Minister Nabam Tuki was shell-shocked on witnessing the trail of devastation while conducting an aerial survey for over three and half hours today of flood-hit areas, particularly Doimukh, Kimin, Mebo, Diyun, Dambuk, Namsai, Tezu, Bordumsa and worst affected Anpum village under Paglam circle of Lower Dibang Valley and Chiputa village near Likabali.

The team included Ministers Chowna Mein and Kamlung Mossang Parliamentary Secretary, Jomde Kena (Likabali), MLAs Gum Tayeng (Dambuk), Zingnu Namchoom (Namsai) and Nikh Kamin (BordumsaDiyun), Disaster Management Secretary Khapa Kholie and director Y W Ringu, Arunachal Pradesh State Transport G.M. Abu Tayeng. However, Minis-

One critically injured in accident

Duliajan, Sep 13: The efforts of Chi Chia Bokuloni Girls’ ME School students recently bore fruit when they came up with the idea of setting up of a wall magazine ‘Radali’ which was inaugurated by the Head Mistress Mrs Sandhya Gogoi of the school. It is believed that Radali would be of immense help in enhancing the writing skills of the younger generation apart from augmenting their caliber. (Correspondent)

ter Tapang Taloh, lawmakers Lombo Tayeng (Mebo) and Olom Panyang (MariyangGeku) joined the team when the Skyone helicopter landed at Pasighat for refuelling. Respective lawmakers apprised the CM about the intensity of flood and damages caused.

After witnessing that Anpum village under Paglam circle of Lower Dibang Valley district was completely devastated by the merger of Taro Tamuk and Dotung rivers, the chief minister directed shifting of the village to a different and safer location. Necessary funds required for shifting and rehabilitation of the villagers would be made available as soon as the assessment report is received. He directed the district administration to immediately workout plans for shifting and rehabilitation of Anpum village in consultation with the local MLA.

ET Correspondent Itanagar, Sep 13

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Margherita, Sep 13: Ledo Police on 12 September, 2015 at around 9.00 pm recovered a dead body of a youth at Lalmati, near Tirap Colliery under Tinsukia District. The dead body was found disposed of at Lalmati, near Tirap Colliery. The youth was identified as Ritul Das, 14 years of age, who had gone missing from his home on 9th September, 2015. Further investigation is ongoing, said Ledo Police.

(Correspondent)

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Dead body

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CM takes aerial survey of flood damages, announces Rs. 5 Crore as immediate relief

ET CAPSULES

Golaghat, Sep 13: A tractor carrying crops today overturned and fell by the roadside in Singijan under Furkating outpost in Golaghat. In the accident, the tractor driver Raju Bora (35) of Torani, Merapani got seriously injured. He was taken to KK Civil Hospital and later he was referred to JMCH in critical condition.

However, another person Kaku Bora who was also in the tractor escaped unhurt in the accident. (Correspondent)

Price -

Dibrugarh, Monday, September 14, 2015

Cement suppliers in Meghalaya under the banner of All Meghalaya Contractor & Suppliers Association (AMC&SA) filed a writ petition before the Meghalaya High Court against the State and Central government opposing frequent hike of price of cement produced from the State in the market. AMC&SA questioned the arbitrary hike of cement price in the market by the different cement companies who are operating in the State.

AMC&SA general secretary BL Nongbri on Sunday in-

formed that the Court on Friday last had directed both the State Government and Centre to file their replies within ten days following the issuance of the show cause notice.

The court has fixed the next hearing on September 29. Mr Nongbri said that cement factories in Meghalaya are enjoying several facilities including transport subsidies, power subsidies from the state Government but they are continuing to hike the price of cement.

He said that cement falls under the categories of essential commodities since not only the contractors but also people are using the product for construction of their houses and other things.

Bus collides with truck, 1 dead, 20 injured Pranakrishna Das Moran, Sep 13

A bus carrying 35 passengers including children from Dibrugarh to Dhekiya Khuwa Naam Ghar was hit by a mini truck coming from the opposite side. The accident took place at Moran, NH37 near Sonali Nagar.

According to the local people the truck took a sharp turn moving out from the Sonali path and hit the bus which was coming from Dibrugarh. The incident occurred at around 8:30 am Contd. on Page 4

cmyk

Vol. 1

Every Thursday & Sunday

PAGE 2

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

Lab policy to test, certify renewable energy projects required New Delhi, Sep 13: A National Lab Policy is needed for testing and certification of renewable energy projects, New and Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal said recently.

“National Lab Policy is needed to address the testing, standardisation and certification of renewable energy projects in the country,” Goyal was quoted as saying in a statement by his ministry. Such a policy document should bring out a clear work plan identifying the need of equipment and infrastructure, including funds requirement, said Goyal, who also holds the coal and power portfolios.

Inaugurating a national workshop on lab infrastructure for Renewable Energy Deployment Programme here, the minister said indigenous technology development and standardisation is essential for the growth of the renewable energy sector. There is a need to pay more attention on ensuring quality and reliability of renewable energy systems for effective promotion of renewable energy, the statement added.

Goyal emphasised on maintaining consistency in manufacturing and confidence in reliability of these technologies to ensure that systems installed function

properly. The minister also stated that biogas needs to be given more attention to make it a well-organised industry. “Improved biomass cook stoves should be promoted for clean cooking solutions, thereby addressing both fuel saving and health hazards concerns of rural women and children,” he said. He further stressed that proper standardisation will facilitate financing options for deployment. “We need to strengthen test facilities for proper testing to maintain quality of products. Also, training, proper inspection for checking the quality of systems installed is needed, ensuring effective utilisation of renewable energy,” Goyal said. The ministry’s Secretary Upendra Tripathy emphasised upon the need for proper testing of renewable energy systems, following standardised procedures to ensure reliability.

(Agencies)

Agartala, Sep 13: To create three waterways between landlocked Tripura and Bangladesh, two major rivers of the state would be linked with the river Meghna of the neighboring country, official sources said today. The Ministry of Water Transport and Shipping has asked the state government to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) to connect state's two major riversHowrah and Gomati with Meghna, state Transport Secretary Samarjit Bhowmik siad. "Transport department has already engaged a consultancy agency to prepare a DPR for the project, which is likely to be available within a short period and then we would place the budget for the project", Bhowmick said.

Earlier, RITES had conducted a survey for the new waterways and submitted the report to the ministry suggesting dredging of the two rivers and a required fund of Rs 47 crore for developing three waterways, he added. Meanwhile, another (DPR) for construction of a bridge on River Feni has been finalized to connect Sabroom, a subdivisional town in South Tripura district with Ramhar of Chittagong Division of Bangladesh and the government of India has sanctioned Rs 91 crore for the project.

The DPR for the 250 feet long bridge was handed over to the state department of Industries and Commerce, the nodal department for communication with Bangladesh, State PWD's Chief Engineer Sunil Bhowmik said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the neighbouring country on June 6 had laid the foundation stone for the bridge through video conferencing from Dhaka in presence of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. India will construct the bridge on the river Feni to get access to the Chittagong international sea port in Bangladesh and the neighbouring country has agreed to allow India to use the Chittagong port, about 75 km from Sabroom.

Tripura has 856 km long international border with Bangladesh which surrounds the state on three sides. (Agencies)

Patna, Sept.13 : Bihar Congress chief Ashok Choudhary on Sunday downplayed reports that the detention of Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi's son Praveen was a ploy by the grand alliance of JD(U) and RJD in the state, saying all political parties must follow the Model Code of Conduct."This is a matter of the Election Commission. They will take necessary action. But the political parties must follow the Model Code of Conduct," said Choudhary. Commenting on allegations that the grand alliance has deployed people to find faults with former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's family, Choudhary said that many JD (U) leaders were also caught violating the Model Code of Conduct. "Who has left the people after them?

Rs. 4.5 lakh is not a big amount, but if it is against the Model Code of Conduct then they should abide by it," he added. Manjhi was detained by the police in Bihar's Jehanabad region on Sunday after Rs. 4.65 lakh was recovered from him. (Agencies)

Beijing, Sep 13:Hong Kong's leader enjoys a special legal position that puts him above the legislature and judiciary, China's top official in the city said, raising some politicians' concerns about Beijing's expanding influence in the city.Hong Kong's leader, the Chief Executive, reports to the

central Chinese government. Thousands of the city's residents have held protests demanding full democracy, putting pressure on current leader Leung Chun-ying. Speaking on Saturday, Beijing's chief liaison officer Zhang Xiaoming said political systems where branches of government could

check the powers of others "is usually established in sovereign states" and that the chief executive's authority was above all."The dual responsibility of chief executive to the central government and Hong Kong has given him a special legal position which is above the executive, legislative and

List Of Phone Numbers Of Nursing Homes Tinsukia City Hospital & Research Centre

Two Tripura rivers to be linked with Bangladesh's Meghna

Manjhi's son detained Congress asks all to abide by Model Code of Conduct

Beijing says Hong Kong top leader is above legislature, judiciary

Category: General Hospital Hospital Address: Gnb Road Near Bujhuri-786125, Assam Pin Code :786125, Phone Number :0374-2333349, Fax :0374-2350026/2339974

Dr.Bawaris Nursing Home Jeevan Jyoti Nursing Home Category: General Hospital Category: General Hospital Hospital Address: Parvathiya Road Hospital Address: Parbatia,Opp Hindi Girls High School-786125, Assam Tinsukia-786125, Assam Pin Code :786125 Pin Code :786125 Phone Number :(0374)2339756 Phone Number :0374-2336319 Fax :0374-2335334 Fax :0374-2350131

Pinewood Hospital Category: General Hospital Hospital Address: Subothoni Road Moniam Dewan Nagra-786125 Pin Code :786125 Phone Number :0374-2300730 Fax :0374-2339730

Help-Line APST BUS SERVICE Ph: 0360-2212338, 0360-2351490 NIGHT SERVICES Name of Routes Departure Distance(km) Bus Fare 1) Itanagar- Shillong ( Daily service) 5:00 pm 510 460/2) Itanagar-Nyapin(Mon, Thu, Sat) 2:00 pm 325 400/3) Itanagar- Aalo (Daily service) 2:30 pm 325 350/4) Itanagar-Daporijo (Daily service from Nlg)12:00 noon 432 470/5) Itanagar - Yingkiong (Alternate day) 01.00 pm 436 550/6) Itanagar - Seppa (Alternate day) 12:00 noon 385 420/7) Itanagar - Khonsa (Sun, mon, wed, thur) 1:00 pm 677 620/8) Itanagar - Namsai (Daily service) 1:00 pm 655 580/9) Itanagar - Koloriang (Alternate day) 2.30 pm 334 400/DAY SERVICE 10) Itanagar - Guwahati (Daily service) 6.00 am 395 350/11) Itanagar - Pasighat (Daily service) 6.00 am 270 250/12) Itanagar - Tirbin (Mon, thu & sat) 5.30 am 328 330/13) Itanagar - Bomdila (Daily except Fri) 6.00 am 346 320/14) Itanagar - Aalo (Daily service) 5.30 am 325 350/15) Itanagar - Sagalee (Sun, Tues & Thur ) 7.30 am 121 135/16) Itanagar - Pakke Kessang (Mon, Wed & Fri)7.00 am 160 200/17) Itanagar-Mengio (sun, tue &Thur) 6.00 am 198 230/18)Itanagar-Kimin/ H-Camp (Daily except Sat)12.00 noon 94 80/19) Itanagar-Gerukhamukh (Daily except Fri)12.00 noon 134 120/20) Itanagar- Balijan (Daily except Sun) 12.30 pm 105 105/21) Itanagar - Sonajuly (Daily except Sun) 01.00 pm 70 80/22) Itanagar - Jote (Daily except Sun) 07.00 am & 01.00 pm 22 30/23) Itanagar- Lakhimpur (Daily Service) 3.30 pm 64 70/-

Bordoloi Avenue, Paltan Bazar, Dibrugarh - 786005 Phone Numbers: 0373 - 2302219, 2302225

G M Hospital

Shrishti Hospital & Research Centre Paltan Bazar, Dibrugarh - 786 005 Phone: 0373 - 2300024, 2302099

Archana Trauma & Orthopaedics Hospital

Brahmaputra Diagnostics & Hospital

Paltan Bazar, Dibrugarh - 786 005 Phone: 0373 - 2302100, 2302099

Assam Medical College

Marwari Arogya Bhawan Hospital Paltan Bazar, Dibrugarh Phone: 0373 - 2302872, 2302051

Graham Bazar, A.T. Road Dibrugarh Phone: 0373 - 2322547

Jalan Nagar, Dibrugarh - 786 002 List of Phones numbers: Emergency Room : 0373 - 2300627 Labour Room: 0373 - 2300022 Drug Deaddiction Centre: 0373 - 2302952 Community Medicine: 0373 - 2302994 RIA Centre: 0373 - 2302093

Sanjivani Diagnostic & Hospital

Dr. Pawan Bajaj's Skin Clinic

Aastha Hospital

Paltan Bazar, Dibrugarh Phone: 0373 - 2303448, 2303458, 2301904

Sankardev Hospital Mancotta Road, Chowkidinghee Dibrugarh Phone: 0373 - 2327717, 2327715, 2326960

comments undermined the Basic Law.A former British colony, Hong Kong was returned to Chinese Communist Party rule in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" form of government that gave it separate laws and wideranging autonomy but reserved ultimate authority for Beijing. (Agencies)

ASTRO FOR YOU You may feel empty, and completely down-and-out today. This may make you feel a bit more inclined to spirituality. Meditation and prayer will engage more of your attention. You will also make considerable material progress.

Feel your imagination run wild as you star-gaze throughout the day wondering about the existence of the extra terrestrial. You will paint the workplace in your flavour of innovation, combined with a drive to work equally hard. Add some smooth talk to the equation and you will find a lot of people in awe of your charm.

It is a day filled with joy and happiness on the home front. You will spend a lot of time with children. You will complete long pending household projects as well as take an interest in ironing out differences between family members.

There is a chance today to benefit from womenfolk. Though you are methodical and disciplined in your work, you will feel rudderless. Yet you will get relief from this monotony and feel jovial.

You will not be able to reap the rewards of your hard work fully today. You will take all matters very seriously today. You will feel a sense of responsibility and will try to find lasting solutions to problems today. It is a good day to put to rest some worries that have been haunting you for some time now.

Today is a day for introspection and you will find yourself in a pensive mood.

Search for the inner peace that you want. Stay calm to discover the hidden treasures within you. In the evening you will be glad to help someone who is in need of it.

Today may not be the best day to undertake any government dealings. Call it red-tapism, or bureaucratic procrastination, but it is highly unlikely that such tasks shall be fruitful today. This may test your patience, and in doing so, bring out your competency and efficiency to the fore, especially if you happen to be a public servant.

A creative thought or an innovative idea may spice up your routine work. Apparently, you may seem all worked up and disorganised, but actually you may be quite systematic when it comes to your work. Keep the enthusiasm in you alive to make life happier.

Lengthy business meetings keep you occupied almost throughout the day. You may also do some value addition to your work by taking co-workers’ suggestions and inputs. Implementation of these inputs will prove highly beneficial in the long run.

Print and electronic media will attract your attention, if you’re just planning to begin your career. Your spiritual and philosophical approach give you inner peace, and also inspire you to visit a holy place. Overall, you will have a balanced day, today.

You may rave and rant, but all you’ll get from colleagues or juniors are wishywashy excuses for a job not done. Take care to finish your own work before you help others. The stars say that your beloved will smoothen your creased brow.

PRASAR BHARATI (India's Public Service Broadcaster) ALL INDIA RADIO : DIBRUGARH (M.W.529.1m/KHz567 F.M. 101.30 MHz)

AMC Road, Jalan Nagar Dibrugarh - 786 005

Near Indian AirLines City Office Paltan Bazar Dibrugarh - 786 005 Phone Numbers: 0373 - 2303476

angered several lawmakers, who said Beijing was effectively giving the Chief Executive unchecked control. Legislative Council member Alan Leong told the South China Morning Post the Chief Executive was now "like an emperor" and Lee Cheuk-yan, chairman of the Labour Party, said the

For those who are salaried, today should be a progressive day for you. Important meetings at the work-place will benefit from your presence and the suggestions you have to make. This should enhance your relationship with your superiors. Compliments galore will come your way throughout the day. There are also indications of an important event occurring in your personal life today.

List of hospitals in Dibrugarh with contact details & phone numbers, Assam Aditya Diagnostics & Hospitals

judicial institutions," Zhang told a forum to mark the anniversary of the Basic Law, the constitution under which China governs the former British colony as a special administrative region."Hong Kong is not a political system that exercises the separation of powers," he added. Zhang's comments

Paltan Bazar, Opposite Aditya Hospital Dibrugarh

Dr Damani's Nursing Home Near Circuit House, Dibrugarh Phone: 0373 - 2300928, 2302873

Phone No.-03732325456 E-mail -dibrugarh@air.org.in Facebook Page-All India Radio Dibrugarh Programme Highlights 14-9-15 (MONDAY)

5-35 A.M-Bhaktigeeti (Devotional Songs) 6-10 A.M-Swasthya Charcha (Health Programme) 6-15 A.M-Classical Music 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-Ramdhenu (Request Programme of Hindi Fim Songs) 1-10 P.M-Troops Programme 2-30 P.M-Western Music Programme 3-45 P.M-Programme in Miju Mishmi 4-05 P.M-Programme in Khamti 4-25 P.M-Programme in Wancho 4-45 P.M-News for Arunachal Pradesh 5-00 P.M-Programme in Idu 5-20 P.M-Programme in Tangsa 5-40 P.M-Programme in Nocte 7-15 P.M-Yuvavani (Youth Programme)-"Prerona"(A Live Phone-in Programme on Skill Development).Subject-Tea Technology , Expert-Dr Rana Pratap Bhuyan 8-30 P.M-Talk-"Bharat Pakistan Juddha,1965-Bijayar Gourab Gatha" by Lakshminandan Borgohain 9-30 P.M-"Satriya Naat Samarooh".Bhaona-"Marich Bodh".Presented by "Sadau Asom Mayamora Sanskritkik Samaj". Producer-Khurshid Ahmed Sd-/H.O.P

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DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

Mopin festival reaches golden Arunachal Artiste Forum (AAF) years, grand celebration planned constitutes interim committee

Aalo, Sep 13: The Golden Jubilee Central Mopin Celebration Committee has appealed to all representatives of Sector Mopin Celebration Committees of Aalo town to keep in tune with the timings of the Central Celebration to

make the golden year of Mopin celebration a grand success in an elaborate meeting held at Gumin Kiin on 12th September last. The President and General Secretary GJCMCC, Doi Ado and Henrik Basar said that the im-

portant meeting has been convened to avoid any collision of timings that may hamper participation and shortage of manpower. All senior members of the Galo community also took part in the deliberation.

