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Every Thursday

Vol. 1

Issue 48

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Dibrugarh, Monday, July 20, 2015

5.00

Pages- 12

Every Thursday & Sunday

Results of Assam Police Constable India to build 'strategic recruitment exam declared amidst anomalies uranium reserve' Govt. cancels recruitment of Dhubri, Nagaon and Barpeta following complaints of alleged tampering

The Assam government today cancelled the constable recruitment in three districts following complaints of alleged tampering with the process and announced the results for the remaining 24 districts today. This step by the Assam government was taken after

series of protest by several civil society groups alleging anomalies in the selection process of constable recruitment in the Assam police.

The State Level Police Recruitment Board received several complaints and following inquiries it was found that there was tampering in

After a record production this year, India is working on creating a 'strategic uranium reserve' to ensure its atomic power reactors do not face shortage of the crucial nuclear fuel. "The reserve pool could be anywhere between 5000 MT to 15,000 MT which can last for 5-10 years," said a senior government official.A proposal for stocking 5000 MT of uranium has been sent to the Cabinet for approval but the cap is likely to increase in the coming years. Over the past one year, India has been pursuing its case to buy ura-

Contd. on Page 4

277 canditates selected in Dibrugarh District A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Jul 19

Assam police has been facing the men power crisis due to no recruitment in the lower ranks for the past few years.

In the month of April this year the Assam government has open up the recruitment pro-

Rana Bhuyan interacting with the press in Dibrugarh.

Pic - Manoj Pandey

ET CAPSULES Dead body recovered Golaghat, Jul 19: An unidentified dead body of a man was recovered at Dhansiri river in Golaghat. The people of Rangdoi village saw the dead body floating in the river. Later, Golaghat police recoverd the body and sent it for postmortem. (Correspondent)

Bandh called Diphu, Jul 19: All Assam Students has called a 12 hr Assam bandh concerning NRC and eviction in forested areas of Guwahati.

Except Bokajan sub-division strike,the rest of Karbi Anglong is not likely to be affected. (Correspondent)

Arunachal singing maestro Marto Kamdak dies

cess which was ended on today. Rana Bhuyan, SP Dibrugarh revealed that 277 candidates from Dibrugarh district were selected in a merit basis to the Assam Battalion constable of Assam police. Bhuyan told the reporters that total 292 posts of constable were vacant in the Dibrugarh district. He informed that in Dibrugarh district 9910 candidates have dropped application letters in which 8417 application letters were accepted and the rest were rejected. “From April 17 to May 30 we have conducted physical test for the candidates where 1423 candidates were passed,’’ added Bhuyan. However, out of 1385 candidates, Contd. on Page 4

cmyk

223 qualified for the job of police constable in Lakhimpur E T Correspondent Lakhimpur,Jul 19

In the long run, multiple numbers of controversy and complaint with regard to the selection and appointment of Assam Police Constable came to an end in the state. The list of successful candidates who have been qualified for the appointment in the vacant posts

176 selected for constables in Kokrajhar

of Assam Police Constable was disclosed in the headquarter of every district all over the state. In connection with it, the list of qualified candidate was announced in Lakhimpur District too. A total of 223 candidates have emerged to be successful for the job in the district. Out of it the this,

Sunil Kumar, SP Kokrajhar declared of 176 candidates are selected to the Assam Battalion Constable who were seated in the written examinations conducted by

Contd. on Page 4

Contd. on Page 4

ET Correspondent Kokrajhar, Jul 19

People in Kharsang vent their anger against GeoEnpro for neglect in paying compensation to the local people Lomhom Tangha Kharsang, Jul 19

A public meeting with the Toko Anil, Chairman of State Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee, which is under the Ministry of Geology and Mining, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh in connection with the gas leakage at well no.60 under GeoEnpro was convened today in Kharsang in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Many memorandums were submitted by the public to the Chairman demanding compensation against lost incurred by the people of the locality.

The meeting got underway with a welcome speech by

N.L.Naam, Circle Officer, Kharsang followed by the speech from the Chairman. In his speech, Anil said that he was sent by the government to make an assessment of the ground situation following the gas leakage. Anil said before claiming compensation the people of the area must know some of the technicalities related to the mining lease agreement which the government has with the company.

The mining lease with the government of GeoEnpro had expired on 16th June, 2015; however, the Arunachal government has extended the agreement for three months with effect from 16th June, 2015. “During this extension period, the government will

Arunachal to enact special law to control hill earth cutting PTI Itanagar, July 19

Itanagar, Jul 19: Marto Kamdak, the singer who rendered numerous hit songs like ‘Lobo polo’, ‘Tasuk tamuk’, ‘College lo’, ‘Letel sisal, etc, left for his heavenly abode after suffering from brief illness in Guwahati. He was known not only for his melodious voice but also for his soft and kindhearted nature. He was rushed to GNRC Hospitals, Guwahati after he suffered a massive brain stroke. Dr Emi Rumi, president of Galo Welfare Society (GWS), the apex body of the Galo community informed. “His sudden demise is not only a loss for the Galo community but also for the entire State,” said the Galo Students’ Union in a condolence message. (Correspondent)

Aspirants searching for their roll no on Assam Police constable appointment list in Tezpur. Pic - UB Photos

The Arunachal government has decided to enact a special law to control and regulate cutting of hill earth and to prevent damage to ecologically sensitive sites to check the practice by private individuals causing damage to roads.

Chief Secretary Ramesh Negi constituted a committee to check 'hill cutting' and to regulate permission for such acts by legislating a special law, a state official said. The committee to be headed by Law and Judicial secretary comprises Development and Land Management directors, ICC DC, Director Statistical and

organize a public hearing.

There should be proper scrutiny of 2% CSR till date for the welfare of the public then only they will be granted the extension of their operation”, the Chairman said. Meanwhile, the locals complained that the aftermath of the gas leakages is seen among pet animals dying of vomiting and some related diseases.Working since 1995, there wasn't public hearing that time. There should be public hearing in this three months extension, he said.

National mining gave Rs. 25/ - per ton for the affected public after repeated demands.

The Circle Officer, Khimyang have been appointed by DC, Changlang as a member vigi-

At least 50 people were admitted to hospitals with symptoms of food poisoning after consuming prasad at Amiya Nagar in Kharghuli area in Guwahati, officials said. After having the prasad, some of the people complained of felling unwell and started having loose motion and vomiting. More than 50 people were admitted into GMCH and other hospitals in Guwahati are being treated, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) said.

Contd. on Page 4

Planning, Conservator of Forest as members and Town Planning Director as Member Secretary. The proposed law shall provide stringent punishment for hill cutting without permission and the committee would also study the provisions of the Assam Hill Land and Ecological sites (Protection and Management) Act, 2006 for reference. Negi further directed the PWD Commissioner to engage IIT Guwahati or NIIT Yupia to assess the quality of the work done by contractors in the Itanagar-Holongi National Highway and to suggest remedial measures for effective drainage, land stabilization

Three years have passed since the music maestro and cultural icon of Assam Dr Bhupen Hazarika left for his heavenly abode, but the State is yet to get a full-fledged memorial for the legend who secured his place in the hearts of millions across the globe.

Waiting to get a Samadhi Kshetra (cremation ground) as majestic as Rajghat, people of the State and several public organizations have stood in unison blaming the State government for the inordinate delay.

Contd. on Page 4

Contd. on Page 4

tralia. Once we start getting it, we can start building the reserve.

Uranium from Kazakhstan will largely meet the current demand. It is a rare commodity, so one should keep piling it whenever it is available at a cheaper rate in the international market," the official added.Under the IndoUS nuclear deal, the latter is to support India's initiative for having a nuclear pool. "The United States will support an Indian effort to develop a strategic reserve of nuclear fuel to guard against any disruption of supply over the lifetime of India's reactors," the agreement states.

Contd. on Page 4

Sarba visits violence-hit Philobari, assures family of full proof security ET Bureau Tinsukia, Jul 19

Union minister of sports and Lakhimpur Lok Sabha MP Sarbananda Sonowal today visited violence-hit Philobari under Pengeri police station in upper Assam’s Tinsukia district and meet the family members of Nandalal Shah, 70 yrs, who was gunned down by suspected Ulfa (Ind) militants along with his daughter 18-yr old Kajal a few days ago. Sonowal was accompanied by Dibrugarh MP Rameswar Teli, Doomdooma MLA Dilip Moran, Contd. on Page 4

Sonowal handing over the cheque to a family member of Shah. Pic - Arjun Mishra

Louis Berger paid $976,630 bribe to win water projects in Goa, Guwahati PTI Washington, Jul 19

The bribery included payments to a Minister Construction management firm Louis Berger has been charged with

Bhupen memorial to be completed within 2015: Tarun Gogoi ET Correspondent Guwahati, Jul 19

bribing Indian officials several crores of rupees to win two major water developmental projects in Goa and Guwahati.

The bribery of $976,630 for a Goa project included payments to a Minister, the details of which have not been

disclosed by the Department of Justice.

On Friday, the company agreed to pay $17.1 million criminal fine to resolve charges that it bribed officials Contd. on Page 4

Aussies crush England by 405 runs to level Ashes series 1-1 London, Jul 19

50 admited to hospitals for food poisoning in Guwahati ET Correspondent Guwahati, Jul 19

lance monitoring committee to assess the affairs into the gas blow out. Mr. T. S Ronrang, ASM chairperson briefed the house about the grievances of the general public of Kharsang areas against negative and arrogant attitude of GeoEnpro towards the affected people of Kharsang. He opined that the oil operator i.e GeoEnpro should be debarred from execution unless the grievances of the affected public are heard. K.S Lungphi said there is no knowledge of agreement of oil operation way back in 1995 even if made earlier.

Also it is heard that the agreement paper itself is lost from

nium from different countries including Australia and Canada. It is also procuring uranium from Russia for its indigenous reactors. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kazakhstan last week, India renewed a contract with the Central Asian country to procure 5000 MT of uranium. After Hyderabad another Nuclear Fuel Complex is coming up in Kota in Rajasthan, sources said. "For all these years, we could not think of having a reserve like other countries have due to the impending sanctions. But now we can think of working to build a reserve of nuclear fuel."We are mostly depending on the uranium from Aus-

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi visits Dr. Bhupan Hazarika Samadhisthal at Jalukbari in Guwahati. Pic- UB Photos

Australia inflicted a major blow to England by defeating them by a massive 405 runs in the 2nd Test of the Ashes series at Lord's. Chasing a improbable 509 runs for a win, England were shot out for a paltry 103 runs in 37 overs in their 2nd innings. None of the English batsman could offer any resistance to the pack of Australian bowlers, who hunted as a pack. With today’s win Australia made a strong comeback to level the 5-match series 1-1 after their 169-run loss in the first test. (Agencies)

Man of the match Steven Smith

Oct-Nov tentative dates for the multi phase election in Bihar

Myanmar '88 student leader joins Suu Kyi's party to run in polls

Rape becomes a reason to marry - IRONY shamed Part III

Google Inc's strong quarterly results, which unleashed a

The multi phased election between BJP and the 'Janata Parivar'

A leader of student protests in Myanmar in 1988 that grew into a

In another case, reported on 1st March,

BUSINESS

REGION

NEIGHBOURS

EDITORIAL

massive surge in its shares recently, has investors feeling upbeat heading into next week's tech-heavy slate of earnings reports.

consisting of the highstakes battle for Bihar is likely to be fought probably between late October and early November sandwiched between festivals.

nationwide pro-democracy movement will run in a general election in November for opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party, a party spokesman said today.

2015, the Supreme Court has said that a rape convict can be awarded lesser punishment if courts find "adequate and special" reasons for doing so.

Investors hope tech giants repeat Google surge

cmyk

ET Correspondent Guwahati, Jul 19

ET Bureau New Delhi, Jul 19

PAGE 2

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, JULY 20

Art of Living & Happiness course refreshes Roing

Hundreds join protest rally against ULFA (I) ET Correspondent Guwahati, Jul 19: Many patriotic citizens of Assam today took out a protest rally to demonstrate their anger against the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) militants, who have been targeting the unarmed people of the State for many years. Fol-

lowing the call of Patriotic People's Front Assam (PPFA), the conscious people arrived at the front of Guwahati Press Club in the morning and started the protest demonstration. The participants shouted various slogans along the way of the protest rally, carrying the na-

tional tri-colour and a number of placards. "We want to send a strong message to ULFA (I) leader Paresh Barua, who remains visible through some media outlets and continues disruptive activities including the killing of common people in Assam," said a statement of PPFA. The Front argued

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

Bishnu Rana Roing, Jul 19: An 'Art of Living & Happiness' course has been started in Roing. The course is of six days which started from 16th July, 2015. It is conducted for two and a half hours starting from 5 am to 7:30 am every day. The faculty of 'Art of Living', Suchandanji from Itanagar has come to the township to impart these courses. In the first course, the participants are mainly from police and ITBP. Overall 101 participants were present on the 1st day. Along with the above course, Suchandanji is also taking a course for the 32 students from Vivekanand Kendriya Vidyalaya, Roing from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm. Seeing the response from the people of Roing, a second course from 22nd to 27th has also been planned. The

programme is being organized by Rajneesh Gupta, SP of Lower Dibang Valley District and these kinds of courses have been organized since last one year in a bid to bring happiness amongst the people and to instill positive mindset in the whole of Arunachal Pradesh. These courses are also an attempt by the SP to bring police closer to the public and are part of his community policing efforts. There have been number of such episodes to infuse self discipline among the masses. 'The programme is much refreshing and is a way of beating the blistering summer heat. Public in good numbers thronged the Multi - Purpose Cultural Hall to rejuvenate both body and mind which is highly needed,' opines the SP.

Governor condoles the sudden demise of Kamdak

ET Correspondent Itanagar, Jul 19: The Governor of Arunachal Pradesh JP Rajkhowa has condoled the sudden demise of the one of the renowned and popular singers of the State, Marto Kamdak. In his condolence message to Late

Kamdak's wife Karnya Basar Kamdak, the Governor said that Late Kamdak was an accomplished vocalist apart from being multi-talented, who enthralled audiences with his songs in various indigenous languages, including Assamese.With his death, the State has lost one of its most talented artists. However, Late Kamdak's legacy will live on through the many songs he sang.

Please accept my heartfelt condolences and convey the same to the rest of your family members. I pray to the Almighty to give you and other members of your family the strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss, the Governor said in his message.

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/-

ASTRO FOR YOU An increased understanding of different cultures as well as curiosity about the people who live there might spur you to learn more about those places. Friends or groups could be involved in some way. You may channel a lot of energy into intellectual activities and inspire others to do the same. Take a walk at some point during the day. You will need to clear your head.

The opportunity to increase your income could spur you on to channel more energy and inspiration into career matters. Some intense dreams could reveal a lot about you and your motivation, which might increase your self-awareness and make everything easier for you. The drive to succeed in material and spiritual matters is likely to play a powerful role in everything you do.

You might have the desire for travel, perhaps to visit a friend who lives far away.

You may actually set the wheels in motion to make it happen. Social events could take up your time this evening, and you could meet some interesting people. A friend might need a sympathetic ear. Today you're especially sensitive to others, so be prepared to hear a sad story. Otherwise, your day should go well.

Today you might hear about opportunities to increase your income, either in your current employment, a new job, or perhaps by a project of your own. You may channel a great deal of energy and inspiration toward this end. Others may want to pitch in and help you. You're likely to feel energetic and optimistic. This can work in attracting still more new opportunities.

All your relationships may be enhanced by an increased sensitivity to the needs and feelings of others. You may provide melancholy friends with a sympathetic ear, or you may give assistance in resolving problems. Rest assured that your efforts won't go unappreciated. You will probably grow closer to those who mean the most to you now, including the very special person in your life.

Expect to minister to the needs of colleagues and family members today. People may need to draw on your insight into human nature in order to understand themselves and others. Your common sense could prove invaluable. In the process of sharing your wisdom, you might also shed some light on emotional situations of your own. You could surprise yourself.

Today you might feel especially creative and intellectually inspired. You could discuss your ideas with others. The process of communication could open up new doors in your mind, and result in some fascinating insights concerning whatever you're pursuing. Sometime in the course of your conversations, don't be surprised if you find that one of your friends needs a sympathetic ear.

A close friend or member of your household could be having money problems, and might want to draw upon your business sense in order to make sense of the situation and find ways to put it right. As you're likely to be feeling especially sensitive to the needs of others, you could be of valuable assistance to this person and anyone else who needs some insight.

Heightened intuition could lead to some interesting conversations. Others could be blown away by your insights into their thoughts, feelings, and desires. You could also feel more expressive than usual. You might want to channel some of that inspiration into writing, speaking, or some other form of self-expression.

Reading could prove especially valuable at this time.

Your intuition and inspiration could enhance your artistic talents. A powerful drive to express the stories, pictures, or music in your mind could result in your spending as much of the day as you can jotting down your thoughts and ideas.

You might spend most of your free time alone as a result.

Moving ahead is the key for today. You should feel very optimistic and excited about your goals. You're probably confident that you will reach them and all will go well. This positive attitude spills over into your personal relationships. You should be in just the right frame of mind to encourage your friends to go for their own dreams and give them whatever assistance they need.

Inspiration is the key for today. You may feel highly motivated to move on with what others consider impossible. Impossibility has never stopped you before, and you aren't likely to let it stop you now. You're more likely to consider all contingencies carefully in order to make them work. Friends could be inspired by your vision and determination and follow your example.

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

Rath Yatra celebrated with full fervour in Manipur Imphal, July 19 : De- daily basis. (ANI) spite the chaotic situation in the state, people List of hospitals in Dibrugarh with contact details & phone of Manipur on Saturday numbers, Assam started celebrating the weeklong Rath Yatra Shrishti Hospital & Research Centre Aditya Diagnostics & Hospitals popularly known as Paltan Bazar, Bordoloi Avenue, Paltan Bazar, ‘Kang Chingba’.

