29 July, 2016, Friday

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PAGE 12

Vol. II

Issue 41

Dibrugarh, Friday, July 29, 2016

PLACES TO VISIT IN COORG FOR A MEMORABLE VACATION

Golaghat, July 28: The traffic problem in Golaghat is getting more troublesome for the people . Several hundred E Rickshaws plying on the streets of Golaghat has become a reason of traffic jam in the town . Also increasing number of E Rickshaws is hampering lives of traditional rickshaw pullers.

So demanding to regulate on plying of E Rickshaws in Golaghat town the Jatiya Shramik Parishad of AJYCP today submitted a memorandum to the Chairman of Golaghat Municipal Board.

(Correspondent)

Khumtai MLA boat met with accident Golaghat, July 28: MLA Mrinal Saikia escaped unhurt while distributing relief materials among flood victims today. According to the reports, Khumtai MLA Mrinal Saikia was today on a visit to flood affected areas of Joyaguri and Machchapori area under Khumtai LAC. He along with his four associates on his private boat and two other boats were distributing food and other essential goods to the flood victims. While returning the MLA boat lost its control in the heavy current of Dissoi river.

Soon the persons on the other boats came to rescue of the MLA. The MLA escaped unhurt but it created a sensation in the area. (Correspondent)

Twitter account Itanagar, July 28: Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein has launched his Twitter account with Twitter h a n d l e @DCMChownaMein today.

The micro-blogging site will be used for official as well as public communication.

“The launching of Twitter feed is important in today’s world as a means of communications with the masses,” says Mein. (DIPR)

UNBT condoles Kokrajhar, July 28:Former Rajya Sabha MP Urkhao Gwra Brahma and Upendra Nath Brahma Trust condoles over demise of Maheswsta Devi,noted writer and awardee of Upendra Nath Brahma Soldier of Humanity award.

Brahma said, India lost a great writer with her died.Devi contributed lots towards development of literary works through her creation in Indian literature. Devi was also awarded Upendra Nath Brahma Soldier of Humanity award.

(Correspondent)

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Page - 6

Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal undertakes aerial survey of major flood affected areas A Staff Reporter Guwahati, July 28

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal undertook an aerial survey of the flood affected Majuli, Nagaon, Morigaon, Jorhat, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts and took stock of the prevailing flood situation in these districts.

Minister for Water Resources Keshab Mahanta and Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Naba Kumar Doley also accompanied the Chief Minister.

Chief Minister Sonowal visited the flood affected areas of Majuli Island and reviewed the relief and rescue operations. Sonowal also inspected the breach on the embankment at Bongaon in Majuli and asked the Water Resources Department to repair the breach on a war footing. He also took stock of the rescue operations being carried out by the NDRF, SDRF, CRPF and Indian Army.

Chief Minister Sonowal also chaired a meeting held at the circuit house in Majuli island and reviewed the prevailing situation with Deputy

CM Sonowal intrecting with the media in Lakhimpur. Pic- Ranjit Kakoti Commissioner, Jorhat, SDO (Civil) Majuli and the departmental heads of Water Resources Department, Health and Family Welfare, PWD, Agriculture, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry. Chief Minister directed the top functionaries to keep a close vigil on the embankments. He also called upon everybody to work on a war footing to extend all sorts of help to the people reeling under flood.

Chief Minister Sonowal also directed the Water Resources Department and Brahmaputra Board to undertake a joint inspection in the vulnerable areas where breach can happen and take preventive steps.

Moreover, on the direction of the Chief Minister, teams have been formed for surveillance of emebankments on 24X7 basis.

Moreover, necessary steps have also been taken to repair

Haldibariembankments.

Kamalibari

Chief Minister Sonowal also directed the district administration to take care of the health and hygiene of the camp inmates. He also issued direction to keep special care to babies, old inmates and provide baby foods, medicines in adequate quantity.

Contd. on Page 4

CM warns Govt Officers not to neglect the flood victims

CM Sarbananda Sonowal assures Majuli people to provide all necessary help

ET Correspondent, Lakhimpur; July 28

ET Correspondent Jorhat, July 28

"We'll initiate strict disciplinary action against those Government Officers who will neglect the flood victims. They should leave no stone unturned to stand by them during their miserable conditions due to devastating natural calamity"-thus commented Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal arriving at Lakhimpur today in front of the media persons.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal along with Water Resource Minister, Keshab Mahanta and Sports Minister Nabo Dolley visited affected Majuli island and inspected the breached portion of the embankment cum Haldhibari-Besamora road at Bongaon Jugunia of Koibotra village, where a huge portion of embankment was washed off due to the flood water of Brahmaputra River on July 26th last.

It is to be noted that the CM visited Lakhimpur and Majuli in order to monitor the impact of devastating flood in the district and the largest river island in the world.

He arrived a t Lilabari Airport of Lakhimpur around 2 pm after visiting Majuli and came directly to the Circuit House.

A Staff Reporter Guwahati, July 28

The CM and ministers met the affected people at two relief camps at Bongaon Rongpur Moncha and another a Bongaon Prathomik Vidhalaya, later held high level meet and discussed with the departmental heads.

Contd. on Page 4

CM instructs ministers to visit flood affected districts

Contd. on Page 4

In view of prevailing flood situation in Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has instructed Ministers to visit flood affected districts to take stock of the situation and supervise relief and rescue operations.

The Chief Minister has instructed Minister Keshab Mahanta to visit Barpeta, Morigaon and Nagaon, Atul Bora to Golaghat, Sivasagar and Jorhat, Ranjit Dutta to Sonitpur and Biswanath, Naba Kumar Doley to Majuli, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji, Parimal Suklabaidya to Dibrugarh and Tinsukia, Rihan Daimary to Udalguri, Baska, Chirang and Nalbari, Pramila Rani Brahma to Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar and Dhubri, Pallab Lochan Das to Darrang, Kamrup (R), Goalpara and South Salmara.

Drug peddler 20 members team of AAPSU Opium worth lakhs and brown apprehended with ANDSU, ATKSSU monitors sugar recovered in separate cases, four arrested in Tinsukia district in Namsai flood situation in Namsai ET Bureau Itanagar, July 28

Mein congratulates new Dy. Ch. Councilor Itanagar, July 28: Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein today congratulated Tarh Nachung on being elected as new Deputy Chief Councilor of Itanagar Municipal Council.

“I convey my greetings and look forward to your commitment to public service in the years ahead,” Mein said. (DIPR)

PAGE 6

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The recovered drugs substance ET Bureau Namsai, July 28

In a joint raid conducted today by members of All Namsai Area Youth Association (ANAYA) and police team apprehended drug peddler Chungta Intong with eight other persons with many grams of unwanted substances at Kongyaw village in Namsai.

The police team was led by sub inspector Nang Kyamo Khen. All the persons arrested are put behind bars. Two of the person arrested out of eight are said to be working as teacher.

ANAYA general secretary Chow Rajana Manpoong has appealed the district administration not to grant bail to the culprits and dealt with them in strongest term.

The 20 member team of All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) is continuously monitoring the flood situation in Namsai and its adjoining areas. Almost a week ago, President Kamta Lapung with the team visited the areas and conducted relief operation along with members of All Namsai District students’ Union (ANDSU) and All Tai Khampti Singpho students’ Union (ATKSSU), informed AAPSU President, Kamta Lapung in a press release.

The release also stated that under the initiative of the union, donation camps for the flood victims have been started at Namsai, Tezu with ANDSU, ATKSSU and other wellwishers and the camp is likely to cover the entire eastern belt of the state.

The AAPSU appreciates the general public for voluntarily contributing for the flood relief and also appeals one and all to come forward and donate.

Nikh Kamin also deserves appreciation for the prompt initiative in providing assistance to the victims.

In a review meeting of the union to assess the flood situation, President Kamta Lapung has resolved to continuously work in the relief and rescue jointly with the District administration, NDRF until the Noa-Dihing River subsides to its normal flow.

While welcoming the relief measures initiated by the state government under the leadership of CM Pema Khandu, the union at the same time appeals that all the necessary food items and potable drinking water along with necessary clothing’s should be made available for the flood victims.

Meanwhile, the union appreciates the initiative taken

by Chowna Mein, DCM who not only physically visited all the affected areas but also constantly monitoring the situation. It is also needs to be mention that the hon’ble DCM had taken personal initiative in ensuring that necessary food items and drinking water are made available to the victims.

Young legislators like Zignu Namchoom, Laisam Simai and

“We hope that the CM shall walk in the footsteps of his late father who had always gone an extra mile to bring smile in the faces of the common man especially the poor and the downtrodden. At the same time, the union also urges for the intervention of union, MOS, Home for securing a central package for flood hit Namsai district”, said Kamta Lapung.

Spl Correspondent Tinsukia, July 28

Makum police on Thursday afternoon seized 2 kgs of Opium and arrested 2 persons in this conmection.

According to sources, acting on a tip off police intercepted one passanger bus during naaka checking at national highway 37 near bypass.

During checking of passengers police recovered .5 kgs of opium from one Dineswar Moran,42yrs S/O Lt Dimbeswar Moran, resident of 2 Mo Betoni under Bordumsa police station, sources added.

Sources added, during interrogation he revealed his associate name as obe Brajen Dowarah, resident of Gandhinagar in Makum.

Police

searched

his

residence and recovered 1.5 KG and arrested him, added sources and said a case has been registered in this connection.

Earlier, in two separate cases police recovered 26 gram suspected brown sugar/ heroine from the possession of Rajib Sharma, a resident of Phillobari Borgaon and 5 gram suspected brown sugar/ heroine from the possession of Siba Chetry of Kathasema village under Lekhapani police station. Both the persons has been arrested.

It is worth mentioning that in recent past police has apprehended several drug tusker and recovered small quantities of brown sugar and opium, which hints towards growing drug mafia nexus in Tinsukia district, a reason to worry for the residents of Tinsukia district.

NSCN-K cadres Oil refinery on Ulfa target in Tinsukia, arrested from Kharsang operation continues for second day Spl Correspondent Tinsukia, July 28

In a setback to NSCN-K, troops of Assam Rifles of DAO division apprehended a hardcore cadre of NSCN(K) from Chinsa village in Kharsang area under Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday morning.

The arrested cadre has been identified as self styled sergeant Arem Tansa alias Amun Muglang, 33. Security forces has recovered one pistol from his possession.

According to sources, sergeant Arem was heavily extorting money in the name of

NSCN-R. This fact highlights the desperation of the outfit to collect ransom money on one hand, while on the other reflects tacit understanding between the so called rival groups.

He had joined the banned organization in 2008, added sources and said that arrest of Arem comes as a major relief to the locals.

Earlier, troops of Assam Rifles another militant of NSCN-R involved in extortion activities. He has been identified as Manwang Wangsu and a 9 mm pistol has been recovered from him.

Ulfa (I), part of United Liberation Front of West South East Asia - a joint platform of several militants

Rishu Kalantri.

Tinsukia, July 28

The recent input of movement of a large group of heavily armed NSCN-K and Ulfa (I) cadres at Khalgaon under Digboi police station, merely 3 kilometres away from Asia's oldest refinery at Digboi, points out towards a dangerous blueprint to target the refinery at Digboi town.

The terror plan by both the militant groups NSCN-K and

ET EXCLUSIVE

Picture of nscn k area commander SS Captain Makam. Pic : Rishu Kalantri

organization formed in April last year cannot be taken lightly in the backdrop of intelligence inputs speaking that Ulfa (I) is desperate to carry major sabotage in Upper

Assam, particularly, Tinsukia district and with the failure of recent blasts the pressure has just added immensely.

This, coupled with top official of intellegence agency confirming movement of a joint group of NSCN-K and ULFA (I), with a strength of 15 to 16 cadres, at Khalgaon close to Digboi refinery on Wednesday has increased the threat perception to more lively prompting troops of 15

Kumaon regiment to fan out from Digboi - Pengri road to Digboi -Margherita road and Digboi town last night to create a line of defense to stop any suspected person in getting closer to the refinery.

Not just that patrolling and checking inside Digboi town, particularly, near refinery areas has been intensified.

Contd. on Page 3

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PAGE 2

ASTRO FOR YOU Aries You will be indecisive today, which is not usually the case with you. This could lead you to indulge in speculation, which is not so bad unless you risk all your money in it. Besides, when it comes to matters of the heart, you must exercise a great deal of caution.

Taurus Impulsive action kicks in as you work and interact today. Do not let the pressure and strain cloud your thoughts, and instead focus on acting on the things at hand. If you find things spiralling out of control, take a break and listen to some music that soothes your heart.

Gemini Today, you will decide to become a bit more conscious about your health. You may or may not join a gym or measure your calories, but you will definitely sit up and take notice of your lifestyle and unhealthy food habits. A new job is also likely, which will open a completely new chapter in your life.

Cancer Today, you will put your heart and soul into whatever task you take up. And, that's a great thing to do. Don't lose heart though, if despite the best efforts, the results of your efforts are not too forthcoming. Feeling dejected is only going to hamper your progress. Remember that you'll receive your due sooner or later. Spend some time with your loved ones to revive yourself. Alternatively, a quiet evening tucked in the bed with a nice book is also a great idea.

Leo If one were to put an earnest spirit and a frank attitude together, the result would be a Leo; it's like your hallmark. And with qualities like these in your kitty, don't be surprised if you happen to reach a milestone or two today. Will it be marital bliss or career success? No matter what the area is, be assured that your societal standing shall get a heady boost today.