The representatives

from more than 33 Sectors and colonies of Aalo town who attended the meeting assured their full cooperation to work out the celebration timings in colonies and sectors to devote more on central celebration this time. (DIPRO)

ET Correspondent Naharlagun, Sep 13: The Arunachal Artist Forum held its general meeting here at Hotel River view on 12th September 2015 which many renowned artistes of the state attended. The meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Bengia Hemanto.

The meeting had threadbare discussion with regard to the defunct AAF since the last 5 year and thus no activities were carried out by the organisation. In view of the present scenario of the organisation, general meeting was held. Several speakers gave their suggestions including Bengia Hemanto, Kipa Robniang, Tana Taram Tara, Byabang Jamja, Pate Tajuk, Bamang Loram, Kalom Boko, Nabam Abo, Nelam Poppe,

Parliamentary Secretary Power takes stock of East Kameng power scenario ET Correspondent Seppa, Sep 13: A review cum coordination meeting to understand the power scenario of the district was convened today at Seppa by Tapuk Taku, Parliamentary Secretary (Tax & Excise and Power). At the very outset, Tapuk Taku expressed gratitude to the house for attending the meeting and requested them to present their achievement, associated problems, views and suggestions, and requirements and demands in the form of proposals so that he could try to tackle the matter at his personal level, if not, take it to the higher level.

Made Nalo, EE (Power) highlighted about the reason for persistent problems faced by the district and suggested alternative solution in order to solve the existing problems temporarily till the upcoming 132/33 KV Power Grid Transmission Line, IPDS and DDUGJY is realized.

He suggested for setting up of separate distribution lines for villages in and around the Seppa town so that if any fault occurs then it will not interrupt the power supply of the town and also could be handled from Seppa directly. He requested the Parliamentary Secretary to pursue setting

up of a Sub-Station at Khuppi to NEEPCO, Power Grid and CE (TPMPower). He informed that Khuppi to Palizi transmission line is under the jurisdiction of Bomdila division, and then also Seppa division is looking after the maintenance work if any shortfall occurs along it. He briefed about the ongoing projects undertaken by the department in East Kameng district. He requested for speedy clearance of pending liabilities of the department. He further requested the EE, Hydropower, Seppa to restore the Pacha hydel as early as possible.

Tasso Hinda, SE (Power) apprised the house of the issue pertaining to land acquisition for construction of Sub-Stations under Comprehensive Scheme and assured to forward the details to the higher authority soon. He further assured to hand over the jurisdiction of Khuppi to Palizi transmission line segment to Seppa division. He requested the departmental staff to maintain precautionary measures while working and improve the billing mechanism for better realization of revenue.

T. Ete, EE (Hydropower) informed the house that restoration work of Pacha

Hydel is undergoing in full swing and assured that it will take 3 to 4 months for completion.

Admitting the hardships faced by the public and acknowledging the Power department staffs hard work, hri Sandeep Kumar Singh, DC East Kameng exhorted the AEs and JEs present to exert more energy and work sincerely. He requested the Parliamentary Secretary to accord top priority to the district under Comprehensive Scheme. He further requested him to increase and allot more fund for the maintenance work. He directed the department to conduct IEC activities in order to spread awareness about the way of power consumption, power saving, sincerity in bill payment and installing of meter box at individual residences. He further directed to resolve the matter pertaining to land acquisition for SubStation. Tapuk Taku requested the EE (Power) to prepare and submit proposals. Admitting that the Comprehensive Scheme will solve the power problem of the district, he assured the house that he will keep the district on top priority while implementing the scheme. He cautioned against fallacious proposal preparation and urged the

department to avoid fraudulence. He requested to give precedence to institution of important while conceptualizing and implementing any departmental tasks.

AEs, JEs and other staff of Power and Hydropower department also spoke in the meeting.

Tasso Hinda, SE (Power) apprised the house of the issue pertaining to land acquisition for construction of Sub-Stations under Comprehensive Scheme and assured to forward the details to the higher authority soon. He further assured to hand over the jurisdiction of Khuppi to Palizi transmission line segment to Seppa division. He requested the departmental staff to maintain precautionary measures while working and improve the billing mechanism for better realization of revenue.

T. Ete, EE (Hydropower) informed the house that restoration work of Pacha Hydel is undergoing in full swing and assured that it will take 3 to 4 months for completion.

Admitting the hardships faced by the public and acknowledging the Power department staffs hard work, hri Sandeep Kumar Singh, DC East Kameng exhorted the AEs and JEs

present to exert more energy and work sincerely.

He requested the Parliamentary Secretary to accord top priority to the district under Comprehensive Scheme. He further requested him to increase and allot more fund for the maintenance work. He directed the department to conduct IEC activities in order to spread awareness about the way of power consumption, power saving, sincerity in bill payment and installing of meter box at individual residences. He further directed to resolve the matter pertaining to land acquisition for Sub-Station.

Tapuk Taku requested the EE (Power) to prepare and submit proposals. Admitting that the Comprehensive Scheme will solve the power problem of the district, he assured the house that he will keep the district on top priority while implementing the scheme. He cautioned against fallacious proposal preparation and urged the department to avoid fraudulence. He requested to give precedence to institution of important while conceptualizing and implementing any departmental tasks. AEs, JEs and other staff of Power and Hydropower department also spoke in the meeting.

DUDA Roing swings into action after death of boy Jiko Linggi Roing, Sep 13: District Urban Development Agency (DUDA) Roing is busy nowadays cleaning up the clogged drains of the township.

It took the department the unfortunate death of a kid boy, who got drowned in one of the drains to be jolted out of its deep slumber.

A few days ago, a kid aged about 11-12 years got drowned in the drain

in front of the post office in the bazzar area. In just one hour’s heavy rain the drain transformed into a full blown river with water furiously running down the drain. Tragically one among three kids aged about the same group, playing in the rain in front of the post office fell into the drain. Even before bystanders could come to the rescue, the kid was washed away in the cur-

New party to step into the political arena ET Correspondent Golaghat, Sep 13: Today a new party by the name Assom Khilanjiya Manch decided to step into the political arena with the upcoming election of 2016 in Assam in view. In a press meet held at Indrani Guest House, the dignitaries declared their intention to contest elections in 30 constituencies. They

also blamed the BJP and INC rule calling it to be against the interest of people of Assam. So, they have decided to challenge all the political parties including AIUDF. At the meeting, Kamla Rajkuwar, Dhruv Buragohain, Dr Jinju Hazarika and the members of Assam Royal Society were present.

rent of the water. About fifteen minutes later the body of the kid surfaced in the drain in Lower Market in front of a bakery. By the time employees of the post office had come to the location searching for the kid.

However, by the time the kid surfaced, the body had lost its life.

Says a witness, cloth trader by profession, Saheb Uddin in front of whose shop the lifeless

body surfaced, "the body had injury marks visible on the face. The body became visible at about 3.30 pm after the rain stopped and water receded in the drain".

Another trader Ashok Agrawal of famed Dibang Valley Enterprise claimed that he had never witnessed, "such heavy and ferocious rain in my life. The rain lasted only for about an hour; however, drains

were overflowing as much water gushed down the drain".

According to Jiten Chetry, the driver of the DUDA’s vehicle involved in the clean-up work, when asked about the duration of the clean-up operation, he informed that the department had "pulled up its socks, folded the shirt sleeves" and got into the job since the last four days, after the tragic death occurred.

Govt’s attention drawn on pathetic road of Balek-Mirmir Chariali Contd. from Page 1

for government’s attention toward its immediate and timely renovation.

The union led by its President Lungkang Ering and Vice President Kabit Rukbo called on to Isha Khosla, DC Pasighat on Friday and briefed her the pathetic road condition while submitting the written petition. They said that, the Balek-Mirmur Chariali PWD road stressing about

3 KM connects major Bogong region villages like Balek, Mongku, Tigra, Boying, Yapgo etc. which donated their lands to the government of India for establishment of township like Pasighat. Due to dilapidated road condition at this side of Pasighat, the people of this region is facing untold miseries as road communication is said to be most important of all in a civilized world. The Balek Hr. Sec. School which was established even before in-

dependence is also located at this side of countryside whose students are facing hardship. The union also feels that, after the declaration of Pasighat as Smart City people are joyously discussing about it, but somewhere down the line we are still living under such poor road condition.

On the part of DC, she assured to look into the case which will be forwarded for onward submission to the concern office at Itanagar.

Nabam Sunil among others. An interim committee was constituted which is expected to eventually fa-

cilitate constitution of a permanent committee for the 5th General Conference cum Election and

unite all the artist groups of the state under one platform of Arunachal Artist Forum.

CM takes aerial survey of flood damages, announces Rs. 5 Crore as immediate relief Contd. from Page 1

Similar directives were issued for Chiputa village under Likabali which has been totally inundated under debris due to landslide.

Half of the Tara-Tama Bridge at Mebo has been washed away while road at various locations have been snapped.

As an immediate relief, Chief Minister Nabam Tuki announced Rs. 5 Cr for carrying out restoration works to bring life back to normalcy in these affected areas. He however, directed the respective district administration and departments to conduct proper assessment of losses and submit details to the state gov-

ernment for further release of fund.

It may be recalled that Chief Minister Nabam Tuki had recently written to Union Minister of Home apprising about the damages in the state. He informed the centre that there have been colossal damages to the infrastructure, roads and bridges, culverts, power, water supply, communication lines, agriculture and horticulture fields and standing crops including injury and loss of human lives and livestock, etc. due to heavy showers of South west Monsoon for more than five months. He further apprised that many districts were cut-off from the rest of world for different spells. Tuki had sought

immediate relief assistance to restore the damages and bring life back to normalcy.

As desired by the Union Ministry, the state government will be submitting a memorandum within this month which shall incorporate details on the losses incurred by the state during this monsoon. Earlier, on his way to Naharlagun Helipad, Chief Minister accompanied by PWD minister Gojen Gadi and engineers from the department surveyed alternate road for Itanagar and Naharlagun twin capital cities to ease the growing traffic congestion. CM directed the department to urgently prepare a plan to resolve the traffic issue in the twin capital cities.

Blockade at Tiding eased bringing respite for Anjaw Contd. from Page 1

Owing to quantum of road damage, Nyabin Ete DC Anjaw and B Tawsik ADC Hayuliang also visited the point and built up temporary potter track to tranship ration and other essential commodities.

The DC also revealed dearth of PDS rice but restoration of road brought utmost relief to stock the rice to avoid crisis.

Er UC Mehta Chief Engineer UDAYAK, Colonel C Rajshekar

Commandant 48 BRTF upbeat task to personally visit the site to supervised for early restoration of the road. Heavy machineries and major work force were pressed at the site under challenge to restore the blockade.

“The hill shrouded with loose soil and boulders is posed tremendous threat and may cause frequent blockade at above if rains however the Tiding River at bottom eroding the road formation. Entire hill is sliding down we don’t have op-

tion to change the road alignment. It’s a herculean task for our force to fight with this kind of topography”, informs the Commandant.

Despite heavy rain and tough condition our personnel has done it, he further spoke. Anjaw bordering China is required all weathered road to facilitate easy movement of armed forces to deploy at the sensitive border post, unfortunately the poor road condition has posed much inconvenient to both Army and civilian at large.

Desali needs development and not political charity: Youth Contd. from Page 1

Recently the electrical department had issued a notice intending to supply power to Desali after erecting the power lines under the central scheme. However, even before the first bulb could flicker to life, the life of the scheme was cut short with miscreants of the village snapping power lines with selfish intentions”, says a frustrated youth who is a native of the region, Rajen Umpey.

When asked about the option of speaking on condition of confidentiality to the media, Umpey showed enough guts to have his name published; for most of the youths from the region, jobless, eek out a living from the bits and pieces of schemes handed out to them un-

der “border area development programme” by the local PRI leaders.

Umpey claimed that before speaking to this correspondent, he had approached the local PRI leaders apprising and cautioning them about the “theft of power transmission wires" and highlighting the need to create awareness about its illegality and other consequences arising out of it among the villagers.

However, to his despair and dismay, this suggestion of his was brushed aside by a PRI leaders, who mostly station themselves at Roing, while reportedly enjoying the cream of “development” intended for Desali.

When asked about the role of top local political leaders from the 43rd Roing constituency, who wield great and wide influence over PRI leaders from the region and over

the role of so called “development” in the region; Umpey opined that irrespective of political parties, all politicians of different hue and colour are tarred with the same brush and have the same objective and are keen to “maintain political status quo” by ensuring illiteracy, poverty among the inhabitants of the remote region and thus make them dependent on political charity rather than true development based on empowerment.

“It is high time the political leadership from the constituency rather than merely visiting and paying customary lip service on 'development' of Desali with the intention of seeking votes, must direct the local PRI leaders to honestly work for the development of the region”, Umpey opined; while stressing that the region needs “development and not charity”.

PAGE 4

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

Margherita AGP leader Sahu slams both Cong and BJP parties ET Correspondent Margherita, Sep 13: Dr Om Prakash Sahu, AGP leader of Margherita has slammed both Congress and BJP parties for not formulating a proper Bill which would give capital punishment to the rape accused. Dr Sahu said that the people of our country are

E-Rickshaw gaining momentum ET Correspondent Golaghat, Sep 13: The sale of E-Rickshaw is gaining momentum at Golaghat and it can be compared to the times of price rise during the reign of the Congress Government. Within no time, more than 70 ERickshaws could be seen in every nook and cranny of the town. Since its launch, it has been of great help to the people in order to reach a particular destination within no time at a fare charge. Due to these reasons, it has become the favourite of women, school students and college students. Even people are found to be interested in investing and purchasing it and giving it to some other unemployed on a daily basis. Even the rickshaw pullers are seen much interested in this model. Some have even termed it as China Express. However at some places E-Rickshaw has been banned due to security reasons like Guwahati, Jorhat, etc. In Golaghat its selling graph is going up day by day

not safe and secure either under Congress rule or under the present Narendra Modi-led BJP government.

Sisters, mothers and daughters of our country cannot go to College, market, cinema halls, park and other public places freely as they are not sure whether they would return

home or not, said Dr Om Prakash Sahu. The Delhi gangrape incident had taken place in the year 2012 during the tenure of the Congress government and now during the present BJP-led Narendra Modi Government, things have not changed much, said Dr Om Prakash Sahu. The

rape accused in our country are roaming freely as there are loopholes in our Judiciary System, he added further. There is a need to initiate high level enquiries into rape related cases as sometimes innocent people are also arrested, said Dr Om Prakash Sahu.

Sadiya Yuva Chatro Sanmiloni organises felicitation programme at TSK press club Samarjyoti Gogoi Sadiya, Sep 13: A felicitation programme was organised by Sadiya Yuva Chatro Sanmiloni at Tinsukia Press club where students hailing from Sadiya and studying in various colleges and institutions of Tinsukia were felicitated. On this occasion dignitaries including Amulya Khatoniar, ex president of Tinsukia Journalist Association as well as veteran writer Laveswar Gogoi, social worker Surendra Sadiya, founder president

of Sadiya Yuva Chatro Sanmiloni and among others were present at the felicitation programme.

Surender Gogoi, founder president of Sadiya Yuva Chatro Sanmiloni addressed the press and said that the organisation has felicitated the fresher students of Sadiya and that the organisation has been placing demands such as filling up of the vacant thirty posts of teachers at Sadiya Govt Model Higher Secondary School, filling up of the fifty vacant posts at vari-

ous lower primary schools of Sadiya and introduction of the commerce and science departments at Sadiya College.

Laveswar Gogoi, social worker and founder of Sadiya Adarsha Vidalya and Amarpur high school was also felicitated. The organisation felicitated him with Phulam Gamucha and Japi with financial aid. In addition, famous actor Spondon Gogoi and singer Rajib Sadiya entertained the students through their performances.

Guru birthday to be celebrated in Shillong ET Correspondent Shillong, Sep 13: The Sree Narayana Guru Cultural Centre (SNGCC), Shillong would celebrate the 161st Birth Anniversary of Jagatpurush Sree Narayana Guru on 20 September, 2015 at State Central Library Auditorium, Shillong. Sree Narayana Guru was a great visionary, saint, philosopher and social reformer who stood for

universal brotherhood.

Meghalaya Governor, Shri V. Shanmuganathan would grace the occasion as Chief Guest. The celebration would also witness the presentation of a National Award instituted by Akshaya, a literary organisation from Kerala, namely "Akshaya National Award 2014" to be conferred on the SNGCC President, Mr M. K.

Mohanan for his outstanding contributions in disseminating Sree Narayana Guru's teachings to humanity on the occasion. Around 150 delegates representing various Sree Narayana Guru Organisations from all over India and abroad would be attending the three-day session starting from 18 September, 2015, said the statement from SNGCC, Shillong.

Congress fields non-tribal candidates in GHADC election ET Correspondent Shillong, Sep 13 : Despite opposition from several civil society organisations of Garo Hills to disallow non-tribals from taking part in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) election, the ruling Congress party in the State went ahead with its decision to field non-tribal candidates.

Out of 28 candidates, who have been allotted ticket, two of them are non-tribals of Muslim community. The party has given ticket to Mr Manirul Islam for 17Balachanda constituency while Mr. Sader Hussain has been allotted ticket to contest from 19Shyamnagar constituency.

Earlier, civil society organizations comprising of the Garo Students' Union (interim body), Garo Hills State Movement Committee (GHSMC), A’chik Students' Welfare Association (ASWA) and Tura Government College Students' Union (TGCSU), amongst others had organized public meeting and rally on August 31 at Tura to send

Drug peddlers arrested

message to the state government that people of Garo Hills will not allow the nontribals to vote or contest in the upcoming Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) polls slated for October 12.