Dibrugarh - 786 005 Dibrugarh 786005 The main event of the Phone: 0373 - 2300024, 2302099 Phone Numbers: 0373 - 2302219, 2302225 formal beginning of the festival, which includes G M Hospital pulling of Kang, the traArchana Trauma & AMC Road, Jalan Nagar ditional chariot, and ofDibrugarh - 786 005 Orthopaedics Hospital fering seasonal flowers Paltan Bazar, and fruits to Lord Dibrugarh - 786 005 Jagannath, marks the Brahmaputra Diagnostics & Hospital Phone: 0373 - 2302100, 2302099 Near Indian AirLines City Office nine-day long festivities.

Paltan Bazar The Kang was pulled at Dibrugarh - 786 005 the Shree Shree Phone Numbers: 0373 - 2303476 Govindajee Temple complex here in Imphal Marwari Arogya Bhawan Hospital East district.

Paltan Bazar, Jalan Nagar, Dibrugarh - 786 002 Braving the seasonal Dibrugarh List of Phones numbers: downpour, a large numPhone: 0373 - 2302872, 2302051 Emergency Room : 0373 - 2300627 ber of devotees turned up in their traditional Labour Room: 0373 - 2300022 Aastha Hospital festival attires at the palDrug Deaddiction Centre: 0373 - 2302952 Graham Bazar, A.T. Road ace gate and temple to Community Medicine: 0373 - 2302994 Dibrugarh take part in the festival.

RIA Centre: 0373 - 2302093 Phone: 0373 - 2322547 The ISKCON temple authority in Imphal also celebrates the festival by Sanjivani Diagnostic & Hospital Dr. Pawan Bajaj's Skin Clinic pulling Odisha’s PuriPaltan Bazar, Paltan Bazar, Opposite Aditya Hospital type mini kang (chariot) Dibrugarh Dibrugarh Phone: 0373 - 2303448, 2303458, 2301904 along the Imphal-Airport road.

The festival, which will Dr Damani's Nursing Home Sankardev Hospital continue till July 26, Near Circuit House, Mancotta Road, Chowkidinghee will also witness a Dibrugarh Dibrugarh community feast on a Phone: 0373 - 2300928, 2302873

Assam Medical College

Phone: 0373 - 2327717, 2327715, 2326960

that ULFA rebels are eliminating the Indian citizens in eastern Assam to make space for the illegal Bangladeshi nationals as a return gesture to the populous country, where once they took refuge. It also asserted that the killing of people must be stopped in Assam at any cost.

Phone No.-03732325456 E-mail -dibrugarh@air.org.in Facebook Page-All India Radio Dibrugarh Programme Highlights 20-7-15 (MONDAY)

5-35 A.M-Bhaktigeeti(Devotional Songs) 6-10 A.M-Swasthya Charcha (Health Programme) 6-15 A.M-Sponsored Programme-"Suriya Geetere Sonowali Asom" 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-Geography and Atmospheric Sciences,Expert-Dr. Bharati Dutta 8-00 P.M-Drama 9-30 P.M-Discussion in English 10-00 P.M-Sponsored Programme-"Suriya Geetere Sonowali Asom" Sd-/H.O.P

PAGE 3

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, JULY 20

‘Yoga Varga is not closing; it is a new beginning’ - D.C. A.K. Singh Bomdila Jul 19: A 11 Days Yoga training programme organized by Seva Bharati concluded at Bomdila by encouraging people of Bomdila to do daily Yoga in the morning and evening. The response of Bomdila town people was immense even in the chilling cold and rainy season. 48 people participated in the Yoga training session which was held at Multi Sports Complex, Bomdila from 8th July to 18th July, 2015. The participants were trained in Yogasanas, Pranayam, Surya Namaskar and breathing exercises by Seva Bharati Yog Prashikshak, Dhananjay Chutia. Patients of blood pressure and diabetics were guided for doing Special Yogasanas for remedy and recovery. The participants shared their experiences like losing weight, feeling calm, recovering from body pain

etc.

Deputy Commissioner A.K. Singh, who was the Chief Guest of the function, appreciated the efforts taken by Seva Bharati in West Kameng.

He further stated that Yoga is not a brand of any community and should not be linked with any religion. He offered every possible help and encouraged the participants to come together daily in the

morning and evening at the Multi Sports Complex and continue the routine habit of doing Yoga without break.

Everest record holder Anshu Jamsenpa said that she had gone through various trainings and camps, done lot of cycling, played badminton but she found Yoga to be the best way to keep body, mind and soul intact and strong. She

added that Yoga will keep one happy and fit in this materialistic life.

AMASA President Tsering Wange while sharing his experience said that after doing Yoga, he felt fresh for the whole day. Seva Bharati District President Shri.

Lopsang Genchen and Secretary Tashi Tsering had taken efforts to make the Yoga Varga successful. (DIPRO)

Marto Kamdak’s demise leaves Arunachal in grief BJP, NCP, All Arunachal Pradesh Artist Forum condole Kamdak’s demise ET Correspondent Itanagar, Jul 19: Shri Gicho Kabak, State President of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Vice-President Shri Nima Sangey Saling alongwith other state office bearers expressed shock and grief over the sudden demise of late Marto Kamdak, one of the most popular singers of Arunachal Pradesh.

Shri Nima Sangey Saling, Vice-President of State NCP said that Marto Kadak contribution for all development

in the field of music, art and culture in the state was huge. His untimely demise is a great loss for the state. He will be always remembered for his melodious songs in numerous languages of the state.

The state NCP prayed to Almighty God for his eternal peace of departed soul and bestows strength to the bereaved family members to bear the irreparable loss cause to them. Two minutes silence was observed as a mark of tribute to the departed soul.

ET Correspondent Itanagar, Jul 19: The Bharatiya Janata Party, Arunachal Pradesh expressed its heartfelt condolence message to the bereaved family of Lt. Marto Kamdak; who untimely demise at GNRC Hospital, Guwahati owing to brain hemorrhage caused by the stroke.

Lt. Marto Kamdak was an excellent singer of the State since the last 3 decades, who enthralled thousand of his fans by his melodious songs singing in different dialects of the different tribes of the State.

His songs signified the rich cultural heritage of

the State and united diverse cultural ethic and ethos of Arunachal Pradesh.

The Party shares the grief with the bereaved family of Lt. Marto at this hour of sad and tragic moment and stand behind them.

Marto's lost is very irreparable lose to the State in the field of the Art and culture and created great vacuum to filled.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, Arunachal Pradesh while extending its heartfelt condolence messages to the bereaved family members of Lt. Marto Kamdak prays to almighty god for his soul to rest in peace.

ET Correspondent Itanagar, Jul 19: The All Arunachal Pradesh Artist Forum ( AAPAF ) today staged a peaceful rally thorough Itanagar, starting from Akashdeep to Nyokum

Lapang Via Rajbhawan area symbolizing their respect.

They paid floral tributes to the legendary singer Marto Kamdak who died due to brief illness. The rally was

attended by some of the renowned artists of the state namely - Taba Yall Nabam, K Boko, Kipa Rumiang, Nabam Abo, K Riram, Rode Karcho, N Konwar, Bamang Loram,

Pebi Ado Bamang.

Later they assembled at the residence of Marto Kamdak and prayed for the heavenly abode of the departed soul to rest in peace.

The 201st birth anniversary of Legandary Bhanu Bhakta Acharya celebrated ET Correspondent Itanagar, Jul 19: The 201st birth anniversary of Legandary Bhanu Bhakta Acharya & 1st Ever felicitation of meritorious Gorkha students of Arunachal Pradesh was organised

by Arunachal Pradesh Gorkha Youths Welfare Association ( APGYWA ) supported by a Delhi based NGO namely SP Memorial Siksha Niketan Samity was held at Siddhartha Hall, Itanagar today.

Various cultural and e d u c a t i o n a l programmes were organised to mark the day.

Kamlung Mossang, Hon’ble Minister for Food & Civil Supplies, Geology & Mining, WRD, Govt, of Arunachal Pradesh graced the occassion as the Chief Guest, Nyamar Karbak, HMLA-Cum-Chairman, (APB & OCWWB) was the Guest of Honour while Yumlam Achung, President, Itanagar Market Welfare Association ( IMWA ) was the special Guest. Guest from Sikkim, Delhi, and cultural troops from different parts of the state and Assam took part in the function. Speaking on

Union Minister Smriti Irani Holds Talks With RSS Bodies on Education Policy

the occasion, Mossang said that Bhanu Bhakta was a scholar, writer, poet who guided the gorkha community and the society as a whole.

He recalled his association with the Gorkha community and stated about the presence of more than 2500 Gorkha community people settled in nine different villages of his Miao Assembly Community of Changlang District of the state from which he represents. He further said that the people who have living there since the nineteen sixties enjoy all rights and privilege. They represent

Gram Panchayat, Anchal Samity and others. Their association with the Arunachalee people is very cordial and maintain their traditional values and contributes to the development of the area and nation as a whole. Shri Nyamar Karbak said and reiterated the teaching of legendary Bhanu Bhakta Acharyaji in life and his relationship with gorkha communities and preservation of Indian culture and traditional value and also presence of the communities in Arunachal Pradesh. IMWA President while speaking

said that it is the teaching of Legendary Bhanuji whose teaching and deliverance to the society have united the Gorkha communities in Arunachal Pradesh and other parts of the country. He advised the gathering not to fight in the name of caste, creed, communities and maintain love among each other. Shri Tanya Agu, spokesperson of AAPSU also spoke on the occasion and said that AAPSU will always stand behind Gorkha youths in all developmental matters and support them in their future endeavours.

New Delhi, Jul 19: Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani is understood to have held deliberations with functionaries of some RSS-affiliated education bodies today as her ministry is in the midst of drafting a new education policy.

Sources said inputs were shared during the deliberation regarding the new education policy and about giving thrust to a revamped education system which instills nationalism, pride and ancient Indian values in modern education.

The interaction came ahead of RSS' three-day annual meeting in Nainital next week.

The meeting also assumes significance as education bodies have come out with resolutions in recent past supporting the promotion of Sanskrit and vedic values in course curriculum.

The Bhartiya Shikshan Mandal, an RSS body, had in a draft outline on education last week had recommended that from classes 9 to 12, students should be

taught mother tongue and a classical language which could be Sanskrit or other languages like Arabic, Persian, Latin or Greek etc.

The draft titled 'Bhartiya Education Outline' also suggests that after eight years of primary education, student will have to "compulsorily" study one economic activity based subject for the next four years.

In June, the Dinanath Batra-headed Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas had proposed introduction of vedic maths in schools across the country and sought effective implementation of the three-language formula in all states.

It had favoured incorporating vedic maths along with regular mathematic courses in classes so as to improve

the level of "competency" among students in the subject.

"We have prepared a syllabus on vedic maths and have reached out to a few private schools across the country including a school in Delhi to impart it in classes," the body's secretary Atul Kothari had said.

Meanwhile, slamming the current education system in the country for lacking "Indianness", joint general secretary of RSS Krishna Gopal had said an education system should be such which connects students with their roots, their culture and provides an spiritual integration.

The new national education policy, the consultation of which started in January this year, could be ready for consideration by the end of this year.

The thrust of the Ministry is to reach out to all the stakeholders at the grassroot level to seek their views and suggestions during the consultation stage.

Why don't literature students read any real literature before college?

Every year, about this time, when Delhi's brief monsoon is deciding whether to come or to go, I find myself hiding in a corner, holding my head in my hands, sobbing. This annual mourning happens after a class of some thirty, bright-eyed, eager-tochange-the-world freshers have been asked why they want to study Literature (With the capital L, yes.) and have attested with varying degrees of enthusiasm, to their love for reading. Which is not the reason for the copious crying. Oh, no. The tears start when the hopeful pedagogue takes that question to its next logical step and asks, "So, what is it that

you read?" Some mention Harry Potter. Which is a relief. A handful have read and can quote from graphic novels. Some still name the vapid Vampire fiction by Stephanie Mayer. Which also makes sense. We get the appeal of the eternal love triangle, conflict, so on and so forth. And then there are the cheerful cries of "Chetan Bhagat!" "The Alchemist!" And horror of horrors, Amish. Amish, of the ridiculously retold Ramayana.

Chetan Bhagat, who judges reality shows with as much flair as his writing has. That's who these students-to-be have read and have termed "Literature" and brought into a classroom. That is

when the deluge starts. The problem is neither Chetan Bhagat nor Amish. One strings sentences together to tell a uni-dimensional story, full of stereotypes, ready to be converted into

yet another piece of Bollywood fluff, complete with inane song and dance routines. The other has just butchered the Ramayanaand shamelessly exploited the Delhi

gangrape case to add topicality.

Both could take pointers in story-telling from India's new breed of writers: Anees Salim, Anuradha Roy, Amit Chaudhuri,

among others. That mythologies can be re-written and re-written well is already obvious in the works of Devdutt Pattanaik and Ashok Banker. But let's not go there. Let the world consume the inept literary endeavours of Mr Bhagat and his ilk. Only, let us not make the mistake of calling any of it "literature".

Let us not assign to them the value of being the reason why a sixteen-year old wants to read Literature(s).

It is a little surprising that in a world that has Kindle and Amazon and Flipkart and Infibeam, highschoolers are still short of things to read. We are, obviously, discounting the school library. When con-

versations with friends happen over WhatsApp and whatever chat engine is the flavour of the month, no one except an overly-optimistic Language/ Literature teacher expects students to actually check out books from a real-time, steel-shelved, often dark, and complexly-organised library.

If she/he only stepped inside, our precocious teen might just discover the joy of a leather-bound, yellow-paged, slightly musty-smelling Classic.

Jane Austen, who has provided the plot for an unusually large number of Hollywood romances.

Charles Dickens, who is equal parts funny and re-

alistic and dramatic. Or even a paperback. Many a library has been an initiation to the amusing fastidiousness of a Hercule Poirot or the eccentricity and astuteness of a Miss Marple. Sheer numbers, the possibility of devouring shelf after shelf of Agatha Christie, or, to jump to an entirely different genre, Stephen King (-of-horror), would be motivation enough, one could be forgiven for imagining. But, no. Let's get back to the Kindle.

And stay there, foraging for bargains at least as satisfying as those in the narrow streets of Sarojini Nagar Market. Source: scroll.in

PAGE 4

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, JULY 20

NRC process gets slow response ET Correspondent Guwahati, Jul 19: Much to utter disappointment the progress to update NRC across the state is progressing at a snail’s pace. According to officials, the officials deployed in the assignment are likely to complete the

on going phase by July 31. Firstly, only 20 per cent people have so far responded to the filing of forms with relevant documents. Secondly, many NRC centres have not been able to smoothly function because of some technical problems.

“Power failure is responsible for most of the NRC centres,” say officials.

Another problem is man power shortage which is why, a centre is not in a position to facilitate over 20 people submit the forms with documents.

“If it so happens, we

won’t be able to complete the task by July 31,” say officials. Another reason for delay is the flood waves that have ravaged parts of the state. The Supreme Court will take the around demand to extend the last date beyond July 31.

ABNBM Plastic-made nacondnmed attack tional flags to be on innocent people banned soon ET Correspondent Margherita, Jul 19: Assam Bihari Nagarik Bikash Manch(ABNBM) Margherita Vice President Md Nurul Huda Ansari, General Secretary Shri Ram Hriday Shah(Kanthi) and Cultural Secretary Shri Ram Jatan Verma Condemned the attack on Hindi Speaking people few days ago at Bijuliban,Pengree.

Ram Hriday Shah (Kanthi) said that the innocent Hindi Speaking people were killed mercilessly where both Central and State government were fully responsible for it. Shah said that during the year 2003 many innocent Hindi Speaking people were killed and now the same incident have occurred

which indicates that both the government have an unholy Nexus and they hire paid Killers to target innocent people living in Assam.

Ram Jatan Verma said that on 17 th July during the protest at Tihu in Nalbari district by AASU an innocent School children Himangshu Tamuli was killed by CRPF jawans which indicates that Central and State Government should not allow us to live in Peace at Assam, “I Condemned this incident and warned both Central and State government to restrain from doing this kind of dirty politics neither we will intensify agitation against both government in near future’’, added Ram Jatan Verma.

New Delhi, Jul 19: The government is going to issue an order putting a ban on use, sale and purchase of plastic- made national flags in the country."We will soon issue the order banning national flags made of plastic," a senior Home Ministry official said. There have been complaints that after Republic Day and Independence Day, flags made of plastic are often found lying on roads and gutters. In March, the Bombay High Court had asked Maharashtra Government to come up with

a comprehensive policy to ensure a ban on use, sale and purchase of national flags made of plastic. The central government had also informed the court that a proposal to ban manufacture of national flags made of plastic was pending."The government should come up with a comprehensive policy. Create public awareness. Like the national anthem and pledge are printed in school textbooks, a message about national flags can also be printed," the High Court had told Maharashtra Government. (Agencies)

Arunachal to enact special law to control hill earth cutting Contd. from Page 1 and erosion. It has been observed that the present national norms for drain-

age, gradient and land stabilization measures were not adequate in North-Eastern states where rainfall, flood, landslide are rampant

and therefore fresh norms have to be worked out, the official said. It is expected that the report of the assessment would be submitted to

the government within two months’ time so that follow-up measures could be implemented after the rainy season, it added.

Louis Berger paid $976,630 bribe to win water projects in Goa, Guwahati Contd. from Page 1 in India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Kuwait to secure government construction management contracts.

Two of its former executives — Richard Hirsch (61) of Philippines, and James McClung (59) of the UAE — pleaded guilty to the bribery charges.

Sentencing hearings for

Hirsch and McClung are scheduled for November 5, 2015.

The Indian government, assisted by Japanese government, initiated the fiveyear Goa Water Supply and Sewerage Project to expand, rehabilitate and build water and sewerage facilities.

Louis Berger was part of a consortium for the project in Goa. The consor-

tium included two Japanese firms and an Indian partner.

Federal prosecutors, in their 11-page charge sheet, alleged that Louis Berger maintained a detailed diary and account of bribery made to Indian officials.

The attachment included an entry, “Paid by [an agent of the company] to minister on behalf of agent.”

According to court documents, the company through its employees and agents, together with others, used terms like “commitment fee,” “counterpart per diem,” “marketing fee” and “field operations expenses” to conceal the true nature of the bribe payments.

Louis Berger has offices in Gurgaon, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad.