Just don't let the success go to your head.

Virgo The booster rockets of your ambitions and spirit to work will kick in at the maximum today. Seek recreation after a hard day's work and look to relax at private parties, socialdos and even weddings.

Libra "Every man has specific natural abilities", said Aristotle. This seems to be true for you today. Your natural talents will be acknowledged and documented at work. This might prompt your equals to hold you up above the rest, and for your seniors to positively encourage you to scale greater heights. But as always, be careful to make sure that success does not make you heady with arrogance. Keep yourself firmly grounded, and remember that, 'pride cometh before the fall'.

Scorpio You will find yourself thinking with your heart rather than your head today. You may not be able to repress your feelings, and you should not even try. But you should be careful about how you express them, particularly in public as people may judge you wrongly on the basis of it.

Sagittarius Today, your superiors at work are going to trust you with many complicated assignments.

But, after exerting yourself, you are sure to come out with flying colors and have your work appreciated. Do not be surprised if cash incentives come your way. Such may indeed be your fortune.

Capricorn You will be a live wire, today. With amazing exuberance you have completed mammoth tasks and have spread the energy around. It will give you tremendous job-satisfaction.

Everything seems well and good the personal front, too. Spending some quality time your spouse will relax your mind and keep you in an upbeat mood.

Aquarius For a moment, it seems that you're swamped with problems. But you are brave enough to deal with any ugly issue that crops up suddenly. A romantic evening, which may just be time together in a jacuzzi, or simply preparing a meal together. Pure ecstasy!

Pisces You are fond of traveling and are always looking for an excuse to set off. Hence it comes as no surprise if you pack your bags and decide to embark upon a journey on a whim today.

It is a much needed break too, from the daily stresses of earning a livelihood. While you are seeking solitude, you will take your friends and relatives along with you on the trip.

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

Governor appeals for the protection of Tiger ET Bureau Guwahati, July 28: On the occasion of International Tiger Day today Hon’ble Governor of Assam, P. B. Acharya appealed to the government functionaries and wild life enthusiasts, to help in protection of tiger population, informed in a press release issued from the administration.

In a statement, Governor Acharya said, “Interna-

tional Tiger Day gives us an opportunity to lend our support towards generating worldwide attention for the protection and reservation of the big cats”.

Moreover, praising the diverse and rich flora and fauna of the North East, the Governor said that the tigers play an important role in enriching the biodiversity of the region and on this day “We should take a pledge for the conservation of this

Sushanta Roy Diphu July 28: Probably hundreds of pages have been written about the disputed border between Assam and Meghalaya, particularly in West Karbi Anglong district which is also within the jurisdiction of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council; but even74 years after formation of Karbi Anglong autonomous district the situation has remained unchanged. Probably more than hundred times primary to apex level talk between the state government’s officials of Meghalaya and Assam have taken place till now.

Student’s organizations, pressure groups, cultural organizations have done their best to break the impasse but the state of affairs has remained unmoved.

Small parish inhabited by Khasi, Garo, Karbi and other tribal community are the end sufferers of the long drown boundary row; people dwelling in the limits of West Karbi Anglong or arguably slight inside Meghalaya are forced to live a primitive life void of every basic human right because both the state govern-

ment cannot carry out any developmental work inside the undecided area situated at the midpoint of tug-of war.

Recently people of some locality have appealed to the BJP government to bring development to their areas in all aspects so that they too will taste modernity like the rest of the world.

“We are forced to remain secluded from the outside world due to lack of development in our areas. We are denied of good road, educational system and other privileges. Due to bad road condition, the Hojai-Arting route Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council controlled buses have stopped plying, as a result many students studying in other parts of the district and abroad are facing immense trouble”, the villagers stated. “We simply do not understand why Assam government doesn’t allow Meghalaya to do some basic developmental works in our locality so that we can live like human nor they initiate anything, if the situation remains unaffected we may be forced to abandon our ancestral home” said another villager.

28-7-16 (THURSDAY) 5-35 A.M-Bhaktigeeti (Devotional Songs) 6-10 A.M-Swasthya Charcha (Health Programme) 6-15 A.M-Classical Music 7-15 A.M-Aajir Dinto (Morning Information Service) 7-30 A.M-Geetanjali (Assamese Modern Song) 8-35 A.M-Surar Panchoi 9-05 A.M-Antara 12-30 P.M-Gharjeuti 2-30 P.M-Dopahar Samachar 3-45 P.M-Programme in Miju Mishmi 4-05 P.M-Programme in Khamti 4-25 P.M-Programme in Wancho 5-00 P.M-Programme in Idu 5-20 P.M-Programme in Tangsa 5-40 P.M-Programme in Nocte 6-15 P.M-Ganya Raijor Anushthan 7-15 P.M-Yuvavani 7-45 P.M-Sponsored Programme-"Ei Poth Hoise Bikashor" 8-00 P.M-Gyanmalini (Sponsored Programme of D.D.E.,Dibrugarh University) 8-30 P.M-Aapuni Sajag Ne? 9-16 P.M-Assembly Review 10-00 P.M-Question Hour in Parliament Sd-/H.O.P

Name Change

Name Change

I, Rakesh Kumar Agarwal, s/o Mahavir Prasad Agarwal, r/o S.R. Lohia Road, Tinsukia do declare by affidavit that I have changed my younger son name from Yojash Kumar Agarwal to Yojash Agarwal. Henceforth, he shall be known as Yojash Agarwal for all purposes.

I, Rakesh Kumar Agarwal, s/o Mahavir Prasad Agarwal, r/o S.R. Lohia Road, Tinsukia do declare by affidavit that I have changed my elder son name from Sidhansu Kumar Agarwal to Siddhanshu Kumar Agarwal. Henceforth, he shall be known as Siddhanshu Kumar Agarwal for all purposes.

fauna.

The Governor lined-up priority agenda and stated that the eco-sensitive zone guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change should be strictly adhered to around the National Parks and the Wildlife Sanctuaries for the protection, preservation, conservation and unhindered proliferation of every species of flora and

Governor Acharya also said that various human activities leading to shrinking of forests and natural habitats are responsible for dwindling tiger population around the world. In view of this Acharya called upon all the stake holders as well as animal lovers to take proactive steps to reduce confrontational situations where in various

developmental activities encroach upon tiger habitats. He also said that on the International Tiger Day everybody should resolve to do their bit for the conservation of tigers and help in increasing its population. The Governor further added, “India is known the world over for its rich tiger population and this image should not be allowed to be tarnished at any cost”.

AAMSU burn effigies of CM Inhabitants of Meghalaya border Sonowal, Minister Sarma in dilapidated state

Union protests over mid-day meals privatization

Phone No.-03732325456 E-mail -dibrugarh@air.org.in Facebook Page-All India Radio Dibrugarh Programme Highlights

creature”.

ET Correspondent Kokrajhar, July 28: The All Assam Minority Student Union (AAMSU) disappointed over the state government's budget placed

by Finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during ongoing budget session of Assam Legislative Assembly on July 26 last.

Expressing dissatisfied with the budget plan, hundreds of AAMSU activists and citizens burnt effigies of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today at Joypur along the JD Road in Kokrajhar.

Student activists with banner, placards shouted slogans against government and demanded early people's welfare budget for the state.

Anowar Hussain, president of Kokrajhar district

AAMSU said, the budget placed for the 2016-17 was not acceptable for the section of community in the state, especially the minority community were deprived from this plan.

'There was nothing special about the schemes or plan that have included for minority community in the

AABYP observes birth anniversary of Hiruda

A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, July 28: All Assam Brahmin Yuba Parishad today observed the birth anniversary of Assam’s renowned poet Hiren Bhattacharya at Chowkidingee chariali. Ajit Sharma, Retired teacher of Nandeswar Chakravorty School lighted the ceremonial lamp. President of AABYP, Monuj Sharma,

Vice president Devraj Borthakur, Siddhartra Sarma , organizing Secretary Kaushik Bagwati, General secretary Nayon Kotoky and member Raju Sharma were present during the programme. All the members of the organisation paid floral tribute and lit candle in front of the banner of Hiruda.

budget. It was unfortunate for the community that state budget has been declining to provide development welfare fund in the state”, he said adding that government should withdraw its budget plan so that equal development and distribution could be availed in the state.

Businessman passes away ET Correspondent Doomdooma, July 28 : The renowned businessman of Rupai Siding Dilip Biswas ( popularly known as Bachu Da ) passed away last night at around 8:55 pm due to brain stroke. He was at his 63 .He had been suffering from paralysis from the last eleven months and was under treatment at Sanjivini Hospital for sometime earlier .

Biswas was a popular personality among the people of Rupai Siding . He was a small tea grower and had a grocery shop at Rupai Siding Tinali Daily Market . He was a resident of Bijay Nagar .

The people of Rupai Siding kept closed their business establishment today as a respectful homage to him as he was a kind , social and helpful to all and sundry .

He had left three children , two daughters namely Basanti Biswas Roy , Jayanti Biswas Deb and one son Tridip Biswas and his wife Roma Biswas behind him.

Doomdooma press club urges the government to appoint doctors in hospitals

ET Correspondent Sivasagar, July 28: The decision of the state government to privatize midday meals was vehemently opposed by the Assam Mid-Day Meal Workers’ Union, Sivasagar District Committee.

The women took it to the streets on Thursday and staged a protest demonstra-

tion in front of DEEO office demanding the government to go back on its proposal submitted during the budget session.

The state government, during the Budget Session, had proposed to hand over the responsibility of the midday meals of state’s primary schools to some NGO.

Assam Agriculture minister Atul Bora visited the flood affected areas in Golaghat district along with senior officials of the Golaghat district administration. Pic - Amit Nagori.

ET Correspondent Doomdooma, July 28 : Few years back when a new 30 bed Doomdooma FRU was constructed and replaced the Doomdooma Government Dispensary, the eyes of the peoples shined in a great hope that there will be a better facilities and adequate physicians now but alas ! it proved merely a day dream.

It is unfortunate that the present 30- bed Doomdooma FRU has been running without adequate physicians for the last few days . Only two doctors have been attending to near about 400 patients who throng the hospital every day at present .one one hand the BJP led Assam Government emphasizes women and child health care , this hospital is running without gynaecologist and paediatrician .

According to sources the regular gynaecologist of the FRU was transferred to Tinsukia during the tenure of the previous government . After the transfer a gynaecologist from the Phillobari Model Hospital was attached to the FRU .

Similarly , one sinologist from the Kakopathar PHC was also attached to the

FRU .

When an order was issued by the Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma of the new state government , directing all doctors who are attached to other hospitals to return to their original places of posting , the gynaecologist and the sinologist of the Doomdooma FRU have returned to their earlier posting place and thus paralyzed the maternity department of the FRU . Though a gynaecologist visits , can not attend a large number of patients as he is an aged and retired joint director of health services .

On the other hand , the paediatrician attached to the FRU was also transferred to Tinsukia with a promotion a few months back. Since then the FRU has been running without a paediatrician. At present there are only three sanctioned posts of doctors in the FRU including one Senior Medical Officer (SMO) and two Medical Officers (MOs) of the two MOs, one has gone for higher studies , A pathologist was appointed in the FRU on a contractual basis for one year but the tenure

of his contact has been also expired . Though the government has renewed his contract , he has not rejoined his service yet .

Under these circumstances SMO Dr.Ranjit Das and MO Dr.Ranjit Bharali have been attending to over 300 patients on an average daily.

They are to required to man both the OPD and casualty wards round the clock.

Though there is an Ayurvedic Doctor in the FRU the patients do not prefer to consult him. The Xray machine of the FRU has been lying unused due to the absence of a radiologist.

The same condition prevails at the Dangri CHC and the Phillobari model hospital, shortage of physicians has hit the functioning of these two hospitals too.

If the government does not appoint an adequate number of physicians in these hospitals immediately , a large number of people , especially pregnant women and. children , Will be deprived of medical services.

The Doomdooma Press club and various other organizations have urged the government to give top priority in appointing adequate physicians in these hospitals.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, JULY 29

PAGE 3

'Arhar Modi, Arhar Modi': Rahul's dig at Modi tion which would come down further with good monsoon.

Rahul Gandhi New Delhi, July 28 (PTI) Calling him 'arhar Modi, arhar Modi", Rahul Gandhi today took swipes at Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha and tore into his election promise of bringing down prices.

He also needled Modi on his election slogan asking people to make him a "chowkhidar" (watchman) and not PM and said under his nose but there was "theft" of pulses and he was not speaking a word on it.

In a speech that lasted just a little over 15 minutes, Gandhi asked the prime

minister to give a date4e by which the prices of pulses will come down.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who took the floor after Gandhi to make a brief intervention in the debate on the price situation in the country, hit back saying the government had inherited double-digit inflation from the UPA government which was hit by scams and policy paralysis.

"Any form of bluster is not substitute for statistics," he told Gandhi and claimed the government has taken steps that have led to lower infla-

Rahul, in his seventh major intervention in the House during his career, said "During elections, Modiji had said 'make me a chowkidar' (watchman). Now, there is theft of dal under the very nose of the chowkidar. But the chowkidar has not uttered a word. He is mum. ...

Now he has become a big person. Leave that job of chowkidari to the Congress," Gandhi said.

Taking a jibe at the BJP slogan 'Har Har Modi' used during the Lok Sabha polls, he said "now people are saying 'Arhar Modi'."

"You may make as many hollow promises as you want, but give us a date by when the prices of daal will come down," he said.