The Congress had given ticket to three women candidates including Smt Christilla M Marak from 7Babelpara, Smt Sadhiarani M Sangma from 10 Dengnakpara and Jinggie D Shira for 25-Damas constituency.

Others are Alphonse A Sangma 1-Siju, Freedarson N Sangma 2-Wagesik, Jeshwell Ch Marak 3Silkigre, Willy D Shisa 4Rongrikkimgre, Olendro R Marak 5-Gasuapara, Silgra Marak 6-Barengapara, Mingge CH Marak 8Ammongpata, Dulal Ch Sangma 9-Tura, Stevie M Marak 11-Boldamgre, Moppish R Marak 12Nogorpara, Jogadish Ch Hajong 13-Zikzak, Malcolm M Sangma 15Rochonpara, Ismail R Marak 16-Asanang, Septerwein R Sangma 18Batbari, Joyson R Marak

20-Raksamgre, Dhormonath Sangma 21Naguapara, Purno K Sangma 22 Jengjal, Thomson N Marak 23Rongrong, Jogonsing D Sangma 24-Bolsong, Smith Momin 26-Kharkutta, Lahitson M Sangma 27Samandagre, Builthon N Sangma 28-Darugiri and Mr. Sengbath Marak from 29-Williamnagar constituency.

Earlier, the Nationalist People Party (NPP) had also released 19 candidates for the upcoming GHADC election and they are, Albinush R Marak 1-Siju constituency, Sengnal N Sangma 2-Wagesik, Nilath S Marak 3-Silkigre, Pangrak Ch Sangma 4Rongrikimgre, Sengchim N Sangma 5-Gasuapara, Meckenson Ch Marak 7Babelapara, Stiner R Marak 8-Amonpara, Dr Harvey Jimmy M Momin 9-Tura, Boston C Marak 12-Nogorpara, Dipul R Marak 15-Rochonpara, Roynath D Sangma 18Batabari, Benedic R Marak 20-Raksamgre, Grahambel A sangma 22-Jengjal,

Sukharam K Sangma 23Rongrong, Rakman Ch Marak 24-Bolsong, Dolly K Sangma 25-Damas, Edbirth N Marak 26Kharkhutta, Brilliant R Sangma 27-Samanda, Methrinson G Momin 28Darugre and Denang T Sangma from 29Williamnagar.

The largest regional pary, United Democratic Party (UDP) has released the names of 9 candidates so far comprising of Penindro M Sangma 1Siju Rongara constituency and Plebirth M Sangma Wagesik constituency in South Garo Hills, while Tengsil W Momin-23 Bolsrong and Anand M Marak-26 Kharkutta from North Garo hills district.

While Silman N Marak from – 28 Samanda, Mahamsing M Sangma – 29 Williamnagar and Henen R Sangma – 27 Darugre will be contesting the elections from East Garo hills district, Butther M Sangma – 8 Amongpara and Tinash Momin – 9 Tura from West Garo hills district.

Tinsukia: Prasanta Moran, son of Madeswar Moran of Khaman Pather 2 No. under Margherita police station and Ratul Moran son of Pradip Moran of Kachijan Gaon under Kakopather police station was arrested from Mugang Pather under Pengeri police station with 15 gms of substances suspected to be brown sugar and one bike and one scooty today. The operation was led by SI Bhaskar Saikia and SI Joy Sankar Wary. Pic and text - Arjun Mishra

Indian railways launch trial run of vacuum toilet on Dibrugarh Rajdhani from Monday Contd. from Page 1

aiding water conservation efforts. Besides, such toilets would also help prevent corrosion of rail tracks. A vacuum

toilet will also be installed at New Delhi station. Currently, premier trains like Rajdhani and Shatabdi are equipped with controlled discharge toilet

system which prevent disposal of waste at stations. "Waste is automatically discharged after trains gather a minimum speed of 30 km per hour," the official

said. So far, railways have replaced 17,388 conventional toilets with bio-toilets. About 17,000 more are to be replaced by the end of this year.

AASU announces agitation against Centre's decision to allow citizenship to illegal Hindu Bengali migrants Contd. from Page 1

Bhattacharaya also expressed his displeasure over Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi not making his stand clear on the Centre's controversial decision in order to safeguard his party's vote bank. Come down heavily on the entire issue, the student leader stated that AASU will embark on an agitational programme following the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi. "Prior to the Lok Sabha polls Narendra Modi tried to weave dreams before the people of Assam

and now with his dangerous hidden agenda he is trying to take such decisions as a result of which the demographic pattern of Assam will change drastically and the people of Assam will have to bear the painful consequences in the days to come", Bhattacharaya said. If required we will seek legal assistance and we are already in consultation with lawyers to appeal against the controversial and totally unjustified decision of the Centre, the student leader said. Rather than pushing the Assamese community towards destruc-

tion, the Centre must initiate steps to provide constitutional safeguards to the people, he added. In 1972, the Prime Ministers of both India and Bangladesh during a prime ministerial level meeting decided to take back the people of the respective countries who infiltrated into one another's territory after 1971. Later, the Govt. of India through a circular issued on Sept. 30, 1972 announced about the decision not to send back the migrants who have entered Assam before March 25, 1971 and also the decision to take up measures to send back the migrants who have

entered Assam after the date. Rather than implementing the decision, the Modi led government has decided to grant citizenship to the Hindu Bengalis who have entered Assam till 2014, which is totally unacceptable and AASU will never heed to such order or decision by the Centre, Bhattacharaya reiterated.

On the other hand, while expressing satisfaction over the ongoing NRC update process, Bhattacharaya appealed towards the people of Assam to show sincerity by extending co-operation in completion of the process.

Organisations lambasts Congress BJP for politicalising gas cracker issue Contd. from Page 1

the general secretary said. The student leader also stated that the state government rather than 'playing dirty politics' over the issue must focus upon how the unemployed educated youths

can get self employment after completion of the project. It might be mentioned that while the Congress party is engaged in claiming credit for the project, the BJP is trying to complete it before the 2016 Assam state assembly elections so that it can claim credit for the

project. Talks are also doing the round that the BJP is piling up pressure on the gas cracker officials Jitu Saikia, President, All Assam Chutia Students' Union, Dibrugarh district committee too warned both the parties for playing politics over the issue.

"Both the Congress and the BJP must focus upon timely and early completion of the project which also running 3 years behind its scheduled date of completion. They must also ensure that all the posts are filled up from eligible local candidates", Saikia said.

Bus collides with truck, 1 dead, 20 injured Contd. from Page 1

which claimed the bus driver’s life and injuring 20. The local people rushed to the incident to help and pull out the passengers. The injured

passengers were taken to the Assam Medical College and Nursing Home, Dibrugarh. The truck driver was booked by the police as the passengers and the local people who witnessed the acci-

dent blamed him for driving irresponsibly.

According to one of the local men, the truck driver was stuck in his seat and some passengers were in a state of unconsciousness, they

had to pull them out.

The AMC doctors confirmed the injuries were not serious but some had fractures including the truck driver and some had small cuts on their body.

Will history repeat itself at Diphu Government College ?

Sushanta Roy Diphu, Sep 13: The trauma of the unfortunate incident at Diphu Government College, a year ago, that witnessed a brutal attack on the principal of the college on 13th September 2014, has hardly subsided, yet again, the most prestigious educational institute of Karbi Anglong is apparently facing tumultuous times with allegedly a certain malicious group having vested interest spreading propaganda with the aim to ouster the incumbent principal of the institution, Dr Nirab Kumar Sarmah. It is said that the campaign

by this malicious group started with publication of numerous related news articles in local vernaculars and other dailies, although as of now it has failed to evoke any damaging outcomes but terrifying perplexity is said to be brewing up among the students and in the academic circle of Diphu. When Dr Sarmah met this reporter to tell his side of the story with regard to the allegations published on the basis of the facts and figures obtained by local organizations through RTI, Dr. Sarmah dismissed almost all allegations terming them as a ‘conspiracy

hatched with the view to mislead people and students’. On being asked to clarify his stand with regard to the allegations made against him, he said, “I was duly selected by the Assam Public Service Commission and subsequently appointed by the Government of Assam through all due procedure.

Due to personal reasons and for not allowing unionism, irregularity in attendance and non-punctuality in the college, two teachers of the college mainly stood against me who seem to be totally in favour of the earlier unruly situation prevalent in

the college and thus started to plot various conspiracies from time to time. Later on, some more professors joined them in their efforts and submitted memorandum at various places in the name of Teachers' Association and of fictitious organizations also. However, not being satisfied with all this, the said duo with the help of an NGO filed a PIL challenging my selection as Principal by APSC supported by a large number of accumulated RTI documents about which mentions have been made in the news items in some local dailies published

from Diphu dated August 11, 2015. After hearing the PIL, the Hon’ble Guwahati High Court concluded that my selection is completely satisfactory and genuine. Simultaneously, the Hon’ble court dismissed the PIL. This verdict was passed on September 24, 2014.

But things were done so clandestinely that I came to know about this only in September, 2014 when I received a copy sent to me by post. The trouble making group then started a new and nasty conspiracy which finally led to the brutal attack on me in my office chamber with the

intention to kill me on the spot on September 13, 2014. This led to the suspension of 14 professors of Diphu Government College, Diphu who remained absconding for a period of around two months to evade arrest including a few goons.

These included two lady professors viz, Mrs Machurina Hussain, then HoD, English and Ms Lar-im-Taropi of Philosophy who were sent to jail (judicial custody) as they were found to have plotted conspiracy with goons”. When asked if it is possible that the propaganda being spread by the

malicious group is totally baseless, he said, "Now, after some time has passed, the same news has been published again in order to mislead and confuse the people of the area and students of the college in particular. Some of the conspirators are already chargesheeted in connection with the attack on Principal case and are suspected to be the masterminds behind all this.

It is clear in the Court order that Research Guidance was not mandatory and hence carried no marks as per APSC advertisement and API score was not the inclusive cri-

terion at that time while selecting the total score of the candidates appearing for Principal's interview in December 2011. Hence, the news published in those dailies without verification has no relevance at all at present as it has already been dismissed by the Hon’ble High Court in September 24, 2014.

I would like to appeal to all newspapers to not publish such misleading news without verification as such wrong items sometimes may cause irreparable damage.” Said Dr. Nirab Kumar Sarmah, Principal, Diphu Government College, Diphu.

Bihar polls: ''Manjhi has lost his sheen'', says JD (U)

9 Meghalaya NGOs join hands for peace march

Shillong, Sep 13: A conglomerate of nine NGOs decided to join a peace march slated on SeptemPatna, Sep 13: Taking a jibe at the ongoing tussle in ber 14 to pressurise the the NDA fold over seat-sharing for the Bihar As- state government withsembly polls, the Janata Dal (United) alleged that draw its attempt to make Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram law for the traditional vilManjhi has lost his sheen and would be thrown in the lage administration. They dustbin by the BJP after the elections."Manjhi has also demanded the district lost his sheen. It was us who gave him the chief minister`s post and made him the leader but he got councils to move for imaway from us taking 15 MLAs and two MLCs," mediate deletion of Para JD(U) spokesperson Ajay Alok told. "Now what he 12 A from the Sixth is getting? He should see what his position is, he has Schedule, which will enbeen given only 15 seats to fight the elections in the sure they don't end up state," he added.Alok also said that the Bharatiya being just as 'training Janata Party (BJP) didn`t respect Manjhi. The Na- grounds' for helping the tional Democratic Alliance (NDA) is likely to an- MDCs to become nounce the seat-sharing for Bihar Assembly polls MLAs. The decision was today.BJP leader Bhupender Yadav today met Manjhi, taken at a meeting of the who had expressed dissatisfaction with the number of seats to be allotted to his party, at the Bihar Niwas NGOs from the different in the national capital. BJP president Amit Shah has districts of Khasi Hills, so far held discussions with Manjhi, Lok Janshakti Jaintia Hills and Ri Bhoi Party (LJP) supremo Ram Vilas Paswan and which include - HYC, Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) chief Upendra HANM, MPUF, NWYF, Kushwaha to iron out differences over some seats. JNU, EJNC, WJNC,

RBSU and HPF held here in the city on Saturday. However, some prominent pressure groups including KSU, FKJGP and JYF were not part of the decision, implying a rift among them although both the groups are on the same side on the issue. "All the NGOs have decided to join the peace march to the Main Secretariat proposed by the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on September 14," HYC president Peter Lawai told reporters while speaking on behalf of the NGOs. According to him, the peace march is to protest against the government's failure to officially revoke the ordinance and its attempt to come up with a

fresh draft bill, to empower the traditional institutions and heads in the state. "The state government has failed to come out clear on its recent decision whether it will allow the ordinance to have its natural death or not and this has created a lot of confusion and doubt in the minds of the people," Lawai said.

Deciding to oppose the fresh draft bill, he said, "The NGOs have unanimously decided to protest against any law or bill which attempts to infringe and interfere with the powers and subjects of the district councils."

He went to add, if the state government is specific that the particular fresh draft bill will only

WB govt decision to release documents on Netaji welcome: PMK West Bengal, Sep 13: PMK welcomed West Bengal government's decision to release documents on freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose, but said the Centre had 'more responsibility' in this regard. Party founder S Ramadoss urged the BJP-led government to declassify similar papers in lines with a poll-time promise.West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's decision to release 64 documents about the founder of Indian National Army (INA) on September 18 was a 'welcome announcement,' he said.Recalling Bose's last days, which remained an 'unsolved mystery,' Ramadoss said there

were contradictions about the flight accident that was said to have killed him even as an Indian enquiry commmision stated that 'he did not die of any flight accident,' he said. There were 'rumors' that Bose lived in Russia or China besides the one that he died in India in

1985 while living as a saint, Ramada's said, adding "his death remains a mystery until now."

"Netaji still has an indisputable place as a revolutionary in the hearts of our youth. It appears as though the Union government is deliberately hiding the information about

his last days. A few years ago it was in the news that the Nehru government spied on Netaji's relatives. In these circumstances deliberately hiding documents regarding Netaji will give space for speculations and rumours," he said in a statement.The documents on Bose to be released by West Bengal will throw some light on his life and disappearance, but may not totally resolve the 'mystery' and therefore only documents with the Centre could bring about clarity, he said.He wondered why the Centre could not release the documents when West Bengal was prepared to do so."In fact Modi's government has

got more responsibility to release the documents," he said.The BJP had made promises in this regard during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had 'assured Bose' relatives early this year to fulfill their demand on releasing documents, Ramadoss said. However, Ramadoss said the Centre had told an RTI applicant that the documents cannot be released as it "would jeopardize our country's relations with many countries."This was not acceptable and the Union government should publicise all documents related to the last days of the freedom fighter, he demanded. (Agencies)

Manipur HC Swami Ramdev issues notice to would visit the State Pappu Yadav

Imphal, Sep 13:The Manipur high court issued a notice to Jan Adhikar Party Loktantrik (JAPL) supremo Pappu Yadav for his comments and activities against the Manipuri community. Expelled RJD MP Yadav had threatened to pull out Manipuri passengers from trains running across Bihar and sending them back to Manipur if violence against Bihari migrants continued in Manipur. Last week, JAPL activists, led by Yadav, halted long-distance trains at various stations in Bihar to search for passengers from Manipur, but they found none. Acting on a PIL filed

by Manipur's JD(U) president M Tombi Singh, a division bench of the high court issued a notice to Yadav and other respondents. The notice was to be sent by the Manipur government to its Bihar counterpart, Tombi told. "As informed by us to our national party leaders before the PIL was filed, Bihar's JD(U) unit has already asked Yadav and his workers to immediately stop hunting for Manipuri travellers in trains," Tombi added. Yadav's comments and acts have triggered a panicky situation in the northeast, especially in Manipur, he said. A few days ago, the Bihari community living in Imphal strongly condemned Yadav's act and demanded fitting action against him. The Bihari traders, most of whom were born in Imphal, said there was no violence action against any migrant workers, including Biharis, in Manipur during the widespread campaign for implementation of the Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) in the state. Urging Yadav to stop his hate campaign, the non-local traders asked him to visit Manipur to check the situation himself. After two-month agitation, the Manipur assembly passed the "Protection of Manipur Peoples (PMP) Bill 2015", "The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015" and "The Manipur Shops and establishment (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015" on August 31. (Agencies)

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DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

Manipur, Sep 13: Famed spiritual leader Swami Baba Ramdev who is also well known in the fields of Yoga and Ayurveda would visit the State next year.A combined office of the Imphal East and Imphal West units of Bharat Swabhiman and Patanjali Yoga Samiti, Manipur was opened today at the Gulap Building, Thangal Bazar.

Speaking at the occasion, Bharat Swabhiman and Pa-tanjali Yoga Samiti, Manipur chief MC Binod Kumar said

that Swami Baba Ramdev would come to Imphal on February 13 next year. He would stay hear till February 17 and teach Yoga to the people of the State.The Samiti would organise a grand function in connection with Swami Ramdev's visit to the State.Ahead of Ramdev's visit, chief central coordinator of the Patanjali Group of Institutions Rakesh Mittal would be coming to the State in the last week of September.Meanwhile,

an advanced Yoga teachers' training course would be started from tomorrow. Necessary arrangements are being made to open Yoga class for media persons free of cost, Binod Kumar said. Bharat Swabhiman Imphal West head Ph Biren, Patanjali Yoga Samiti Imphal West head N Ibohal, Imphal West Mahila Patanjali Yoga Samiti head L Leibaklei and Imphal East Patanjali Yoga Samiti vice-head M Sobita were also present at the gathering. (Agencies)

concentrate on matters related to development activities, we suggest that issuing of a notification (or order) is enough rather bringing a fresh draft bill for the purpose.