Sarba visits violence-hit Philobari, assures family of full proof security Contd. from Page 1 President of BJP, Tinsukia district committee Bhabesh Sarma, President of BJP, Dibrugarh district committee Binud Hazarika during his visit. Expressing his grief for those killed, Sonowal also handed over a cheque of Rs. 2 lakhs from the Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK) to the family members of Shah. Major General

Dilwar Singh, National Director, NYK was also presented along with the union minister. “I am totally with you in your moment of grief and agony. We will have to stand united in our fight against militants who carry out such inhuman acts”, Sonowal said. The union minister also instructed new Tinsukia Superintendent of Police Mugdha Jyoti Mahanta, who had accompanied the minister during

his visit, to make necessary arrangements for the safety and security of the families living in the vulnerable areas. The minister also assured that all necessary steps will be taken to treat the injured. The minister also visited the residence of Dinabandhu Sarmah who succumbed to his injuries after he was critically injured during a protest in Makum following the Philobari shoot out incident.

Sonowal also handed over a cheque of Rs. 1 lakh to the family members of Sarmah.

However, it was interesting to note that at a time when the union home minister Rajnath Singh and the state chief minister Tarun Gogoi and DGP Khagen Sarma had directly blamed the Ulfa (Ind) for the massacre, Sonowal brushed aside questions from reporters on the involvement of Ulfa (Ind) in the incident.

Bhupen memorial to be completed within 2015: Tarun Gogoi Contd. from Page 1 Though the government has started construction work on five bighas of land at Jalukbari, people are wary about getting ‘too little too late’ in the memory of Bhupenda. The memorial might become a reality soon, if Assam chief minister

Tarun Gogoi’ words are taken seriously by his officials, and his ministerial colleagues. Gogoi today reviewed the progress of the work on the memorial, and directed his officials and the minster for cultural affairs to ensure that the project is completed within the year2015. Well aware of the

public sentiment brewing against it, the State government has announced that the Samadhi Kshetra would be completed and opened up for the common people by the death anniversary of Dr Hazarika in 2015. Interacting with reporters, Bismita Gogoi, Minister of Cultural Affairs, Assam, reiterated the

government’s pledge to complete the project by November 2015. “The initial process of project designing, tenders and architectural decisions are not visible on the ground. However, the construction work of the boundary wall, gate and gumbaz to be constructed on the site of cremation, has already started,” she said.

Nitya Manjuri Banner Under Nataraj Kalakhatra At Sivasagar Natya Mandir Today. Pic - Firuz Ahmed

Results of Assam Police Constable recruitment exam declared amidst anomalies Contd. from Page 1 the recruitment process by some unscrupulous people in the districts of Dhubri, Nagaon and Barpeta, the police spokesperson said here today.

"Considering that maintenance of sanctity of the recruitment process and trust of the public in the system was paramount, the state

government decided to cancel the process in these three districts and new dates for holding fresh recruitment shall be announced soon", a senior official of the Assam government said today.

Administrative and criminal action shall be taken against all persons, including government officials, who have been found to have indulged in corrupt practices or tampering of results during

the recruitment process in the districts of Dhubri, Nagaon and Barpeta, said the police official.

Altogether 3,11,198 applications were received, out of which 2,55,589 candidates who were found eligible were called for the Physical Tests, namely, Physical Standards Test (PST) and Physical Eligibility Test (PET). These tests were conducted across the state at 37 centres in all the dis-

tricts and subsequently, a written test was conducted on 28th June, 2015.

The system of recruitment was designed to be transparent and impartial by incorporating various elements like videography, on the spot declaration of marks obtained in physical tests, pre-defined transparent system of awarding of marks for extra-curricular activities, written test and no interview.

176 selected for constables in Kokrajhar Contd. from Page 1 district level selection committee in the district recently under guidelines from higher authority of Assam police. Kumar while addressing the reporters today at his offi-

cial chamber told that the police has announced that altogether 176 persons including 17 women are appointing to the Assam Battalion (AB) Constable posts in the district on merit basis. He said that as per guidelines from concern higher authority

of the police the district level selection committee chaired by him was conducted the recruitment process and find out all merit candidates who are efficiency in their position. 17 women were announced as selected candidates out 176 declared

candidates of which 19 ST (P),50 OBC & MOBC, 12 (SC), and 90 are in unreserved category I'm the district. He said that the recruitment committee selected the candidate as per guidelines from higher authority's of the police.

223 qualified for the job of police constable in Lakhimpur Contd. from Page 1 the numbers of male candidates is 198 and while 25 candidates are female. Holding a Press Conference in the lakhimpur District SP Office at 4 pm, this announcement was made by Mridul Dutta, the Chairman of the District Level Selection Committee and the Commandant of 13th APBN and Brajenjit Singha, the Member-

Secretary of the Committee cum the SP of Lakhimpur. They informed in the conference that out of these posts, 14 male 2 female posts were reserved for SC, 21 male, 2 female for ST(P), 2 male, 3 female for ST(H) and 56 male,16 female for MOBC. The number of unreserved post is 105 for male and 12 for female. It is to be noted that a total of 5504 candidates appeared for the Physical Standard

Test held on April 8. Out of them, 3916 candidates were considered fit for Physical Efficiency Test.

1878 candidates (1588 male,290 female) qualified in this test and out of them 1238 numbers of candidates were called for the written test named as Police Eligibility Test.

Out of them, only 1119 candidates appeared the written test and 223 candidates were potent enough to have them fit for the job. Remarking

upon the selection procedure for the appointment of police constable the Lakhimpur SP Brajenjit Singha told the media persons that every thing was transparent and done as per the norms determined by the Concern Authority of Assam Police Department. He added that if any candidate intended to see their OMR sheet of the written test he could have it submitting an application to the concern authority.

277 canditates selected in Dibrugarh District Contd. from Page 1 1354 candidates had appeared for the written ex-

amination which was held in three different districts.

On the other hand, 17 posts were reserved for SC/ST

candidates. Bhuyan said that the whole process was transparent and merit basis and conducted under the

supervision of ATC Company. In all the police station the candidates can easily find their list.

India to build 'strategic uranium reserve' Contd. from Page 1 Indian reactors had been "under-performing" as they did not get enough fuel from the outside world prior to the historic Indo-US nuclear cooperation agreement due to sanctions. However, since its inception, India has started importing uranium from Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan

and France.In a major milestone, India this year registered a record production of over 1,252 MT of uranium, manufacturing close to double the annual fuel requirement of atomic reactors in the country. The production has far exceeded the country's annual fuel requirement of 650 MT for the Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), which means

the country has surplus nuclear fuel that will last several months.Every 700 MW of reactor needs 125 MT of uranium every year. However, with the rising number of power reactors in the country, the demand is expected to rise. In the near future, two nuclear reactors of 700 MW each in Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) and Kakrapar Atomic Power

Station (KAPS) are coming up. Four atomic reactors of 700 MW each are also coming up at the Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP).Fuel for Kudankulam plant in Tamil Nadu and Jaitapur in Maharashtra, coming up in collaboration with Russia and France respectively, will be made available by the foreign players.

PAGE 5

REGION

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, JULY 20

Two shot dead in Oct-Nov tentative dates for the multi phase election in Bihar land dispute in Bihar THE MULTI PHASED FIGHT UPDATE Buxar, Jul 19: Two persons, including an ex-serviceman, were on Sunday shot dead in a land dispute in a village in Buxar district of Bihar. Buxar Deputy Superintendent of Police Sunil Kumar said a land dispute was going on between the two deceased for a long time. The two, along with their supporters, clashed today at Bauara village under Rajpur police station and Ram Badan Yadav of the same village and ex-ser-

viceman Gopal Thakur of neighbouring Kurhaini village were killed. "The two groups fired at each other in which Yadav was killed first and then Thakur. We have started probing the incident.

People involved in the shootout are being identified," Kumar added. The bodies have been sent for postmortem. Police personnel have been deputed at the village to ensure that the matter doesn't aggravate further. (Agencies)

WY tablets seized Imphal, Jul 19: Altogether 975 numbers of contraband drugs (tablets) known as World is Yours (WY) were seized by troops of 24 Assam Rifles along with a point 32 pistol from an individual at Khudengthabi along Imphal-Moreh highway last afternoon.

The individual apprehended together with the drugs and the pistol has been identified as P Ginsuanthang Zou (33) s/ o P Donglian Zou of

Moreh Ward No 8.

Sources informed that Ginsuanthang was heading for Imphal from Moreh on a Suzuki Access scooter when he was halted and checked at Khudengthabi check post. There the contraband tablets and the pistol were seized from his possession. He was handed over to Moreh police station along with the seized items last night.(Agencies)

New Delhi, Jul 19: The multi phased election between BJP and the 'Janata Parivar' consisting of the high-stakes battle for Bihar is likely to be fought probably between late October and early November sandwiched between festivals.

Election Commission sources said hectic work is on to tie up various issues before the full commission makes a visit to the Bihar for assessing the preparedness of the state's electoral machinery ahead of finalising the poll schedule. Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi and Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti are likely to visit Patna early next month for discussions with top officials of the administration and police and representatives of political parties.

The Commission is said to be looking at a window before festival season starts late October or to squeeze some phases between Dussehra and Diwali for holding the polls. Though a final decision is yet to be taken on the number of phases, it is likely to between four or five. The term of the 243-member Bihar assembly ends on November 29 and the new House

toral rolls on July 31, the state electoral machinery will commence the process

ØChief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi and Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti are likely to visit Patna early next month for discussions with top officials of the administration and police and representatives of political parties.

ØThe Commission would be using voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) in 36 of the 243 assembly constituencies but the number could increase.

VVPAT is a method of providing feedback to voters using a ballotless voting system.

ØAfter the thrashing in the Delhi Assembly elections, the BJP is setting great store by the Bihar elections where foes-Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad--have come together in an uneasy alliance.

ØAs the Commission prepares to publish the final electoral rolls on July 31, a team sent by the poll panel to Bihar briefed it on Friday about the election preparedness of the official machinery. The team briefed the Commission about the progress in preparing the electoral rolls, vulnerability mapping of sensitive constituencies, awareness campaign for voters to get their names included in electoral rolls and threat perception.

should be in place before that. Elections under the Constitution can be held anytime six months before the due date. After the thrashing in the Delhi Assembly elections, the BJP is setting great store by the Bihar elections where foes- Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad--have come together in an uneasy alliance. The Bihar polls will be followed by a round of Assembly elections in various states

including Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala and Assam.

As the Commission prepares to publish the final electoral rolls on July 31, a team sent by the poll panel to Bihar briefed it on Friday about the election preparedness of the official machinery. The team briefed the Commission about the progress in preparing the electoral rolls, vulnerability mapping of sensitive constituencies, awareness campaign for voters to get their

names included in electoral rolls and threat perception.

Since Bihar will be a standalone election, EC hopes to get the required number of personnel from central forces for the assembly polls without much ado. The festival of chhath, which is an important event in Bihar, falls six days after Diwali that will be celebrated on November 11. Election Commission had dispatched four special teams of 'auditors' to the state for weed-

ing out duplicate entries from electoral rolls. The four teams comprising six officers each are part of the Commission's newly-set up Regulatory Audit Division and Bihar is their first assignment. The Audit Division has been mandated to detect specific instances of non-adherence to the Commission's guidelines or legal provisions required to be followed by the field election machinery. Soon after the publication of elec-

ØThough a final decision is yet to be taken on the number of phases, it is likely to between four or five. The term of the 243member Bihar assembly ends on November 29 and the new House should be in place before that.

Illegal migrants and Saradha fraud to be the next major issues for BJP's next campaign Kolkata, Jul 19: So as to expand its territory in West Bengal the BJP is all set to deal with ant kind of imbalance it encounters and as such the multi-crore Saradha scam and the issue of illegal migrants from Bangladesh will be the focus of their campaign for next year's Assembly polls in the state. BJP, which could not win a single seat in the last polls, has set its campaign in the state where it faces stiff competition from Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress and Left parties.

"Our organisation structure in West Bengal is little weak. We will focus on illegal work being done by the government there. We will hit out on corruption and especially a particular section of people who are abducting minor girls, we will fight all these," BJP's General Secretary and incharge for West Bengal

Kailash Vijaywargiya told the media here. He said the party will do "sangharsh" (fight hard) to throw the state government out of power and form the government on its own in the state after winning the 2016 election. BJP had contested 289 seats in the 2011 Assembly polls in West Bengal but failed to win a single seat in 294member House (excluding one member to be nominated from Anglo Indian community).

Vijaywargiya said the infamous Saradha chit-fund scam, "deteriorating" law and order situation and illegal Bangladesh migrants issue will be raised as part of its campaign. "Our clear thinking on the issue is that all illegal migrants need to be identified. Those who are living there whether they are Hindus or Muslims, they need to be identified. We need to identify

the nationality of such people and take appropriate steps. "We will take action on the way Bangladeshi migrants have been made to enter the state and given voting rights. This will surely be the election issue," the BJP leader said, adding that, Bangladeshi migrants entering the state illegally need to be checked. To a question on Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh, he said the scandal is "small" as compared to those done

by Congress. "Congress has done many big scams.

This (Vyapam) is small as compared to them. We exposed the scam. We got it investigated. Whatever action was to be taken, we took it. Our intentions are clean. As far as the scam is concerned it is very small, Congress has done scams worth lakhs and crores," said Vijaywargiya, party's MLA from Madhya Pradesh's Ambedkar Nagar--Mhow, constituency. (Agencies)

Chattisgarh Health Minister alleged of bribery, sacking demamded Ranchi, Jul 19: Jharkhand opposition parties have sought dismissal of state Health Minister Ramchandra Chandravansi whose aide allegedly demanded Rs.100,000 as a bribe to revoke a doctor`s suspension.

Though Chandravansi`s personal secretary Satyendra Narayan Singh has denied the allegation, the opposition parties have trained their guns on the health minister from the BJP. "Any personal secretary of a minister cannot demand money without consent of the minister," Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-

P) legislator Pradeep Yadav told the media. "If (chief minister) Raghubar Das`s government is committed to fight corruption, then the health minister should be sacked and an impartial probe should be ordered," Yadav added. The Congress demanded Special Investigation Team be set up to probe the issue. "BJP government in Jharkhand and in other states is involved in corrupt practices. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has turned mute spectator which is emboldening others to do more corruption," Congress leader Alok Dubey told the media. Ac-

cording to media reports here, Satyendra Narayan Singh, the personal secretary of the state health minister, sought Rs.1 lakh from a doctor for revoking his suspension. The audio tape`s text has been published in a section of local newspapers. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) described the issue as "serious". "The issue is serious and the health minister should take action against his personal secretary to give message to people and officials of the state and to maintain credibility of the department," Pradeep Sinha, Jharkhand BJP spokesperson, told the media. (Agencies)

"Our organisation structure in West Bengal is little weak.

We will focus on illegal work being done by the government there. We will hit out on corruption and especially a particular section of people who are abducting minor girls, we will fight all these," BJP's General Secretary and incharge for West Bengal Kailash Vijaywargiya told the media here.

of updating of electoral rolls to ensure that those left out are included. The EC will have to take into account weather conditions, festivals, exams, holidays, heavy monsoon, heavy rain and floods before arriving at exact schedule. The poll watchdog has undertaken mapping of all constituencies of Bihar into three categories. Where EC finds maximum sensitivity, it plans to deploy central police forces "well in time," a senior Commission functionary said. The Commission would be using voterverified paper audit trail (VVPAT) in 36 of the 243 assembly constituencies but the number could increase. VVPAT is a method of providing feedback to voters using a ballotless voting system. An EVM will have a small attachment to it which after pressing the button for a desired candidate, will print that name on a paper. It will be stored inside the machine and can be used in case of any controversy over the final result. Considering Left-wing extremism that affects parts of the state, an assessment of central paramilitary forces is also going on. (Agencies)

Smuggling Finger on Kalchini TMC MLA Wilson Champramary Darjeeling, Jul 19: Officials of the forest department and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) today seized around five tonnes of red sandalwood, worth around Rs 10 crore, during a raid in Kalchini and arrested two persons. One of those arrested told journalists that the Trinamul MLA of Kalchini, Wilson Champramary, and his father Subin had asked them to keep the logs at their homes. Wilson's cellphone was switched off. Subin denied the charges. "This is a conspiracy against me and my son. We are not involved in any illegal activities like red sandalwood smuggling," he said. Last month, the Union home ministry had sent a note to the state home department alleging that Wilson was involved in red sandalwood smuggling.

The MLA had denied the allegation. Forest and SSB officials said the seized red sandalwood had been smuggled in from Andhra Pradesh and kept in two

The seized red sandalwood seized by the SSB in Kalchini on Sunday houses at Kalchini's Paschim Satali village. The officials suspect the sandalwood was supposed to be smuggled to China via Bhutan. Both the raided houses are a stone's throw

from Wilson's home. The logs were kept in trenches at the homes of Romel Karji and Rakesh Narjinary.

"Around 45 days ago, Wilson Champramary and his father came to me and said

they would pay me Rs 6,000 a month and provide me some other help too if I kept the sandalwood logs at my home," Romel told reporters after his arrest.

(Agencies)

Jagannath Rath Yatra celebrated with full devotion in Tripura Agartala, Jul 19: Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra, the grand annual festival symbolizing harmony, was celebrated with gaiety and fervour in Tripura on Saturday. In capital Agartala, the main function took place in the Jagannath Temple where hundreds of thousands of devotees thronged to pull the Chariot of Lord Jagannath.