Listing the prices of vegetables and pulses , he said in 2014, the price of tomato was Rs 18, which has shot up to Rs 55 now. Urad and tur dal, priced at Rs 70 and 75 in February 2014, has gone up to Rs 160 and Rs 180 this month.

PM extends support to B'desh in fight against terrorism

New Delhi, Jul 28 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today extended full support to Bangladesh in its fight against terrorism in the wake of several terror attacks in that country.

Modi conveyed this when Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan called on him here.

The Prime Minister reiterated India's commitment to support Bangladesh in fighting against terrorism, an official release said.

Khan briefed the Prime Minister on the situation in Bangladesh and thanked him for India's support and solidarity.

The Prime Minister condoled the loss of lives in the

recent terrorist attacks in Bangladesh.

Altogether 22 people, including an Indian girl, were killed in a terror attack at a cafe in Dhaka on July 1.

A Bangladeshi-American was among the nine suspected Islamists killed in a raid in Dhaka by police which claimed yesterday to have foiled a mass terror attack bid.

The Bangladesh Home Minister later met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for a delegation level talks where both sides agreed to enhance cooperation on antiterror efforts with Dhaka saying that New Delhi will be "side-by-side" with it in fighting terrorists.

50th Tirap district DRDA GBM held: proposals passed

ET Bureau Khonsa, July 28: The 50th governing body meeting of Tirap district DRDA was held in DC's conference hall, Khonsa on 28th July in which ZPC, ZPMs, HoDs and representatives of Banks attended. In his address Tirap Deputy Commissioner Ravi Jha said that there was an urgent need to improve the feed-back mechanism for better coordination and effective implementation of the government schemes. While lamenting over the snail's pace of most of the schemes due to various reasons, the DC urged the BDOs and ZPMs to pull up their socks to expedite the work on ongoing projects to ensure timely completion. While asking the DRDA and ZPMs to implement the flagship central scheme PMAY properly in order to benefit the needy beneficiaries Jha requested the ZPC to hold the Gram Sabha meeting at the earliest. He asked the line departments of DRDA to work in close coordination to achieve the desired results. In her

speech, ZPC Sontung Bangsia urged the BDOs and government departments to consult the ZPMs before submitting proposals to the government. She underscored the importance of the GPMs to make the Gram Sabhas effective. Earlier, in his key-note address PD, DRDA Dahey Sangno said that after the introduction of MNREGA, most of the development activities of DRDA were focused on MNREGA in rural areas.

He urged the ZPC and ZPMs to play more pro-active role in framing realistic and beneficial schemes and their effective implementation in the interest of the rural populace. Sangno further highlighted on some of the priority areas under DRDA and sought willing cooperation from all the line departments and the ZPMs. JE (RE), DRDA AK Tiwari while participating in the deliberation threw light on the mode of selection of beneficiaries for various schemes and urged the Tirap Zilla Parishad to hold the Gram Sabha meeting soon to finalize the schemes. All

Aalo Military Station Observes Kargil Vijay Diwas in a Befitting Manner

the BDOs in their presentation placed the labour budget pertaining to their respective blocks and also put forth the scopes and challenges in their blocks. In his power-point presentation APO (RE), DRDA TL Garam threw light on MNREGA and its components. He also highlighted in details on activities under MNREGA and enlightened the house regarding the present status of some of the schemes under MNREGA. Garam presented some of the important facets of MNREGA including dates fixed to kick-start various schemes, categories of work taken up in the current financial year, fund received

by Tirap DRDA in 2016-17 (1st tranche), focus area targets for 2016-17, social audit, geotagging of assets and Adhaar seeding. The ZPMs also actively participated in the day-long discussion. After a threadbare discussion, proposals placed by the members were approved and passed unanimously. A few important resolutions were also adopted.

Aalo, July28: The Kargil Vijay Diwas was observed in a befitting manner by the Aalo Military Station at Bogdo Ground of 1 Bihar on 26th July last. Group Captain Mohanto Panging,VM, (rtd.) who is the first from North East to Command Sukhoi group graced the occasion as the

chief Guest.

He exhorted the Indian army to draw inspiration from the Kargil War and keep constant vigil on the border of this small Himalayan state. The Commander 5 Mountain Brigade disclosed that people from North East are render-

ing good services to Indian army and sacrifice of late Tape Yajo is commendable and effort are being made to name Siyom Army Gate and road starting from that end to the residence of great soldier in the name of late Tape Yajo. The West Siang Deputy Commissioner Shri Pige Ligu who attended the

Meeting held on power and civilian terminal issues PPWC seeks CS’s intervention in ALG, Pasighat

function lauded the crucial role of Indian army particularly, 1 Bihar for capturing the important posts from the Pakistan backed infiltrators and exhorted them keep up the spirit adding that administration is always there to give any kind of support.

The day long programme

Coordination meeting held ET Bureau Bomdila, July 28 : A coordination meeting of principals & Headmasters of all Govt. Higher secondary and secondary schools of the West Kameng district was held on 28th July 2016 at Bomdila to discuss the poor CBSE Exam results in the previous academic year.

The meeting was chaired by Dr. Sonal Swaroop, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, West Kameng.

MaksamTayeng Pasighat, July 28: Considering the two ultimatums served by Pasighat Peoples’ Welfare Committee (PPWC) to the government for timely redressing of the erratic power problem by this month end and Civilian Terminal Demand Committee, Advance Landing Ground, Pasighat (CTDC,ALG, PSGT)’s appeal for construction of the civilian conclave within the allotted ALG premises respectively, a joint meeting of district administration, PPWC, CTDC, ALG, PSGT, local MLA, Chief Councilor was held at DC office here today under the chairmanship of DC, Pasighat.

While district administration along with the concern power department’s executive engineer clarified the position of the improved power scenario, PPWC team insisted for calling of a joint meeting of all three divisions of Pasighat-AaloRumgong power departments as the maximum faults in power supply are

reported in those jurisdiction which are beyond the control of Pasighat division.

Despite the assurance given from district administration, the PPWC has not yet given up its proposed bandh call on 1st August. A final decision will be taken in a general meeting of PPWC tomorrow where we would appeal the government for arranging a joint meeting of all three divisions of Pasighat, Aalo and Rumgong power department, said Okom Yosung, Chairman, PPWC. Meanwhile, taking exceptional seriousness on the need of timely construction of civilian terminal for domestic air connectivity, local MLA, Kaling Moyong proposed district administration to allot free land near IOC premises and civil supply office premises within the boundary wall of ALG, Pasighat to be handed over to Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Indian Air Force (IAF) for the said civilian conclave. Moyong has also urged the concern authorities of both AAI &

Medical Camps by Vivekananda Kendra

IAF to maintain the agreement made between the parties during 11th August 2011 where 3.70 acres of land from total of 76 acres land acquired were to be handed over to AAI for construction of civilian terminal buildings and infrastructures.

While, Civilian Terminal Demand Committee, Alg, Psgt has appealed state’s Chief Secretary to intervene the matter and let Airport Authority of India and Indian Air Force to construct the proposed civil terminal within the land allotted as the matter has been made more complicated by demand for additional land by AAI authorities. The committee has also cautioned that, the fact shouldn’t be suppressed by the concern authorities of AAI & IAF with one or other pretext and concrete measures should be taken immediately to materialize the aspiration of the common public for coming up of civilian terminal in ALG, Pasighat.

and Bubang, Chingsa and Khuchep villages of Changlang area. A total 527 patients were examined by the medical team and free medicines were distributed.

Dr. Prema Sangoram, a lady doctor from Mumbai and the mobile medical team of Vivekananda Kendra Arun Jyoti conducted the camps.

Shri D.W Kharma, DDSE informed that the Govt. had taken strong note of the poor CBSE results of the Govt. schools in the district.

Further the disparity in pass percentage between Govt.

& Private schools was huge, he informed. He urged all the principals and Headmasters to ensure better results in the current academic session.

The Deputy Commissioner asked the Principals & Headmasters to discharge their duties with sincerity and dedication. She also advocated that the teaching and learning process should be made more interactive in order to ensure better attention of the students. She also directed that the SMCs should be revamped, wherever necessary. Surprise checks by administrative officers would be continued to check the functioning of the schools, she said.

Five advocates get conditional bail Chennai, Jul 28 (PTI) The Madras High Court today granted conditional bail to five advocates who were arrested for laying seige to the High Court premises here during a protest against recently amended Advocates Act on July 25.

Justice S Vaidyanathan granted conditional bail to the advocates and directed them to remain in Villupuram district for two weeks.

They were ordered to be released on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 each and two government sureties for the like amount.

The lawyers were directed to present themselves before the Villupuram Town Police Station daily at 11 am and 4 pm

and then report before the B1 North beach police station daily until further orders.

The advocates, who have been charged with damaging public property and obstructing the government servants from discharging their duty during the protest, shall go alone and should not indulge in any unlawful activities, the judge said.

The Madras High Court had in May amended rules under which lawyers could be barred from practice on disciplinary grounds.

The amended rules were made part of Rule 14 of the High Court by virtue of powers conferred on court under the Advocates Act, 1961.

Oil refinery on Ulfa target in Tinsukia, operation continues for second day Contd. from Page 1

ET Bureau Changlang, July 28: Vivekananda Kendra Arun Jyoti recently conducted a few Free Medical Camps in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Camps were organized at New Chingsa, Phangyak and New Khimiyong villages of Kharsang and Miao area

included Wreath laying ceremony, Jazz band pipe display, audio documentary on Kargil Vijay, display of arms and weapons and felicitation to ex. Servicemen and prize distribution to school children for lecture on Kargil Victory Diwas and Drawing competition.

The Eastern Today is the only newspaper to have got it hands on such crucial input and has published a detailed news report in its July 28 edition.

Confirming this piece of information, a source in the army said, a massive operation was launched on Wednesday night following inputs of movement of a large group of cadres said to be heavily armed.

The source added that the search operation is being carried on for the second day. However, we have not got any trace of the group during the combing operations so far.

We have alerted senior IOC officials alongwith CISF that looks after refinery security, added the source.

In the meantime, intellegence agency has informed this correspondent that as per latest inputs gathered, the militant group seems to have returned back to Mulung area south of Ledo and Lekhapani near to

Changlang district due to advancing of Indian army. The combing operation launched by security forces following the information of their movement would not made it possible for them to reach further close to their probable target, added intelligence source and said, Mulung is a safe area for them as NSCN-K has a stronghold in all the nearby villages like Phenbiro 1, Phenbiro 2, Longran etc and any movement of security forces from any direction towards Mulung reaches NSCN-K well before hand and forces get nothing. This is evident in last 10 operations carried in Mulung belt where security forces could burst out 5 temporary hideouts but could not get a single major success against the group which has been roaming since long in this belt, which otherwise would not had been possible.

ET has learnt that previously a group of 11 cadres of NSCNK headed by SS Captain Makam was roaming in this belt.

Recently, another group of 19 cadres from NSCN-K and 8 cadres from ULFA (I) joined the group. However, 9 cadres of NSCN-K has returned back to Myanmar camp as per inputs available. The group is believed to have 5 IED's apart from AK assualt rifles, MQ rifles and Lathode grenade launcher, grenades and landmines.

It may be mentioned that NSCN-K is known for some of the most dangerous attack on security forces in past 15 months, ever since they snapped ceasefire with the government of India. Hence, the presence of a large group of NSCN-K alongwith ULFA ( I ) is a good enough reason for security forces to worry, although the threat might have been thwarted for the moment. Top official of intelligence agency has once again confirmed that their is immense pressure of the group roaming in Tinsukia district to carry major sabotage, as it is matter of outfits survival.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, JULY 29

PAGE 4 Four thieves arrested and NRC Sewa Kendra’s gen set recovered ET Correspondent Tezpur, July 28 : Sonitpur police arrested four thieves and recovers one generator today which was stolen from NRC Sewa Kendra, Bahbari under Tezpur PS. According to police four persons brought the generator on a Maruty van to Dekargaon to dispose it. The police from Bebejia police out post under Tezpur PS intercepted the vehicle bearing registration number AS 01 C 8383 .Police recovered the generator in the vehicle.

The occupants of the vehicles who bought the generator to sell were identified as Sanjib Bag, Rafikul Sekh, Phukan hazarika and Prasenjit Debnath, police informed . The generator was stolen from the NRC Sewa Kendra, Bahbari on July 22 last.

Total 112 villages and 1 lac people AASAA submits affected in flood in Sonitpur memorandum to ET Correspondent Tezpur, July 28 : With the rest of the state in Sonitpur also a total of 112 villages and 1 lac people have been affected in flood following incessant rain during the last few days.

In a press meet giving a detail report on the flood situation in the District Deputy commissioner, Sonitpur, Laya Madduri said that for keeping the affected people seven permanent relief camps have been set up. Besides food materials others essential

goods have been provided to the affected people. “1,348.85 qtl.

Rice, 263.25 qtl.

Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) , the joint wildlife welfare facility run by Assam Forest Department, International Fund for Animal Welfare(IFAW) and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) I wildlife situated in Kaziranga National Park has attended sixteen (16) wildlife rescue cases in the present wave of flood as on today.

Dal, 52.69 qrl salt have been distributed among the affected people of five revenue circles in the district, moreover, cattle food have also been distributed.” She said adding the food and civil supply and the health department have been alerted to combat the situation. She also said that for monitoring the overall matter ADC, Jadab Saikia is given the responsibility.