Announcing the decision to cut the distant from where the peace march would start, Lawai said, " The march has been decided that it will now start from Motphran towards the Main Secretariat and not from Mawlai, like it was arrange earlier, in order to avoid unnecessary traffic jams in the city." While permission for the peace march have been granted, the NGOs have maintained that the march is not to have any confrontation with police

but it is for exercising their democratic rights to protest on the issue. Meanwhile, the leaders of the NGOs have also appealed to all the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) - KHADC and JHADC to strongly demand the deletion of the Para 12 A from the Sixth Schedule through the proposed amendment of the same. "We feel that this is the only solution to end the present imbroglio between the state and district councils, which will also help to have a more clarity on the subjects and jurisdictions among them," Lawai said adding " Above all, we feel that the State government should respect the district councils by refraining from in-

terfering into their powers." They have also rejected the views by some political parties who recent stated that they will accept laws framed either by the district council, state or even the centre government as long as they have in them the provisions and spirit of the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill, 2014. "Such statements reflect that little knowledge is very dangerous when this issue related to traditional institutions and headmen are clear cut subjects matter of the ADCs," the HYC president said. According to the NGOs, the time demands for reviving and strengthening the district councils in the state but not for their dissolution. (Agencies)

Tripura-Bangla bus fare Rs 1500

Agartala, Sep 13: The Tripura government has fixed Rs 1,500 as fare per head for a journey between Agartala and Benapole border of West Bengal across Bangladesh.It will be a 14-hour comfortable journey in a Volvo bus that will leave Agartala at 4pm and reach Benapole at 6am the next day.The Tripura Road Transport Corporation (TRTC) authority, nodal agency for the bus service on the Indian side, will commence the service before the Durga Puja in the middle of October.The commissioner for transport, Samarjit Bhowmik, said the timing of the bus service was being finalised keeping in view the problems and needs of the people."The West Bengal transport authority is also launching its Volvo bus service to Agartala. The fare of Agartala-Calcutta will be Rs 1,500 but the existing

fare between Dhaka and Agartala is Rs 2,000. We have already sought clearance on several issues from the Union ministry of surface transport and communication," said Bhowmik. An attempt was being made by the external affairs ministries of the two countries to simplify travel through a one-page special permission letter instead of markings on passports and visas, he added. "The model of travelling in countries under the European union will be replicated to simplify procedure," said Bhowmik.

"We have already sent three drivers to train in operating Volvo buses to Bangalore. The sophisticated buses will have a capacity of 44 passengers and each bus will cost Rs 92 lakhs," said Bhowmik.

The Union ministry of shipping has sanctioned Rs 12 crore for conducting a detailed survey and studying the feasibility of

connecting Tripura's Gomati and Hawrah rivers with the Meghna at Ashuganj in Comilla district of Bangladesh. If the connection becomes a reality, there will be movement of passengers and goods on boats between India and Bangladesh through this waterway. Disclosing this, Bhowmik said both the rivers would be dredged and the feasibility studied. At present, the Hawrah river has lost navigability, though Gomati is partially navigable. Bhowmik said chief minister Manik Sarkar had mooted the idea, which is now being studied. "We have it from history that during princely rule big boats would float on both Gomati and Hawrah.

Now we are trying to revive those glorious days of the past. We hope it will be possible," said Bhowmik. (Agencies)

Father of 'harassed' Santiniketan girl threatens suicide Siliguri, Sep13 : Bhawani Pradhan, the father of a girl who was sexually harassed at Visva Bharati in Santiniketan in August 2014, on Saturday came down heavily on authorities concerned and threatened to commit suicide in front of the prime minister's residence if justice is denied. Addressing the Press here, Pradhan, a private painting tutor in Gangtok in Sikkim, said: "Despite running from pillar to post, my daughter, a BA firstyear student of Kala

Bhawan in Santinikentan, and us, have not been given justice. My daughter is still mentally traumatized and she is undergoing treatment in a Sikkim hospital. She is in no position to continue her studies. Her life and my family are almost ruined, mentally, financially and physically." We had met the Bolpur SP and other authorities concerned on 9 September, and gave them a one-month deadline to take action against the accused.

"If they act, I will re-

consider my decision, but if they don't, I will commit suicide in protest in front of the residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on 9 October," Pradhan said. "Three of the four accused persons are out on bail.

The fourth person is still not identified and he was never arrested.

Though the three accused were chargesheeted, the trial in the case has not started. I will meet the Bolpur SP in early October and before leaving for Delhi on 5 October," he

added."I cannot deny Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling's cooperation and help at the initial stage. But later, top officials of the Sikkim government

refused to help, since I was not a Sikkimese.

I was born in Kurseong in Darjeeling and settled in Sikkim," Pradhan alleged. He pointed fin-

gers at the West Bengal government and the "reluctant bureaucrats," who, according to him, assured him help in getting justice, but "did not cooperate".

Pradhan, who also contacted the Union Human Resources Development department, has demanded adequate compensation for his traumatized daughter, start of the trial in a fast-track court, transfer of the case to Sikkim, and action against the V-C and principal of Kala Bhawan. (Agencies)

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

PAGE 6

8 more galactic neighbours found hovering near our Milky Way Washington D.C, Sep 13 : A survey has found more celestial neighbours hovering near our Milky Way, suggesting that our sky is more crowded than we thought Scientists on the Dark Energy Survey, using one of the world's most powerful digital cameras, have discovered eight more faint ce-

lestial objects. Signs indicate that they, like the objects found by the same team earlier this year, are likely dwarf satellite galaxies, the smallest and closest known form of galaxies.Satellite galaxies are small celestial objects that orbit larger galaxies, such as our own Milky Way. Dwarf gal-

axies can be found with fewer than 1,000 stars, in contrast to the Milky Way, an average-size galaxy containing billions of stars.Scientists have predicted that larger galaxies are built from smaller galaxies, which are thought to be especially rich in dark matter, the substance that makes up about 25 percent of

the total matter and energy in the universe.

Dwarf satellite galaxies, therefore, are considered key to understanding dark matter and the process by which larger galaxies form.Scientists can only see the faintest dwarf galaxies when they are nearby, and had previously only found a few of them. If these

new discoveries are representative of the entire sky, there could be many more galaxies hiding in our cosmic neighborhood.Just this year, more than 20 of these dwarf satellite galaxy candidates have been spotted, with 17 of those found in Dark Energy Survey data, said Alex Drlica-Wagner of

the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, one of the leaders of the DES analysis. He added that they've nearly doubled the number of these objects they knew about in just one year, which is remarkable.The study appears in Astrophysical Journal. (ANI)

MP CM Chouhan misusing Rajnath Singh to visit political influence: Congress forward areas of J-K New Delhi, Sep 13 : Expressing serious concern over the Jhabua blast, the Congress Party on Sunday alleged that Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was misusing his political influence and asked him to take preventive steps to ensure that political patronage is stopped in the state."What action have you taken Chief Minister from the head of the district police, the head of

Indian warships deployed to Kuwait for naval exercises Mumbai, Sep 13 : Indian Naval Ships Deepak, Delhi, Tabar and Trishul are on a monthlong deployment to the Gulf to enhance bilateral ties and engage in naval exercises with friendly regional navies.The visiting ships form part of the Indian Navy's Western Fleet and are based at Mumbai. Of the four ships, INS Deepak and INS Tabar entered Kuwait on Sunday and shall remain there till September 16, during which the warships will have professional interactions for enhancing co-operation and sharing the nuances of naval operations including disaster management and combating maritime threats of terrorism and piracy.Apart from professional interactions, sports and social engagements are also planned, which are aimed at enhancing co-operation and understanding between the Navies.

India has an ancient maritime tradition and maritime interaction with the Gulf dates back to over 4000 years B.C. The Indian Navy has multi-dimensional capability comprising aircraft carriers, modern ships, submarines, aircraft and marine commandos.A notable feature of the Indian Navy's force structure is the fact that the overwhelming majority of its ships are designed and constructed in India.The Indian Navy has close and friendly ties with all navies in the Gulf and has been regularly exercising with many of them.The Indian Navy is also privileged to provide training and hydrographic support to several navies in the region. The involvement of Indian Naval ships in combating piracy off the coast of Somalia since October 2008 has further strengthened bilateral ties and interaction with navies in the region.India and Kuwait have traditionally enjoyed close and friendly relations. Cooperation between the two countries extends to the sectors of science and technology, oil refining and periodic seminars and symposia, in addition to defence cooperation.The growing defence cooperation between the two countries is evident by the increased high level military visits, cross training of naval officers and port visits by naval ships. India and Kuwait are also members of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), a voluntary and co-operative initiative between 35 countries of the Indian Ocean Region, which has served as an ideal forum for sharing of information and cooperation on maritime issues.The current visit seeks to underscore India's peaceful presence and solidarity with friendly countries in the Gulf and strengthen the existing bonds of friendship between India and Kuwait. (ANI)

the municipal authorities downwards? What actions have you taken against this person, the head of your party's Vyapam Prakosth Mandal? Is it not clearly a complete misuse of political influence? Is it not turning a nelsonian blind eye to patent illegalities being committed under your nose?"asked Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi. "You must take preventive steps that various such activities

mushrooming under your nose and political patronage are stopped forthwith not only in Jhabua but across your state," he added.The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister today visited the Petlaved blast site and assured every possible help to the affected people.He announced an increase in compensation amount and declared an ex-gratia of 10 lakh rupees each to the deceased family.

(ANI)

PM Modi thanks Zuckerburg for inviting him to visit Facebook HQ

Jammu ,Sep.13 : Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be visiting Leh, Ladakh on September 5 in order to assess the situation in forward areas and oversee the deployment of the Indo-

Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) force along Line of Actual Control (LAC).He is also likely to visit posts in the sector which has often witnessed firing from across the border.Singh will

then visit border posts in Chumar in eastern Ladakh, where Indian and Chinese troops had eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation in sub-zero temperatures in September 2014. (ANI)

DJB increases water connections limit in single property New Delhi, Sep 13 : In a move to provide relief to the consumers living in multi-storey flats, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has now allowed water connections for ten individual dwelling units in a single property.The decision would benefit ten lakh people and is aimed at bringing more consumers to DJB's water network.The existing "Delhi Water and Sewer

(Tariff and Metering) Regulations, 2012" provisions allowed only single bulk water connection for single properties which has more than six flats.The city has seen a rise in the multistorey flats which doesn't have the provision of an underground tank and would require more than six water connections.Any such property requiring more

than six individual water connections was to have an underground tank with boosting arrangement to supply water to the upper floors.The applications of individual flat owners who installed water connections were pending with DJB for its regularization. DJB's decision is followed by the requests for reviewing the need of this category. (ANI)

Balochistan Assembly Deputy Speaker's house set ablaze by suspected militants

New Delhi, Sep.13 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi today thanked Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg for inviting him to visit Facebook Headquarters and Townhall Q&A in San Francisco, California, during his upcoming visit to the US. "I thank Mark Zuckerberg for the invite to visit Facebook HQ and for the Townhall Q&A at 10 PM IST on 27th September," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

"I'm excited to announce that Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India will be visiting Facebook HQ later this month for a Townhall Q&A," Zuckerburg wrote earlier on his Facebook post."Prime Minster Modi and I will discuss how communities can work together to address social and economic challenges," he added. (ANI)

Karachi, Sep 13 : The houses of Pakistan's Balochistan Assembly Deputy Speaker Abdul Qudus Bizenjo and his relatives have been set ablaze by suspected militants in a village in the insurgency-hit Awaran district.According to the

Express Tribune, around 15 armed men converged on Bizenjo's village in the Shindi area of Awaran district's Jaho tehsil, a local Levies official said.

Tehsildar Abdul Ghafoor said that the men fired a volley of rockets and set fire around 20 houses

Lankan PM to leave for New Delhi today Colombo, Sep 13 : Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will leave for New Delhi today for his first overseas visit after assuming office last month.

According to Lanka Page, Wickremesinghe is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi dur-

ing his three-day visit beginning tomorrow.

Wickremesinghe is expected to formally request for India's support in Geneva during his visit that coincides with the commencement of the United Nations Human Rights Council's 30th session on Monday.Prime Minister

NPP blames BJP-PDP Govt. for anti-national activities in J-K New Delhi, Sep13 : National Panthers Party (NPP) chief Bheem Singh today held the BJP-PDP government responsible for anti-national activities in Jammu and Kashmir.Blaming the ruling BJP-PDP government for anti-national activities in Jammu and Kashmir, National Panthers Party (NPP) chief Bheem Singh today said

that the pro-Pakistan slogans raised at the 'Big Kashmir Marathon' was only to embarrass the country in front of the world."The ruling BJP-PDP government is responsible for all the anti-national activities in Jammu and Kashmir. I want to ask who organised this marathon.

This was a publicity stunt by the government," Singh told media

Three trapped after under-construction tunnel collapses in HP Panol (HP), Sep13 (ANI): Three labourers were trapped after an under-construction tunnel collapsed in Bilaspur town of Himachal Pradesh's Panol district.

Bilaspur's Sub Divisional Magistrate R. Pathania said the accident took place at 8:20 pm last night."Three labourers had gone inside

and got trapped accidently.

Machines have been installed to supply oxygen to the trapped labourers," he added.The tunnel is part of the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway. It is located at Kandrour between Bilaspur and Ghumarwin towns around 100 km from Shimla. (ANI)

including Bizenjo's. Bizenjo said the militants offered them safe passage before attacking the village with rockets and other heavy weapons.He said that nobody was injured in the attack and that the militants torched his relatives' houses as well. (ANI)

here."No Muslim organisation has ever organized such a marathon. This marathon was organised only to embarrass India and gain international publicity," he added while commenting on today's incident at Hazratbal where a clash broke out between the police and protestors after pro-Pakistan slogans were raised near the venue of

the 'Big Kashmir Marathon'.The 21kilometre marathon was to begin from Naseem Bagh at Kashmir University and go along the Dal Lake. However, the youth raised slogans in favour of freedom and pelted rocks on the forces guarding the venue in the varsity.The police and paramilitary forces later baton charged the protesting youth. (ANI)

Modi and his Lankan counterpart are expected to discuss the devolution of power under the 13 Amendment, aspects of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the unresolved fishermen's issue and Indian Ocean security among other issues. (ANI)

Our moon is surrounded by neon Washington D.C, Sep 13 : NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft has found neon in the lunar atmosphere.The moon's thin atmosphere contains neon, a gas commonly used in electric signs on Earth because of its intense glow. While scientists have speculated on the presence of neon in the lunar atmosphere for decades, LADEE spacecraft has confirmed its existence for the first time.The presence of neon in the exosphere of the moon has been a subject of speculation since the Apollo missions, but no credible detections were

made, said lead author Mehdi Benna.Benna added that they were very pleased to not only finally confirm its presence, but to show that it is relatively abundant.There's not enough neon to make the moon visibly glow because the moon's atmosphere is extremely tenuous, about 100 trillion times less dense than Earth's atmosphere at sea level. A dense atmosphere like Earth's is relatively rare in our solar system because an object has to be sufficiently massive to have enough gravity to hold onto it.The study appears in Geophysical Research Letters. (ANI)

Case registered against Rajendra Kasawa in Jhabua blast incident Bhopal, Sep 13 : A case has been registered against local contractor Rajendra Kasawa in connection to the Jhabua blast that occurred yesterday, for keeping gelatine sticks in his house, which ultimately resulted in the explosion.Explosives were found in a godown owned by Kasawa, who absconded after the explosion. The death toll in the blast has reached 89 and around 100 people have been injured in the accident. (ANI)

President Mukherjee to present Rajbhasha Awards New Delhi, Sep 13: President Pranab Mukherjee will present the Rajbhasha awards in various categories on the occasion of Hindi Divas at a function in Vigyan Bhavan on Monday.The Rajbhasha awards were

instituted by the Rajbhasha Vibhag, Ministry of Home Affairs, to recognize excellent contribution of the ministries, departments and nationalized banks in the field of Hindi language.

(ANI)

Pak to present evidence showing India's involvement in terrorism to UN: Aziz Karachi, Sep 13 : Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has said that evidences that prove India's involvement in terrorism would be presented before the United Nations and New Delhi.According to the Dawn, Aziz said that Pakistan had gathered information that provides insight into terrorist activi-

ties that India had aided and abetted on Pakistan's soil.Aziz's statement came at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) in Karachi, where he was speaking to journalists after attending the Foreign Ministers' Forum 2015.He also expressed grief over the crane collapse at Mecca's Grand Mosque, which claimed more than 100 lives and injured scores more since Friday. (ANI)

Jhabua blast: MP Police file case against contractor for storing explosives Petlawad (Madhya Pradesh), Sep 13 : The Madhya Pradesh police today registered a case against local contractor Rajendra Kaswa for storing huge quantity of explosives, which allegedly led to the blast in Petlawad town on Saturday.

Kaswa, who is now absconding, reportedly owns the licence to use explosive material for digging wells in rocky areas.

Stockpile of gelatin rods were stored illegally inside the godown owned by him

inside the building where the blast took place.SubDivisional Police Officer Abdul Rasheed Khan said an FIR has been filed against Kaswa and the police have sealed all his properties. "He has been booked under Sections 3/ 4 of the Explosives Act and Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code. All of his properties have been sealed, including his house and warehouses.

We will be searching all of them today," said Khan.

Meanwhile, Urmila Jual, a

doctor treating the injured at a Community Health Centre, said the death toll has increased to 89 and around 150 people were injured."Eighty two people died, plus seven unidentified bodies have been sent outside. So, total 89 have died," said Jual.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced Rs. two lakh as compensation to the family members of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 for those injured. (ANI)

Hardik postpones his 'reverse Dandi march' over quota issue Surat, Sep 13 : The Patel community agitation leader in Gujarat Hardik Patel today postponed his 'reverse Dandi march' and agreed to meet state Chief Minister Anandiben Patel.Patel who is leading his community's demand for quota in government jobs and educational institutions however warned that the rally will be

held if the meeting remains fruitless. "Senior cabinet minister of Gujarat, Saurabh Patel invited Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) for talks on Monday saying all the issues will be resolved in the meeting," said Patel. "If they do not come with any solution

by Monday then by Tuesday (September 15) morn-

ing the march would start from Dandi for which the legal permission will be given from the chief minister's behalf," he added.Patel, had earlier cancelled a similar planned march on September 6, said he is firm on his demand.

"We were carrying our agitation peacefully but when the police personnel hit our

children it is our responsibility that we ensure some action on those police personnel. Only after that will we begin our struggle for reservation," said Patel.Earlier on Saturday, the 22-year-old leader had said the rally would go on "at any cost" even as the government had turned down his request for hold-

ing the rally for a second time.Violence broke out across the state after police detained Patel briefly, leading to at least nine deaths.