"In Tripura, after Durga Puja, the biggest gathering of people is for Rath Yatra. It takes place during the month of Ashar or Sraban and people from various religions participate here. People enjoy the festival forgetting their religion and children

Devotees trying to pull the royal chariot on the eve of the annual Rath Yatra in Tripura on Sunday. Pic - UB Photos

also bring out small chariots," said Ashok Deb, a devotee who travelled 65 kilometers from Udaipur to take part in the festival. Jagannath, which means the keeper of

the universe, is believed to be an incarnation of the Hindu God Krishna. The annual procession symbolizes the celebration of Jagannath's weeklong journey from

Kurukshetra to Bindraban to visit his maternal aunt's house along with his elder brother Balabhadra and younger sister Subhodra some 5,000 years ago. "A large number of devotees participate in the Jagannath Rath Yatra that takes place annually. We have been enjoying this right from our childhood and every year the participation of people is increasing. Even people from outside also come to participate in the Rath Yatra here," added Sabita Roy, another devotee. In Tripura, this festival took roots after a king of the Manikya dynasty, that ruled the state for more than 500 years, started it. (ANI)

Criminal activities dropped down to a complete null in Mizoram Officials from the state Home Department confirmed that there had not been a single kidnapping incident so far this year

One of the students participating at the debate on the topic 'Present educational infrastructure hampers the better education system', organized by the KJDSTA, as part of its coral jubilee celebration held in Shillong. PiC - UB Photos

Aizawl, Jul 19: The ebbing of militancy in Tripura has had a positive effect in the neighbouring state of Mizoram. As Tripura exited AFSPA with the number of extremist-related incidents, civilian deaths, security personnel deaths, kidnappings and encounters falling to zero this year, Mirzoram, too, saw the number of kidnappings by Tripura-linked militants drop to zero. Officials from the state Home Department confirmed that there had not been a single kidnap-

ping incident so far this year. They attribute the success to the current tripartite talks between the NLFT, Tripura and the Centre, the second round of which was concluded earlier this month. Over the past halfdecade, at least 31 people were kidnapped 29 at gunpoint within Mizoram in nine separate incidents.

Except for two kidnappings near the state's north-western border with southern Assam, all others incident took place in the border area with Tripura and

Bangladesh, according to data furnished to the Tripura Assembly last November by state Home Minister R Lalzirliana.

The latter's hilly, forested border area has been a hotbed of militant groups that, investigators said, relied on ransom-kidnappings as their main revenue source.

The major operators in the area have been the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and lesser-known gangs of Bru tribals that aid the NLFT. Tripura CM Manik Sarkar

recently said the NLFT cadres remain in 16 camps in Bangladesh, three of them close to the Indian border. The Mizoram Home Minister added that 10 kidnappers had been arrested by Mizoram Police, among them seven cadres of the Bru Democratic Front of Mizoram and two cadres of the NLFT. Seven of these arrested kidnappers were from North Tripura's Naisingpara relief camp for internally displaced Bru tribals. (Agencies)

Anand Parbat case: AAP activists protest outside Delhi Police headquarters, demand Bassi's resignation Delhi,Jul 19: Volunteers of Aam Aadmi Party's youth wing (AYW) protested outside Delhi Police headquarters today over the killing of a teenage girl belonging to Anand Parbat area.T he activist were around 250 in number and as some of them tried to break through a police cor-

don, the police sprayed water at them, effectively dispersing them, witnesses said. They also asked for Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi's resignation in the wake of girl's murder. The AAP said the police needed to probe the issue without any political influence. (Agencies)

Sisodia appoints new team to probe 2009 school stampede New Delhi, Jul 19: Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia, today ordered a probe into the deaths of five female students who were killed in a stampede at a government school in the Khajuri Khas area in 2009.According to reports, Sisodia has also ordered the appointment of a new investigating officer into the 2009 case. A stampede at the Government Senior Secondary School at Khajuri Khas in the trans-Yamuna area in 2009 had left five girls dead and 35 students injured. (ANI)

'I want justice for my daughter's murder,' says mother to Kejriwal New Delhi, Jul 19: The mother of the 19-year-old girl, who was brutally stabbed to death in Delhi's Anand Parbatarea said today that she wouldn't settle for anything less than justice. Appearing to tell Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family was not enough, the victim's mother said, "I want justice. I want all the girls of our society to stay safe."The family said the murderers should be hanged. The 19-year-old girl was brutally stabbed to death allegedly by two brothers living in her neighborhood for protesting against their verbal abuse on July 16.Chief Minister Kejriwal, accompanied by his deputy Manish Sisodia, visited the victim's family and assured them of all possible help. (ANI)

UK's Cameron says will work with US to destroy ISIS London, Jul 19: British Prime Minister David Cameron has said that Britain is committed to work with the United States to destroy the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).Media quoted Cameron, as saying that he wanted the United Kingdom to do more, and added that he needed to "take parliament with him".Cameron is set to deliver a speech on Monday to caution young Britons against being tempted to join the ISIS. In his speech, he will warn young boys and girls about the danger of them being strapped with, bombs, being enslaved and abused. (ANI)

Seven injured in protest in Faridabad factory Faridabad, Jul 19: Five persons and two policemen were injured today after workers of a company here staged violent protest against the termination of two employees. The problem started yesterday when the workers came to know about the termination of services of two employees by the company located at Sector-31 on National Highway near DLF Industrial area, police said. Workers gathered at the gate of the factory to protest against the management today morning, they said. However, the owner of the company, V K Jain, announced that whoever wishes to continue their jobs should come inside and start work while those who don't come in can get their accounts cleared. A few workers who tried to get inside were stopped by those protesting. A clash arose between the two groups following which police intervened, police said. Five persons and two policemen were injured in the incident as the agitators started pelting stones. (Agencies)

Eco will grow if more investments in Railway: Prabhu Pune,Jul19:TheIndian economy will register an increased growth by 2-3 per cent if the country's railway network is pumped with a massive investment to boost the connectivity, Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said.Indian economy will grow by 2 to 3 per cent more with increased investments in the railways as reforms in transportation sector are vital to exploit full growth potential of the country," Prabhu said at a function here last night. Citing the example of China, he said, "China made massive investment in the railways and showed that a country can accelerate development by boosting connectivity."Pointing out that congestion was one of the main problems faced by the Indian railways, the minister said doubling and tripling of the lines can happen only with a

hike in investment in the sector.He said the tendering process of the railways and other commercial decisions were not being handled by the railway minister in the NDA government, as far as the delegation and decentralisation of power to the departments is concerned."This has resulted in less loitering by agents in the Rail Bhavan," he said."The Railway minister now works only on policy execution.Decentralisation of power of decision making, if necessary, is in the interest of a transparent administration," he noted.The cabinet had recently cleared development plans for 400 railway stations, Prabhu said, adding that the railways should be seen as a new medium of development for the country in future.(Agencies)

PAGE 6

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, JULY 20

No hearing for Navy War Room leak case accused after 10 years New Delhi, Jul 19: For close to a decade a former Captain in the Indian Navy has been poring over the cause list of the Delhi High Court in the hope of finding a mention of his writ petition challenging his dismissal, but in vain. Kashyap Kumar was dismissed from service in October 2005 in exercise of the rarely used President's "pleasure doctrine" under Article 311 without facing a court-martial after his name surfaced in the Navy War Room leak case. He filed a writ petition in November 2005 challenging the decision .He was named in the FIR after the CBI took over the probe but the agency did not charge sheet him for want of evidence .In fact, the agency even filed a status report in 2006, saying "No connection between him (sacked Captain Kumar) and Kulbushan Parashar (one of the main accused in the case) and other key players in the conspiracy have been established so far during investigation"."Kumar was

not arrested and charge sheeted so far," the status report had said.Six people, including Ravi Shankaran, a relative of former Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash and Delhi-based businessman Abhishek Verma were charge sheeted by the CBI in 2006.Besides these two, former Navy officer Kulbhushan Prashar, former Commander Vijender Rana, sacked commander V K Jha and former

IAF Wing Commander Sambha Jee L Surve are facing trial in the case for criminal conspiracy under IPC besides various provisions of Official Secrets Act.Kumar had a reason to smile when the premier probe agency did not charge sheet him, hoping his ordeal was about to end. However, the seemingly endless wait for justice continues despite a request for early hearing made to the High Court in

January this year. The agonizing wait for justice notwithstanding, Kumar soldiered on, doing low-paying jobs for Rs 20,000 a month and even ploughing farms owned by others to sustain his family.Last December, after he lost yet another job because of the taint from the past, Kumar moved an application before the Delhi High Court for an early hearing of his appeal against dismissal. In his petition, the

54-year-old former soldier said he has to look after his two children and wife."The pendency of the petition before this court, particularly in view of the fact that no material against the Petitioner Kumar has been brought to light even after thorough investigations by independent agencies, is causing grave prejudice to the petitioner."Although the CBI in its status report before this court has stated that the CBI has found nothing against the Petitioner yet, the Petitioner is facing issues during the course of his present employment/employability as employers need a clean chit in this regard. For this purpose, the present petition, in the interest of justice, may be expedited so that the Petitioner may satisfy this court about the unfairness meted to the Petitioner and the Petitioner may vindicate his stand before this Court," his petition reads.Justices Pradeep Nandrajog and Pratibha Rani of the Delhi High Court dismissed the petition on Janu-

17 naxals surrender in a month in Gadchiroli Mumbai, Jul 19: Seventeen Naxals, many of them hard core, surrendered before police in the last one month in Maharashtra's Naxal-hit Gadchiroli district, a senior police official said today.Of the 17, 13 hail from Kotmi-Kasansur, which has been one of the most difficult Naxal areas for the police for last many years."We have opened a new police post at Kotmi in February and it has proved to be very effective," Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Sandip Patil told media over phone."The surrender operations may gather momentum after first week of August, post 'Shaheed Week' observed from July 28 to August 3," the senior officer said.Of the 17 naxals, nine carried a reward of over Rs 30 lakh on their heads. Of

them, Irpa Kujur was involved in 18 violent offences including encoun-

ters, blasts, and murders and waylaying of a truck c a r r y i n g

explosions.During Patil's tenure as district police chief, 37 Naxals surren-

dered in 2014, and 24 have done so this year so far.The new Naxal surrender policy also comes with substantial cash reward and has been propagated across the district as 'Kaun Banega Lakhpati' scheme through posters in affected areas. Gadchiroli Police also has a cell for publicity or counter propaganda and it organizes peace rallies, has a constant dialogue with locals. Films, street plays and posters are also used to wean away people from joining Naxal movement. Prominent rebels, who have surrendered in past six months, are Gopi, commander of Korchi 3 dalam and Vi j a y D u g g a , c o m mander of Chatgaon dalam. Both carried a reward of Rs 12 lakh on their head. (Agencies)

ary 6, saying "The appeal is at effective serial number 56 in the category of regular hearing matters and this early hearing is declined for the reason the writ petition is likely to be heard within next four to five weeks". It has not come up for hearing as yet.

Kumar has neither lost hope for justice nor faith in the country's judicial system."I have faith in the judiciary and hope the matter will be heard soon," he said. The CBI, in the meantime, said it examined all the files and questioned some Navy officers regarding the role of the sacked captain in the leak but failed to get any convincing answers about his involvement.

They got a routine reply that Kumar stood dismissed under Section 15 of the Indian Navy Act, an action, which has already been challenged in the Delhi High Court .Kumar was dismissed under the Section 15 of the Navy Act wherein an accused official has no right to present his case or see the allegations that have been leveled against him. (Agencies)

South African President Jacob Zuma discharged from hospital after surgery

Johannesburg, Jul 19: South African President Jacob Zuma was discharged from hospital today after undergoing a scheduled procedure the previous day to remove gallstones, the presidency said."Doctors are pleased with the outcome of the operation. The President will spend the next few days resting and recuperating at home," a statement from Zuma`s office said. The presidency said yesterday that the gallstones were discovered about two months ago during a routine medical checkup. (Agencies)

Bangladeshi border force delegation to visit India New Delhi, Jul 19: With the exchange of enclaves along the India-Bangladesh border set to get over by July 31, a high-level delegation of the neighbouring country's border guarding force BGB is set to arrive here next month. The visit assumes significance as this will be the first official Bangladeshi team to arrive after the historic Land Boundary Agreement has been put on ground and its basic formalities are expected to get over this

month-end. The delegation led by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Director General Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed is slated to arrive here on August 2 as part of the bi-annual Directors General (DsG) level talks with their counterparts Border Security Force (BSF).

"The BGB delegation will be here for six days between September 2-7. A joint record of discussions will also be signed at the end of discussions between the two sides which will surely in-

clude new issues emerging out after the historic signing of. discussions between the two sides which will surely include new issues emerging out after the historic signing of the LBA between the two countries," a senior official said. The Indian side will be led by BSF DG Devendra Kumar Pathak along with senior officials of the Union Home Ministry, External Affairs Ministry and those from other law enforcement agencies. The delegation will also call on

'People of India not fools, I feel like laughing at Singhal's intelligence': Kamal Farooqi New Delhi, Jul 19: Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Kamal Farooqi today scoffed at Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) patron Ashok Singhal's controversial 'Hindu nation' remark, calling it a 'mad dream' and added that Singhal, who has fooled the people of Hindustan since his youth, cannot fool for long."I feel like laughing over his intelligence. He has always given out such statements since his youth.

I think he believes that the people of Hindustan are fools. But people can't be fooled for a long time,"

Farooqi told media."First; he exploited in the name of Sri Ram and afterwards received crores of rupees for the Ram Mandir. There has yet been no accounting on that issue. These people have this mad dream of 'a Hindu state' and I can only scoff at it," he added. Highlighting that Hinduism is an old religion whose roots lie in Hindustan, Farooqi said: "I have no further comments to make. I don't have anything against any religion."VHP patron Ashok Singhal has sparked another controversy by saying that India would be a

'Hindu' nation by 2020."I was at the Sai Baba Ashram where Sai Baba told me by 2020 the entire country will be Hindu and 2030 the entire world will be Hindu. I feel that revolution has started," he said at a function in the national capital.He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA Government has put an end to 800 years of 'slavery'.Earlier, Singhal had said that the recent general elections have shown that polls can be won without Muslim support, and that now the latter should learn to respect Hindus. (ANI)

Home Minister Rajnath Singh and other senior officials of the ministry.

Amongst the other things on the discussion table, the two sides will also discuss issues related to border management, activities of insurgents and smugglers along the 4,096km border that the two neighbours share. Subjects related to smuggling of fake Indian currency notes (FICN), security of border guarding personnel and identification of sensitive posts along the Indo-Bangla

border are also on the table.

The Bangladeshi side is also expected to take up the issue of the trial of the killing of a young girl Felani Khatun, who was allegedly shot dead on the border in 2011 by a BSF troop. A special force court had recently acquitted the border guard of these charges. "Both the forces will also exchange the new position of enclaves and the gist of recent changes and survey that have occurred in areas where the LBA was imple-

mented," the official said.T he LBA aims to settle the 41-year-old land boundary dispute between the two nations through exchange of territories, removing a major irritant in bilateral ties.The last times the two sides met was in December last year when the BSF delegation travelled to Dhaka.

A special 'maitri' (friendly) handball match between the troops of the two forces is also expected to be held here during the course of the visit. (Agencies)

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, JULY 20

PAGE 7

NEIGHBOURS

Myanmar '88 student leader joins Suu Kyi's party to run in polls Yangon, Jul 19: A leader of student protests in Myanmar in 1988 that grew into a nationwide pro-democracy movement will run in a general election in November for opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party, a party spokesman said today.

The decision is likely to bolster the chances of Suu Kyi's party in the much-anticipated polls, the first since the end of direct military rule, as it takes on the military-backed ruling party.The poll comes at a critical time for the Southeast Asian nation and could decide the scope of reforms."Ko Ko Gyi and some other members from the '88 Generation students group will run in the next general election representing our party," Nyan

14 killed, over 50 hurt in Bangladesh road accident Dhaka, Jul 19: At least 14 people were killed and over 50 others injured today in a major head-on collision between two passenger buses in northern Bangladesh. The incident took place at the west side of Bangabandhu Bridge in Sirajganj district, around 125 kms from here, in the wee hours when a Rangpurbound bus from Chittagong collided with a Dhakabound bus from Gaibandha area. Soon after the accident, fire brigade, ambulances and police were rushed to the spot to carry out rescue and relief operations. Among those killed, 12 people died on the spot including both the bus drivers while two others succumbed to injuries on way their way to hospital. All the injured were rushed to different nearby hospitals.

Meanwhile, an inquiry was initiated by the authorities."A four-member committee has been set up to investigate the accident and directed to submit their findings within three days," Deputy Commissioner Billal Hossain was quoted as saying in the media. The families of those killed would be given 10,000 Taka (USD 129), he said. (Agencies)

Win, a spokesman for Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), told media. Ko Ko Gyi was a leader of the 1988 protests that the military eventually crushed. He spent more than 17 years in and out of prison before being released on 2012 as part of reforms initiated by the military .Activists who took part in the 1988 protests are loosely allied in a movement known as the 88 Generation, which has kept some distance from Suu Kyi's party even though they share many aims. Ko Ko Gyi confirmed to media that he would run in the election but declined to give further details until the NLD made an official announcement.

The NLD said this month that it would contest the

election, ending months of uncertainty about its participation, even though

Suu Kyi is barred by the military-drafted constitution from becoming the

Five minors among 6 killed in Bangla landslides Dhaka, Jul 19: At least six persons including five children and a woman were killed today in two separate incidents of wall collapse due to landslides caused by incessant rains in Bangladesh's port city of Chittagong.The first incident was reported from

Motijhorna area where three persons including two children, aged two and five, and a woman, 29, were buried alive, officials said."These three were killed when their house was hit by the landslip and its walls came crashing down around 2

AM," Chittagong's additional commissioner Tahmilur Rahman said.

The second incident occurred in Amin Colony where three children aged between two to 12 of the same family were killed after house wall collapsed on them following a

Yangon, Jul 19: Myanmar held a ceremony today to commemorate fallen national heroes including General Aung San and eight others who sacrificed their lives for regaining the country's independence from the British colonial rule. General Aung San was founder of Myanmar's armed forces.On behalf of President U Thein Sein, Vice President Sai Mauk Kham paid tribute at the tombs of the martyrs in commemoration of the 68th Martyrs' Day, launched at the Martyrs' Mausoleum.Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of General Aung San, laid wreathes at the tombs. Those attending the commemorative function were Speaker of the Parliament and House of Representatives U Shwe Mann and Speaker of the

House of Nationalities U Khin Aung Myint, parliament members, government

ministers, Yangon Region chief minister and representatives of political parties.

ish-based spokesman for two of the group, Hoosain Jacobs and Tahira Jacobs who hold dual UK and South African nationality but traveled with South African passports - claims all the tourists have been released without charge.It also said the detentions may have been made after an "unfortunate misunderstanding" concerning Genghis Khan, a 13th century Mongolian warrior hero who founded an empire from Eastern Europe to the South China Sea."They watched a documentary on Genghis Khan to further their understanding of the region they were in at the time, and this may have mistakenly been deemed as 'propaganda' material," the

statement said."It can only be assumed that junior officials who made the initial arrest in Inner Mongolia made a mistake, due to perhaps their unfamiliarity of the English language."The group was on a "deluxe sight-seeing tour of China" which was expected to last 47 days, starting in the former British colony of Hong Kong and ending in the commercial hub of Shanghai, the statement said.