India and Bangladesh to fight terrorism jointly New Delhi, Jul 28 (PTI) India and Bangladesh today agreed to enhance cooperation on anti-terror efforts with Dhaka saying that New Delhi will be "side-by-side" with it in fighting terrorists.

The India-Bangladesh Home Minister level dialogue also amended bilateral extradition treaty to facilitate prompt exchange of each other's wanted terrorists and other criminals.

"We have decided to enhance our anti-terror cooperation in all sphere. India will be side by side with

Bangladesh in fighting terror," Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said after the delegation level talks with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh.

Asked about involvement of ISIS in the July 1 terror attack in Dhaka where 22 people, including one Indian girl, were killed, Khan said "all terrorists were home grown. There is no ISIS in Bangladesh".

The Bangladeshi Minister said in today's talks, activities of terror group like Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen

Bangladesh were discussed besides other groups operating in both the countries.

"There was no discussion on ISIS," he said.

Khan also denied discussing about Islamist preacher Zakir Naik, whose sermon allegedly inspired one of the terrorists who attacked the Dhaka cafe on July 1.

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, who participated the dialogue, said it was a "very good" meeting where there was not a single issue where the two

sides disagreed.

"It was a very good discussion. There was no difference even in one point," he said, adding there will be more frequent interaction between security officials of both the countries.

The meeting agreed to hold the Home Minister level talks in every two years instead of present three years, sources said.

Other issues which figured in the meeting include enhancement of security along the international border,

visa, infiltration, smuggling of narcotics and cattle, etc.

Bangladeshi counter-terror officials, accompanying their Home Minister, met officials of the National Investigation Agency while officials of Border Guard Bangladesh met their counterparts of Border Security Force.

PM Modi ET Correspondent Margherita, July 28: All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA) Tinsukia District Executive Committee today submitted a memorandum to honourable Prime Minister of India through the Tinsukia District Deputy Commissioner.

Raja Kujur and Ramanus Lakra both President and General Secretary of AASAA Tinsukia District Executive Committee said, “We demand to cancel both the government's

decision to auction at least 12 oil fields of Assam to private companies, to control the prices of essential commodities where general people of Assam are suffering and to give Rs 5 lakhs compensation to those Adivasi people who lost their lives in at Pengree under Tinsukia district on the month of April as Assam government has failed to give compensation to the deceased family members of the Pengree incident”.

Child drowns in Kokrajhar ET Correspondent Kokrajhar, July 28: A six year old girl child died after drowning in the flood water at New Banglajhora in Kokrajhar district today.

According to information, the child identify as Purnima Narzary (6) of New Banglajhora relief camp, slipped in the flood water and drowned. Her body was later recovered.

The district administration has provided Rs 25,000 as part of the compensation.

The rest amount of Rs 4 lakhs will be provided later, a senior official of district administration said.

District administration has been providing relief materials in smooth manner, besides extending medical facilities for the flood affected peoples in the district, he added.

Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal undertakes aerial survey of major flood affected areas

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrish and Director Generals of Border Security Force and Narcotics Control Bureau participated in the talks.

VHAA urges the State Government to strictly implement the Assam Health Act, 2013 A Staff Reporter Guwahati, July 28: Alarmed at the growing cases of mouth cancer arising out of use of smokeless tobacco products, the Voluntary Health Association of Assam (VHAA) urged the State Government to strictly implement the Assam Health Act, 2013 which bans sale of smokeless tobacco products in Assam.

The request was made by the organisation on the occasion of the World Head and Neck Cancer Day on July 27. The International

Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies (IFHNOS), in collaboration with American Head and Neck Society (AHNS), has declared July 27 as World Head and Neck Cancer Day, which they hope will help in aiding prevention of the head and neck and mouth cancer.

The Assam Health Act, 2013 which is yet to be implemented fully, when passed by the State Assembly in 2014, generated positive response among the public.

According to experts it is of utmost importance to strictly enforce the ban on smokeless tobacco products considering the large number people getting affected to Head and Neck cancer due to smokeless tobacco use in Assam.

At least 28 chemicals in smokeless tobacco have been found to cause cancer.

Long term smokeless tobacco users face 50 times the risk of cheek and gum cancer.

Revenue Minister inspects flood affected areas of Kamrup ET Correspondent Rangia, July 28: Minister of State for Revenue and Disaster Management, Pallab Lochan Das, accompanied by the MLA of Hajo Suman Haripriya and Kamrup DC Vinod Seshan has inspected flood affected Hajo circle of Kamrup District on July 28. During his visit, the Minister interacted with the flood affected peoples of the two relief camps setup at Solmari LP School and Gaonburah pam village. He also visited one cattle camp setup at Gaonburah pam. While interacting with the inmates of relief camps Minister assured them to provide all assistance as per rule and requested the inmates to in-

Two forest personals injured at Bhomoraguri ET Correspondent Tezpur, July 28 :Two forest guards were seriously injured when a wild boar attacked them at Bhomoraguri reserve forest in the morning today. The injured forest guards were identified as Anowae Hussain and Prabin Saikia. Both the injured forest personals were admitted in theKanaklata Civil Hospital Tezpur. In another incident, one Lakhi Jadav (53) was critically injured by the wild boar at Burha Chapari in the morning today.

form district administration immediately if there is any issue.

Earlier, the Minister reviewed the relief measures undertaken by the District Administration at Hajo IB with the Departmental heads. Reviewing the relief measures, the minister expressed his satisfaction over the measures taken and urged the government officials to provide all possible helps to the affected people and asked to ensure proper sanitation, health and hygiene facility in all the relief camps besides providing all relief items.

The Revenue Minister also inspected the SPT Bridge

on Hajo- Ukhura road over Putimari River at Satdala which was washed away at on July 27. The Minister asked the PWD official to set up a temporary bailey bridge and also asked them to come for a meeting at Dispur on August 8 with the contractor of under construction bridge over Puthimari River.

Minister Das further visited the flood affected area by boat to take stock of the actual damages in the area. It is alleged that the machine boat in which they were travelling was out of order but after changing the boat they somehow able to return on the bank without any trouble.

Three-fourth of the daily users of moist snuff and chewing tobacco has noncancerous or pre-cancerous lesions in the mouth.

in female. Similarly, in Cachar district 46.2% and 20.6% in male & female respectively are tobacco related cancer.

Smokeless tobacco (8-10 times a day) are exposed to the same nicotine as 30-40 cigarettes a day (ACS, 2004)

Nearly 70% of patients treated in the Dr. B. Barooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati in 2013-14 developed cancer due to tobacco use.

As per the latest report of Cancer Registry, 49.7% of all cancers in male and 24.1% in female in Urban Kamrup district are tobacco related cancer. In Dibrugarh district, it is 51.6% in male and 22.8%

The Govt. of Assam in 2011 out of its total health budget of Rs.541.2 crores spent Rs.157.8 crores for treatment of tobacco related diseases alone.

DLSA, Nagaon conducts awareness meeting on POCSO ET Bureau Nagaon, July 28: DLSA, Nagaon in an Endeavour to create awareness on POCSO and other special laws of children held an awareness meet at Nowgaon College, Seminar Hall, Nagaon on 20th July.

Ganga Balav Goswami, Advocate, Nagaon Bar Association, Anindita Dey, Counsellor, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Nagaon, Tripti Ari, Secretary, DLSA, Nagaon and Wahida Alom, Advocate, Nagaon Bar Association spoke on the occasion.

The meeting was attended by students and faculty members from most of the colleges of Nagaon as well as students of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Nagaon.

The students present took keen interest. The curiosity of the students as well as the faculty members present could be comprehended by the interaction that took place in the meeting.

Ganga Balav Goswami, Advocate, Nagaon Bar Association,

addressing the gathering took them through the Act and also gave a bird’s eye view about the other laws meant for the children. Anindita Dey, also shared her views and impressed upon the students and faculty members. She in her address also gave an idea about the state of mind of the victim from psychological point of view and the hurdles faced by the victim to express themselves after having to face any untoward incident especially for victim of sexual offences.

Tripti Ari, Secretary, DLSA, Nagaon while speaking on the occasion, apprised the gathering about POCSO Act, 2012 and other special laws of children. She pressed on the nature of offences covered under POCSO Act, 2012 along with pointing out the highlights which makes POCSO Act, 2012 standout given the present social fabric as it exists. (Jansanyog)

CM Sarbananda Sonowal assures Majuli people to provide all necessary help Contd. from Page 1

The Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal assured his people of his constituency that will get all required help in getting relief materials including food items as well as for secured and comfortable living first.

He said that he will go for proper investigation into alleged misappropriation raised by the people of

Majuli to the Department of Water Resources as it is due to department’s negligence the huge embankment was eroded affecting over lakh of people of Majuli Island.

After the embankment breached, the Disaster management Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and 223 Artillery of the 5 Field Regiment jawans were pressed into service to evacuate and

transport people from one end to the other and from one village to another village which has brought a big relief among the flood victim families.

On the other hand jawans from the 5 Field Regiment were in task to place sandbags at a breached portion so that the eroded portion may remain same, informed Virendra Mittal, Deputy Commissioner, Jorhat who is supervising the

entire flood scenario in Majuli.

Meanwhile for 1,60, 000 affected people, relief materials like tarpaulins (plastic sheets), food items like salt, rice etc reached to the Kamalabari ghat for distribution which will give relief to the people of Majuli, informed Jayanta Goswami, senior Additional Deputy Commissioner who is in charge for Majuli flood here today.

Contd. from Page 1

Moreover, Sonowal asked the administrative machinery to keep an eye on the aftermath of the flood so that outbreak of communicable diseases can be nipped in the bud.

Direction has also been given to provide adequate fodder stock. Chief Minister Sonowal also met some satradhikars and took stock of the problem faced by the Satras and Satridhakars in the wake of current wave of flood.

Chief Minister Sonowal also visited relief camps set up at Rang Ghar, Bongaon and Bongaon ME School and interacted with camp inmates.

Chief Minister Sonowal then proceeded to

Lakhimpur and held a review meeting with the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and the departmental heads posted in the two districts. Sonowal asked the DCs to prioritise relief and rescue operations and help the flood affected people on a war footing.

the district administrations and Food Corporation of India (FCI) have been instructed to procure good quality food items for the flood affected people.

Sonowal also handed over two number of cheques worth Rs. 4 lakh each as grant to the next of the kin died in the flood.

Sonowal informed that the Chief Secretary V.K. Pipersenia is coordinating and supervising the entire relief and rescue operations in the flood affected districts and asked the DCs to inform the Chief Secretary any critical situation they faced in negotiating with the flood and remedial steps will be taken accordingly.

Chief Minister also interacted with flood affected people taking shelter in relief camps and assured all help to them. Minister for Wa t e r Resources Keshab Mahanta, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister N a b a K u m a r D o l e y, MLAs Utpal Dutta, Debananda Hazarika, Pradan Baruah were also present during Chief Minister’s visit to the district.

There will be no dearth of Gratuitous Relief (GR) materials in the State and all

CM warns Govt Officers not to neglect the flood victims Contd. from Page 1

There he met with the representatives of flood victims from the four Legislative Assembly Constituencies of the District, that is-Lakhimpur, Nowboicha, Bihpuriya and Dhakuakhona. He reviewed the recent flood situation and the losses of the four LACs. Then he interacted with the Media Persons in the Circuit House. "I instructed all MLAs and Ministers of our Government to go to the flooded area and help the flood victims. I cordially appeal the institutions and non-governmental organisations to extend their helping hand to the affected people"-he said. I arrived here today in order to monitor whether the affected people had got the flood relief properly or not

because the government has already allotted these to them"-he added. Then he participated in a meeting with the Departmental Officers of the district. It is to be noted that different organisations of the Lakhimpur District submitted memorandums to Sarbananda Sonowal, who set his foot in the district for the first time after becoming the CM, demanding adequate measures to tackle flood situation and the upgradation of the backward conditions of the district.

Out of them were district body of Manab Adhikar Sangram Samity, All Assam Unemployed Association, All Assam Student Union, All Assam Fixed Pay High School Teachers Association etc. CM handed over two cheques bearing four lac rupees to the family members of Dulal Gogoi Of Karsan Majarkuri Village

and Makhan Hajarika of Ghilamora who lost their life drowning in flood.

On the other hand, it is alleged that the CM has distressed the flood victims of his native constituency Majuli while he was visiting the affected area. As per report, the CM went to the site where Luit breached its Haladhibar-Bangaon embankment. Although he inspected the breached area, he did not meet with the members of the five families who has lost everything in the strong flash of flood while breaking the embankment. At distressed condition they expressed their grievances shouting whether he is the same Sarbananda Sonowal or not who was before the State Assembly Election. He visited two flood camps established at Bangaon High School and Ranghar Yuvak Kendra.

REGION

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, JULY 29

Bangladesh minister to attend Indo-Bangla railway programme in Agartala

Meghalaya floods: CM conducts aerial survey, NPP seeks central help IANS Tura, July 28: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Wednesday undertook an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in the state's West Garo Hills district, even as National People's Party president Conrad K Sangma raised the issue in parliament and demanded they be declared a national calamity.

Bangladeshi Railway Minister Md Mujibal Haque Agencies Agartala, July 28: Bangladeshi Railway Minister Md Mujibal Haque will be present in Agartala at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Agartala–Akhaura (Bangladesh) rail track on July 31, an NF Railway official said.