Members of the Patel community said they will continue to demand changes to policies that, they argue, unfairly favour groups at the lower end of country's social order. (ANI)

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

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NEIGHBOURS

Bangladeshi witnessed Mecca crane crash Dhaka, Sep 13: Bangladeshi pilgrim Salahuddin Ahmed, a businessman from Savar who is now staying in Saudi Arabia to observe the hajj pilgrimage with his father Abdul Jalil, witnessed the crane crashing into the Masjid Al Haram or Grand Mosque of Mecca on Friday."I was on the third floor of a market beside the mosque when the crane crashed [around 5:45pm local time]. The pilgrims were set to say their Maghrib prayers. "But because of a strong sandstorm that took place a while ago, many of them were taking shelter at the market to avoid rain. The crane

collapsed all of a sudden," Salauddin told media."Many pilgrims died on the spot while scores of people sustained injuries.Those took shelter outside the mosque survived the tragic accident. Otherwise, the death toll would have been much higher," he added. According to the Bangladeshi consulate in Jeddah, some 40 Bangladeshis were injured in the incident. All of them but one was discharged from Al Zayed in Makkah hospital after first aid.As many as 107 hajj pilgrims were killed and around 240 others injured in the incident.

The Saudi officials have blamed heavy rain and

Pakistani leader gunned down in Balochistan Islamabad, Sep 13: A leader of Pakistan`s Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) party was shot dead in Balochistan.Hafiz Abdul Wahid Rakhshani, JUI-F`s general secretary in Balochistan`s Greasha area was gunned down by unidentified men on the way to his home . (Agencies)

100 Bangladeshi garment factory workers mysteriously fall sick Dhaka, Sep 13: More than 100 workers of a readymade garment factory near the Bangladeshi capital mysteriously fell ill today; sparking protests from their colleagues.The workers of Keya Nit Composite garment factory in Gazipur's Konabari area fell ill for reasons yet unknown.

Konabari police outpost Sub-Inspector Mobarok Hossain said the workers have been admitted to area hospitals.Konabari Sharif General Hospital's doctor Khan Sharif said more than 100 workers

were taken to the hospital this morning."We are assuming that the workers are suffering from mass hysteria," he added.

Following the incident, hundreds of workers of the factory stopped their work and started demonstrations. Later, police brought the situation under control. The factory was ordered shut today to calm the situation. In June 2013; nearly 500 workers of a garment factory near Dhaka were admitted to hospitals after drinking contaminated water. (Agencies)

Situation tense after protests erupt in Damauli Kathmandu, Sep 13:Youths at Damauli in Tanahunhave hit the streets since early Sunday morning to protest the excessive use of force by police on Saturday's demonstration. Businessmen, expressing their solidarity in the protests, have closed their shops in Damauli bazaar.Local Damauli youths and businessmen obstructed the Prithivi Highway since 8 am this morning saying that police barged into Hotel Machapuchre that was closed at around 7 pm yesterday evening and beat up

owner Lalu Gurung and a motorcyclist. Gurung is receiving medical treatment at Pokhara.Meanwhile, police fired several rounds of teargas to disperse the crowd.Earlier, one Roshan Dura, 18, of Byas-1, Bhadgaun succumbed to bullet injuries while undergoing treatment at Pokharabased Manipal hospital.

Likewise, Kiran Gurung, 28, Suraj Sunar, 18, and Keshav Neupane were injured during the police firing and are receiving treatment at Fabcity and Manipal hospital. (Agencies)

strong winds of unusually high speed for the uprooting of trees, the fall of panels and the collapse of the crane.General Suleiman al-Amr, director general of the Civil Defence Authority, told Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV yester-

day that the number of deaths might increase.

The Emir of Makkah Prince Khaled Al-Faisal commissioned a committee to investigate the cause of the deadly collapse.The one still under treatment is Chand Box from Shariatpur, said

Consul General of Jeddah Consulate AKM S h a h i d u l Karim."According to latest information, no Bangladeshi was killed in the accident. Our officials are gathering information about the Bangladeshi pilgrims," he added.Asked whether the injured pilgrims would be able to perform hajj - set to begin on September 21, Karim said: "All of them are now out of danger.

We have been informed that they can perform the hajj."A press release of the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said that the Bangladeshis were injured due to stampede after the incident.Prime

Myanmar rights body urges govt to take action against police Yangon, Sep 13: Myanmar's national human rights body has urged the government to take legal action against police who beat up protesters at an education reform rally, as dozens of activists remain detained over a case that has sparked international alarm.The rare call from the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) in the former junta-run nation on Friday comes after its investigation into the March student-led

protest.Violent scenes flared at the rally in Letpadan town, some 140km north of Yangon, with baton- wielding riot police arresting more than 100 activists in one of the most concerted challenges to reformist President Thein Sein's government."Making arrests through beatings goes against official police procedures," the MNHRC said in a statement, adding it had documented "injuries to the head and face of some

protesters"."Legal action must be taken against police force members who didn't follow the correct procedures," the body said. It added that activists who threw stones at police officers should also face legal action. The crackdown on the March protest came as scores marched to meet fellow activists in Yangon as they called for changes to the country's education laws, including decentralising the school system and allowing student unions.In

reports.Our report Syed Samiul Basher Anik reported that the agitated students blocked Housebuilding crossing as well as Abdullahpur crossing and started protesting against VAT around 12pm.The students were from BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT), Asian University, Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology, East West Medi-

June, Myanmar's Parliament approved amendments to a controversial Bill, including approving student unions but without adopting the central activist demand on decentralisation. A total of 81 activists are facing trial with a few dozen granted bail.Students have long been at the forefront of political action in Myanmar, where campaigning is under way for crucial elections on Nov 8. (Agencies)

Beijing, Sep 13:An estimated 6 lakh descendants of Chinese philosopher Confucius will be included in the thinker's genealogical record books.Compilers have started updating the records in Qufu, Shandong Province and descendants may inquire and register at any time, said Kong Deyong, a 77generation descendant of the revered Chinese philosopher and chief compiler of the family tree."At least an additional 600,000 descendants of Confucius will be included," he said, adding that the latest revision also represents a change to an old rule that the books may only be revised every 30 or 60 years, local media reported.The new addi-

tions are mainly ethnic minority members, women and people living overseas who are blood descendants of Confucius whose names had not been included in the family tree. He said a digital database of the family tree is being built to ensure the records stay up-to-date. Confucius (551 BC-479 BC) was a great teacher and thinker whose theories have been a dominant ideology in the country for more than 2,000 years. China's ruling Communist Party has returned to many traditional Confucian ideas since the 1990s, emphasizing the need for social harmony and respect for authority in an increasingly divided and materialistic society. (Agencies)

US, Chinese officials discuss cyber security after Obama's warning London, Sep 13: Senior American and Chinese officials have held talks to discuss cyber security and other issues after US President Barack Obama warned that cyber attacks from China were unacceptable. According to the media, cyber security has been a sensitive issue between the US and China. Obama's National Security Advisor Susan

Rice and China's senior Communist party secretary for political and legal affairs Meng Jianzhu had a "frank and open exchange about cyber issues", said the White House. The move appears to be triggered in particular by a recent breach of US federal government personnel files that left millions of officials exposed. (ANI)

Sri Lanka to release 16 Indian fishermen to mark PM's visit Colombo, Sep 13: Ahead of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's first foreign visit to India, at least 16 Indian fishermen arrested recently for allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters will be released in a goodwill gesture. Prime Minister's Office said a fishing organisation in Tamil Nadu had made an appeal to the government to consider the medical condition of the arrested fishermen.The fishermen are to be released later today on humanitarian grounds, the office said.

Wickremesinghe will leave tomorrow on a

three-day visit to India, seas since being aphis first official visit over- pointed Prime Minister

Anti-VAT protesters block roads across Dhaka Dhaka, Sep 13:AntiVAT protesters have taken to the streets across Dhaka, demanding withdrawal of the 7.5% VAT imposed on tuition fees in the private universities.Boycotting classes, several hundreds of students are staging sit-in demonstrations on different city streets from today morning. Following the demonstrations, a huge traffic jam has been created across the capital city, triggering untold sufferings to the commuters.The protesting students of several private universities located in Dhanmondi area have blocked Dhanmondi 27 road today around 11 A.MThe students were seen chanting slogans against the imposition of VAT on tuition fees, our reporter Abu Hayat Mahmud

Minister Sheikh Hasina sent a message of condolence to the King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, expressing deep sympathy to the victims and their family members.Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali has also sent a message to his S a u d i counterpart.Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh, Consulate General in Jeddah and Hajj Office in Mecca are constantly vigilant to immediately address any concern of Bangladeshi pilgrims and expatriate workers, who may fall victim of the tragic incident, officials said. (Agencies)

6 lakh descendants to join Confucius family

cal University, Bangladesh Medical University.Traffic from Uttara, Tongi and Abdullahpur came to a halt due to the blockade.Meanwhile, the students of North South University (NSU) and Independent University Bangladesh (IUB) brought out rallies from their campuses and blocked the road in front of the gate of the Basundhara Residential

Area.Vehicular movement from Satmasjid Road, Asadgate crossing to Sukrabad crossing, Science Laboratory crossing came to a halt due to the demonstrations of State University Bangladesh (SUB) and University of Development Alternatives ( U D A ) students.Students of Dhaka International University (DIU) and World University blocked the road in Panthapath signal area, halting the traffic from Rasel Square to Panthapath signal and Bashundhara City to Panthapath.Brac University students brought out a rally in the morning and then blocked Mohakhali-Gulshan road around 12:30pm.On Thursday, Dhaka suffered from severe traffic congestion and gridlock

after students from a number of universities took to the streets in several areas of Dhaka protesting against the imposition of 7.5% VAT on the fees at private universities, med schools and engineering colleges.A day before that, police fired rubber bullets on a group of protesters on the Rampur Bridge who were mostly students of the East West University located in the vicinity.After that incident, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) announced that the students would not have to pay the VAT, rather the university authorities would pay the indirect tax.On Friday, the private university authorities requested the government to reconsider the decision.

(Agencies)

in January this year.Wickremesinghe is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and President Pranab Mukhrjee.The talks are expected to touch upon the sensitive fishermen issue.In March, Sri Lanka ordered the release of 86 Indian fishermen arrested for allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters as a goodwill gesture to mark Modi's visit, the first by an Indian premier to this country in over 25 years.Later the same month, Sri Lankan

President Maithripala Sirisena ordered the release of 54 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu.In response to opposition criticism that Wickremesinghe was expected to enter the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India to the detriment of Sri Lanka, Minister of Strategic Development and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama said in a statement that the CEPA would not figure in the Lankan premier's agenda in New Delhi.

(Agencies)

Lankan war crimes issue to come up at UNHRC tomorrow Colombo, Sep 13: The alleged war crimes during Sri Lanka's final assault on the LTTE will come up once again tomorrow at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), with the US set to bring a resolution supporting a domestic investigation unlike previous ones in which it insisted on an international probe. The draft has been sponsored by the US and other core group of countries called 'Human Rights in Sri Lanka, with focus on government efforts to provide reconciliation and accountability and based on findings of OHCHR report'.

"The High Commissioner (for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein) will present the findings of his office on the allegations of war crimes in Sri Lanka to the Council," Ambassador Joachim Ruecker, the President of the UNHRC, told media. The presentation of the report was deferred until this month by the UNHRC as a goodwill gesture towards

the government of Maithripala Sirisena who succeededMahinda Rajapaksa as the President of Sri Lanka in January.The Rajapaksa administration resisted the investigation dubbing it an impingement on the country's sovereignty.

The Sirisena government, however, engaged the UN and the larger international community in contrast to the Rajapaksa administration and sought to address some of the concerns of the Tamil minority.The OHCHR report was handed over to Colombo on Friday night.

The Lankan government has five days to make its response in writing."This will be a very interesting session, once again," Ruecker said, commenting on the three-week long regular session of the UNHRC."Country-specifically we will talk of Democratic Republic of Congo, we will speak about Sri Lanka, we will speak about Ukraine and Syria, once again," said Ruecker, a vet-

eran German diplomat who was appointed as UNHRC President in January.Of particular significance to India will be the issue of Sri Lanka.While India had supported US-sponsored resolutions on Sri Lanka in 2012 and 2013, it abstained from voting in 2014 stating that it is "India's firm belief that adopting an intrusive approach that undermines national sovereignty and institutions is counterproductive."The issue would be a tricky terrain for India as DMK chief M Karunanidhi has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to back the USsponsored resolution which has reportedly been watered-down seeking a domestic inquiry on war crimes.Apart from the Lankan issue, the session will also see draft resolutions on Syria, Yemen, Sudan, death penalty, indigenous peoples, rights of migrants, right to peace, countering violent extremism, among others. (Agencies)

PAGE 8

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

Tikapur and Ethnic Violence in Nepal Machil fake encounter case

A brutal massacre shows the dark side of identity politics.

Army court martial has awarded life sentence An Army court martial has awarded life sentence to six of its personnel found guilty in the Machil fake encounter case of 2010. The Army verdict came in December 2013, but remained unconfirmed so far for procedural reasons But in a recent statement issued, a Northern Command spokesman said those sentenced were Colonel Dinesh Pathania; Captain Opendra; Havildar Devender Kumar; Lance Naik Lakhmi; Lance Naik Arun Kumar; and rifleman Abas Hussain. This is the first time Army personnel are being punished for human rights abuse in the Valley.

On April 29, 2010, the Army killed three youths in the Machil sector of Kupwara district on the ground that they were foreign militants. However, a police investigation found out that the dead, Reyaz Ahmad, Mohammad Shafi and Shahzad Ahmadas, were residents of Nadihal Rafiabad of Baramulla district. They were made to come to Machil by a former special police officer, Bashir Ahmad Lone, and his accomplices with the offer of jobs and later handed over to the Army personnel for Rs. 50,000 each. The bodies were exhumed on May 28, 2010.

A colonel, two majors, five soldiers, one Territorial Army man and two civilians were named by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in a charge sheet filed before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in 2010.

Following this there was a public outcry after photographs of those killed in the alleged encounter were released, as relatives and neighbours of the slain persons claimed that the three civilians were framed and killed in a stage managed gunfight and they were not connected with militancy in any way.

Police investigations later proved the three civilians were lured with promises of jobs and taken to the border where they were killed in a fake encounter for money and rewards. The state government too then constituted a high-level inquiry commission to probe the killings, but its report was never made public.

The killings, meanwhile, sparked widespread unrest in the Valley and 123 people died. The Army initiated court martial proceedings in December 2013, based on the findings of a court of inquiry report that was submitted by Brigadier G S Sangha, the then Commander of 68 Mountain Brigade. The Army probe was set up following a notice issued by the Sopore Chief Judicial Magistrate based on a chargesheet filed by local police against 11 people nine Army personnel and two civilians - who were charged under Sections 302 (murder), 364 (abduction), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 34 (common intent) of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC). Thus the verdict by the court martial in the Machil encounter case represents the first instance where Army personnel have been convicted for an instance of human rights abuse in Kashmir.

Netaji files' controversy What is the real secret lying hidden since the memory lane?

Unlike the previous UPA government, the NDA government has agreed to make files on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's disappearance/death public. There are 41 files on Subhas Chandra Bose, created between 1953 and 2000. Two - 'INA Treasure' and 'Death of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: Appointment of an enquiry commission to go into the circumstances of death' - have been declassified, and can be accessed at the National Archives of India. Of the remaining 39 files, four are 'Top Secret', 20 'Secret', five 'Classified' and 10 'Unclassifed'. Two of the four 'Top Secret' files are about the transfer of Netaji's ashes to India and the official correspondence with, and about, his widow and daughter. The other two are titled 'Death/Disappearance of Netaji SC Bose Justice Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry'. While most of the 20 'Secret' files pertain to Bose's disappearance, one is titled 'Bharat Ratna Award: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Subhas Chandra Bose, JRD Tata and Morarji Desai', evidently a discussion on who should be conferred the highest civilian award. One of the 'Classified' files is on Bose's mortal remains "kept in the Rankoji Temple in Japan on behalf of Govt. of India". In all, 21 files pertain to disappearance or circumstances of Netaji's death, and the appointment of inquiry committees. Those asking for the files to be declassified hope they will reveal the 'truth' behind Bose's death. At least three judicial commissions have probed the matter, but their reports were never accepted by the Centre. The Justice Manoj Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry set up in 1999 said Netaji was indeed dead, but he did not die in a plane crash over Taiwan, and the ashes in a Japanese temple were not Netaji's. But the government did not accept his report. As the 'mystery' continued, demands for the files to be made public kept coming.

An application filed by RTI activist Subhash Chandra Agrawal on September 14, 2013 asked whether it was true that there were some files related to Bose with the union government, and sought complete copies, along with the details of the matter. The application also sought copies of requests made by people to make the files public, and the action taken by the government on the requests. It has also come to notice that sometimes Bose fancied himself as a world leader like Hitler and Mussolini. The declassification ball is now clearly in the government's court. It is necessary for the people of India to know the truth.

Whether it is good or bad for Netaji, we do not know but the truth must emerge.

?

... Manish Gyawali

Identity politics, whatever form it takes, always carries with it a risk of violence and thus must be navigated very carefully. However, while identity politics (or ethnic politics) may not be palatable to everybody because of its potential for creating communal strife, the idea of ethnic politics itself is not wrong; especially if the group in question is marginalized, discriminated against, or subjugated. In fact, identity politics is generally the preserve of downtrodden members of society, who often use communal solidarity to push themselves out of the dregs.

The violent incident in Tikapur in Western Nepal in which thousands of Tharus - an oft downtrodden and marginal community - brutally killed eight police officers with spears and homemade guns has brought both these ideas to the forefront of Nepali politics. The protesters were demonstrating against a division of the country that fails to take ethnic considerations into account. In particular, they worried that the Tharus would not be given their own autonomous province, but would be subsumed within two territorial entities delineated on the basis of geography.

In Nepal, identity politics has, since the reinstatement of democracy in 1990, taken various forms. The most conspicuous of these is the demand for separate, ethnically delineated provinces such as the one that the Tharus had been demanding. Proponents of this idea called it "ethnic autonomy," or more commonly "ethnic federalism." Not all ethnic groups have historically been supportive of this idea. Significant numbers of only two groups - Limbus of the Far East and the Madhesis of the Terai - generally wanted complete autonomy for their regions. They believed that they were culturally different from the rest of the country, and thus should be able to determine their own future.