They were arrested 30 days into the tour, following a visit to the Genghis Khan Mausoleum at Ordos, it said, adding that those involved were aged between 33 and 74.An official at Ordos's foreign affairs office told media that he understood the

group "looked at and propagated something about violence and terrorism."Local police declined comment on the case. China has launched a wide-ranging crackdown on what it claims is "terrorism" in its restive western Xinjiang region. A new criminal law submitted last month to China's rubber-stamp parliament widens the list of activities which can be defined as "terrorism," state media said. Resource-rich Inner Mongolia region sees sporadic protests by Mongols against government policies which include moving nomadic herders from grazing lands into towns, and vast coalmine development. (Agencies)

China says imprisoned Tibetan lama died of cardiac arrest Beijing, Jul 19: The cause of death of a Tibetan lama who was serving a life sentence in a Chinese prison was cardiac arrest. Tenzin Delek Rinpoche died 13 years into a sentence on charges of financing and supporting a series of terrorist bombings and secession activities. His supporters say the charges were trumped up, and his family had complained last week it had been denied access to his death certificate and medical

landslide.All the three were rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors declared them brought dead.Amin colony is an illegal settlement where in June 2007, at least 127 people had died due to landslides in the hills of Chittagong after heavy

rains. The incident had prompted a periodic eviction of these illegal settlements on and below the hills of Chittagong, especially during the rains.

The evictions were underway when the landslip hit the settlements, the report said. (Agencies)

Myanmar commemorates fallen national heroes

China held tourists for 'watching Genghis video Beijing, Jul 19: Tourists who were held in China after being accused of looking at "terrorist" materials were detained after they viewed a documentary on Genghis Khan, a spokesman for two members of the group said.A total of 20 visitors from South Africa, Britain and India were held at Ordos's airport in China's northern Inner Mongolia region on Friday last week, sparking diplomatic concern.Six Britons and five South Africans have already been released, while the remaining nine tourists are expected to be deported in the coming days, officials in South Africa and at the British Embassy in Beijing said .Meanwhile, a statement released by a Brit-

country's leader.

"Surely this will strengthen considerably

the NLD, which has to struggle very hard to be able to lead a government after the next election," said political analyst Yan Myo Thein. About 90 political parties have registered to run in the election scheduled for November 8.The NLD won Myanmar's last free and fair election in 1990 with a landslide, but the result was ignored by the then ruling military, which ceded power in 2011.The NLD boycotted a 2010 poll held under military rule.

Myanmar has seen a wave of student protests this year including last month when between 50 and 200 protesters led a peaceful march urging the military to get out of politics.

(Agencies)

records. The 65-year-old had studied under the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama who Beijing considers a separatist in the 1980s and been recognized by him as a reincarnated lama. A prison guard had found Tenzin Delek suffering from respiratory failure about two hours after the monk began to take his usual nap on July 12. Prison doctors gave him emergency treatment and he was taken to a hospital and

declared dead after further treatment. Last year, the monk's family had applied for medical parole for him on the grounds that he suffered from a heart condition, high blood pressure, dizzy spells and problems with his legs that had caused him to fall down frequently. Sources said that prisoners serving life sentences are not allowed medical parole. His body was cremated on Thursday in Chengdu city in Sichuan

province, where he had been held for the last 13 years. A Tibetan rights group, the New York-based Students for a Free Tibet, said around 30 Tibetans from his immediate family and students were allowed to see the body before the cremation and perform a short prayer. They had wanted to perform Tibetan Buddhist funeral rites on his body in Lithang, his hometown in a Tibetan area of Sichuan. (Agencies)

Following the official ceremony, the martyrs' mausoleum was open to the

public and Aung San's Museum also kept open for commemorative visit.

General Aung San, along with eight others including his bodyguard and seven councilor members, were all assassinated at Yangon's then Prime Minister's Office on July 19, 1947 before Myanmar regained independence on Jan. 4, 1948.July 19 was designated a public holiday now known as Martyrs' Day in the country.

The previous Prime Ministers' Office in downtown Yangon was especially open to the public for commemorative visit this year.

Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy is scheduled to hold a separate function to mark the historical event in Yangon later on the day.

(Agencies)

2 held with 6 gold bars at Dhaka airport Dhaka, Jul 19: Members of Airport Armed Police Battalion (APBn) have detained two persons with six gold bars weighing 600 grams at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.The detainees were identified as Md Billal, 70,

and his son Md Shah Alom, 26, said Assistant Superintendent of Police of the APBn Tanjina Akhter. The APBn men detained them from outside the canopy-2 around 8:15am today with six gold bars weighing 100 grams each, she said. (Agencies)

Al Qaeda claims killing 14 Algerian soldiers Karachi, Jul 19: Al Qaeda's North African affiliate has claimed that it has killed 14 Algerian soldiers in an ambush southwest of the Algerian capital city of Algiers, in what could be deadliest attack on the army in over a year.Newspaper reports said that troops were killed by a terrorist group on the road to Tifran, a wooded area in the south of Ain Defla province, 140 kilometers from the capital.The ambush took place on Friday night at the start of the Eid holiday, which marked the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramzan, reported themedia.Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb ( AQIM) claimed the attack in an unverified statement posted online. (ANI)

Chinese President Xi Jinping visits 16th army group Beijing, Jul 19: Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with senior officers while visiting the 16th army group, on July 18, 2015.

The visit came just days ahead of the Army Day, which falls on Aug. 1 and marks the founding of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, Xi extended regards and festive greetings to military personnel during the visit. (Agencies)

Nine militants killed in Pakistan Islamabad, Jul 19: Nine militant commanders were killed during a clash with the Frontier Corps (FC) troops in Pakistan's Balochistan province. The clash occurred during a search operation in Awaran district. The FC seized large cache of arms and explosives from militants.Though Frontier Corps is meant to help in local law enforcement and carry out border patrol and anti-smuggling operations, its units have been recently used in military operations in Balochistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. (Agencies)

Man arrested over intoxicant pill racket on Kandy-Colombo road Colombo, Jul 19:An individual has been arrested along the Kandy-Colombo road in connection to a racket where intoxicant pills were sold to students and other youth.According to police, nine packets containing 15 pills in each were found. The suspect who was arrested is a 63-year-old resident of Ambathenna in Mullegama.

He was working at a privately owned pharmacy although he was not trained to do so .Investigations revealed that the packets were sold for Rs. 100 each. The suspect is set to be produced before the Kandy Magistrate's Court on Sunday, July 19(Agencies)

Sri Lanka seeks grant assistance from US Colombo, Jul 19: Sri Lanka has sought grant assistance from the US to provide a tangible peace dividend to its people, a media report said.The Sri Lankan foreign ministry said that the assistance has been sought through the US Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), an independent US government foreign aid agency. At a meeting with chief executive officer of the MCC Dana J. Hyde, Sri Lanka's ambassador to the US Prasad Kariyawasam has emphasised the desire of the government to establish a partnership with the US.Kariyawasam briefed Hyde on the reform process in Sri Lanka and the significant progress that has been achieved by the government since its election to office in January. Acknowledging the progressive developments taking place in Sri Lanka, Hyde said MCC was encouraged by the reform process and would continue to closely follow developments in the coming months.She invited the ambassador to continue interaction with MCC, the foreign ministry said. (Agencies)

Pakistan accuses India of ceasefire violations Islamabad, Jul 19: Pakistan has accused India of another breach of their ceasefire in the disputed Kashmir region, after reporting the death of four civilians in earlier cross-border shelling .Indian troops opened fire recently in the Poonch sector of the Line of Control(LoC), the region`s de facto border, using small arms, rockets, mortars and heavy machine gun fire, said a foreign ministry statement in Islamabad. The statement was issued late Saturday; days after Islamabad sum-

moned the Indian ambassador after what it called an Indian spy drone was shot down in Kashmir."It is deeply regretted that once again the ceasefire violations by the Indian troops are being committed during the Eid holidays, as was done by them last year, when many innocent civilians were martyred," the statement said, referring to the Islamic festival which ends Ramadan. Pakistani officials earlier said Indian fire on Wednesday and Thursday killed four civil-

ians, one in Kashmir itself and three near the town of Sialkot close to the border."Pakistan lodges protest at the provocative act, which is against the spirit of the understanding reached at the Ufa meeting, and hopes that the Indian government would observe the understanding reached between the two sides during 2003," its latest statement said, referring to the Saturday incident .After months of stalemate and recriminations in their relationship,

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif spoke for about an hour while visiting the city of Ufa in Russia for a summit on July 10.Modi accepted an invitation from Sharif to visit Pakistan next year, raising hopes of an improvement in perennially difficult relations. While Sharif did attend Modi`s inauguration in May last year, relations soon cooled amid flare-ups in violence along the border in Kashmir. (Agencies)

Doctors' Goodwill Foundation Working Tirelessly Providing Medical Care in Nepal Kathmandu, Jul 19: The Doctors' Goodwill Foundation has been working tirelessly providing quality medical care to the natives of Nepal since arriving on July 15, as the collective power of all of the doctors has provided medical assistance to more than 550 patients .They have been diagnosing patients and providing the medical supplies needed to ensure each person is provided adequate

care. "This has been a great trip, all of the people here are strong - they care for one another even though they have so little, their hearts are good," said Dr. Kantilal Bhalan. It's amazing to see how the community comes together to try and assist others, including building small houses of mud and brick, even carrying the elderly several miles up a mountain to seek medical assistance.The strong people

of Nepal stand together in this crisis and look forward to a brighter future. Even Nepali television and movie celebrities make appearances to inspire and motivate the communities."The celebrity appearances as well as the medical assistance proved to vastly increase the moral of the individuals attending," said Dr. Bhavin Patel."Medicine isn't just about giving them drugs, we

are caring for their overall health, and both mental and physical aspects of human beings need to sometimes be improved."The Doctors' Goodwill Foundation looks forward to seeing more patients in the upcoming days and seeks to assist as many of the people of Nepal as they can. With individuals like this in our community we can look forward to a much healthier future. (Agencies)

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DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, JULY 20

Plastic impact Hazards of using plastic bags Plastic is one of the chemical materials which poses environmental problem as it is made up of various chemical elements. And therefore it is regarded as a highly contagious material that does not easily degrade in the natural environment after its usage or utility period. As it causes serious damage to environment during its production and disposal process.Plastic in the Environment is regarded to be more an aesthetic nuisance than a hazard, since the material is biologically quite inert. And are used mostly because they are easy and cheap to make and they can last for a long time.

Unfortunately these same useful qualities can make a huge pollution problem. Because its persistence in the environment can do a great harm. The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) 2011 yearbook considers plastic pollution in the ocean to be one of the three greatest emerging environmental problems in the world.

Estimates of the number of plastic bags used around the world each year vary in range from 100 million to a trillion according o reports. Since only a small portion of these bags is recycled, many plastic bags are left to enter the waste stream. The bags will likely take about 1,000 years to decompose. Because such a large number of bags are produced and it takes a long time for them to decompose. Also people from rural areas often use plastic bags and bottles on a large-scale. Unaware of the harm caused due to plastic, rural people are a contributing factor to pollution. Also wind carry and deposit the plastic from one place to other, littering the land. It also gets stuck on fences, trees and water bodies. Any animal that comes in the vicinity of plastic, might even get tangled and suffocate to death. The maximum damage is done by plastic carry bags. Shops delivering goods in these very bags and the people who insist on having plastic carry bags when they buy goods are too responsible for plastic pollution. Moreover it requires self-discipline to solve this plastic pollution caused by using plastic things in our day today life.Our dependence on the private organization and government will not solve these problems.The use of plastic is a part of human need. Therefore, we have to follow some simple ways to solve this existing problem. So remedial measures can be adopted such as limited usage of plastic carry bags will help the environment free from pollution. Also using glass bottles, cloth and paper bags which are biodegradable and recyclable will reduce plastic pollution to a large extent.

Destination for Pvt. Investors Arunachal has the highest amount of outstanding investment In a recent report has revealed that private investors dread to venture into Manipur, which is considered to be the country's sporting powerhouse, while Arunachal, the storehouse of hydel power, is the most preferred investment destination in the Northeast. Also according to a report of ASSOCHAM India, all investments in Manipur in the last decade (from 2004-05 to 2013-14) have been of public sector ownership, while private investments have drawn a blank while Arunachal, the power sector has the highest amount of outstanding investment with a share of 81.3% of the state's total investment. The report also states that only Sikkim, Meghalaya and Arunachal have recorded public sector investment less than the regional average.The Left Front-ruled Tripura follows Manipur with a low private sector ownership investment of 5.9% and 94.1% public sector ownership investment. In the entire Northeast, the investment rates are 34.60% from private ownership and 65.40% from public ownership. For the rest of the country, the ratio is the reverse - 47.6% from public sector ownership and 52.40% private ownership investment.

Moreover according to the report, public sector ownership investment in the last decade in Mizoram was 92.8%, 88.6% in Assam and 82.1% in Nagaland. The report also added that while economic growth can be sustained only when sustainable amount of investment takes place over the years, the investment performance of the region suggests that as on 2014-15, only four per cent of India's investment is taking place in the Northeast.

As on 2014-15, the region has attracted Rs 6.38 lakh crore outstanding investments. Eighty per cent of these investments have gone to Arunachal (63%) and Assam (17%) and the remaining 20% is shared by the remaining six states. Although most of the investments are taking place in electricity (62.6%) and services sector (29.5%). While the manufacturing sector has a share of 6.2%, the mining and irrigation sectors' share stands at 0.7% each. Fast and speedy connectivity (by road, train or by other possible means) is necessary for industrial development. Apart from connectivity development, states also needs to ensure safety and security.

QUOTE OF THE DAY I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion about the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it.

Benjamin Franklin

Rape becomes a reason to marry - IRONY shamed Part III I

n another case, re ported on 1st March, 2015, the Supreme Court has said that a rape convict can be awarded lesser punishment if courts find "adequate and special" reasons for doing so.

Though a bench of justices comprising M Y Eqbal and Pinaki Chandra Ghose upheld the conviction of Madhya Pradesh resident Ravindra in a 20-year-old rape case, it allowed him to walk free after imposing a jail term already undergone by him. Referring to a case law (Baldev Singh Case), the court considered as "adequate and special" reasons the fact that the trial was protracted and both convict and the victim have married separately.

It also lent weightage to the fact that they have even entered into a compromise. Section 376 (2) (g) of the IPC provides that the courts "for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgement" may impose a sentence of imprisonment of either description for a term of less than 10 years.

"We are of the opinion that the case of the appellant is a fit case for invoking the proviso to Section 376(2)(g) of IPC for awarding lesser sentence, as the incident is 20 years old and the fact that the parties are married and have entered into a compromise, are the adequate and special reasons," the bench said.

Ravindra was held guilty for rape by a trial court and was awarded 10 years rigorous imprisonment for raping a woman working in his fields on August 24, 1994. The Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed his appeal in 2013 and upheld his conviction and sentence, saying that in prosecution of rape, the law does not require corroboration of evidence.

The apex court agreed with the contention of Ravindra that he and the victim have entered into a compromise and she does not want to proceed with the case against him and wants to close the case as both of them are married (not to each other) and have settled in life.

And very recently on 27th June, 2015, A Chennai High Court judge has granted bail to 25-year-old V Mohan, who was convicted last year for raping a 15-year-old girl in 2008.

The judge, P Devadass, directed that the case be settled through mediation.

Lawyers and retired judges have said that the judge has shown very poor judge-

ment. But it is rather more than just poor judgement.

The ruling reveals an attitude to rape in segments of the judiciary that results in women being denied justice.

While passing the bail order, the judge declared: "The victim-girl has become mother of a child. But as on date, she is nobody's wife. So she is an unwed mother‌Generally, in this type of cases, the girl concerned is stated to be a victim, but really speaking the child born out of such a physical contact is also a victim."

He concluded: "In the facts and circumstances, the case before us is a fit

cused to rape survivor cannot persuade courts to reduce sentence of rape convicts, the top court said.

The apex court said law permits the court to reduce sentence even in rape cases under exceptional circumstances but compromise between the assaulted

tempt of rape, the conception of compromise under no circumstances can really be thought of. These are offences which suffocate the breath of life and sully the reputation. There cannot be a compromise or settlement as it would be against her honour which matters the

rape to assault on a woman with the intention to outrage her modesty and reduced the jail term to a year. The Single Judge's decision was also influenced on learning that the parents of the minor victim had entered into a compromise with the accused. Upholding the State government's appeal, the Supreme Court flayed the Single Judge's attitude, quoting from the recent judgment in K. Anbazhagan's case that "the duty of the Judge to see that justice is appropriately administered, for that is the paramount consideration of a Judge". Rejecting any room for compromise, Jus-

case for attempting compromise between the parties." And so, bail is justified in order that the rapist is "‌enabled to participate in the deliberations as a free man and vent his feelings, open his mind and moorings".

Thus, we see the transition in these recent cases how the criminal justice system is becoming much inclined towards giving relief to the accused then providing justice to the victim.

It is however to be mentioned that at certain times when strong men has held the position of the judges of the higher courts of the land, without providing fuel to the political winds that are blowing in the country, have criticized such compromises.

The Supreme Court in 2013 (Shimbhu and another v. State of Haryana) ruled that compromise between rape survivor and rape convict cannot be a ground to reduce sentence of imprisonment. Even offer of marriage by the ac-

woman and the rapist cannot be a ground for that exception.

Also, as on 1st July, 2015, days after the Madras High Court favoured mediation in a rape case, the Supreme Court held that it would be a "spectacular error" to adopt "any kind of liberal approach" in sexual assault cases. Holding that the "dignity of a woman is a part of her non-perishable and immortal self", the Supreme Court ruled that courts should not fall for the subterfuge of a rapist to corner the traumatised victim into a compromise, or even worse, enter into wedlock with him.