At the same programme, his Indian counterpart Suresh Prabhu will flag off the regular broad gauge train service between Delhi and Agartala. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and MoS Railways Rajen Gohain and Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Harshavardhan Sringla will also attend the programme.

Chief Engineer of Northeast Frontier (NF) Railway (construction) Harpal Singh said acquisition of land for the rail link between Agartala and Akhaura in Bangladesh has already started as funds have been released by

DoNER ministry.

The process of laying the 15.054-km-long railway tracks to connect Agartala with Akhaura will be completed by 2017. Of the total track, a stretch of five kilometre will be on the Indian side and the rest in Bangladesh.

DoNER has already sanctioned Rs 580 crore for the project as New Delhi is keen to establish the rail link which will connect West Bengal and Tripura through Bangladesh. The AgartalaAkhaura railway route will connect Indian Railways with Bangladesh Railways to improve the connectivity and boost trade between the two countries.

The neighbouring countries had agreed to lay the tracks between Akhaura and Agartala during Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to New Delhi in January 2010.

Two militants apprehended in Manipur Agencies Imphal, July 28: Two militants belonging to the newly floated United People of Kangleipak were apprehended from here, police said today.

The arrested have been identified as P Wahidur Rahman (23) and S Mujibhur Rahman (28) and were nabbed from the vicinity of a shopping arcade here on Tuesday.

PAGE 5

A total number of 107,464 people in 132 villages were affected after the swollen Brahmaputra and Jingiram Rivers submerged several villages under Phulbari, Rajabala, Singimari, Paham, Bhaitbari and Hallidayganj areas on Tuesday.

few makeshift camps on higher ground, but their number is expected to rise as the water level is likely to rise further in the next few days.

The government has announced relief for 10 days for the affected population after Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister Clement Marak, Assembly Speake, A.T. Mondal along with the West Garo Hill distric t Deputy Commis-

sioner Pravin Bakshi and other officials of the district assessed the situation from ground zero.

A government statement said of the displaced families, 247 are being sheltered in 20 designated camps and

Raising the issue in Zero Hour, Sangma, who is the MP from Tura, urged the central government to declare the flood as a national calamity and to ensure relief to the affected areas.

He also urged the government to depute an interministerial delegation to survey the affected areas and to coordinate with the state governments and other agencies so that necessary help and relief could be given to the affected people.

Teachers join hands across State to protest against govt apathy Agencies Shillong, July 28: Members of the Joint Action Committee of All Teachers’ Association of Meghalaya (JACATAM) on Wednesday staged dharna in various parts of the city and the State to protest against the alleged indifferent attitude of the State government over its demand for provincialization of services of over 14,000 teachers of 4500 ad hoc, deficit and government aided schools in the State.

Braving inclement weather, teachers with placards and banners in different parts of the city protested against the delay in provincialization of their services.

The teachers would continue their dharna at the zonal level and unit level on Thursday followed by a district-level demonstration on Friday.

Bangladesh to fortify its southeastern frontier

JACATAM organizing Secretary Kular Khongjirem said teachers from different categories of services actively participated in the dharna throughout the State.

“The State government continues to be adamant and it seems that the government is not concerned about the school children,” he said.

He further said that the teaching community would intensify its second phase of agitation to be announced on July 29.

Continuing their protest against the inaction of the State government towards their demands, the Khasi Jaintia Deficit School Teachers’ Association (KJDSTA) from Ri-Bhoi under the umbrella of JACATAM staged dharna at three separate locations pressuring the government to concede to their demands.

While the teachers of Nongpoh Zone staged dharna at NSCA Mini Stadium, teachers from Umsning Zone staged dharna at Umsning Playground while the teachers from Umroi Zone staged their agitation at Kurkalang Playground, Bhoirymbong.

Speaking to pressmen at Nongpoh, Baby Jospeh, a member of JACATAM, said it was very unfortunate that the teachers had to leave the students at school, but were forced to resort to such activities due to the adamant attitude of the government.

Joseph further said it was an embarrassment that teachers in the State were deprived of their rights in spite of being the builders of the nation.

In Jaintia Hills, school teachers under the banner of JACATAM took active

part in the agitation by staging a sit-in demonstration at MTC Stand, Iawmusiang Jowai. Around one hundred teachers in Jowai were seen taking part in the agitation programme organized by the JACATAM across the State.

A similar agitation was also organised by JACATAM at Resubelpara.

A rally was taken out from the Office of the District School Education Officer (DSEO) and the Sub Divisional School Education Officer (SDSEO) at 10 AM with more than 200 teachers representing different categories of schools like Ad hoc LP School, Ad hoc UP School, Deficit UP School, Deficit LP School, SSA UP School and SSA LP School participated in the rally.

Border Security Force (BSF) Agencies Agartala, July 28: In view of the challenges it is facing in terms of the global security scenario, Bangladesh will for the first time deploy its border guarding force, Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB), to keep a vigil on its southeastern frontier bordering Myanmar and the Indian states of Tripura and Mizoram, additional director general of BGB (South East Region) Md Habibul Karim said.

Karim, along with 18 other BGB officials, arrived here last week for a four-day border co-ordination conference. Addressing a joint press conference with BSF IG, Meghalaya Frontier, PK Dubey at the BSF, Tripura Frontier headquarters here, Karim said that for the past 40 years, BGB had not been posted along the country's

southeast frontier.

"With the changing face of challenges, the global security scenario and growing threats, the Bangladesh government has decided to construct 50 more border outposts (BOPs) along the India-Bangladesh border and 17 BOPs along Myanmar-Bangladesh border soon," Karim said.

Reiterating the absence of ISIS or ISI on Bangladesh soil despite the recent growth of terror activities by fundamentalist groups in the country, Karim said, "The Bangladesh government is capable of handling both internal and external forces. The recent crackdown on fundamentalists and anti-nationalist forces shows the Bangladesh government is determined to uproot such terrorism."

Japanese encephalitis claims one life in Manipur Agencies Imphal, July 28: Japanese encephalitis (JE) has claimed the life of a 43year-old man in Manipur, making him the first victim of the season, reports said on Thursday.

The deceased, T Donglianpau is a resident of Churachandpur district and was admitted to the Regional institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) last week.

However, he succumbed to the deadly disease on Thursday morning.

HC takes exception to NEDF iterates antivacant KHADC seats uranium mining stand Agencies Shillong, July 28: The High Court of Meghalaya will hear a PIL after three weeks on the plea to hold immediate elections to six vacant posts in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) after the dual post Bill took effect from October last year.

After the matter was taken up on Wednesday, the High Court said that in the PIL, the petitioner has stated that six of the district council constituencies have been unrepresented for the last ten months due to resignations tendered by the members earlier elected and that the government has not

taken requisite steps for holding of by-elections for such constituencies.

The petitioner also submitted that the six unrepresented constituencies are being deprived of developmental schemes and projects following the resignations of the elected members “causing prejudice to the electorates/citizens apart from violation of their democratic rights of representation in KHADC”.

The High Court has also issued notices to the State government and other respondents for their response.

The Joint Action Committee of Rambrai-Jyrngam Constituency had filed a PIL in the High Court On July 22 against the undue delay on the part of the government in holding the by-election to the Rambrai-Jyrngam constituency of KHADC. The seat has remained vacant for the last ten months since its representative K.P. Pangniang resigned from the KHADC along with five other MDCs after the Meghalaya Assembly passed the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) Amendment Bill, 2015 to

prohibit people holding one public office from holding another elected office.

Besides RambraiJyrngam, other vacant seats in the KHADC are those of H.D.R. Lyngdoh (Nongspung- Sohiong), Sanbor Shullai (LabanMawprem), Ardent M. Basaiawmoit (Nongkrem), Metbah Lyngdoh (Mairang-Nongkhlaw) and Brolding Nongsiej (Mawthadraishan).

The lone vacant seat in the JHADC is the War East constituency which was earlier held by legislator Stephanson Mukhim.

Agencies Shillong, July 28: The North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) has reiterated their anti-uranium mining stand and at the same time raised fresh concerns over the construction of mega dams in almost all the states of the Northeastern region.

Speaking to reporters after a consultation meeting here on Wednesday, NEDF consultant P.B.M. Basaiawmoit said, “We have been saying no to uranium mining since 1992, but the recent proposed commercial mining of uranium has accentuated the issue.”

He observed that if uranium is mined in the State it will risk the lives of the people who will bear the same fate

as the victims in Jaduguda in Jharkhand, India’s first uranium mine, who suffered high doses of radiation from toxic wastes emanating from uranium mining.

Speaking on clean energy, Basaiawmoit underlined the need to resort to use of nonconventional sources of energy like solar and wind energy instead of nuclear fuel which poses a grave threat to human lives through radiation.

Echoing Basaiawmoit, Kishore Singh from Manipur said, “The Central government can opt for renewable sources of energy instead of mining uranium to generate energy.”

“The report of the Central Electricity Authority that the

total capacity of renewable energy projects has been expanded to 42,850 MW reveals that India is capable of tapping renewable resources,” he added.

Another member of the Forum from Tripura, Anthony Deb Barma, stated that no impact assessment of uranium mining has been done so far. “People need to be addressed on the impact uranium mining has on the environment as development should not destroy the lives of the people.”

Stating that consent of the people is mandatory, he expressed surprise that the Central government did not find it necessary to seek the consent of the indigenous people.

“The entire North East Region has abundance of resources. Let the people of the North East decide on the future and not the authorities in Delhi.”

The forum also opposed construction of mega dams, observing that dams have affected villages. “Dams have been producing power but people’s land is being taken away.”

In this connection, the forum has shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers in charge of Home Affairs, Tribal Affairs, DoNER, Law, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Power, and also to the governor and chief minister of Meghalaya.

‘Younger generation should imbibe Kalam’s values and principles’ Agencies Shillong, July 28: Home Minister Roshan Warjri has called for inculcating the values of the People’s President (L) Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam among the younger generations.

Speaking at an official function to mark the inauguration of an accidental and injury unit at Bethany Hospital here on Wednesday to commemorate the first death anniversary of (L) Dr. Kalam, Warjri said the former President had a great personality and soul and his life would continue to inspire people through the years to come.

Stating that Dr. Kalam’s life

was a life of struggle, she said that the former President has left behind a legacy which would inspire generations to come.

The minister also added that the People’s President was performing his duties as a teacher till his last breath.

The Home minister also acknowledged the services of the doctors at Bethany Hospital who put in their best effort to revive Dr. Kalam when he was brought to the hospital, even as she added that the doctors, nurses and other staff of the hospital kept themselves composed when attempts were being made to revive Dr. Kalam.

While urging the staff of the hospital to continue their yeoman services in providing medical services to the people of the State, she recalled that on the fateful day last year, two-three patients had been undergoing treatment in the ICU of the hospital along with Dr. Kalam but they were properly looked after by the hospital authorities, despite the ensuing chaos which surfaced after Dr. Kalam was rushed to the hospital from IIM Shillong.

The accidental and injury unit at Bethany Hospital was inaugurated on Wednesday as a mark of re-

2015 at IIM Shillong undoubtedly put the quaint hill state into the limelight for a long time but his death also brought the entire North Eastern region together, observed Prof. Amitabha De, Director, IIM Shillong, on Wednesday.

spect to (L) Dr. Kalam who breathed his last in the same hospital exactly a year ago.

‘Kalam put IIM Shillong on

the world platform’ The demise of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the former Indian President on July 27,

Speaking to reporters at the end of the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Lecture Series, Session 1, held at the State Convention Centre here, Prof.

De said, “His death has connected the entire North East and it is not just about the legacy Dr. Kalam had left behind for the Institute.”

“The students fondly addressed him as Kalam Sir

and undoubtedly he has put the institute onto the world platform,” he added.

The Director informed that there is a proposal to set up a Centre for Excellence called the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis which is a strategic think tank for the development of the North East, in addition to the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Lecture Series which would continue for the next 2-3 years.

In honour of Dr. Kalam, IIM Shillong has initiated the ‘nurturing young minds’ project and the B-School will take another step with

the setting up of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam auditorium housing 800 students with a full bust of (L) Dr. Kalam to be placed in front of the auditorium at the new campus at Umsawli.

Earlier in the day, the first lecture series was delivered

by Manas K. Mandal, distinguished Scientist & Director General – Life Sciences, Defence Research & Development Organization, on the topic “To lead change and the changed way of leading” which revolved around the non-traditional forms of leadership.

He mentioned how late Dr. Kalam had inspired him and the nation as a whole.

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, JULY 29

Bihar court orders FIR against Mayawati, other BSP leaders

BSP president Mayawati Hajipur (Bihar), Jul 28 (PTI) A Vaishali district court today ordered registration of an FIR against BSP president Mayawati and three other party leaders for allegedly making inflammatory speeches last week spreading animosity in the society.

The three other BSP leaders are its national general secretary Nasimuddin Siddiqui, Uttar Pradesh unit president Ram Achal Rajbhar and state secretary Mewa Lal. Chief Judicial Magistrate Jairam Prasad took cognizance of a complaint filed

by Hajipur resident Ajit Singh and directed that an FIR be lodged against the four in Town police station.

The petitioner, through his

advocate, claimed that he felt aggrieved by the inflammatory speeches made by Mayawati and her partymen which have affected unity and integrity of the country.

At a public meeting in Lucknow on July 21, Mayawati instigated her party workers to target expelled BJP leader Dayashankar Singh's mother, wife and daughter during a protest in the wake of Singh's unsavoury remarks against the BSP chief, the petitioner alleged.