However, the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) began to champion the idea of ethnic autonomy in the late 2000s, promising to cre-

ate a new constitution in which federation along ethnic lines would be a key component. Although they were initially a ragtag mix of guerrillas, the Maoists quickly became accomplished fighters.

By 2006, they had signed a peace deal with the government and joined mainstream politics. In 2008, they became the largest

party in the country, a position they enjoyed until 2013.From the outset of their entry into democratic politics, the Maoists strove to bolster their credibility with ethnic groups by guaranteeing a Constitution in which states would be demarcated on the basis of identity.

As a result of their support for a constitutionally guaranteed ethnic autonomy, the elites of other ethnic groups also became more receptive to the idea. The support of a group as powerful as the Maoists for such a move bolstered the faith among these ethnic elites that constitutionally mandated ethnic autonomy was indeed possible. In Nepal, although groups other than Limbus and Madhesis have rarely given overt support to the idea of formal ethnic autonomy, they have always resented the way in which the values and mores of the dominant community has been imposed on them, such as the way in which symbols dear to Hill Aryan elites have been declared "national" symbols. The Nepali language - the most potent and far reaching symbol of Nepali nationalism has significantly weak-

place that is now called Tikapur, and that many of them were systematically driven out - or worse, held in bondage.

These bonded laborers, called Kamaiyas, were legally freed only in 2000, well after the state's war against the Maoists was underway.

It is not unreasonable to suspect that the Maoists used ethnic groups cynically in a move to gain power. Indeed, today, the mainstream faction of the Maoists has come out in support of a distinctly non-ethnic federal model, indicating thus a malleable ideology on their part. If there is something for which the Maoists should be held accountable, it is their complete betrayal of their earlier stance on ethnic autonomy.

As the evolving situation with the Patels in Gujarat shows, identity politics is in no danger of dying out in South Asia, even in its more capitalistic and entrepreneurial districts. For South Asians, the bonds of caste and community will always be very strong, often rivaling those of a treating all communities ization. It became a for an ethno-linguistic state or nation. Morehodgepodge like Nepal. equally. somewhat absurd contest over, unlike the economiThus, contrary to in which both sides ac- In almost the same man- cally and politically powpublic opinion, the cused each other of be- ner today, opinion seems erful Patels, the Tharus Maoists were never a ing regressive. The to be turning against it. and other marginalized truly "communist" party Maoists, who fancied Given more incidents like communities in Nepal ofin any of their avatars. themselves as being at the one that occurred at ten have very real grievThey strongly supported the vanguard of the pro- Tikapur, opinions will ances. Identity politics, ethnic politics both when gressive movement in harden still further. for all its shortcomIn addition, opinion then, they were guerillas and Nepal, accused the oppoings and risks, would apwhen they laid down pear to be the most certain way out. Violent identity politics is almost guaranteed unless the It is not unreasonable to suspect that the Maoists state, and society at large, used ethnic groups cynically in a move to gain power. make an honest effort to understand the grievIndeed, today, the mainstream faction of the Maoists ances of its most has come out in support of a distinctly non-ethnic fedmarginalized elements. eral model, indicating thus a malleable ideology on their Yet the most part. If there is something for which the Maoists should marginalized ethnic groups have to underbe held accountable, it is their complete betrayal of stand that using violence their earlier stance on ethnic autonomy. to advance their aims will bring opprobrium, potentially leading to more setbacks, hardened oppositheir arms and joined sition parties (the Nepali has also begun to harden tion, and a reversal of democratic politics. They Congress and the United against the Maoists for progress. The lives of the had always tried to sup- Marxists-Leninists or their role in "incubating" policemen who were so port the culture and the UML) of seeking to re- ethnic passions. Many barbarically murdered traditions of communi- vert to a unitary, "feudal- thus hold the Maoists in- are as important as those ties they worked with - istic" system in which the directly to blame for the of the Tharu Kamaiyas by using cultural dominant ethnic groups incident at Tikapur. This who were deprived of troupes, for instance. would once again play is not entirely fair. While their freedom and dignity Why were the Maoists so the leading role, leaving the Maoists themselves for so long. Surely this invested in promoting the marginalized out in committed numerous could be the minimum ethnic culture (and later, the cold. Their detractors atrocities during the war shared understanding ethnic autonomy)? Per- accused them of playing years, they did help bring based on which peace can haps they hoped to win communal politics by to light atrocities com- prevail. more supporters amongst creating an ethnically di- mitted against marginal Manish Gyawali is a indigenous people who vided society in which groups like the Tharu. graduate of Miami Unimight otherwise not be loyalty to caste and There is no denying that versity and Kathmandu particularly fond of com- ethnicity would outweigh the Tharu were the indig- University. He is a conmunism. In any case, loyalty to the nation and enous occupants of the sultant and writer. ened fluency in ethnic tongues. Although the ruling political elites in Nepal almost always profess to be progressive, they often have a blind spot when it comes to culture - equating their values with those of the entire nation. By contrast, the Maoists had promised to be different,

they became identified with the idea while their detractors accused them of promoting communalism. Their detractors' ideas began to take hold, and increasingly the public and even some of their own supporters began to fear that ethnic autonomy and identity politics could lead to communal polar-

even lead to the break up of the country along communal lines. Sound and fury often outweighed substance.

Indeed, there has been no real substantive debate on federalism. Initially it was accepted almost as a fait accompli, but without any real consideration of its aptness

Assam Floods And Employees Strike

Sir, At a time, when the entire machinery of the state Government has been pressed into action for giving relief to the flood-victims, when there has been a substantial erosion in the credibility of the state ruling dispensation Vis-Ă -vis its efforts to mitigate the sufferings of

the flood-victims, the strike resorted to by the employees of the Deputy commissioners' and circle officers' offices raise many eyebrows. Are the salaries of these employees not at par with the rest of the employees of the state Government? If not, it will be plausible for the Government to put them at par with the rest of the employees. Whatever might be the reason, this is not the correct time to paralyze the administration. As far as we know, in the event of a natural-calamity of the likes of the ongoing floods, no government employee can resort to strike as the calamities ruffling the life of the people are tantamount to a state of "Emergency'. Any employee found to have neglected his/her duties is to be constructed as dereliction of duties and the employee flouting the code of conduct of the govt. service is liable for suspension. The people of Assam, in order to make the process of recruitment transparent want that the qualification of the employees should proportionately be high with high percentage. Of course if the recruitment is construed as a goose laying golden eggs by the Tarun Gogoi led govern-

ment, we have no comment. Anarchism prevailing all around under the slack leadership of Tarun Gogoi should be bridled forthwith.

Your etc.

Ashok Bordoloi Dibrugarh

Best Letter The best letter of the month in the Letter to the Editor section will be awarded an amount of Rs 200. So please keep writing.

Letters to the editor and articles should be sent to : The Eastern Today Chowkidingee, Near Sankardeva Hospital Mancotta Road, Dibrugarh-786003 (Assam) Ph: 0373-2328944 Web : editor.easterntoday@gmail.com

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

Page 9

OP-ED

Toilet - Yes! Use - No. Sunita Narain Flushes Out The Truth About The PM's Promise Last August 15, speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort, the prime minister made a very important announcementhis government would ensure "there is no school in India without separate toilets for boys and girls" by the next Independence Day. Exactly one year later, the Ministry of Human Resource Development has announced that this target has been met and that some 417,000 toilets have been built in 261,000 schools.

This is no mean achievement, especially given the dire urgency and importance of this task. The fact is that lack of sanitation facilities is a reason for high dropout rates in schools-particularly of girls. It is also linked to higher disease burden. It is a basic human need-as basic as eating or breathing-and needs to be secured for human dignity. Most critically, toilets in schools are potential game-changers in society: quite simply, children learn the value of personal hygiene and bring

it home.

School toilets are harbingers of tomorrow's India. So, it must be asked if the target has really been met or is this just about numbers. To know this, the related question is: are the toilets that have been built at this breakneck speed in use? Do they have running water; is there provision for regular cleaning and maintenance? Only then can we boast that the task is done.

The government, while claiming 100 per cent success, says that it has repaired some 151,000 toilets and built the rest anew. On its website, it also explains that if anybody would like to volunteer to build toilets in schools, then it can provide designs. The cost of each toilet ranges from Rs 80,000 to Rs 1,30,000. In addition, it says that a hand pump-in cases where there is no piped water-and water tank will be needed, costing Rs 80,000, and another Rs 20,000 per year will be required for maintenance.

The original plan was

that corporate India would scale new heights and build these toilets.

Sunita Narain

The Prime Minister's Office, it is said, monitored week-by-week

100,000 toilets were built each month. This, in itself, is not bad. It could

That has not happened.

Private companies have been miserly and public sector undertakings are struggling to meet their school toilet commitments.

Funds however have not been the constraint.

The last government's Sarva Shiksha Abhiyana scheme to enforce the right to universal primary

education-includes substantial money for civil works to build school infrastructure, including toilets. In February this year, the government extended the provision to include reconstruction of dysfunctional toilets as well. It is also to the credit of the government that it did not lose sight of the importance of this task.

progress. The deadline was clearly on everybody's mind. My colleagues have calculated that some 2,850 toilets were built each month between August 2014 and March 2015.

As the deadline came closer, construction moved to feverish pace.

Between April and August this year, some

be that the government ramped up its capacity; it wanted to ensure it reached its goal.

But it is exactly because of all this that we must ask again: are the toilets functional? Frankly, there is no information about this in any report of the government. But media reportage from across the country suggests there is

still a long way to go before we can talk about total sanitation, even in schools. This is not surprising. There is enough data and experience to tell us that just installing the hardware is not sufficient to ensure a toilet's functionality. The lack of water is a major concern.

India's water programme has seen that even as settlements are 'reached' with supply, through hand pumps or wells, the number of unreached settlements goes up. The water dries up, hand pumps get broken and pipes collapse.

Same is the case with sanitation-toilets are built, but either never used or become dysfunctional. More importantly, there is the matter of where the waste goes and how it is treated. So, building a receptacle to collect human excreta is only a small part of access to sanitation.

We know, however, that school toilets are an easier part of the sanitation challenge. Schools have space for building toilets; ownership and

control is clear and maintenance can be ensured. However, we still need a plan to make sure it happens. Unless this is done, the ministry cannot say that it has met its target. In fact, what is happening could have the reverse effect. In this past year, toilets have been built using funds allocated to the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. But in the Union Budget 2015, money for this scheme has been cut. Now the question is: how do schools plan to maintain these facilities; who will hold them accountable and how will this be reported?

The fear I have is now that the task is shown as completed-it is checked and off the agendathere will be little attention to the crucial detail that is everything between success and failure-not just a toilet but a working toilet, which is used and cleaned. This is what total sanitation is about.

This is the least we can provide to our children.

A Wall Meant For Protection "If Voting Could Change AnyThat Is Depriving A Village In thing, It Would've Been Illegal": Uttarakhand Of Basic Amenities Is Democracy A Good Idea?

Many techniques have been employed by people and governments to keep wild elephants out of human settlements, or at least to reduce their visitation rates. Fire-crackers and bonfires, electric fences, cultivation of tobacco and red chilies and deep trenches have been tried so far. For the first time, an 'elephant-proof' wall has been constructed to mitigate conflict with the large herbivores. We were in Chorgalia, a picturesque region in the Himalayan foothills, 20 km from Haldwani, Uttarakhand, to learn about the wall constructed by residents of the hamlet in late 2013.

The village residents grapple with problems of crop-raiding by elephants and other wildlife, as Chorgalia is located on the edge of thick sal forests, now included in the Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary.

The one-kilometre wall, built with stone and cement, is over 2.4 m tall and about 0.5 m thick, running along the eastern edge of Chorgalia abutting the forest. A jagged steel strip with a razorsharp toothed edge was embedded along the top portion along the length of the wall. A narrow staircase was provided every 500 m along the wall to enable human movement. The wall looked robust and cost 40 lakh. Since the funds had run out mid-way, the wall could not be completed and encloses only a part of the village. Forest department officials believe the wall is the most effective mitigation method used so far in Uttarakhand.

So what's in a wall, one would ask? And has it attained its objective? We conducted a survey among local village residents. We tried to explore the extent to which the

Ghazala Shahabuddin and Arushi Parmar wall had reduced cropraiding by elephants, but ended up finding out more about the perceptions of local people regarding this mitigation structure and other impacts the elephant wall had on people's lives.

Chorgalia comprises four revenue villages with a diverse community, both caste and class wise.

About 66 per cent village residents own land, while the remaining 34 per cent are landless and completely dependent on wage labour or odd jobs for their sustenance.

Landless people also tend to be heavily dependent on fuelwood, while the more prosperous use other household energy sources such as biogas and LPG, in addition to wood. As is typical of the terai landscape, agricultural lands are fertile and the water table is high, enabling people to grow two crops a year-maize and rice in summer and wheat as the rabi crop.

Classic Perceptions Discussions with village residents revealed a history of opposition to the elephant wall. The construction of the wall began on the wrong foot.

Initially, it was being built very close to the walls of houses located along the edge of the village. This led to protests as the village paths were being obliterated. The wall was then shifted further towards the forest, about 10-15 m away. The construction took villagers by surprise, and most stated that they were not informed during the planning process.

Our survey revealed 45 per cent respondents felt elephants were entering the village as frequently

as they used to. They attributed this to the fact that the wall ran only along one edge of the forest nullifying any impact on elephant movement.

However, a similar proportion of respondents (39 per cent) stated elephant visits had reduced after the construction of the wall. To analyse this anomalous responses, we found that people who had a positive opinion of the wall's usefulness were those who had large landholdings (67 per cent) or lived in their homesteads located within the fields (72 per cent). These people were also not dependent on fuelwood (62 per cent). The survey showed how perceptions are guided by people's immediate needs .

Most of the negative responses came from households who were landless (70 per cent), fuelwood-dependent (59 per cent) and those living adjacent to the wall (59 per cent). The grievance of village residents towards the wall were many, but increased difficulty in procuring fuelwood and fodder were the most common ones.

Women usually collect wood and fodder, and they feared the wall would make escaping difficult if chased by an animal.

Some people felt that it had become impossible to take their cattle for grazing in the forest as animals could not navigate through the narrow passages. The wall had also turned a barrier for poor people without access to toilets in their homes.Interestingly, the villagers came up with their own improvisations, and placed bam-

boo ladders on either side of the wall, just outside their houses especially if they were not situated close to the gaps.

Walled Barriers But what if the wall were never constructed at all? Were other alternatives possible? The forest department has a scheme which entitles people suffering crop damage to monetary compensation, for which funds are always at hand.

However, most respondents said the scheme was a non-starter. One resident had not received any compensation even a year after applying, while another said the amount awarded was paltry to make up for the crop damages caused by the pachyderms.

But can elephants and people realistically be separated? There is a certain degree of tolerance for elephants among agricultural communities which may make mitigation measures such as this redundant. As one village resident told us, "The elephant is an embodiment of Lord Ganesha. He will come and go as He pleases." Moreover, elephants cannot be easily blocked by artificial structures unless they are well designed. The case of the "elephant wall" in Chorgalia highlights the dire need for involving local people in design and implementation of expensive mitigation measures. Inputs from biologists and social scientists may help in better planning as well as monitoring of the impact of such structures. The elephant wall has alienated large sections of the local community, particularly the poorer, forest-dependent people, and ironically in a place where a new wildlife sanctuary has just been established.

As Lincoln suggested and as we learned, "Democracy is of the people, for the people, by the people". This has been confirmed by some as the best definition of democracy. Moving into the nitty-gritty of it, democracy essentially has a few characteristic features: 1. Free and fair elections.

2. Representation of people 3. A better structure of the government 4. Protects human rights and liberties We have all been taught at some point or the other about the goodness of democracy and, how it brings justice and liberty to its citizens. We have not moved beyond it to discover a system or a model which is more acceptable and inclusive because democracy, in its definition, feeds itself as the best form of government any government must fight to establish and practice.

Considering the case of India. We have fought our way to establish democracy that is representative of the views of our people. Recently I saw a poster in one of the protests in Davos, Switzerland, which said "if voting could change anything, it would have been illegal". It is an extremely cynical take on democracy to begin with. What could possibly be wrong with the best form of government?

And what could be so wrong with voting, for which we had to fight our way out of colonialism, and which is necessarily the essence of a democratic government?

The election commission, an independent body, is responsible for conducting the free and fair elections in a vast country like India.

However, the findings of last Lok Sabha elections will tell us how the elections, even if free, are most definitely not fair.

Even after having a prescribed limit on spending by Election Commission in the Representation of People Act, the estimated amount of money spent by the government, the candidates and

Priyanjana Roy Das the parties in the last Lok Sabha election according to Centre for Media Studies was nothing less than 30,000 crore rupees, of which official spending by government and parties was only 8000 crores rupees. We have an ocean of black money circulating in the political nexus, and while some turn to bribes others turn to distributing liquor during elections. In India, elections, are nothing short of a festival. The candidates become gods for some and demons for few. The menace of this huge amount of black money cannot be curbed and controlled by the Election Commission of India alone. It would include syncing the audit standards of various acts like the IT Act, the FEMA, the Companies Act, the Prevention of money laundering Act, Banking regulations Act, the Cooperative Society laws, with the Representation of People Act. It would also need the political will and citizen participation to transform, and curb the circulation and transaction of illegal funds of the political parties. With a system of election which is so discrete in its funding process, democracy definitely is not very reliable.

As far as representation goes, our members in the largest house, i.e., the Lok Sabha, are elected by the first-past-the-post system.

The problem with this system is that majority of people do not find representation. The elected candidate is the one who has the majority support from a particular constituency, and the person with a minority support or a person holding a different viewpoint will be left out in this system of representation. By this logic, democracy is not the most representative system form of government. It is often a certain section of the society that influences the formation of government while other sections are left with-

out representation.

And again, when the elections are finally over and the government is formed, they stay for a good five years with privileges and some immunity. In the meantime, some candidates prefer to work for the interests of all while others prefer to work on their next election, and only keep their vote bank satisfied. For the former section, to get a bill passed, again needs approval of the majority of the house. If the government formed has a clear majority in the house the probability of getting a bill passed in the interest of sections with little representation becomes a difficult situation to surpass.