The judgment delivered by a Bench of Justices comprising Dipak Misra and P.C. Pant serves as a slap on the recent order by a Madras High Court judge, asking a young woman, who was raped at the age of 15, to mediate with her rapist for the sake of the child borne out of the crime.

"In a case of rape or at-

most. It is sacrosanct," the Supreme Court held.

The apex court said that even an offer of wedlock by the rapist is "nothing but putting pressure in an adroit manner". The judgment emphasised that courts should not fall into this trap and adopt a soft approach to a rape case. It said any such kind of liberal approach in a case of rape is nothing short of a "spectacular error" and reflects a lack of sensibility towards the dignity of a woman.

"Any kind of liberal approach or thought of mediation in this regard is thoroughly and completely sans legal permissibility," the apex court held. This verdict is based on a case of sexual assault and rape of a seven-year-old in Madhya Pradesh in 2008.

The Sessions Court convicted the accused, Madan Lal, for the rape of the minor. On appeal, however, a Single Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court changed the offence from

tice Misra, who wrote the judgment, said that rape is a non-compoundable offence against the society and the parents of the minor victim had no right to settle with the person who violated their child.

The apex court ordered the Madhya Pradesh High Court to consider the evidence in the case afresh and directed the accused to be taken back into custody.

A marriage is sacramental. It binds not only individuals but also families. It is not a mere contract for sexual relationship or procreation of children and most importantly definitely not a contract of servitude. As such, I fail to understand how can the courts allow a compromise between a rapist and a victim?

The orders of such compromises are more like inflicting punishment upon the traumatized victim. A marriage necessarily calls for consummation irrespective of whether it is an Islamic or Hindu marriage. Legally a non consummated mar-

Kaveri Sagar Bhattacharjya

riage is void in Mohammedan law but not in Hindu Law, but a deeper analysis proves that impliedly even Hindu law has provided for the necessity of consummation of a marriage as the husband can file a suit for divorce under mental harassment as a ground. If the wife does not allow physical relationship, he can file this suit.

Now the question arises as to how would a rape victim allow her rapist to establish physical relationship? When her sanctity and herself respect has been violated, how can any court impose the liability of marriage upon her. Besides this, the Indian judiciary is already overburdened then how shall the courts ensure the specific performance of these "contracts of marriages"?

Further, the offsprings of such marriages are bound to be neglected; there are chances of them being atavists. Also recidivism in these families shall be vogue.

The question is not of reforming criminals for hardly in any history of any time criminals have been reformed. One can take a person away from crime but crime cannot be segregated from a person.

Certain amount of criminal instinct is present in every human being. Yes, its manifestation can be checked.

Pedeophiles also roam around in the society; definitely a compromise between a 2 year old baby girl and her adult rapist is not possible. It shall not only violate law but every precedent of a civilized society.

Thereby, welcoming the Shimbhu Nath judgement and the verdict of the Honourable Supreme Court on 1st July, 2015 let us change our view towards a rape victim. India has accepted pornographic actresses into the mainstream cinema, it has rejoiced the American Supreme Court verdict on homosexual marriages.

Now taking a step further let us stop compromising and live our rights. Already India has been tagged as a country of rapist; it's high time we stop dancing to the tunes of the western culture and uplift our own. We have a beautiful culture which has assigned all the three genders their statuses and roles; it's up to us, how we realize it.

CONCLUDED

Garbage disposed daily ated that's as much of an issue as the fact that more than 45 million tonnes, or 3 million trucks worth, of garbage is untreated and disposed of by municipal authorities everyday in an unhygienic manner. Prime Minister Narendra Modi may want a "Swachh Bharat" (clean India) by 2019, but sweeping the streets does not address the enormity of India's real garbage challenge. Hence, people in India as well as local municipal bodies should change their casual attitude towards waste management.

Yours etc Sagarika Mahanta Moran

India generates about 60 million tonnes of trash every year. Ten million tonnes of garbage is generated in just the metropolitan cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Kolkata.

Urban India is now the world's third-largest garbage generator. However, it's not the amount of waste gener-

Freeing Kaziranga from Illegal Land-Grabbers Sir, The long cherished verdict of the Hon'ble High Court, Guwahati brought relief to the people waiting in avidity to free Kaziranga National Park from the land grabbers reported to be of dunious nationality. Kudos to Mrinal Saikia for fighting relentlessly for a good cause. In fact to free Kaziranga National Park from the dubious citizens became a Prestige issue for Assam as the people infiltrating from across the Bangladesh border grabbed the lands well within the park in a show of audacity from blessings of ruling dispensation.

The successive state governments for fear of losing minority votes did never try to take efficacious steps to free the park. Rather the Congress patronizes these people.

Having been emboldened by such patronages particularly

by the forest department these people started getting almost all the amenities necessary for living a cozy life.

We can understand, those who extended their helping hands to these people do an irreparable damage to Assam.

We believe, it is equally important to find out those leaders of the ruling dispensation who helped these people as they are worse than Badan Borphukon and that they, too, deserve punishment.

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

p O

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, JULY 20

What's in a name? A rose is a rose is a rose‌ thus spake William Shakespeare. The same is not true for a discipline like Home Science, which is constantly improvising as it expands beyond the confines of a home, to ensure that it remains a relevant modern day careers.

Then and Now When Home Science was first introduced in the princely state of Baroda in 1913, it attracted a lot of elite women, by promising to fine tune a woman's ability to deal with her home, family and the community, in the wake of Industrial Revolution. However, with the growth of women's empowerment post independence, it was sniggered at for being a subject that only dealt with domestic chores. Given that the course content revolved around housekeeping, home decoration, cookery, child rearing, stitching, who could be blamed?

As more women became career-oriented, experts revamped the program to reflect the changing times.

"Earlier, a student was taught subjects like cooking and child care to help her integrate the family and community. Today the syllabus includes government schemes to aid her role in national development. No other discipline has reinvented itself as much as Home Science. My visits to universities and colleges across the country reveal that students today are interested in Food Technology, Fashion Technology, Interior Designing and Early Childhood Care and Development," says Prof Uma Joshi, President of the

It may surprise one to know that Modern polo, the exclusive sport of the elite, has its origins in the humble Indian state of Manipur. Sagol Kangjei, as what polo was originally known as, in Manipur is not the sport of the rich and famous but the province of the common man 'The mallets were made of cane, the ball was made of bamboo root, the name polo came later: the tibetan word for bamboo is 'pulu'.

The first polo game to be witnessed by a British officer in 1825, was by the invitation of the then King of Manipur Gambhir Singh. Soon it became a popular sport amongst the British tea planters and the British army. Manipur still remains the home of the oldest polo grounds, which last year hosted the 150th anniversary of the first official tournament of polo played in its modern form.

Since Sagol Kangjei was a sport which was, and still is, a village game played with the indigenous horse the 'Manipuri pony'- the sport has a special semblance in Manipuri culture.

Joychandra Singh in his book 'Origin of Polo Game' writes on polo being a folk game in Manipur, which earlier was characterised by an element of danger. Sagol Khongjei was the training ground of the cavalry. It was played to commemorate victories in war, and on occasion of the death of a polo player; custom even now, entails a game of polo on the day of his Shraddha (13-14 days after the funeral) in the nearest polo ground.

Singh underlines the enduring spirit of polo amongst the Manipuri people when he narrates the incident of the Japanese bombing of Manipur on 10 May 1942, thereby bringing it within the war zone. Imphal was de-

Home Science Association of India (HSAI).

Expansive Scope From a secondary school subject to a college/university subject to a full-fledged Faculty, Home Science gained a lot of ground. Between the 50s and 70s, the departments were-Foods and Nutrition, Child Development, Home Management, Textiles and Clothing, and Extension Education.

Over the years, some departments were renamed; for instance, Child Development became Human Development in SNDT Women's University (SNDTWU).

Similarly Foods and Nutrition became Food Science and Nutrition. A post 80s make-over witnessed the addition of even more layers. Nutrition, foe instance became multi-faceted to include nutrition in critical care, maternal and child nutrition, geriatric nutrition, sports nutrition, clinical nutrition and public health nutrition. Dietetics and Food Processing, which were once single papers or subjects became specialized degree programmes with between 20-24 subjects. Prof Shobha A Udipi, HoD, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, SNDTWU hopes to introduce Nutrigenomics (interaction between nutrition and genes) into the curriculum soon.

The career options from teaching to working in research institutions are well known. But there are other areas you can work in too; such as laboratories that ensure food safety and quality; companies that conduct research on new

Home Science - Goes Way Beyond the Four Walls of Home food products or enhance existing products; food auditing, food/nutrition consultants in hospitals, hotels, wellness centres, corporates as well as aid agencies. "Working as a food/nutrition writer or entrepreneur are other options. There are several successful entrepreneurs working from home," says Prof Shobha A Udipi, HoD, Food

Sudeshna Chatterjee Science and Nutrition, SNDT Women's University (SNDTWU) Lets take another specialization-Ergonomics. Going by its dictionary meaning, it is an applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and

While The Origins Of Polo Might Surprise You, The Ponies That Started It All Are Today Under Threat populated temporarily but the polo players continued to play during the allotted days on the Imphal polo ground. They dug trenches around the ground to jump into when

the Japanese planes hovered overhead, and came out to play once the planes were out of sight. There is a different spirit which embodies Manipuri polo, it is not a sport, it is life, and it is slowly dying.

On the 28 of June The New York Times published an interesting article titled "Polo Fades in India on the Backs of Endangered Ponies". The article chronicled the origins of the sport in Manipur and its slow demise due to the near extinction of the Manipuri Pony- a breed indigenous to the state of Manipur and used for playing polo in the state. As Ian Thomas Jansen-Lonnquist writes: "No pony, no polo.

No polo, no pony."

Now what is of interest here, is the fact that

ed

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Binita Kakati the elite and exclusive sport of polo which has many patrons around the world, and has become an ostentatious display of

the creme de la creme of society, not only has its origins in the humble and nondescript state of Manipur but is also becoming extinct there and one might wonder why? Especially when one considers the popularity and cultural importance of the sport.

The demise of Sagol Kangjei started with the declining numbers of the most integral part of the sport; the 'Sagol' or 'Pony or horse', the defining element of the sport, around the time of India's annexation of Manipur.

While earlier the sport had patrons which mostly consisted of the royal family, at this moment it is a dying tradition. The ponies used for the sport are endangered and their numbers have dropped to less than half at a mea-

ger 500 and continues dwindling. With the decline in state support towards the sport, the use of the pony is reduced to almost nothing.

The definition of cul-

ture states that it is made of the customs, traditions and the everyday life and practices of a people.

The collective manifestations of a people as reflected in sports, in traditions, in their legacies, in turn constitute their culture; which is an integral part of their identity. Not only is the extinction of the Manipuri ponies in question, but the heritage and cultural legacy of an indigenous sport will soon become extinct. It will be unreported, unseen, unheard and one day it will not be remembered.

This is a state in the northeast which currently burns. It burns with curfews, police atrocities, silence on the part of the state and resentment.

This is not the only state which has broken out in

things interact most efficiently and safely. It involves deciding several things; right from what angle the chair should lean to comfort your back and what should be the ideal weight of a satchel that a school student can carry to what should be the width of the heel for a comfort walk.

"The applications, which are numerous and varied, are

violence over resentment against the government's silence towards issues plaguing the state and this is not the only time such an incident has occurred.

The states of the northeast although diverse, unique and radically different in their own ways have but one string in common- these states remain unheard and unseen by the government and the Indian media.

In that, perhaps there

isn't much we can do, but there are instances where living in a globalised world has its benefits, in the world of today where the frenzy of the internet has given a free space to one and all.

There should not be an instance where a culture, an indigenous breed and a legacy of a sport dies a slow atrocious death.

Almost every civilisation has learnt of its demise only when it was beyond redemption, we as people have learnt of the extinction of a species only after there was nothing left, we have admitted our faults only when there was no absolution. Perhaps this once we should not wait to make that mistake. Perhaps this once we should act before it's too late.

evolving with changing needs. Ergonomics, which was first introduced into Home Science in 1986, was initially was barely hinted at as a first semester subject within Family Resource Management (earlier known as the Department of Home Management). Post 90, the department was renamed Resource Management as it expanded to include areas

such as environment and consumer. Correspondingly, Ergonomics fanned out into four subjects, one per semester. They are Ergonomics and Work Environment (Semester 1), Work and Work Posture Analysis (Semester 2), Job Analysis and Optimization (Semester 3) and Consumer Ergonomics (Semester 4). In fact, today, at the Master's level, our Faculty has about 192 subjects," observes Prof Archana Bhatnagar, HoD, Resource Management, SNDTWU. The best part is that from 2013 onwards, students have been given the choice of opting for one course from any available programme under the Faculty of Home Science and one course from any other faculty to ensure that they have the opportunity to understand other disciplines. "For example, M.Sc. Nutrition students can take a course on Child Right from the Department of Human Development and Womens Studies from the Center for Women Studies. M.Sc. students of Early Childhood Education could take a course on Financial Management from the Resource Management department and Special Education from the Faculty of Education", explains Prof Reeta Sonawat, Dean, Faculty of Home Science, SNDTWU. Little surprising that in these days of Robotics Engineering and Space Science, 24year-old Shreya Sanghvi is a proud post-graduate student in Early Childhood Education at SNDTWU. She enrolled for this course because, "tomorrow for whatever reason, if I am un-

able to work in an office, I know I can create a job for myself and for others".

Home Science: The Journey "The Home Science programme in India will be completing 102 years in 2015. Home Science was first introduced in secondary schools in the erstwhile princely state of Baroda (now Vadodara) by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1913. Under the British administration, Home Science was introduced into some schools and colleges as domestic science, home craft or domestic economy.

Lady Irwin College in Delhi was the first college to offer Home Science in 1932. The Agricultural Institute of Allahabad started a Home Science Diploma course in 1935; this became a university level department in 1945.

Madras University took Home Science to the degree level in 1938. The first Faculty of Home Science started in MS University, Vadodara in 1950," shares Prof Uma Joshi.

Today, at the Master's Level, Home Science has 192 subjects and counting.

10 popular Home Science programs recommended by Prof Reeta Sonawat Food Science and Nutrition Human Development Early Childhood Education Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Resource Management and Interior Design Resource Management and Ergonomics Extension Education Human Ecology and Community Development Communication Media for Children Textile Science and Apparel Design

India's Top Squash Player Is Boycotting The Nationals To Make A Powerful Point On Equality Rishvik Chanda

Women's work isn't valued as much as men's work is - that is the conclusion to be reached if we look at the current scenario of women working in the public sphere.

Equal pay for equal work between the genders is one of the primary objectives of feminism today.

This issue was highlighted yet again when Dipika Pallikal, India's top-ranked Squash player, opted out of the ongoing National Squash Championships in a strong mark of protest against discriminatory rewards for men and women in sports.

Women, on average, earn less than men across all careers. An important hurdle to overcome for feminism today is this under-paid status of women. And this isn't just about India, according to statistics released by the White House, full-time working American women earn 77% of what their male counterparts do. Also, it has been documented that working women do more housework and child care than working men.

Sports is seen as a tra-

ditionally male dominated activity. Women generally aren't encouraged to take up sports seriously.

And the few women who do become successful sportswomen by overcoming gender roles, continue to face discrimination. Offering lower rewards to female athletes is only reinforcing the idea that women belong in domestic settings and telling the women, who train just as hard, that their achievements aren't worth as much as that of male athletes'.

Recently, Dipika Pallikal decided to skip the ongoing National Squash Championships until equal prize money was offered for male and female athletes. The men's champion will pocket Rs. 1,20,000 and women Rs. 50,000, less than half of what is offered to the men. Discrimination such as this implies that men deserve bigger rewards for winning sports tournaments, suggesting that men put in more effort than women. These unfair, untrue notions need to be pointed out to the wider public.

Patricia Arquette, the Boyhood actress, brought attention to the gender wage gap in Hollywood in her acceptance speech at the 87th Academy Awards.

But the situation is worse closer home. In Bollywood, top female actors make only 1/10th of what top male actors make per film. "I don't really understand why we are paid less than the male actors because we put equal efforts and recent past has shown that actresses can deliver a hit film. We deserve better pay, equal to what actors get", says Aditi Rao Hydari, an upcoming actor.

Those women who accept lower pay for equal work are making the situation worse for others by encouraging a discriminatory system. It's extremely unfortunate and unfair that an athlete who is ranked 18th on the World Squash Association rankings has to abstain from participation in the national tournament for the fourth year in a row to make a point, but a strong stance such as Dipika's is what is needed to bring attention to discriminatory remuneration based on gender.

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DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, JULY 20

Investors hope tech giants repeat Google surge Mumbai, Jul 19: Google Inc's strong quarterly results, which unleashed a massive surge in its shares recently, has investors feeling upbeat heading into next week's tech-heavy slate of earnings reports.

Among the numerous tech companies releasing earnings next week are International Business Machines, Microsoft Corp and Apple, all of which are expected to show growth. Wall Street analysts expect earnings of the S&P technology sector to grow by 2.7% for the second quarter. So far, bigname tech companies have provided the two biggest reactions from investors in this reporting season. After Netflix reported stronger-

Expensive Spanish 'ghost airport' gets 1 meager bid at auction Madrid, Jul 19: One of Spain's "ghost airports" expensive projects that were virtually unused received just one bid in a bankruptcy auction after costing some 1.1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) to build. The buyer's offer: 10,000 euros. Ciudad Real's Central airport, about 235 kilometers (150 miles) south of Madrid, became a symbol of the country's wasteful spending during a construction boom that ended with the financial crisis of 2008, the year the airport opened. The operator of the airport went bankrupt in 2012 after it failed to draw enough traffic. Spanish news agency Europa Press said Chinese group Tzaneen International tabled the bid in Friday's auction. The receiver had set a minimum price of 28 million euros.