They case was lodged against them under various Sections of the IPC including 153(a) (promoting enmity between groups), 295(a) (deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 120(b) (criminal conspiracy), and POSCO Act.

SC critical of magistrate ordering probe in Rahul case New Delhi, Jul 27 (PTI) The Supreme Court was today critical of the trial court in Maharashtra asking the cops to probe the criminal defamation complaint lodged against Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for his remarks allegedly accusing RSS for assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

The apex court said "prima facie the procedure of taking cognizance by the judicial magistrate is erroneous" as police has no role in a private criminal defamation case and it cannot register an FIR. It said magistrates cannot ask the police to investigate a private criminal defamation complaint as it is the complainant who needs to prove the case.

The remarks finding fault with the trial court order comes a week after the same bench of Justices Dipak Misra and R F Nariman had said that Gandhi should not have resorted to "collective denunciation" of an organisation (RSS) and will have to face trial if he does not express regret.

Gandhi, facing a defamation complaint for his remarks allegedly accusing RSS for assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, has sought its quashing from the apex court.

"If the process of taking cognizance is erroneous then the matter can be re-

manded back but not for the ambitious plea of quashing," the bench observed.

Today, the bench at the outset, referred to an earlier judgement delivered on a batch of pleas, including the one filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and Gandhi each, challenging the constitutional validity of penal defamation law and said that police cannot be asked by judicial magistrates to probe a private defamation complaint.

"We have said in the Subramanium Swamy case that the police has no role in private criminal complaints...whatever has to be established, it has to be established by the man (complainant) himself. The magistrates cannot call for a report from the police," the bench said.

It asked senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Congress leader, to read relevant portions of the judgemnent, penned by Justice Misra, in the Subramanian Swamy case, dealing with the power of police and magistrates in criminal defamation cases.

"Police has no role in criminal defamation. It cannot lodge an FIR and a Magistrate cannot seek a inquiry report from police under sections 156 (3) and 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The Magistrate has to himself make inquiry into the allegations...this is altogether a different process," it said.

'India should not lag behind Curfew lifted from Kashmir except Anantnag town in outer space mining' IANS Kolkata, July 28: With the US wanting to press ahead with asteroid mining and unlock resources of the moon, India will lag behind if it does not seize the outer space mining opportunity, said a TIFAC official here on Thursday.

Prabhat Ranjan, Executive Director of Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), said the potential exploitation of moon and asteroids as a mineral resource can be a "big game changer".

"Moon is already being seen as a mineral wealth and further one can go up to the asteroids and start exploiting this. This can be a big game changer and if India doesn't do this, we will lag behind," Ranjan told reporters.

He was speaking on the sidelines of a seminar on 'Technology Thrusts on

Materials and Manufacturing Sector in India' at the Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, which is part of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

The maiden roadmap on 'Materials', a part of TIFAC's Technology Vision 2035, was launched during the inaugural.

"According a NASA estimate, the amount of mineral wealth re sident in the asteroid belt (between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter) would be equivalent to US$100 billion dollar per person on earth," Ranjan said.

"In the next 10 to 15 years, we expect that outer space would be exploited for mineral wealth and India should not lag behind. We will provide these inputs to various government bodies. We will tell them what lies ahead in the future."

The US is poised to approve

the first commercial space mission beyond the Earth's orbit, paving the way for a space startup co-founded by an Indian-origin entrepreneur to go ahead with its proposed Moon mission.

The government's endorsement would make way for Moon Express, a relatively obscure space startup cofounded by Naveen Jain, to land a roughly nine-kg package of scientific hardware on the Moon sometime next year.

The formal approval, which could be months away, may also pave the way for potential commercial space tourism and asteroid mining ventures.

"Whoever goes and exploits first would start to gain that wealth. (Going by) The discussion I had with them they would want to see if they can see if India's rockets can be used for it," said Ranjan.

Rajnath Singh to visit Pakistan for SAARC Home Ministers' meeting in August ANI New Delhi, July 28: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Pakistan to attend the meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation's (SAARC) Home/Interior Ministers on August 3 and 4.

Sources, meanwhile, said the Home Minister will raise the issue of cross-border terrorism at the meeting.

At the 13th SAARC Summit held in Dhaka in November 2005, the Heads of State decided that the SAARC Interior/Home Ministers would meet annually preceded by a meeting of the Interior/Home Secretaries to strengthen cooperation in the area of counterterrorism, which they agreed was a challenge to

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh all states and a threat to humanity, and could not be justified on any grounds.

The first meeting of

SAARC Interior/Home Ministers was held in Dhaka on May 11, 2006, followed by a meeting in New Delhi in 2007.

India keen to deepen cultural ties with Australia: Suri Melbourne, Jul 28 (PTI) India is keen on deepening its cultural relations with Australia which would create "greater understanding" between the two countries, the Indian High Commissioner here has said.

Stressing on the power of cultural and public diplomacy, Navdeep Suri said, "if we were to think IndiaAustralia relations can only be done at government levels, we will be missing major opportunities".

"The impact of culture in bringing people together and in creating greater understanding was the need of the hour when the two sides were enjoying a reasonably trouble free relationship," Suri said while holding the media launch of the 'Confluence - The Festival of India' event here yesterday.

"My belief is that it produces a reservoir of goodwill, understanding which will stand us in good stead

attend the 70th regular session of the United Nations' Board of Auditors.

"Sharma, along with auditor generals of Tanzania Mussa Juma Assad and the United Kingdom Amyas Morse, approved and signed 11 UN Audit reports on Thursday, as approved by the Board,"

Srinagar, July 28 (PTI) Curfew was today lifted from across Kashmir, barring Anantnag town, following improvement in situation, a day after it was reimposed in parts of the Valley to thwart a separatist march to Kulgam district.

"There is no curfew anywhere in the Valley except Anantnag town of south Kashmir," a police official said.

He said the restrictions on movement of people have been lifted in view of the improving situation.

"The situation throughout the Valley remained peaceful and under control yesterday. There was no report of any untoward incident from anywhere in the Valley," the official said.

Yesterday, the authorities re-imposed curfew in entire Kulgam district and Anantnag town as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.

Curfew had also been imposed in five police station areas of Srinagar city -Khanyar, Rainawari, Maharaj Gunj, Safa Kadal and Nowhatta -- while restrictions were imposed on

assembly of four or more persons in jurisdiction of Maisuma and Kralkhud police stations.

However, the official said, there were no restrictions in the city today.

The postpaid mobile telephony services have been restored across all networks in the Valley where 47 persons have died in violent clashes between protesters and security forces following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

The incoming facility on prepaid connections has also been restored, but the outgoing calls are barred on such numbers, the official said.

He said no decision yet has been taken on the resumption of mobile internet services in the Valley.

Meanwhile, normal life remained paralysed for the 20th consecutive day today in view of the strike called by the separatist camp.

Schools, colleges and business establishments remained closed due to the strike while public transport remained off roads. Attendance in government offices was very thin, the official said.

Two policemen were among those killed in the violence while 5,500 people, including over 3,000 security personnel, have been injured.

Indicators of Parkinson's disease found in fat tissue

when this relations gets buffeted by some unexpected events," he said.

Following a major Australian festival "Oz fest" which was held in 2012, Indian government is now unveiling a 12-week long event 'Confluence Festival of India' across seven cities of Australia.

Suri said there was a similar programme compiled by Australian government for India.

The Festival of India programme would run from August to November this year showcasing rich and diverse dance, music, theatre and visual arts from India across Australia.

It would also include conferences and workshops on traditional and contemporary Indian culture and its confluence with Australia.

Melbourne alone will host at least 15 performances from some of the renowned

Indian artists and groups like Nirtyagram, Kalashetra Foundation, Pung Cholom, the Ishara International Puppet Trust and Raghu Dixit Project, Sonam Kalra and The Sufi Gospel Project and The Company Theatre's Piya Behrupiya.

The events will take place at some of the iconic sites of Australia like Sydney Opera house, Melbourne's Federation square and Melbourne Recital centre, Perth Concert Hall, Elizabthe Quay in Perth.

"Festival of India in Australia contain several projects, performances and workshops that include both traditional and contemporary arts and provide a merge of Indian creativity which has been exposed globally," said Indian Consul General Manika Jain.

The festival will be run across Melbourne, Sydney, Alice springs, Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth.

CAG signs 11 UN audit reports at New York headquarters PTI New Delhi, July 28: Comptroller and Auditor General Shashi Kant Sharma, along with auditor generals of other countries, on Thursday, signed 11 United Nations (UN) Audit reports.

Sharma is at UN Headquarters in New York to

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Shashi Kant Sharma

the CAG office said in a release issued from here.

These reports will be presented to the General Assembly of the UN and other governing bodies.

The reports cover important UN bodies like UNICEF, UNDP, UNHCR, UN-WOMEN, UNOPS and UN Headquarters, among others.

IANS New York, July 28: Tiny changes in DNA that have been linked to Parkinson's, the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's, can be found not only in brain cells, where they are expected, but also in liver, fat, immune and developmental cells, says a study.

These findings may one day contribute to the development of preventative interventions before the disease's effects become pronounced.

"When we looked at the data, we were quite surprised to see the variation in tissue types," said Gerry Coetzee, the study's corresponding author and professor at Van Andel Research Institute (VARI)in Grand Rapids in Michigan, US. "Ultimately, if we can more precisely define risk factors

for Parkinson's, we can develop ways to mitigate them early on. We still have a long way to go but these findings are some of the first steps down that path," said Coetzee.

Although these DNA changes, called singlenucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), are very small, an accumulation of enough SNPs can significantly heighten a person's risk of developing Parkinson's.

While scientists know that five to 10 per cent of Parkinson's cases are passed down genetically through families, they are still determining what's behind the majority of cases.

The prevailing theory is a mix of genetic and environmental factors create a perfect storm, leading to the hallmark clumping of abnormal proteins that spread

through the brain, killing cells that produce a chemical called dopamine that is vital for voluntary movement.

Using information from Roadmap Epigenomics Mapping Consortium as a guide, Coetzee and other researchers analysed 21 of these risk areas, called loci, in 77 cell types.

Of these, the team found 12 loci across several tissue types that were particularly enriched--or full of SNPS indicating an increase in risk.

Intriguingly, only one locus was identified in the substantia nigra, the part of the brain where dopamine-producing neurons die.

Other loci were found in liver, fat, immune and developmental cells, showed the study published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Obama says ready to pass baton to 'most qualified' Hillary Philadelphia, Jul 28 (PTI) Barack Obama today made a powerful endorsement of Hillary Clinton as the next US president, saying no one including himself was ever more qualified than his former secretary of state, as Democrats united against "homegrown demagogues" like Republican rival Donald Trump who sell "fear and cynicism".

The two-time president, also the first black to have occupied the top post, said he was "ready to pass the baton" to his rival in 2008 as he painted an optimistic picture of an "already great nation".

"I can say with confidence there has never been a man or a woman -- not me, not Bill (Clinton), nobody -more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president of the United States of America," Obama said amid deafening cheers from thousands of delegates and guests packed into a sports arena here.

In his 45-minute fiery

speech, the most high-profile in the ongoing Democratic national convention, Obama asked Americans to shun "cynicism and fear" being propagated by the 70-year-old reality TV star.

"And now I'm ready to pass the baton and do my part as a private citizen. So this year, in this election, I'm asking you to join me, to reject cynicism and reject fear and to summon what is best in us; to elect Hillary Clinton as the next president of the United States and show the world we still believe in the promise of this great nation," he said.

Obama, 54, said the November 8 presidential elections were a "fundamental choice" about what the country is and the very "meaning of our democracy", and "not just a choice between parties or policies; the usual debates between left and right."

He endorsed 68-year-old Clinton, who had served as the secretary of state under his presidency, for having

a first- hand knowledge of the challenges that come with the job and contrasted it with the lack of experience of the Republican nominee - a non-politician.

"You know, nothing truly prepares you for the demands of the Oval Office.

Until you've sat at that desk, you don t know what it's like to manage a global crisis, or send young people to war. But Hillary's been in the room; she's been part of those decisions.

"He (Trump) is not really a plans guy. Not really a facts guy, either. He calls himself a business guy, which is true, but I have to say, I know plenty of businessmen and women who've achieved success without leaving a trail of lawsuits, and unpaid workers, and people feeling like they got cheated," he said.

The third day of the convention also witnessed Vice President Joe Biden making an emotional valedictory speech and Clinton's running mate Virginia Senator Tim Kaine formally nominated as the vice presidential candidate.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, JULY 29

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NEIGHBOURS

22 die as rain, floods batter KP, Punjab Lahore, July 28: At least 22 people were killed and over 60 others injured as widespread downpour and flash floods wreaked havoc in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab on Wednesday.

The Pakistan Meteorolo-gical Department issued an alert for glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in Chitral district and asked the authorities concerned to adopt precautionary measures.

On July 2, flash floods claimed 29 lives in Chitral.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said in a statement that three people lost their lives in Abbottabad and two in Upper Dir in rain-related incidents. Three people were injured in the two districts. It said two houses in Haripur and one residential quarter in Abbottabad collapsed.

Flash floods killed a man and his wife near Shamlay Kali in Battagram district.

According to officials, the couple was crossing a watercourse when a violent current swept them away.

Local people recovered their bodies.

The Met office said widespread rains lashed Mala-kand, Hazara, Peshawar and Mardan divisions while southern parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and its adjacent tribal areas received light rains.