Democracy gives us a better structure of government is what some people like to believe and argue. Undeniably, it does provide us with a system of executive, judiciary and legislature which ensures that checks and balances are in place. We have independent bodies like the UPSC and the Election Commission, the CAG to further strengthen the system of checks and balances.

But despite these measures, we have fissures in the system. This also is not something which is a distinguishing characteristic of democracy alone.

I have encountered a viewpoint often, which says, a majority party rule of a government helps in taking political discussions faster, getting bills passed quickly and helps in faster economic development and growth. This however holds true to some extent but it is not representative of everyone's view, and it is not a benefit provided by a democratic form of government alone. Most autocratic governments would reach a consensus earlier and get projects approved faster.

They will also not hesitate in using force to ensure their implementation. I am not speaking in favour of an autocratic government here,

but trying to convey that certain benefits are not provided by democracy alone.

Democracy claims to accommodate various viewpoints and ensures to extend human rights and protection to everybody in the state.

Here in India, we have a democracy that boasts of being highly representative of all sections of the people in the country, of securing social and welfare needs of the state, of extending the right of judicial justice to everyone and of providing rights to its citizens'. However we are a very young democracy and our democracy has not reached the sweet spot yetthere are still underdeveloped rural areas, cartoonists are still being sent to jail for expressing dissent through art, media houses are owned by the biggest corporate houses, people still live on the streets, bereft of hope, devoid of rights and most importantly, we still have a judiciary which is accused of being corrupt.

Our democracy is young and we should experiment with it, focusing on participative democracy- a democracy which is accommodating of all the citizens, that does not get threatened by the rise of population of a minority community, that holds elections without having a whole parallel economy being involved in the process. What we must be looking at is not democracy alone but at 'inclusive democracy'. We must aim for a country that represents the minority that gets left out in the first-past-the-post system, where the parliamentary majority passes bills in securing the interest of the minority community, where dissent is tolerated and heard, and a country that along with passing bills on gender equality also includes women's participation in the parliament, without bias or alternate representation. What we need to look at is a country without the fear of the fallouts of democracy, a country that understands the fissures of Indian democracy and attempts at correcting it.

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

BUSINESS

JK Tyre to buy Kesoram's Haridwar Kolkata, Sep 13: JK Tyre has signed a binding agreement with BK Birla flagship Kesoram Industries to acquire 100% equity in a tyre unit in Haridwar for Rs 2,200 crore. The move will help JK Tyre enter the twoand three-wheeler market besides strengthening its position in the trucks and bus business, where it is the market leader with over a third of the market. It also leads the tractor tyre sweepstakes and but lags in the passenger vehicles segment. The acquisition is expected to add around 5 million to its production capacity, which is close to hitting the 30 million mark. On its part, Kesoram will use a majority of the funds to pare its long-term debt estimated at Rs 3,800 crore. It also has short-term working capital loan of around Rs 1,000 crore. The high interest burden has resulted in losses for the companies over the past few quarters. Kesoram sells its tyre under the Birla Tyres brand. The deal will result

Two variants of Ciaz launched New Delhi, Sep 13: Country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India on Saturday launched two new variants of its mid-sized sedan Ciaz, which come with additional safety features such as dual airbags and ABS, priced at Rs.7.48 lakh and Rs.8.37 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) respectively. The two new variants - Vxi (O) and Vdi (O) come with features such as Anti-lock braking system (ABS), seat belt pretensioner and force limiters and seat belt reminder with buzzer for driver side. "By offering the option of more safety equipment on our base variants, we want to encourage customers to buy cars that enhance their safety," Maruti Suzuki India, Executive Director, Marketing & Sales, R.S. Kalsi said in a statement. Besides, all the features and attributes of Ciaz Vxi and Vdi, the 'O' variants will be equipped with dual airbags, ABS and other safety features, he added. The Vxi and Vdi models of the Ciaz are currently priced at Rs.7.31 lakh and Rs.8.23 lakh respectively.

(Agencies)

Snapdeal, Flipkart strike it out with major discounts this weekend Bengaluru, Sep 13: Snapdeal is offering some tempting deals this weekend. The e-commerce retailer has thrown open a sale of up to 70% discount on clothes, footwear, fashion Jewellery, luggage, and fashion accessories, among others. Offers in fashion category range from 40% to 70%. The discount on Home and Living stuff is up to 40%, and on electronics, it is up to 50%. On the other hand, Flipkart, has put up to 60% off on some of its products. The competition between the country's largest e-com retailer, Flipkart, and the second largest, Snapdeal, results in pushing the two to throw offers, and to enhance their delivery services. Like, on Friday, Snapdeal launched its Instant Refunds facility, which aims to refund customers within an hour of the company receiving a returned product. This announcement came around 12 days after Flipkart announced the launch of instant refund mechanism facility. The Flipkart facility will help in refunding customers within 24 hours of returning a product. (Agencies)

in JK Tyre and its Singapore subsidiary, JK Asia Pacific Singapore Pte Ltd, will acquire the tyre unit - Cavendish Industries Limited (CIL), which houses a tyre business undertaking in Haridwar.In a statement, JK Tyre said it will hold the largest block

of shares and will get management control of CIL with an option to place up to 55% with its associates and group companies. JK Tyre's exposure to the deal is estimated at around Rs 450 crore and the acquisition is proposed to be funded through a combina-

Balasore will continue to operate. He added that Kesoram would continue to remain in all the major segments of the tyres business and is also going to enter the passenger car radials segment shortly. "Majority (of the funds from the sale) will be used for debt repayment the remaining we are still discussing. This deal will be completed by December," Das said. The high debt burden is one of the main reason for the below par performance of Kesoram for last couple of years. Kesoram, the flagship of company, has three major divisions cement, tyre and rayon. The deal has been in the making for some time now with media reports earlier suggesting that MRF and Apollo too were in talks with Kesoram Industries. On speculation of closure of the deal, on Friday, shares of Kesoram Industries closed almost 7% higher at Rs 102 on BSE, while J K Tyre rose around 2% at Rs 108.

(Agencies)

tion of debt and internal accruals raised by JK Tyre and other JK Group entities. Despite the deal with JK Tyre, Kesoram is not exiting the tyres business.

Chief financial officer Tridib Kumar Das said that the company will remain in tyre business as the unit in

Tougher road safety rules bring global airbag makers to India Mumbai, Sep 13: The world's largest air bag suppliers are setting up plants and ramping up capacity in India, eyeing a $2 billion opportunity, thanks to tougher rules aimed at improving one of the world's worst road-safety records. In India, a person is killed in a road accident every four minutes - 141,000 in 2014. Despite this, less than a third of the 2.6 million cars sold each year have air bags in this cost-conscious market. But a planned law that will impose crash test standards by 2017 is creating an opportunity for makers of safety equipment, as cars without air bags will achieve only the lowest safety ratings after tests.

That, for the first time, will force consumers to directly consider the risks they run by buying cheap. By 2020, overall

revenues from airbag sales in India are set to rise 11% a year to hit $2 billion, outpacing the 9% growth expected in China, according to data from Transparency Market Research. By then, India is expected to be selling over 5 million cars a year. Some of the world's largest air bag makers - Autoliv Inc, Takata Corp, TRW Automotive Inc and Toyoda Gosei Co - are already

5,00,000 units a year, investing 180 million rupees ($2.7 million). It expects revenues from the airbag unit to hit Rs 3.5 billion by 2020, from Rs 400 million currently. Toyoda Goesi Minda India, a joint venture between the Japanese company and India's Uno Minda, which has a 25% market share, plans to increase its capacity by up to six times to 1,50,000 gearing up to cash in. airbags over the next "(This is a) good time to two to three years, group build capacity and the chairman N.K. Minda right time to invest to told. Analysts say others grow the business," said will follow, setting up in Harish Lakshman, man- India to keep costs as aging director of airbag low as possible. "We exmaker Rane TRW Steer- pect that within five ing Systems Ltd, a joint years, the large airbag venture between U.S.- makers will have a based TRW and India's manufacturing hub in Rane Holdings Ltd. The India," said Ayay company opened a new Bandopadhyay, automoair bag assembly plant in tive research analyst at August in southern India Transparency Market with capacity to make Research. (Agencies)

India eyes on South Korea's investment in railways

Seoul, Sep 13: Railway minister Suresh Prabhu has sought investment from South Korea in the Indian Railways, according to a statement issued by the Indian embassy recently.

Prabhu, who came here on September 9 on a three-day visit, met South Korean minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Yoo Il-ho, and discussed bilateral issues. He invited Yoo to visit India with a business delegation to have a first-hand look at the Indian Railways. He also met leaders of Korea Rail Network Authority, Lotte Group, Hyundai Rotem and National Pension Service, during his three-day stay in Seoul. During the course of his stay, Prabhu visited Korea Railroad Research In-

manufactures water treatment products to supply clean river and dam water. Chief executive director of

ElecTrike Japan, Noboru Matsunami, disclosed his company's plan to manufacture eTrike (electric tricycle)

in Maharashtra. MIDC and Mizuho Bank signed an MoU in the presence of Fadnavis to accelerate investment

stitute and the under-construction Dongtan station of the Seoul metropolitan high speed railway. Interacting with his South Korean counterparts, the Indian minister mentioned that South Korea was a major potential partner for the Indian Railways because of its advanced technology and highly developed railway infrastructure that included high speed trains. Highlighting India's plans to expand the railways capacity and enhance safety and also to modernize the infrastructure, he invited the Korean firms to invest in India and be partners in the modernization projects of the Indian Railways. On September 10, Prabhu attended the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM)

Symposium organized by the South Korean ministry of land, infrastructure and transport and Korea Transport Institute. Speaking at the ministerial session, the minister acknowledged that it was a perfect platform to discuss challenges being faced today to create infrastructure and maintain growth which was sustainable and at the same time preserved bio-diversity, according to the embassy statement. The minister was accompanied by Girish Pillai, advisor on infrastructure of the Indian Railways. Rajnandan Kumar Singh, chief engineer in the ministry of road transport and highways, also joined the Indian delegation at the symposium.

(Agencies)

Indiabulls Housing Finance raises Rs 3,997 crore New Delhi, Sep 13: Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd said it has raised Rs 3,996.79 crore by allotting over 5.69 crore shares to qualified institutional buyers (QIBs). The board of the company earlier this week had approved the issue price of Rs 702 for the allotment to the eligible QIBs, which was at a discount of up to 5 per cent against the floor price of Rs 738.64. The issue price of Rs 702 per equity share at which equity shares will be allotted in the issue and is approved and the securities issue committee is authorized to issue and allot up to 56,934,372 equity shares in the issue aggregating up to Rs 39,967.9 million," it said in the filing. "Considering a discount of up to 5 per cent to the floor price,

Three Japanese companies towards investment in Maharashtra Mumbai, Sep 13: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis recently said three Japanese companies have handed over letters of intent for investment in the state under the government's 'Make in Maharashtra' programme. Takeshi Washitani, chief executive director of A S BRAIN Co, handed over the letter of intent to Fadnavis. The company has expressed its intention to start hospitality, infrastructure and IT businesses in Maharashtra. On behalf of A2Care, its president Hiroshi Okamoto, handed over the document to Fadnavis.

A2Care is a pharmaceutical company and

PAGE 10

activities in India. "This MoU will accelerate Japanese companies' efforts to promote economic expansion in India and particularly, in Maharashtra," the chief minister said.

Fadnavis visited Yokohama port, which handles 27 million tonnes of cargo, and reviewed the development work being carried out. The Association of Friends of Japan agreed to work as a facilitating centre in Japan to bring investment to Maharashtra, Fadnavis said while speaking at a function organized by Association of Friends of Japan. Porite Corp is setting up metallurgy powder factory at Talegaon MIDC with an investment of Rs 100 crore in phase 1 and Rs 100 crore in phase 2, Fadnavis said.

(Agencies)

the securities issue committee approved the issue price of Rs 702 in connection with the issue, to be allotted to eligible qualified institutional buyers in the issue," it said. Company's board had approved to raise up to Rs 6,674.45 crore (equivalent to $1 billion) through a qualified institutions placement to QIBs. The proceeds from the issue will

be used to fulfill the capital adequacy requirements and funding needs of the company. Besides, the proceeds will also be used to meet company's general corporate purposes, investment of funds in interest or dividend bearing instruments and securities, including deposits with banks and investment in mutual funds. (Agencies)

Tax rates must be globally competitive New Delhi, Sep 13: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley recently said policymakers need to change their regulatory mindset asserting that role of state should be minimised and government monopoly must end wherever possible.

Speaking at the National Workshop on Citizen-Centric Governance, he said the economic reforms, which seek to promote easing of doing business, will continue as these are "never-ending processes and do not have a finishing line". Jaitley said policymakers in India still have a "regulatory mindset" which needs to change even as he spoke of the urgency for policing reforms to make police-citizen interaction more civilised. "... the control temperament or the control freak temperament of the political system has still not been fully done away with and there is a legacy to it," Jaitley said, adding that all actions of the government should be aimed at "providing a better quality of life to citizens and minimising the role of the government". "Wherever possible, the role of the state should be minimised... the government's monopoly must end. Wherever we have ended them, we are better-off.

We have ended them in the airlines sector, we have not ended them in the railway sector. And the result is very clear. "There are many ways of doing this. As far as processes are concerned, every department has to take simplification exercise and particularly those departments which have the interface with the public," he said. Jaitley mentioned that the use of technology has helped in improving the system of filing income tax returns and expeditiously providing refunds. "Ease of doing business means providing a better regime than neighbours and tax rates which are globally competitive," he said, adding that the government intended to reduce corporate tax to 25 per cent from 30 per cent in the next four years and do away with "most of the tax exemptions".(Agencies)

50% stake in Enchanted Valley Carnival Mumbai, Sep 13: The world's largest music company, Universal Music Group, has bought 50% stake in Enchanted Valley Carnival (EVC), a report has said. UMG has not disclosed the fi-

nancial details of the deal. In India, UMG operates through its subsidiary arm Universal Music group India. With this 50:50 new joint venture, UMG is making its entry in the festival host-

ing business. According to a top company official to ET, UMG may expand its foot print in live music gigs, and is already in talks with four other players. Enchanted Value Carnival, intro-

duced to Indian audiences in 2013 by Twist Entertainment, has flourished to become one of the biggest music festivals in India. The festival is hosted in Aamby Valley city, around 20

kilometres from Lonavala, in December every year. EVC covers various genres from electronic music to live genres across trance, house, and techno along with other experimental

music. The group has brought together some of the best performers from these genres from across the world. UMG is an American worldwide music corporation that operates as a subsidiary

of Paris-based French media conglomerate Vivendi. In 2013, in a bid to buy UMG, Japenese SoftBank made an offer of $8.5 billion, but Vivendi declined it. (Agencies)

"(It was) just grinding all day. It's hard because I was hitting it all over the shop. But all in all, I'm just three back. If I can put another good 18 holes together tomorrow we'll see if I can get over the line,"

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

PAGE 11

Anirban Lahiri

Debutant Martial scores stunning effort as United down Liverpool

Pennetta beats Vinci to win US Open title

City extends lead at the top of the table; Chelsea loses again London: Anthony Martial introduced himself to Manchester United fans with a superb goal to complete a 3-1 win over bitter rivals Liverpool and cap a much-improved performance from Louis van Gaal's side on Saturday.

Martial, a ÂŁ36 million ($55.54 million) signing from Monaco, danced past three defenders in the 86th minute and sidefooted the ball home on his debut to put the finishing touches to a well-deserved victory.

After a dire first half that would have dampened the enthusiasm of even the most die-hard fan, a firedup United emerged after the break to take the game by the scruff of the neck. Daley Blind curled them ahead from the edge of the area four minutes after the restart before Ander Herrera slammed a penalty into the roof of the net after Liverpool's 18-year-old full back Joe Gomez clumsily felled the Spaniard.

Liverpool hit back with six minutes remaining when Christian Benteke pulled off an acrobatic overhead kick but he was spectacularly upstaged when Martial, a second-half substi-

tute, had the United fans drooling in anticipation of his potential. The result gave second-placed United 10 points from five Premier League matches, five adrift of leaders Manchester City.

Liverpool are three points further back after a match that exposed some familiar defensive flaws as well as a lack of attacking spark.

Earlier, Manchester City opened up an 11-point gap over champions Chelsea when they beat Crystal Palace 1-0 with a stoppagetime goal after Chelsea crashed to a 3-1 defeat at

Everton. City looked set to drop their first points of the season until 18-year-old Nigerian teenage substitute Kelechi Iheanacho, whose only other appearance for the club was for a minute against Watford two weeks ago, struck late at Selhurst Park. Manuel Pellegrini's team moved to 15 points from five matches having scored 11 goals without conceding any and they top the table.

While Iheanacho came off the bench to secure the points for City, Everton's Scotland striker Steven

Naismith did exactly the same in the early match against Chelsea at

Goodison Park. He replaced the injured Mo Besic and within 12 minutes had scored with a header and a left-foot shot to put Everton 2-0 up. Nemanja Matic pulled Chelsea back into the game with a well-taken 30-metre drive nine minutes before the break, but Chelsea rarely threatened again and look a pale shadow of the team that won the title last season.

Naismith completed his hat-trick with a right-foot shot seven minutes from time. Chelsea have already lost three times, as many as they did in the whole of last season but manager Jose Mourinho remained defiant. "I don't blame the players and I don't blame

myself. They are the worst results ever in my career but I am comfortable with the situation," Mourinho said.

In other matches, Arsenal grabbed their first home win and goals of the season with a 2-0 victory over Stoke thanks to goals from Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud and moved up to 10 points. Norwich City beat Bournemouth 3-1 and Watford ended their fourmatch run without a goal when they beat Swansea City 1-0 thanks to Odio Ighalo's second-half strike which secured their first win of the season. West Bromwich Albion and Southampton drew 0-0.

(Agencies)

New York: Flavia Pennetta claimed a first Grand Slam singles title with a 7-6(4), 6-2 win over Roberta Vinci in an improbable all-Italian US Open final to cap an extraordinary fortnight packed with upsets.