If no better bid is received

by September, the sale will go through. (Agencies)

Foreign inflows touch heights New Delhi, Jul 19: Overseas investors have poured in a net amount of about $1 billion (Rs 6,500 crore) in the Indian capital markets so far this month, helped by positive global cues and easing of foreign investment norms. This follows a massive outflow of foreign investors' funds in the previous two months from Indian equity and debt markets. The net inflow by Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) in the equities so far in July stands at Rs 4,953 crore while the same in the debt market has risen to Rs 1,547 crore, resulting in an overall net inflow of Rs 6,500 crore, according to the data available with the depositories. FPIs' net outflow was over Rs 1,600 crore from the capital markets (debt and equities) in June while they had withdrawn a net amount of Rs 14,272 crore in May.Market experts said the government's approval of a composite foreign direct investment(FDI) structure, which will result in further capital flowing into the system, has lifted the investors' confidence and helped revive the inflows.

In addition, Greece law makers have passed the austerity laws aimed at paving the way for a bailout by the European Union, which has further boosted sentiment. With the latest inflow, money invested by FPIs in the capital markets has reached close to Rs 85,000 crore (USD 13.7 billion) since the beginning of 2015. (Agencies)

EXPECTATIONS RISE

Ø Google Inc's strong quarterly results unleashed a massive surge in its shares

ØInvestors feel upbeat heading into next week's tech-heavy slate of earnings reports. ØWall Street analysts expect earnings of the S&P technology sector to grow by 2.7% for the second quarter

Ø Investors to look closely at each major tech company's latest innovations to see if new platforms and tools have the potential to drive long-term growth

than-expected subscriber growth on Wednesday, its shares increased 18%, while Google's results triggered the biggest one-day move in the stock in more than seven years, as shares surpassed $700 for the first time ever. "Right now, investors are looking for

growth and tech is one of the sectors where growth may not be as great as they want, but it's there year-after-year," said Dan Morgan, vice president at Synovius Trust Company in Atlanta. Investors will be looking closely at each major tech company's latest in-

novations to see if new platforms and tools have the potential to drive long-term growth. IBM will open the week with its second-quarter earnings recently. The company's recent analytics tools and cloud platform will be under investors' microscopes, to see if these

segments can generate more revenue. IBM's shares have struggled of late, with the stock down more than 10% in the last 12 months, compared with an 8.6% gain in the S&P 500. Apple and Microsoft will both release their figures recently.

Investors are confident that Apple's iPhone will continue to rake in profits, but analysts will be watching for the first official figures on the Apple Watch. Some investors are looking to see if the watch can make up for lower growth of the iPad, which has faced numerous tablet competitors.

Yahoo Inc, Qualcomm Inc and Texas Instruments Inc will also report earnings next week. In addition to

tech companies, a host of banks including Morgan Stanley will report earnings next week, following results this week from many financial companies in the S&P 500, including Bank of America Corp, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Financials have been inconsistent. Bank of America exceeded expectations and Citigroup reported its largest quarterly profit since the financial crisis, while Goldman Sachs reported its smallest quarterly profit in nearly four years due to litigation expenses. Analysts expect earnings of the S&P financials sector to grow by 19.1% this quarter, the best year-over-year growth of any sector. (Agencies)

Intex Technologies to create 3,000 jobs Shanghai, Jul 19: Indian handset-maker Intex Technologies will invest Rs.1,500 crore in manufacturing and research and in the process create 3,000 jobs, the top brass of the company said on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Shanghai."We are looking to invest Rs.1,000 crore in manufacturing and Rs.500 crore in research and development in the next two to three years," Keshav Bansal, director at Intex Technologies, told sources.

The company, which is opening its fifth plant in Greater Noida over 20 lakh square metres, also said that it will add at least 3,000 jobs in the country during the same time period to build on its existing 6,000 workforce. Asked about the company's contribution to the government's Digital India and Make In India campaigns, Sanjay Kalirona, head of mobile business at Intex, said: "We believe in improving the

quality of life by providing affordable technology to consumers. We broke the smartphone segment to under Rs.5,000 and forced other brands to reduce the price of Android handsets."

Further explaining, Bansal said: "Many people aspire to use technology but cannot afford it and hence at Intex our first job is to provide everybody with a smartphone or a smart device which will in turn contribute to the prime minister's campaigns and ensure financial inclusion."

The company is now looking to break the Rs.10,000 price band, Kalirona said.

Intex, which currently procures smartphone parts from China, is also making some components in India.

"We have started making our own batteries, earphones and chargers and doing the packaging in India, which would account for 20 percent of the overall product," Kalirona said.

"Next will be the glass for the screen. We will soon try

INTEX ALL SET TO GO ØThe company is now looking to break the Rs.10,000 price band

ØIntex Technologies to invest Rs.1,500 crore in manufacturing and research and create 3,000 jobs.

Ø The company started making their own batteries, earphones and chargers and doing the packaging in India ØIntex is now focussing on design, software and apps

and get the glass-cutting process here," he added.

The company also said that the government was instrumental in creating a more friendly atmosphere for manufacturing in India.

"Although several factors like labour laws need improvement, the first step the government took was cutting duties. Now, we also have got the land we needed for our plant," Kalirona said. As part of its mobile business strategy, Intex is

now focussing on design, software and apps. "The future lies in software and the company's strong research and development team, which includes over 100 trained individuals, are looking at affordable products with good customer experiences, he added.

Bansal also said that Intex will roll out the Saskhat security app for women, which is now in beta phase, on the iRist and smartphone platform in 20

days. The domestic brand, which currently has a 10.7 percent market share and ranks second among domestic handset-makers, according to analysis firm International Data Corporation (IDC), has also expanded into the consumer durables category. Explaining the move, Bansal said that the company feels that it has the bandwidth necessary to dive into these segments. "We are looking to consolidate the manufacturing process. The plant at Greater Noida will not only produce smart phones but other consumer durables like television sets, washing machines, peripherals and IT accessories," he added. The company, which will spend Rs.270 crores on marketing as a part of its planned expenditure this financial year, is targeting revenue of Rs.9,000 crore during fiscal 2015-16, of which Rs.7,500 crore is expected from the handset business.

(Agencies)

T-shirt entrepreneurship is in the breeze Bengaluru, Jul 19: Last November, Harshad Savkar, 33, wanted a T-shirt with a logo that reflected his enthusiasm for biking.

While searching online, he chanced upon an ad, from a venture called Freecultr, exhorting people to create and sell their own T-shirts on its platform. Savkar, who is interested in photography as well, wanted to print only one photo of his Royal Enfield Bullet shot on a Manali trip. That one experience encouraged him to do more. Now Savkar has more than 100 T-shirt designs on his Freecultr page, named Sara after his daughter. They sell like hot cakes. Since that one piece he got for himself eight months ago, Savkar has sold many thousands of pieces on Freecultr. Priced at an average of Rs 550, Freecultr takes a commission of Rs 399 per T-shirt, leaving Rs 151 for Savkar.

The software engineer from Nashik has now made close to Rs 4,00,000 without any hassles or risk. "I saw people wearing the T-shirts I had designed, and it was surreal," says Savkar.

Among biking T-shirts, his are the most popular. Becoming a T-shirt entrepre-

neur is now a breeze, thanks to platforms like Freecultr and Jack of all Threads. Voxpop, funded

by Blume Ventures, currently works with small independent T-shirt brands, but is planning to throw open the platform to the public soon. In these open platforms, all one needs to do is submit photos/graphics and words/messages, and create a page of all your T-shirt designs. The mo-

ment somebody orders a Tshirt, the platform will print it and deliver to the customer. The platform will take the cost of the T-shirt, plus a margin for itself, and give you the rest. Almost no hassle for the entrepreneur.

You just need to be creative with your messaging and illustrations. Words and messages constitute about 50% of the T-shirt designs, graphics and illustrations 30%, and photos 20%.

Sandeep Singh, co-founder and CEO of the Gurgaonbased Freecultr, says there is no curation by the platform. "Most sellers have their own Facebook pages to market themselves," he says. The technology even lets sellers submit mobile camera pictures as designs.

Freecultr sells 1 lakh Tshirts every month.

Bengaluru-based Jack of all Threads, founded by four 20-something people, has seen its business grow by 20 times in less than six months. It says it has 1 lakh registered users, and gets a million hits a month. "We wanted to be entrepreneurs, and we were ready to take the risk. We are democratizing entrepreneurship," says co-founder Yash Vardhan Kanoi. Mumbaibased VoxPop started when Disney wanted to sell its T-shirts in India.

Siddharth Taparia, who then headed Disney's merchandise division, decided to turn an entrepreneur and started VoxPop to sell Disney T-shirts, but soon went beyond that. The company sells 30,000 Tshirts a month. "While being an open platform, we are differentiating ourselves by stitching to-

gether partnerships," says Taparia. Earlier this month, VoxPop tied up with Threadless, an international T-shirt designer marketplace, to bring more than four lakh designs to India. Freecultr, backed by venture capital firm Sequoia, has technology that helps it to print different designs for every single T-shirt in less than a day. The delivery is done all over India to the end consumer within five days. The company adds 300 designs every day and has a total of 40,000 Tshirts on the platform designed by around 7,000 photographers, artists, graphic designers and illustrators. Singh of Freecultr says the venture is profitable. More than 30% of the designs are sold at least once on the platform. Jack of all Threads takes about a week to deliver, but is working to bring it down to 3-4 days. In one respect, it is a step ahead of Freecultr.

While all Freecultr T-shirts are plain white on the back, Jack of all Threads provides the option of 16 colours for the back. But Freecultr says it's moving to introduce multiple back options.

(Agencies)

150 e-service centres to pay tax launched

by Tamil Nadu Govt

Chennai, Jul 19: Tamil Nadu government has launched 150 e-service centres at an investment of 5.92 crore in the state where people can pay their property tax, water tax and electricity consumption charges. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa formally launched the service at the secretariat recently through video conferencing, an official release said here recently. The setting up of the centres follows the success of a pilot study undertaken by the State IT department. Tamil Nadu government in its annual budget for the year 2014-15 had announced that eservice facility would be launched in the state, offering several services including payment of property tax, electricity charges and water tax. Last year 14 such e-service centres were launched as part of a pilot study undertaken by the State IT department and about 52 lakh benefitted out of it, it said. Jayalalithaa on the occasion had also launched e-service centres at the secretariat and also at 50 zonal offices operating under the Chennai Corporation, it said. Through the e-service centres people can get details of income certificate and caste certificate, among others, it said. (Agencies)

Greek banks to re-open again

Athens, Jul 19: Greek banks will re-open tomorrow with slightly relaxed withdrawal limits but bans on foreign transfers and other capital controls remain in place, according to a government decree published recently. The move follows last week's announcement by the European Central Bank that it would unblock emergency funding which the crippled Greek banking sector needs to stay afloat after Greece agreed to a tough package of bailout reforms. The 60 euro daily withdrawal limit set when the banks were closed on June 29 is adjusted to allow bank customers to take out up to 420 euros a week, while holders of Greek bank cards will be able to use them to make payments while they are out of the country. However bans on moving money out of Greece remain in place along with restrictions on opening new accounts. (Agencies)

Yahoo plans to spin-off stakes Mumbai, Jul 19: Yahoo Inc officially announced to spin off its remaining stake in Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd. The company said that it is going to spin off its stake in Alibaba to an independent new company called 'Aabaco Holdings'. This new company will combine 15% ownership of Alibaba Holdings and a small unit of Yahoo. The spin-off was first announced in the month of January this year and the company is said to make its debut in the fourth quarter of 2015, according to media reports. The company in a statement revealed that it will distribute remaining shares of Aabaco Holdings proportionally among Yahoo shareholders. According to Yahoo, Aabaco will own approximately 384 million shares of Alibaba Group. Yahoo made this move to avoid large tax burden and to appease more investors to tap into Yahoo's stake in Alibaba. It is not yet announced as to who will preside over the new company.Sources say that Yahoo's CEO, Marissa Mayer has a chance to show that she can lead the company to a new height. Soon after the announcement was made, Yahoo's shares gained 1.06% to 40.10 after closing recent session up at 2%. Meanwhile, shares in Alibaba fell 0.39% but in Friday's session the e-commerce giant's shares gained roughly 2.5%. Yahoo had bought 40% stake in Alibaba in the year 2005 for $1 billion. (Agencies)

Developing nations to be protected by Global tax regime Addis Ababa, Jul 19: India has pitched for a global tax regime built into the UN process, rather than being looked at from the point of view of rich countries, in a bid to curb illegal financial flows from the developing world running into some $200 billion annually. "As far as Global Tax is concerned it is important to understand why this is important for India and the developing world. As of now Official Development Assistance (ODA) globally is in the range of about 135 billion dollars," said India's Union

state minister for finance Jayant Sinha. "There are various estimates. If you look at tax revenues or illicit financial flows that must be captured within the developing world, those run well over $200 billion by most accounts," Sinha told the 3rd conference on International Financing for Development (IFD) here. "That's why we were pushing so hard - that we move towards the establishment and formulation of a global tax policy from an OECD process to a UN process because OECD process

is dominated by rich countries where the developing world has less of a say." At the conference, India also represented the G77 countries and along with China, it reflected a strong and shared stand on the issues of international tax architecture where it disagreed with the Organization for Economic Cooperative and Development (OECD), a club of rich nations. Indian interlocutors also wanted the conference to go beyond mere talks on development financing to aim at the larger picture of creating

a global system conducive to development itself for a much faster and inclusive economic growth in poor and developing countries. "We have managed to forge a global consensus on some very crucial issues related to the need for balanced development and ensured a commitment of 0.7 per cent of GDP from developed nations for ODA. We were able to forward our voice. So the overall outcome has been successful," said Sinha. The minister said India has outlined that unless a stronger tax base is built and

due tax revenue is captured in the developing world, the rich countries genuinely cannot progress. Therefore, it was in the interests of the entire global community for a robust tax base in emerging economies. Sinha said if one moves to a UN process on this with intergovernmental consultations there would be a more equitable and responsive tax policy for the developing world, he said, while pushing for two upcoming conferences in New York and Paris on poverty, inequality and change. Countries are

deliberating to find the estimated $2.5 trillion that is needed each year to meet the proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are successors to UN-mandated Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) programme adopted in 2000.

Sinha said the move to give the UN body on taxation issues a more governmental representation and equitable geographical representation will greatly strengthen the voice of developing nations.

"There are pressing issues when it comes to tax discus-

sion. But they are not being given the proper attention they require? Why are these issues not being addressed is what mainly India focused on", said Vanessa InkoDokubo, policy advisor at Oxfam International. Counsellor Amit Narang from the Permanent Mission of India to the UN said this was the perfect opportunity for ensuring a global financial system that is pro-development. The story does not end here, said Sinha, who ensured India's due role in the "Addis Ababa Action Agenda". (Agencies)

"This group will work within a time bound period of 6 weeks and report their recommendations to the IPL GC, which will deliberate and share their views with the working committee of the BCCI, for further action."

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, JULY 20

PAGE 11

BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur

Zimbabwe record first-ever T20I win against India with 10-run win Harare: Zimbabwe recorded their first-ever victory over India in the Twenty20 International (T20I) format by defeating them by 10 runs in the second and final T20I at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday. With the victory, Zimbabwe also recorded the first victory of India's tour, having lost the first T20I and the ODI series 0-3. India finished at 135 for nine after 20 overs chasing 146 runs for victory. Graeme Cremer was the pick among the Zimbabwean bowlers, taking three crucial wickets while conceding only 18 runs from four overs. India were in for a shaky start, losing the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane in the very first over. The India skipper hit

BCCI accepts Lodha verdict, forms working group to reform IPL

Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Sunday accepted the recommendations made by the Justice Lodha Committee and formed a working group to prepare the road map for the future editions of the Indian Premier League. The BCCI said that IPL's Governing Council has authorised chairman Rajeev Shukla to constitute a working group which will study the Lodha panel verdict and explore all the possible measures to be adopted, with an objective to protect the interests of all the stakeholders involved. "This group will work within a time bound period of 6 weeks and report their recommendations to the IPL GC, which will deliberate and share their views with the working committee of the BCCI, for further action," BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said in a media release. (Agencies)

a boundary off the second ball of the innings, and was run-out of the very next delivery. Murali Vijay then joined hands with Robin Uthappa, as the two helped India recover from the early blow in no time by taking on the Zimbabwean pacers. Wicketkeeper batsman Uthappa was scoring

majority of the runs at this stage, with the visitors scoring at a rate of over nine per over. The pair eventually brought up the 50-run stand in no time, with Uthappa batting in the 40s. Graeme Cremer came in to bowl the seventh over, and things were not the same thereafter.

The leg-spinner castled Vijay off the first ball of the over, beating the batsman completely as Vijay departed for an 11-ball 13.

Three balls later, Manish Pandey was trapped legbefore by a googly, as India were reduced to 61 for four. Sean Williams coming into bowl the next over, took a superb return catch to dismiss the dangerous looking Uthappa with the score reading a paltry 69 for the loss of five wickets.

Stuart Binny and Sanju Samson undid some of the rapid damage with a 36run partnership for the sixth wicket, with the two patiently settling for the ones and twos during this period. India seemed to be recovering at this stage of

the match, and India pinned their hopes on the two at this stage. However looking to take the attack to the leggie, Binny holed out at mid off with Chibhabha taking another superb catch inches of the ground. Samson did not last long either, departing for a 24-ball 19. Thereafter the Zimbabwean bowlers restrained the Indian tailenders from going for the big hits by bowling full and outside off. (Agencies) Brief scores: Zimbabwe - 145/7 in 20 overs (Chibhabha 67; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2/ 26, Mohit Sharma 2/28); India 135/9 in 20 overs (Robin Uthappa 42, Stuart Binny 24; Graeme Cremer 3/18)

Brazil soccer great Pele undergoes back surgery Sao Paulo: Brazilian soccer legend Pele has undergone back surgery, a close aide has informed, the latest in a series of recent health problems afflicting the 74-year-old former player. Pele, whose given name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, has been at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in SĂŁo Paulo for the past 'two or three days' and underwent a procedure to decompress a nerve root in his spine, his personal assistant JosĂŠ Fornos Rodrigues said. He did not elaborate further. Pele is ex-

pected to leave the hospital on Monday. Hospital staff were not immediately available to comment. This is the third time Pele has been hospitalized since November. He spent two weeks at the Einstein facility with kidney problems, and in May he underwent prostate surgery in the same hospital. With more than 1,280 career goals and an unequaled three World Cup titles during his playing career, Pele is considered by many to be the greatest soccer player of all-time.