Abbottabad town received 90mm of rainfall, Malam Jabba — a tourist resort in

Shanghai proposes strict smoking ban IANS Beijing, July 28: Shanghai, China's first municipality to pass legislation on tobacco controls, on Thursday proposed a stricter smoking bans at hotels, restaurants, airports and other public venues.

Under a draft revision to the city's tobacco control rule that took effect in March 2010, smoking will be prohibited in all indoor areas of hotels, restaurants, airports, railway stations and ports.

Municipal legislators reviewed the bill on Thursday at a session of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai People's Congress, Xinhua news agency reported.

The amendment would ban smoking in outdoor audience seating and performance venues, cultural heritage sites and waiting areas for public transportation.

China has 316 million smokers, with another 740 million exposed to passive smoking.

In 2015, about 733,000 Chinese were diagnosed with smoking-related lung cancer.

18 militants killed in Afghanistan IANS Kabul, July 28: At least 18 militants were killed and 17 others injured when security forces raided Taliban positions in Afghanistan's Dasht-e-Archi district, an official said on Thursday.

According to the official, the security forces backed by aircrafts attacked Taliban hideouts on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Over 20 militants were also arrested in Saripul Province, the official added.

Swat district — 44mm, Pesha-war 20mm, Risalpur 21mm, Cherat 19mm, Kohat 2mm, Saidu Sharif 9mm, Dir 9mm and Pattan 18mm. Heavy rains brought the temperature down in the region, but Peshawar experienced an extremely humid weather.

Five people, two women among them, died and 17 others suffered injuries when a passenger van plunged into a deep ravine in the Nakka Kalley area of Orakzai agency. The van going to Hangu from Sattarsam skidded during heavy rain while negotiating a sharp turn. The injured were taken to the Civil Hospital.

Floodwater in Wari sub-division of Upper Dir swept away a boy and a girl. According to Wari police, three children, identified as Talha, Khuzeefa and Saad

Khan, were on their way home from a bazaar in the area. They were crossing a stream when the floodwater swept them away. Local residents, however, succeeded in rescuing Saad.

The bodies of the other two were later recovered.

Sahibabad police recovered the body of a girl who drowned in a stream in Narhand Khwar area. The body was shifted to Wari hospital for identification.

Life was paralysed in Abbottabad district, where three people were killed and three others injured in rainrelated incidents. Damage to properties was also reported in parts of Galiyat and Abbottabad city. Power supply was disrupted in different areas of the district.

Roof of the house of one Mohammad Yousaf caved in, killing his two sons — 12-year-old Ihsanullah and

seven-year-old Imranullah.

His wife Zulekha Bibi was taken to the DHQ Hospital, Abbottabad, with injuries Fifteen-year-old Noor Bibi was buried alive after the roof of her house collapsed in Lora area.

It started raining on Tuesday night and continued till Wednesday afternoon. Several houses collapsed in Bilal Town, Hassan Town, PMA Kakul road, Sethi Masjid locality and Narian area.

Heavy rain lashed northeast Punjab from Lahore to Rawalpindi, leaving seven people dead and 38 others wounded.

Regional tributaries of River Chenab swelled after the rainfall in the Sialkot region. The Met department forecast medium to high flood in the region over the next 24 hours. A peak of high to very high flood is

expected in River Jhelum [upstream Mangla] and medium to high in River Chenab during this period.

Rain was caused by the combination of a westerly wave and very strong monsoon current penetrating upper and central parts of the country up to 7,000 feet.

Heavy to moderate rain was also reported from some cities in Azad Kashmir.

The worst hit was Gujranwala where the Met department reported a record 199mm of rain by 8pm. Its highest-ever recorded rain in a single day is 130mm and monthly average 200mm.

Four people were killed in Sialkot and two in Gujrat in rain-related incidents. Over 20 people were injured in the two cities and in Gujranwala.

One person was killed and 18 others were injured in rain-related incidents in Rawalpindi. Naeem Raza, a 35-year-old poultry worker, died after the roof of his room collapsed during heavy downpour. Fifteen passengers were injured when a tree fell on a Mansehra-bound bus near Rawat.

According to the Met department, Gujrat received 158mm of rain (also a record), Sialkot (Cantt 123mm, airport 110mm), Rawalpindi (Chaklala 88mm, Shamsabad 84), Islamabad (Golra 88mm, Z.P. 85mm, Bokra 60mm, Saidpur 33mm), Jhelum

77mm, Mangla 74mm, Murree 56mm, Mandi Bahauddin 55mm, Joharabad 54mm, Sargodha 49mm, Chakwal 29mm and Kakul 79mm.

Rain lashed Lahore in the late afternoon after dark clouds created premature darkness. Streets turned into rivulets, especially in the downtown where rain was heavy than in other parts of the city.

Inundated roads unleashed traffic jams and travelling by the dug route of the Metro train was hazardous.

Power supply was another major victim of rain. The Met office recorded 68mm of rain in Misri Shah, 60mm at Lakshmi Chowk and 35mm in Gulberg.

The Met department forecast rain-thunderstorm accompanied by gusty winds with isolated heavy falls at a number of places in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha, Faisalabad and Sahiwal divisions, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Fata and Kashmir on Thursday and Friday. Scattered rain was also expected in Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Zhob, Kalat, Nasirabad, Mirpurkhas and Sukkur divisions and GilgitBaltistan.

The expected heavy downpour may cause flash floods and landslides in the vulnerable areas of Punjab, KP, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.

New cybercrime bill still far from perfect Islamabad, July 28: The version of the cybercrime bill tabled before the Senate on Wednesday still includes most of the provisions that have been criticised as ‘draconian’ attempts to crack down on citizens’ freedom of expression and their ability to access information.

However, the new draft of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill (PECB) 2015 does take into account a number of suggestions relating to toughening up certain areas of the law.

The fresh draft has incorporated these offences, as well as a separate section on ‘hate speech’, as subsections of Section 10, which deals with ‘Cyber-terrorism’. But civil society

groups are not satisfied with what changes have been made.

The bill takes a stern view of offences against the modesty of minors, incorporating harsh sentences for those who attempt to entice, blackmail or portray minors in sexually explicit situations, even more so than the punishment prescribed for similar crimes committed against adults.

The law still allows the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to enforce its version of the defamation ordinance, as section 18 of the bill, dealing with ‘Offences against dignity of a natural person’, is still a part of the bill.

However, under subsection (4) of section 34, which

deals with ‘Unlawful online content’, aggrieved parties will be allowed to file review applications with the authority within 30 days to seek undoing of any order passed by it.

There are certain changes to the law that have been made keeping in mind the unique nature of the medium that the law seeks to regulate.

“There is no international criminal regime with regards to cybercrime, so the lack of an implementation mechanism will render this section nearly unenforceable,” said Mr Ijaz, who is also the Pakistan representative for Human Rights Watch.

In addition, under section 26, which deals with ‘Establishment of investigation

NAB arrests former Quetta nazim Islamabad, July 28: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday arrested former nazim of Quetta, Maqbool Lehri, after the Balochistan High Court (BHC) cancelled his bail.

Lehri was arrested from the high court's premises and presented to an accountability court, which sent him on judicial remand. The former

nazim was then shifted to District Jail Quetta.

Earlier, Lehri's counsel had requested that on account of his client's poor health, he be shifted to the jail ward of Civil Hospital Quetta.

But the court instead directed the concerned authorities to provide Lehri medical facilities in jail.

Lehri was accused of mis-

using his power to make illegal allotments in various parts of Quetta.

NAB had launched an inquiry against him in 2007 and filed a reference in an accountability court in 2014.

A NAB spokesman claims Lehri inflicted loss of Rs7.9 million to the national exchequer during his time as nazim.

Pakistani drug convict in Indonesia seeks government's help IANS Islamabad, July 28: Pakistan national Zulfiqar Ali, who is facing imminent execution in Indonesia after being convicted of drug-related charges in a controversial trial, has seeked help from the government to delay his sentence, a media report said on Thursday.

"Kill me 10 times if I'm found guilty. I'm ready for it. But if I'm innocent then please spare my life," Zulfiqar told Dawn online.

"We leave our country only to make lives of our family better. We don't go to other countries to get involved in criminal activities."

On Wednesday evening, the Attorney General of Indonesia

announced the death penalty would be applied to 13 men and one woman as a punishment for drug-related crimes, EFE news reported.

The executions could take place as early as Friday.

Among the death row inmates comprises Ali, four Indonesians, including the woman, six Nigerians, a Zimbabwean, an Indian, and a South African.

Ali urged the Pakistan government to take up his case with the Indonesian authorities.

Zulfiqar believed that his execution could still be put on hold if both the governments take up the matter on embassy level, Dawn online reported.

Zulfiqar, 52, is the only brother

to six sisters. He has been languishing in Indonesian jails for 12 years, and was the sole breadwinner for his family.

He was arrested in November 2004 in connection with a 300gram heroine case in Jakarta, Dawn online added.

Indonesian Ambassador Iwan Suyudhie Amri was also summoned to the Foreign Office over the expected execution.

After restarting the death penalty last year, Indonesia has planned to execute 16 prisoners this year and up to 30 in 2017.

As of June, some 152 inmates in prisons nationwide are awaiting execution, according to Indonesian authorities.

agency’, a new stipulation has been added: “The investigation agency shall establish its own capacity for forensic analysis of the data or information systems and the forensic analysis reports generated by the investigation agency shall not be inadmissible in evidence before any court for the sole reason that such reports were generated by the investigation agency.”

While on the face of it, it seems that both the functions of investigation and prosecution have been handed over to the same agency – ostensibly the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) – and their reports have been deemed admissible in court, Saroop Ijaz maintains things are more

complicated than that.

In his opinion, there was nothing in this section that restrained a judge from exercising his discretion regarding the admissibility of evidence.

When the draft bill was tabled in the Senate on Wednesday, journalists in the press gallery protested and walked out to register their dissatisfaction with the law, which in their view seeks to curtail journalistic freedom.

But although IT Minister Anusha Rehman tried to placate them by saying that the bill expressly excludes both electronic and print media outlets, there are still stipulations in the bill that can hamper journalistic practices.

US confirms scribe jailed by China is US citizen Beijing, Jul 28 (AP) US diplomats have not been granted permission by China to meet with James Wang, a jailed magazine publisher and naturalized American citizen, since his 2014 arrest in southern China, the Obama administration said.

A court in Shenzhen this week sentenced Wang, also known as Wang Jianmin, to five years in prison on charges of running an illegal business, bribery and collusion after he sent copies of his sensitive political magazine to mainland China.

State Department spokesman John Kirby said the US was not permitted to attend Wang's trial and will continue to request visits.

Wang's lawyer Chen Nansha said today that Wang might not appeal the verdict. Wang also holds

residency in Hong Kong a semiautonomous Chinese territory and last entered China with his Hong Kong identity card before his arrest, Chen said.

China does not recognize dual citizenship and likely tried Wang as a Chinese citizen, particularly as he entered the country with Chinese documents.

Wang, along with editor Guo Zhongxiao, who was also arrested in mainland China in 2014, published New Way Monthly and Faces, two journals that often delved into high-level Communist Party intrigue.

Their arrests and convictions, following the temporary disappearance of five Hong Kong booksellers, has raised questions about Hong Kong's status as a free press haven and has cast a chill over the territory's free-wheeling political book trade.

15 Sri Lankan students awarded Chinese scholarships Xinhua Colombo, July 28: Fifteen Sri Lankan students will go to China to further their studies after being awarded Chinese Government Scholarships, a Sri Lankan official said on Thursday in Colombo.

The 15 students, selected from some 1,000 applicants, have been nominated to receive the postgraduate or undergraduate scholarships, in the fields of science, arts, management, medicine and engineering, D. C. Dissanayake, secretary of the Sri Lankan Higher Education & Highways Ministry, said in a speech introducing the general situation of the scholarship, after awarding the scholarships to the students at a ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka.

According to Dissanayake,

these students will spend over five years in China on average in Peking University, Zhejiang University and others.

"I would like to mention here that the selection process was done in a fair and transparent way and the selected candidates are the most suitable and qualified people among the applicants," said Dissanayake.

Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang also attended the ceremony and jointly awarded scholarships to the students. China will extend full support to Sri Lanka in all fields including education, Yi said.

"The 15 of you are a team of ambassadors, a diplomatic corps in China. You will promote friendship and cooperation between the two sides," Yi said at the ceremony.

Campaign planned to protect Great Wall

Death penalty upheld for six Bangladeshi militants IANS Dhaka, July 28: Death sentences awarded to six militants were upheld on Thursday over the deadly bombings in 2005 at a Bangladeshi court that killed eight people including four lawyers.

The High Court Division bench delivered the verdict. The six militants, Enayet Ullah, Arifur Rahman, Saidur Rahman Munsi, Abdullah Al Sohain, Nizam Uddin Reza and Taibur Rahman Hassan, were affiliated with the banned Jama'atul M u j a h i d e e n Bangladesh (JMB), Xinhua news agency reported.

two.

According to case details, the gang detonated bombs at a Bar Association office at the Gazipur court premises on November 29, 2005.

The blasts killed the association's General Secretary Amzad Hossain, lawyers Golam Faruque, Nurul Huda and Anwarul Azim as well as four clients.

A speedy trial tribunal in June 2013 sentenced 10 JMB operatives to death.

The JMB, which seeks Islamic rule in Bangladesh, carried out a series of bomb attacks in 63 of the country's 64 The bench also ordered districts, including life imprisonment to Dhaka, on August 17, two others and acquitted 2005.