Pennetta topped off one of the most surprising US Open women's tournaments ever with a shock announcement - that she was retiring from tennis after completing her greatest victory. "Before I start this tournament one month ago I take a big decision in my life," she said before hoisting the trophy and accepting the $3.3 million winner's check. "This is the way I would like to say goodbye to tennis. I'm really happy. Is what all the players seem to want to do, to go out with this big trophy home. And so this one

was my last match at the US Open and I couldn't think to finish a better way," she added. Pennetta, 33, becomes the fourth oldest Grand Slam winner in the Open Era and joins 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone as the only Italian women to win a major title. The match was set up by jawdropping upsets as unseeded Vinci knocked off world number one Serena Williams in the semi-finals to end the 33year-old American's quest for a calendar year Grand Slam. Pennetta's path to the final included two huge hurdles which she cleared with confidence in taking down Czech fifth seed Petra Kvitova in the quarter-finals and Romanian second seed Simona Halep in the semi-finals. (Agencies)

La Liga: Ronaldo in record books as Wrestler Narsingh wins bronze Real Madrid's highest goal-scorer at Worlds, books Olympic berth

Cornella: Cristiano Ronaldo hit five goals in a 6-0 romp at Espanyol to become Real Madrid's record La Liga scorer. Real are in second place with seven points after the win.

Ronaldo, who like great rival Messi had drawn a blank in the opening two games, ended his early-season drought in emphatic style. The Portugal captain turned in a blistering performance that took his tally in Spain's top flight to 230, overtaking former Real striker Raul's total of 228.

The 30-year-old FIFA Ballon d'Or winner scored in the seventh, 17th (penalty), 20th, 61st and 81st minutes while Karim Benzema struck in the 28th as Real put a hapless Espanyol to the sword.

Ronaldo, who hit five against Granada in La Liga last season, raced clear and finished calmly to set Real on their way before converting a penalty won by Gareth Bale. Bale's centre from the left set up Ronaldo to volley in his third, equalling Messi's Spanish record of 32 hat-tricks, before he turned provider by crossing

for Benzema to make it 4-0 inside half an hour. Wales playmaker Bale set Ronaldo up again after a swift counter attack and substitute Lucas Vazquez made the assist for the former Manchester United man's fifth and Real's sixth.

Later, Lionel Messi came off the bench to earn Barcelona a 2-1 victory at Atletico Madrid. Champions Barca, who started with talisman Messi as a substitute following the birth of his second son, fell behind

Boxer Mayweather beats Berto in farewell bout Las Vegas: Floyd Mayweather Jr. cemented his place among the pantheon of boxing greats with a unanimous decision over fellow American Andre Berto on Saturday in what he has repeatedly said would be the final fight of his career. Mayweather, 38, outboxed his younger opponent over the 12 rounds to retain his WBC and WBA welterweight titles and improve his perfect career record to 49-0, matching the benchmark set by former heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano.

Five-division world champion Mayweather dominated most of the exchanges in the MGM Grand Garden Arena with his lightning jabs and agile movement about the

ring to finish ahead on all three judges' scorecards.

Berto, a 30-1 underdog against one of the best defensive fighters of all time, dropped to 30-4 as he suffered his fourth loss in his last seven fights. Back in the ring for the first time since May when he beat Manny Pacquiao in a 'mega-fight' that became the richest bout in boxing, Mayweather landed 232 of 410 punches while Berto connected with just 83 of 495. However, it was a welterweight showdown that failed to capture the public's imagination given Berto's relatively low profile globally and his mixed run of results over the past four years, and it was low on entertainment value on the night. (Agencies)

after a tight first half at the Calderon when Fernando Torres sped clear to score in the 51st minute. Neymar levelled four minutes later when he curled a sumptuous free kick into the top corner and the Brazil forward should have made it 2-1 in the 67th when his point-blank shot was cleared off the line by Diego Godin. Neymar was also involved in the winner before the ball fell to Luis Suarez, who had struck the crossbar in the first half,

and he slipped a pass into space for Messi to dink it past goalkeeper Jan Oblak with 13 minutes remaining.

The victory preserved Barca's perfect start to the season and they lead on a maximum nine points from three matches.

Spain forward Paco Alcacer scored in added time to give Valencia an unconvincing 1-0 triumph at promoted Sporting Gijon, a first win of the campaign lifting them to sixth place on five points. (Agencies)

Las Vegas: Narsingh Pancham Yadav secured an Olympic quota place for India after bagging the bronze medal in the Men's 74kg Freestyle category at the World Wrestling Championship in Las Vegas. With his third-place finish, Narsingh became the lone Indian to win a medal at the prestigious tournament as well as book a berth for the 2016 Rio Games. The top six wrestlers in each category qualified for the Olympics. This is the first time that an Indian wrestler has earned an Olympic berth with a medal at the World Championship.

Double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar's absence from the mat for over a year now has made Narsingh a regular in the 74kg division.

It will now be interesting to see who between the Sushil and 26-year-old Narsingh will ultimately board the flight to Rio next year to represent India in this category.

As per rules, an Olympic berth is for the country concerned and not the wrestler who might have clinched it.

Other than Narsingh, India

had a dismal show overall in the championship, which concluded early Sunday, as no one else could make it to the podium. Besides Narsingh, other Indians in the fray such as Amit Kumar (57kg), Arun Kumar (70kg) and Sumit (125kg) could not progress beyond the quarter-final round.

Narsingh came up with some dominating performances, defeating Hanoc Rachamin of Israel 14-2 before getting the better of

Soner Demirtas of Turkey 43 and Cuba's Livan Lopez Azcuy 16-5 to advance to the semi-final. But in his semi-final bout, Narsingh went down to Unurbat Purevjav of Mongolia. However, in his bronze medal play-off, he got his act together to outplay Zelimkhan Khadjiev of France 12-8 to make it to the podium.

Arun, meanwhile, did well to beat Tat Du Can of Vietnam 7-0 and Semen Radulov of Ukraine 5-4 to

advance to the quarter-final round. But he lost to local wrestler James Malcolm Green 0-10 in the last-eight stage. Amit also started off well as he defeated Sezar Akgul of Turkey 6-4 but failed to sustain in his pre-quarterfinal bout as he went down to Viktor Lebedev of Russia 1-2 to bow out of the tournament. Sumit was beaten

by Aiaal Lazarev of Kyrgyzstan 0-3 in the Round of 1/16. (Agencies)

Reunited FC wins 1st late Lik Moyong Memorial Football Tournament Special Correspondent Pasighat Sept 13: Playing in the final of 1st Late Lik Moyong Memorial Football To u r n a m e n t (LMMFT) at Mirem village general ground, some 24 KM from here on Saturday, Reunited Football Club defeated Asi Mirem Yameng (AMY) vide a tiebreaker 4:3 after both the team tied with 1-1 in the normal duration. The interesting match which entertained the football lovers across Mirem and

Bilat areas, kept everyone guessing till the final kick of tie breaker. The tournament had begun from 26th August last in which total of 16 teams had participated. Eli Dupak, Ojing Jerang and Karik Moyong all from Renited were adjudged highest scorer, best defender and best goal Keeper respectively, while Kadum Taki from Asi Mirem was the best player of the tournament.

Tapang Taloh, Minister, Education, Er. Tatung Jamoh, Parlia-

mentary Secretary, Industry and Olom Panyang, MLA Geku Maryang attended the final match as Chief Guest, Guest of Honour and Special Invitees respectively who gave away the trophy and the individual awards. The District Sport Officer, Nada Apa also attended the final and encouraged the youngster to take up sport as their alternative career option. The tournament was organized by Mirem Sports Association (MSA).\

Reunited FC and Asi Mirem team posing with guest during the match

Tapang Taloh, Minister Education handshaking with the player.

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

Features

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WOMEN’S 10 Foods That Help Your Hair Grow Faster!!

Chopping your hair off can take seconds, but waiting for it to grow back can be tiresome and frustrating.

If you've been wanting long hair for a while now, we know how to get you there

as soon as possible. No, you don't need a host of cosmetics and chemical treatments. All you need is a healthier and wiser diet.

Yes ladies, the food you eat is largely responsible for

your hair's growth. Here are 10 super foods that will help your hair grow faster and stronger!

1. Egg-special!

You might be surprised to know that eggs have mega benefits for your hair! Yes, ladies - the yolk of the egg is loaded with proteins, zinc, Vitamin B and iron.

These nutrients are essential for keeping your hair and body healthy. Eating it or applying it directly to your hair has the same positive results.

2. Sweet potato power!

Sweet potatoes are WAY healthier than regular potatoes thanks to the presence of beta-carotene - your hair will receive the nourishment it deserves! Betacarotene is the active ingredient for Vitamin A, and this will boosting hair follicle growth and giving your strands a glossy finish.

3. Do the daal!

Do you know why lentils makes it to this list? Because they're rich in iron, proteins and fibre. These components help aid hair growth and make sure your

Help Your Feet Recover From Your Heels!

We've all known the bittersweet pain of enduring our to-die-for pair of heels. The next morning, however, is the worst!

When you want to basically just not get up so you don't have to use your aching feet at all. But we're always super-happy to help! So here are a few ways you can reduce that pain or cure it the next morning!

1. Soak It Up Blisters and callused skin happen. They happen to everyone. Don't go on the "Why me, God?" rant yet.

The best possible way to soothe them at home is by soaking your feet in warm water. Not only does a tub of warm (not hot) water relieve your overworked muscles, it also helps kill germs that are born out of sweat. We'd also recommend adding some

points, which in turn prevents future formation of calluses. See, as simple as that!

3. Get Pampering A heel hangover is a brilliant excuse to pamper your feet. Head out to a spa that offers foot treatments like foot reflexology. A trained masseuse would know exactly how to relieve those pressure points and work up your deep-muscle tissue. So go ahead, splurge on your feet a little.

4. Stretch Them Out While there is a concept called foot yoga, we're not introducing you to it yet! Nor are we asking you to bend over backwards to get rid of the pain. Just point your feet away from you as much as you can and then pull the ball of your foot towards yourself. Repeat-

natural oils or mineral bath salts to this tub of hot water to keep your feet smelling amazing!

2. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!

We can't stress this enough - moisturizing is the key to almost every skin-related worry. In the context of feet, moisturizing helps soften the skin around your pressure

ing this 15-20 times will help increase blood circulation, thus resulting in elimination of pain. Most importantly, this can also be done while sitting on the bed. Just straighten up your legs and get stretching!

5. Customize Those Heels Yes, insoles get to the problem before it even

begins. Get yourself a good-quality pair of cushy insoles and slip them into your shoes before you slip in your feet.

To prevent them from slipping or shifting, make sure you get them in exactly the size for your shoe. Also, when you're

stead of nylon ones before stepping into sneakers.

Give your outfit for the day a spin by opting for sneakers in vibrant, contrasting colours!

7. Pillows To The Rescue Comfort isn't comfort till it can equate to the joy of lying on a bed of pillows.

They, however - besides providing ultimate comfort - can help alleviate pain too. How? Just prop your feet up on a couple of pillows when you lie down to give your heels some much-needed rest. It doesn't take any effort whatsoever, and it's really more relaxing than being a "cure".

8. A Massage Never Hurt Anyone You know that's absolute truth. If you're too lazy to step out or have over-exceeded your budget for the month, just bring on some lotion or foot cream and get working! You can definitely spare 5 minutes on your feet.

9. Just. Have. Patience buying new heels, before Above all, it's supremely making your purchase, important to not give in try on a pair your size and to the urge of popping one that is half a size that blister or picking at larger WITH your insoles that callused skin under inserted. the foot. A blister is like 6. No-Heel Retreat your body's natural Band Give your feet the rest Aid to cover a developthey deserve after making ing or developed wound your legs look so pretty inside. So let it be! The for so long! For optimum key is to just sit back and comfort, make sure you have patience. Time heals slip on towel socks in- all.

hair looks fab at all times.

For a girl on the go, soakedchana (with some salt and lemon to add flavour) make for a perfect snack!

4. Fishy business If you love seafood, salmon should be your pick of the lot. This pink-fleshed fish is an abundant source of Omega-3 fatty acids that look after your hair and skin. An alternative to salmon is tuna. Both fish help keep your hair long and strong!

5. Nutty buddies

1. Apply some apple cider vinegar Apple cider vinegar is a powerhouse when it comes to acting as an acne remedy. Why? It kills off the bacteria that may be causing all the trouble in the first place. It also becomes alkaline, and balances the pH of your skin, which in turn makes it harder for bacteria to thrive. To top it off it's an astringent, like lemon juice, and will help dry up excess oil.

Keeping that in mind, don't overdo and dry out your skin too much. This could cause the sebaceous glands overproduce to compensate, therefore triggering an outbreak.

You will need…

-Pure unfiltered apple cider vinegar -Fresh water Directions Wash your face with water and pat dry. Using a ratio of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water, dip a cotton ball into vinegar and apply it directly to the blemish. Leave on for at least 10 minutes, or overnight. Reapply several times a day, washing face thoroughly after each time.

Make sure to use a moisturizer afterwards as well if you feel like your skin is getting dry.

2. Make a cinnamon and honey mask Honey is sticky, and cinnamon is spicy, and it seems like they're both things you'd want to avoid getting near your skin. Surprisingly, while it may sound strange, honey and cinnamon make a (literally) killer combo when it comes to acne. Cinnamon has antimicrobial properties, so it can help stop bacteria from getting out of hand. If it does, the honey is a natural anti-

You can munch on them during work, after meals or just before you hit the sack.

Because dried nuts such as peanuts, walnuts and almonds contain a B-complex vitamin called biotin which is essential for hair growth.

Having nuts on a regular basis will keep your mane healthy and full of life.

do miracles for your locks.

The fiber and Omega-3s in flax seeds stimulate hair growth.

7. Scoops of avocado If you love eating clean and healthy, make avocados a part of your regular diet.

Due to the high levels of Vitamin B and E in them, your hair will always be pro-

6. Seed invasion Flax seeds may be tiny, but their contribution to hair growth is huge! Eating them as they are or adding them to your smoothie can

tected and nourished, preventing hair fall. Go on, add a little avocado goodness to that salad.

8. Leafy helpings This leafy veggie is rich

Home Remedies for Acne and Pimples biotic, ready and waiting to wipe the little buggers out.

You will need…

-2 tablespoons of honey -1 teaspoon of cinnamon - paper towels Directions Rinse your face with water and pat dry. Mix 2 tablespoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon together until they are thoroughly blended and have formed a sort of paste.

Apply the mask to your face (or spot treat) and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off completely, and pat your face dry. This is a sticky mixture, so make sure you have some paper towels at on hand.

3. The land of milk and honey (or yogurt) While there is quite a bit of hub bub around dairy products causing acne, applied topically it seems that milk can improve your outbreaks and skin tone. The reason it is suggested that milk would cause acne is because of the extra hormones in it-but unless it's ingested, this doesn't really do much. For the most part, it just soothes the irritated skin, and helps tone down the redness. Cleopatra swore on the milk baths she took, and well, she was Cleopatra. You could also use yogurt. The acids in it are antibacterial while the fat provides moisture, making it quite nourishing for skin.

You will need…

- 1 tablespoon plain low-fat or full-fat yogurt or milk, anything but skim - 1 tablespoon of natural, raw, honey Directions Let yogurt or milk

come to room temperature (or close to) so you don't get a chilly shock when you put it on your skin. Mix 1 tablespoon of milk or yogurt thoroughly with 1 tablespoon of honey.

You can apply the mixture with a cotton pad, but scooping it up and patting it on works just fine as well. Let each layer dry before adding a new one, until the mask is the thickness you want. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Wash your mask off and use a washcloth to gently scrub in a circular motion, getting rid of loosened dead skin.

Once you're finished, moisturize as usual.

4. Whip up some 'whites Egg whites are an easy and affordable way to help reduce acne and fade scars left by unfortunate blemishes. The reason people have found egg whites to be helpful for their skin is because they're chock full of proteins and vitamins that both combat acne, and help to rebuild your skin cells.

They also soak up excess oil, which means excess sebum, (exactly what you were thinking right?) which means less stuff for bacteria to feed on. Hooray! Just make sure to use a good moisturizer afterwards, as they can dry your skin out a bit.

You will need…

-2 to 3 egg whites, separated from yolks -Bowl -Washcloth Directions Rinse your face with water and pat dry.

Separate the whites from the yolks. You can

in folate, iron, protein, magnesium, Vitamins A and K which are responsible for making your hair glossy, strong and long. Instead of having a plate of rice and curry for dinner, have a bowl of spinach instead! Your mane will love you for it.

9. Peppery goodness Bell peppers can instantly add colour to almost any meal. Not only do they look good, they're extremely beneficial too! They contain Vitamin C that looks after your follicles and helps produce healthier hair. Still turning your nose up at those red and yellow beauties?

10. Say yes to oysters!

Now, making this part of your regular diet might be a stretch, but it can do wonders for your hair. Oysters are rich in proteins, iron, Omega-3 fatty acids, iron, vitamins and, most importantly, zinc. Zinc not only boosts hair growth, it also prevents hair damage by strengthening it.

use as many as you like, but normally 2 to 3 is enough. Whisk the whites until they're frothy, and let them sit for a few minutes.

Cover your face with the mixture (applying with fingertips is easy) focusing on problem spots. 3 to 4 layers is usually enough, but make sure to wait the first has dried before applying more. Allow the mask to sit and dry for about 20 minutes before rinsing off completely with warm water and a patting dry with a soft washcloth.

Apply moisturizer appropriate for your skin type.

5. Papaya for the pimple prone Papaya is an essential ingredient in a lot of beauty products on the market today, but theres no need to go out of your way to gain its benefits? Plain raw papaya is an all-natural acne remedy that removes dead skin cells and excess lipids from the surface of the skin, leaving it soft and smooth. Lipids are a general term for fats, of which oil is a form of.

Papaya also contains an enzyme called papain, which reduces inflammation and helps prevent the pus from forming.

You will need…

-1 fresh papaya Directions Rinse your face with water and pat dry.

Mash up the flesh of the papaya well, until it is of a consistency that can be easily applied to your skin.

Leave it on for 15-20 minutes, and then rinse off completely with warm water. If your skin has a tendency to get dry after you cleanse it, use a moisturizer appropriate for your skin type afterwards.

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