(Agencies)

London: Australia repelled a brief England fightback led by Alastair Cook and Ben Stokes to remain firmly in control of the second Ashes Test on the third day at Lord's on Saturday.

Captain Cook made 96 and Stokes 87 to lift the hosts to 312 before the touring side, having decided not to enforce the follow-on, reached the close on 108 for no wicket, a huge lead of 362 runs with two days remaining. Cook and Stokes came together with England reeling at 30 for four on Friday evening and they resumed on 85 for four in bright sunshine at the home of cricket. Stokes crunched Mitchell Johnson to the

extra cover boundary for his eighth four to bring up his fifty. Stokes, closing in on his third Test hundred, chopped a ball from Mitchell Marsh on to his stumps that kept a touch low, ending a fluent fifthwicket partnership of 145.

The powerful 24-year-old left-hander struck 13 fours and a six in another excellent innings in his burgeoning career. The England captain followed Stokes to the milestone by clipping spinner Nathan Lyon through mid-wicket, the captain needing 142 deliveries to get to his halfcentury in another courageous innings for his side.

Cook, who struck 13 fours

and was in sight of his 28th Test century, was undone by another skidding delivery from Marsh which he dragged back on to his stumps. Moeen Ali played positively, lifting Lyon for a straight six while Cook accumulated in his usual patient manner. However, Hazlewood returned to have Moeen leg before while Johnson accounted for Broad to end the home team's first innings at 312. England finished 254 runs behind their opponents but at least they had a small foothold in the game following two days of complete Australian dominance. Australia captain Michael Clarke opted to give his bowlers a rest and openers Chris Rogers and David Warner batted calmly through to stumps.

Warner, spilled by Adam Lyth at gully before he had scored, peppered the ropes with 10 fours in his unbeaten 60 and Rogers will resume on 44 not out.

Clarke must decide when to declare on Sunday before attempting to bowl England out to level the series at 1-1. (Agencies)

Tour de France: Cummings wins 14th stage, Froome leads

Davis Cup: Somdev, Yuki prove too strong for Kiwis; ensure India advance to Play-offs Christchurch: A fired up Yuki Bhambri recorded his first ever victory in a live fifth rubber after Somdev Devvarman levelled the scores as India advanced to World Group Play-offs following a 3-2 win over New Zealand in the Asia/Oceania Group I Davis Cup tie, in Christchurch, on Sunday.

Yuki was authoritative in his 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 drubbing of Michael Venus in the decider after Somdev levelled the tie with his 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over Marcus Daniell in the first match of the day. It was a do-ordie situation for India when Somdev stepped on the court and the country's No 1 singles player ensured that India remained in the hunt. Yuki, who was playing only his second live fifth rubber, came out

all guns blazing against Venus, who had stunned Somdev in the first match of the tie. The 23-year-old Delhi-lad turned out to be India's hero in this tie as he won both his matches.

He had lost the deciding fifth rubber against

Serbia's Filip Krajinovic in September in Bangalore last year. Yuki stamped his class and authority right from the start and did not face a single break point till the sixth game of the third set. Yuki asserted himself by break-

ing Venus twice in each of the first two sets, running away with a 2-0 lead. It was in the third set that Venus threatened a bit when he had Yuki down a break point in the sixth game but the Indian was up to the task and thwarted his rival's attempts. Yuki saved two more chances in the eighth game and finally converted his third match point to seal the tie for his side. India will now strive to make the World Group when they compete in the Play-offs in September.

Earlier, Somdev delivered when it mattered the most taming Daniell in two hours and 18 minutes to keep India afloat in the tie. Daniell replaced Jose Statham, who was down with flu, but could not help his side seal the tie.

(Agencies)

Benitez suffers frustrating Real Madrid debut Melbourne: Rafa Benitez kicked off his tenure as Real Madrid boss with a frustrating 7-6 penalty shootout loss to AS Roma in a pre-season friendly on Saturday. With both teams goalless at fulltime in front of a crowd of 80,746 at Melbourne, Seydou Keita slotted the winning penalty in the International Champions Cup match after a miss

by Lucas Vazquez. "I think it was a good game," Benitez, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti after the La Liga giants finished trophyless last season, said after the match. "You can see the draw but we had some chances at the beginning of the

Lord's Test: Australia in control after brief England revival

game. You can't expect after five days (together) to play with a high tempo." Players, arriving from a European sum-

mer, huddled under blankets on the substitutes bench and the match never really heated up on a chilly evening -- with the temperature hovering around seven degrees Celsius -- despite a flurry of early chances. Roma had the best of them and were denied an opener after three minutes when Daniele De Rossi hit the crossbar from the centre of the box. Benitez started Gareth Bale in a central position behind Jese with Cristiano Ronaldo on the left, and though the combination threatened, the finishing touches were lacking. Bale fired a shot over the bar after six minutes

and Sergio Ramos, wearing the captain's armband after the recent departure of long-serving goalkeeper Iker Casillas, also chipped over three minutes later. Casillas' successor in goal, Keylor Navas, was forced to make a fine save in the 30th minute, leaping to his right to put a glove on a Salih Ucan volley after the shaggyhaired Turk latched onto a corner kick from his captain Francesco Totti. Searching in vain for a goal as the half wound down, Bale tried an audacious bicycle kick in the area but succeeded only in fouling former England defender Ashley Cole. Bale rose

again for a header eight minutes after the break but his effort flashed just right of the near post from a Ramos corner and he came off soon after. Karim Benzema, who replaced Ronaldo at the break, then squandered a gilt-edged chance from the centre of the box after the hour-mark when his shot soared high and wide after a pinpoint cross from Russian winger Denis Cheryshev. The match ended in a flurry of shots, with Bale's replacement Vasquez stepping inside a defender before being denied by a fine save from keeper Bogdan Lobont.

(Agencies)

Gold Cup: Dempsey hat-trick helps US reach semis Maryland: Clint Dempsey recorded his first hat-trick for the United States in a dominant 6-0 win over Cuba on Saturday that put the Americans into a CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final against Jamaica. Dempsey opened the scoring with a header in the fourth minute and the defending champions built a 4-0 lead by half-time at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Dempsey added two more in the second half to give him a tournament-leading six goals.

"That's always great to do but you can't do it without your team mates," Dempsey said of his hattrick. "Today we came out and played well and finished our chances. As a team we're getting better as it goes along." The Americans had delivered patchy performances in their three group matches, where they recorded two wins and a draw, but they were ruthless against a Cuba side that had scored just one goal in three games. Gyasi Zardes, Aron

Johannsson and Omar Gonzalez also scored for the United States, who next face Jamaica for a place in their sixth straight Gold Cup final. Jamaica overcame the absence of suspended forwards Darren Mattocks and Je-Vaughn Watson to advance to the semi-finals with a 1-0 win over Haiti also on Saturday, Giles Barnes scoring the winner in the seventh minute. Jamaica, who are trying to reach the final for the first time, play the United States in Atlanta on Wednesday. (Agencies)

Paris: British journeyman Stephen Cummings earned South African team MTNQhubeka a landmark victory on Mandela Day when he spoiled a French party to take a surprise win in the 14th stage of the Tour de France on Saturday.

Cummings beat Thibaut Pinot into second and Romain Bardet into third, powering past the two Frenchmen inside the final kilometres while both were marking each other thinking the race was between the two of them.

Cummings, riding for the first African team on the Tour de France, even had

time to raise his arms in celebration after staying within distance of the French rivals in the final climb, a 3-km ascent at an average gradient of 10.1 per cent. Briton Chris Froome retained the overall leader's yellow jersey after holding off his rivals and event gaining further ground at the end of the 198.5-km ride from Rodez.

After Cummings had won from the day's breakaway, Froome came under fire from his rivals for the general classification. Colombian Nairo Quintana was the first to attack in the final climb and he was fol-

lowed by Spaniard Alejandro Valverde and defending champion Vincenzo Nibali of Italy.

But the 2013 champion never panicked and came back, eventually distancing them. He finished one second ahead of Quintana, who climbed to second overall 3:10 behind, leapfrogging American Tejay van Garderen who is now third 3:32 off the pace after losing 40 seconds to Froome.

Spaniards Valverde and Alberto Contador are fourth and fifth overall, 4:02 and 4:23 off the pace after losing a few seconds in the finale. (Agencies)

British Open: Leader Johnson holds firm; Woods misses cut More than 24 hours after Dustin Johnson began his second round at the windlashed British Open he ended it still on top of the leaderboard on Saturday with Jordan Spieth trailing by five shots in a tournament that will now run into a fifth day.

With the wild Scottish weather showing scant regard for the world's oldest major, Johnson finally completed the third instalment of his round to card a three-under 69. A birdie after he drove the green on the par-four 18th saw Johnson lead with a 10under total of 134, one shot better than England's Danny Willett, who had a nice relaxed day in the clubhouse, and five ahead of grand slamchasing Spieth who is tied for 14th. Scotland's Paul Lawrie, champion in 1999, completed a two-under 70 with eight straight pars to sit two shots back. South Africa's Louis Oosthuisen, the last

winner at St Andrews, and Australian Jason Day joined a log-jam on seven-under 137 which includes former Masters champions Zach Johnson and Adam Scott, both of whom enjoyed a day off. Organisers issued regular updates before finally conceding defeat and announcing that the third round would be played on Sunday,

with the fourth round on Monday for only the second time in its 144-year history.

Tiger Woods will not be around though as he missed consecutive cuts in majors for the first time in his career.

Woods, who boasts two St Andrews Opens among his 14 majors, slumped to a three-over 75 to add to his opening 76. (Agencies)

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ENVIRONMENT G

avialis gangeticus, most commonly known as the gharial, the gavial, or the fish-eating crocodile, is a crocodilian of the family Gavialidae, native to the Indian Subcontinent. The global gharial population is estimated at fewer than 235 individuals, which are threatened by loss of riverine habitat, depletion of fish resources and use of fishing nets. As the population has declined drastically in the past 70 years, the gharial is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. The gharial is one of the longest of all living crocodilians, measuring up to 6.25 m (20.5 ft). With 110 sharp interdigitated teeth in its long thin snout it is well adapted to catching fish, its main diet. The male has a distinctive boss at the end of the snout, which resembles an earthenware pot known as ghara. Gharials once inhabited all the major river systems of the Indian Subcontinent, from the Irrawaddy River in the east to the Indus Riverin the west. Their distribution is now limited to only 2% of their former range. They inhabit foremost flowing rivers with high sand banks that they use for basking and building nests. They usually mate in the cold season. The young hatch before the onset of the monsoon. The gharial is one of three crocodilians native to India, the other two being the mugger crocodile and the saltwater crocodile Characteristics The gharial is characterised by its extremely long, thin jaws, regarded as an adaptation to a predominantly fish diet.

Males reach up to 6 m (20 ft) with an average weight of around 160 kg (350 lb).

It is dark or light olive above with dark crossbands and speckling on the head, body and tail. Dorsal surfaces become dark, almost grey-black, at about 20 years of age. The fingers are extremely short and thickly emarginated with a web. Males develop a hollow bulbous nasal protuberance at sexual maturity.

The name gharial is derived from the resemblance of the nasal growth to an earthen pot known locally as 'ghara'. They use this growth to modify and amplify "hisses" snorted through the underlying

plain to the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar. Today, they are extinct in the Indus River, in the Brahmaputra of Bhutan and Bangladesh, and in the Irrawaddy River.

Their distribution is now limited to only 2% of their former range. In India, small populations are present and increasing in the rivers of the National Chambal Sanctuary,

and slowly recovering in tributaries of the Ganges, such as the Narayani-Rapti river system in Chitwan National Park and the Karnali-Babai river system in Bardia National Park.

They are sympatric with the mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) and formerly with the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) in the delta of

are generally residents of flowing rivers with deep pools that have high sand banks and good fish stocks.

Exposed sand banks are used for nesting.

Diet The elongated, narrow snout reduces resistance to water when snagging fish, and the very sharp interdigitated teeth are well adapted for capturing fish.

Young gharials eat insects, tadpoles, small fish and frogs. Adults feed on fish and small crustaceans.

Their jaws are too thin and delicate to grab larger prey, especially people. They catch fish by lying in wait for fish to swim by, and then catch the fish by quickly whipping their heads sideways and grabbing it in their jaws. They herd fish with their bodies against the shore, and stun fish using their underwater jaw clap. They do not chew their prey, but swallow it whole. Gharials are not man-eaters.

Reproduction Males mature at around 13 years old, which is when the ghara begins to grow on the snout. They advertise for mates by making hissing and buzzing noises as they patrol their territories, and may have a harem of females within a territory which they aggressively defend from other males.

Females communicate their readiness to mate by rais-

Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Son River Sanctuary and the rainforest biome of Mahanadi in Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary, Odisha, where they apparently do not breed. In Nepal, small populations are present

Irrawaddy River.

Ecology and behaviour Gharials are arguably the most thoroughly aquatic of the extant crocodilians, and adults apparently do not have the ability to walk in a semi upright stance as other crocodilians do. They

ing their snouts upwards.

During courtship, males and females follow prospective mates around until a suitable mate is chosen. Courtship also involves head and snout rubbing and mounting by both males and females.

hillocks for shelter," Arun R S, state deputy conservator of forest (park and sanctuary),said. He said that their proposal would be ready this year and

within the next 2-3 years they would start the process of translocating their state animal. The big task before them is to acquire land for the project as the

wetland is encroached by fisher folk and local villagers. Forest Department officials say they will need an area of around 60 sq km to make the project viable.

(Agencies)

Life threat haunts Gharial

nostrils. The resulting sound can be heard for nearly a kilometer on a still day. Gharials are the only extant crocodilian with visible sexual dimorphism.

Males commonly attain a total length of 3 to 5 m (9.8 to 16.4 ft), while females are smaller and reach a body length of up to 2.7 to 3.75 m (8.9 to 12.3 ft). The elongated, narrow snout is lined by 110 sharp interdigitated teeth, and becomes proportionally shorter and thicker at adult ages. There are 27 to 29 upper and 25 or 26 lower teeth on each side. The front teeth are the largest.

The snout is narrow and long, with dilation at the end and its nasal bones are comparatively short and are widely separated from the pre-maxillaries. The welldeveloped, laterally flattened tail and webbed rear feet provide tremendous manoeuvrability in deepwater habitat. On land, however, an adult gharial can only push itself forward and slide on its belly. The laterally compressed tail serves both to propel the animal and as a base from which to strike at prey.

Distribution and habitat

Gharials once thrived in all the major river systems of the Indian Subcontinent, spanning the rivers of its northern part from the Indus River in Pakistan across the Gangetic flood-

Status and conservation of Gharials Threats A population decline of 96-98% has occurred over a three-generation period since 1946, according to IUCN and the once-widespread population of an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 individuals has been reduced to a very small number of widely spaced subpopulations of fewer than 235 individuals. The drastic decline in the gharial population can be attributed to a variety of causes, including overhunting for skins and trophies, egg collection for consumption, killing for indigenous medicine and killing by fishermen. Hunting is no longer considered to be a significant threat. However, the wild population of gharials has declined by about 58% between 1997 and 2006 because of the increasing intensity of fishing and the use of gill nets throughout most of the present gharial habitat, even in protected areas; the loss of riverine habitat to dams, barrages, irrigation canals, siltation, changes in river course, artificial embankments, sandmining, riparian agriculture, and domestic and feral livestock.

Status The species is considered to be one of the most critically threatened of all crocodilians, and was alarmingly close to extinction in the 1970s. Fortunately, there has been some recovery, and a reasonable amount of hope lies with the conservation and management programs now in place. Full protection was granted in the 1970s in the hope of reducing poaching losses. There are now nine protected areas for this species in India alone. They are linked to both captive breeding and ranching operations where eggs collected from the wild are raised in captivity and then

released back into the wild, much like some salmon and sea turtle management. But still, the total population, wild and captive, is estimated at under 1,000 animals. Plans for the future include surveys of areas where the status of the gharial in the wild is unknown; it is suspected to be very poor. Management and conservation programs cannot proceed without good data to back them up.

Existing management programs also need to be refined, especially where river systems are shared by more than one country.

Conservation By 1976, the estimated total population of wild gharials had declined from what is thought to have been 5,000 to 10,000 in the 1940s to less than 200, a decline of about 96%.

The Indian government subsequently accorded protection under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

In 1997, the total population was estimated at 436 adult gharials that had declined to 182. This drastic decline has happened within a period of nine years, well within the span of one generation, and qualifies the gharial for Critically Endangered listing by the IUCN. Estimates from population surveys carried out in 2007 indicated 200-300

breeding adults left in the world.

Conservation programs have been undertaken in India and Nepal, based on the establishment of protected areas and restocking these with animals born in captivity, but nowhere has restocking reestablished viable populations. Juvenile gharials were released into largely inhospitable habitats in Indian and Nepali rivers and left to their fate. Reintroduction did not work so well, largely due to growing and uncontrolled anthropogenic pressures, including depletion of fish resources. Monitoring has not been consistently carried out, and little research on adaptation, migration and other key aspects has been conducted. Project Crocodile began in 1975 under the auspices of the Government of India with the aid of the United Nations Development Fund and Food and Agriculture Organization. The project included an intensive captive breeding and rearing program intended to restock habitats with low numbers of gharials.

Gharial eggs had been collected from wild and captive-breeding nests, and over 5,000 gharials reared to about a meter or more in length and released into the wild.

Manipur to translocate 'Sangai' T

he critically-en dangered species of brow-antlered deer 'Sangai', which is found only on a floating biomass on Manipur's Loktak lake, will soon be provided a second home to save it from extinction.

The Manipur Forest Department plans to translocate a section of the rare species of the endemic deer to Pumlen Pat, which is close to its existing habitat in Loktak. Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP), situated inside the lake,

is the only remaining natural habitat of 'Sangai' which was once found across the Manipur valley. Spread across an area of around 40 sq km, KNLP is known around the world for its unique composition as it is made up of biomass vegetation which floats on the surface of the lake. "Our objective is to have another set of population of the deer. We have identified Pumlen for the translocation as it is also a 'phumdi' (floating biomass) and also has small

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