The Great Wall of China Xinhua Beijing, July 28: THE State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH) will launch a campaign to crack down on criminal damage to the Great Wall.

The campaign will involve regular inspections and random checks on protection efforts by authorities in 15 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.

The SACH will open a special tip line for information about violations and damage to the Great Wall from the public.

Built from the third century BC to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Great Wall stretches over 21,000 kilometers from the northwestern province of Gansu to north China’s Hebei Province.

According to SACH statistics, about 30 percent of a

6,200km section of the wall built in the Ming Dynasty has disappeared, and less than 10 percent is considered well-preserved.

The Great Wall has faced threats from both nature and humans. Earthquakes, rain, wind and other natural elements have left the wall with many decayed and crumbling bricks.

Human activities, such as reckless development by some governments and theft of bricks by villagers for use as building materials, as well as agriculture near the wall, have damaged the landmark, according to research by the China Great Wall Society.

A lack of protection efforts in remote regions and a weak plan for protection have also contributed to the damage, the society added.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, JULY 29

Under Flood Namsai among worst affected Flood can be termed as a major problem which hits Diyun area in Changlang every year. According to a report from East Siang district, the flood situation continued to remain grim in Pasighat. Torrential rain has thrown life out of gear and submerged different parts of the century-old township. Sibokorong and Siang rivers were flowing above the danger level.

The week-long rains have also left a trail of devastation in Lohit district, even as the rivers Asapani, Sukha, Denning, Tezu Khola and Dhura have slightly receded. The flood situation in Arunachal Pradesh continue to remain grim with more than 20,000 people from 32 villages affected and submerging about 3,500 hectares of agricultural fields in Namsai district alone. The district is among the worst affected as new villages are submerged by the rising waters of the Noa-Dihing, Tengapani and Jengthu rivers with the all three flowing around the danger level. Flood waters also suspended plying of vehiclse on the NH-52.

Whereas at Namsai, the worst-affected district, worsened with reports of fresh areas being inundated

by Noa Dehing, Tengapani and Jengthu rivers which were flowing above the danger mark. Under Chongkham circle too the water level of the Lohit, Kamlang, Berreng, Tengapani rivers and its tributaries are rapidly increasing. The worst affected areas are Gunanagar, Alubari, Injo, Insa, Pangkhao and Kherem. The floods have also caused massive erosion of the river banks and damaged the cultivated lands, paddy fields, tea gardens, horticultural fields, livestocks. Most of the roads have been severely damaged and several areas were cut off due to washing away of culverts. Supply of electricity

was snapped as electric poles were uprooted by soil erosion in Lekang circle. Movement of vehicles on NH-52 has been suspended due to flood water which has weakened two culverts. Around 3,500 hectares of agriculture field, 115 fish ponds were totally submerged and damaged by flood water in the district. 250 cattle, 400 pigs, 200 goats and 2,000 poultry birds have died or washed away, an official report said. Most of the inter-village roads, villagecircle HQs roads are also severely damaged and cut off due to washing away of culverts. Supply of electricity has taken a hit as power supply in five districts of eastern Arunachal is completely disconnected. However, the district administration is continuously monitoring the situation and preparing all contingency plans. The general administration along with Disaster Management department, NDRF, CRPF, HoDs, women organizations, youth volunteers and PR leaders are providing their services round the clock.

Although all essential commodities like food, blankets, tarpaulins, mosquito nets, bath towel and torch lights are being provided. Mobile medical teams are regularly attending the patients in affected areas and giving required medicines.

It is known to everybody that the recent floods is not lesser than a disaster. The loss caused by floods is not very easy to be assessed.

It is only after the flood recedes that one is in position to evaluate the actual loss as the after effects are numerous to be counted.

However the most dangerous and obnoxious aftereffect is the fear of spread of some epidemic for which the Govt has to come into action by arranging medicines and tablets to avoid the water borne diseases.

India inks $1-billion deal Giant Boeing for four P-8I submarine hunter planes India inked a deal with US defence and aerospace giant Boeing for four P-8I submarine hunter planes.

With long-range surveillance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, taking the total value of arms contracts signed with the US to over $15 billion in the last 10 years. The four new P-8I aircraft, packed with radars and weapons, will join the first eight such aircraft inducted by the Navy between May 2013 and October 2015 under a $2.1 billion deal inked in 2009.

Under the new deal, the first P-8I aircraft will be delivered to the Navy within three years. The Navy is using the first eight P-8Is, armed with deadly Harpoon Block-II missiles, MK-54 lightweight torpedoes, rockets and depth charges, to keep an "intelligent hawk-eye" over the entire Indian Ocean Region, which has witnessed stepped-up Chinese submarine forays over the last two years. With an operating range of 1,200 nautical miles, "with four hours on station", the P-8Is provide the reach and flexibility to undertake extensive maritime surveillance and intelligence-gathering missions. The contract is a follow-on order to eight P-81 planes already bought by India in a deal worth $2.1 billion. The P-8I fleet is

being augmented to further improve the Indian Navy's anti-submarine and antisurface warfare capabilities. The follow-on order for the P-8I, a military derivative of Boeing's 737800 commercial aircraft, is worth over $ 1 billion. The planes will provide strategic blue water and littoral undersea warfare capabilities as well as armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to the navy.

The planes, a replacement for the Soviet-era Tu-142 fleet, are expected to be in naval service beyond 2050. The P-8I is the Indian Navy variant of the P8A Poseidon that Boeing has developed for the US Navy.

The underbelly of the dual-cockpit plane, capable of high rates of descent and short-field landings, has a bomb bay for torpedoes and launching tubes for sonar listening buoys. It can carry missiles, bombs and mines. The P-8Is, which are based at the naval airbase INS Rajali at Arakkonam (Tamil Nadu), are also been extensively used in the ongoing massive hunt for the missing AN-32 aircraft, which went down in the Bay of Bengal with 29 people on board on July 22.

PAGE 8

Is There an Alliance Between ISIS and India's Maoists?

A closer look at reports of a link between ISIS and Naxals Uddipan Mukherjee The question of a tactical alliance between the Indian Maoists and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is perhaps no longer irrelevant. On July 19, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) submitted in a charge sheet before a special court in Delhi that ISIS was planning to procure weapons from the Maoists in order to carry out terror strikes.

However, on April 27, India's minister of state for home affairs had intimated to Rajya Sabha, India's upper house, that there is no nexus between ISIS and India's various Naxal groups, even as far as training and seeking weapons from the Naxalites are concerned.

Interestingly, Abhinav Pandya speculated in The Quint on July 10 that there was a growing possibility of Bangladesh and West Bengal based jihadis joining hands with the Maoists in the Red Corridor to destabilize India. The author nevertheless did not provide any cogent evidence to substantiate his conjecture.

This is, however, not the first time that a possible nexus between foreign elements and the Indian Maoists has been highlighted. In an analysis for Stratfor, Ben West on November 18, 2010 reported an alleged meeting between the Maoists and members of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). In his report, West referred to top police authorities in the state of Chhattisgarh saying

ISIS and the power of terror (Photo: cdn.turner) that two LeT operatives had attended a Naxalite meeting in April or May 2010. It is noteworthy that West was cautious enough to mention that Stratfor was yet to see significant changes on the ground which would lend any credence to the scenario of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) colluding with the Maoists.

Though direct evidence of ISI-Maoist collaboration has been hard to discern, the unholy influence of ISI as a third-party entrant through the northeastern gateway of India is quite plausible.

There exists direct linkage between Maoists and the northeastern terrorist/insurgent outfits like the Paresh Baruah-led faction of United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) or Manipur's People's Liberation Army, which in turn would have had no qualms in seeking financial and logistical help from ISI. In late 2014, however, the

Maoists spoke out against the state authorities linking Naxalites with the ISI. They have even accused the government of trying to hatch a "conspiracy" to establish their links with Islamist extremists and Pakistan's ISI. That reaction from Maoists is only natural.

First, the Maoists, as guerrilla fighters, lead the life of a fish in the sea of people. A nexus with antinational, communal, and terrorist forces like ISI or ISIS or al-Qaeda, if established, is sure to tarnish their credibility as secular, communist revolutionaries. The masses in the rural and tribal heartlands may lose faith in the left-wing ultras because of their alleged association with unpopular forces. In this manner, the Maoists would jeopardize their source of nourishment, which by all means they would not desire.

Second, the Maoists are bound to lose the ideological support of intellectuals

if any perceivable partnership with the ISIS terror mongers is found. The extreme left-wingers would hardly be willing to risk this either.

Third, the fundamental ideology of the Maoists is an antithesis to the basic doctrine of purely communal-terrorist forces like ISIS. Marxism-LeninismMaoism focuses on class conflict and loathes religious discourse as a "poor man's opium." Jihad as advocated by ISIS is infinitely distant from the ideational position of the Maoists.

Though the age-old adage of "my enemy's enemy is my friend" still holds ground in the postmodern age of geo-economics, Maoists would in all probability interpret the saying in conjunction with reality.

The Maoists are bound to experience an existential threat if they form an alliance with either ISI or the deadlier ISIS, even if as

some analysts may term that as "tactical alliance." After all, they have always upheld their presence in the subcontinent as indigenous insurgent group, born out of lack of governance and consequent exploitation on the tribes and backward castes by the bourgeoisiecomprador sections.

It is a fact that the Maoists have tendered vocal support to the Kashmir insurgency, to the extent of the right to self-determination of the people of the region. Further, they have also expressed philosophical support to the balkanization of the country if required to meet the aspiration of the people. But it would be indeed ludicrous for them to come out hand-in-glove with an anti-people fundamentalist terrorist network like ISIS. Does this mean that Maoist-ISIS tactical alliance is a non-starter?

ISIS operatives in India can always contemplate joining hands with the Maoists, since for them it would be a beneficial situation in terms of logistics, arms, ammunition, and training. It is also a fact that any arms or logistics supply deal with ISIS would financially embolden the Maoists, who at present are very much under pressure from the security forces and would find any monetary transaction as oxygen for their "new democratic revolution." But it is unlikely that the Politburo and the Central Committee of the Maoist hierarchy would acquiesce to such financial greed.

However, the administra-

tive grip of the core leadership on the fringe groups located in various parts of the country is not guaranteed. Hence a tactical alliance of ISIS operatives with fringe Maoist elements or breakaway factions consisting of lumpen cadres always remain a possibility.

There is, however, one issue on which the Maoists find common ground with ISIS, and that is an insurrection against the perceived imperialistic juggernaut of the United States. But it is noteworthy to quote what current Maoist General Secretary Ganapathy had to say in that regard: "Islamic jihadist movements have two aspects: one is their anti-imperialist aspect, and the other their reactionary aspect in social and cultural matters. Our party supports the struggle of Muslim countries and people against imperialism, while criticizing and struggling against the reactionary ideology and social outlook of Muslim fundamentalism."

The upshot is clear and obvious. A Maoist-ISI connection may still be in the cards through the northeastern insurgent outfits, with the latter being an armscum-logistics supplier, but a Maoist-ISIS tactical alliance is simply not a marriage of convenience for the Maoists. It goes against their very basic principles and theoretical standpoint.

Nevertheless, if any cooperation of that nature occurs in the future, then the fourdecade-old insurgency would provide its weakest faรงade to the security forces for final demolition. Courtesy: The diplomat

Curfew in Kashmir, poor infrastructure put cancer patients at greater risk Subhojit Goswami Prolonged curfew in Kashmir is preventing cancer patients from receiving chemotherapy treatments and other palliative care. Heavy restriction on traveling prevented hundreds of cancer patients from visiting Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) last week. According to media report, 120 out of the 600 patients, who were scheduled to receive therapy, could not reach the SKIMS because of severe curbs. It is only after the hospital staff worked beyond official hours that 80 other patients received treatment, that too, after their due dates.

Plight of the patients It is rare for cancer patients to skip their scheduled therapies, be it chemotherapy, radiotherapy or other forms of treatment. Patients from far off places, especially in north

Kashmir, are finding it difficult to reach hospitals, thus missing therapy sessions. It puts the patients at a greater risk because the treatment cycle is upset. Even those who have been recommended anti-cancer drugs can't administer them at home since treatment cycles need proper follow-up.

Moreover, the number of patients visiting the oncology OPD has reduced by one-third of what is expected on normal days. SKIMS has urged security forces and stone-pelting protesters "to allow unrestricted movement of ambulances and other vehicles carrying hospital staff".

Speaking to Down To Earth, Minister of State for Health & Medical Education and Social Welfare, Asiea Naqash said that although she had no information about availability of chemotherapy service in district hospitals across Kashmir, she said that the government has issued a circular on newspapers asking families of can-

cer patients to get in touch with their CMOs for any assistance.

Helpline for cancer patients

Kashmir's premier hospital, SKIMS, has close to 2400 cancer patients from 16 districts.

In the face of crisis, Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir (DHSK), in association with SKIMS, announced helpline numbers for cancer patients across Valley. Calling the helpline numbers would help cancer patients get oral anti-cancer drugs from their local district hospitals. Talking to Down To Earth, Ijtaba Shafi, one of those responsible for facilitation of drugs, said, "We are running a Control Room where we are receiving calls from different districts asking for medicine, and sometimes ambulance. We are also enabling willful donors to donate blood for cancer patients."

Cancer Society of Kashmir As curfew curbed movements, patients turned to Cancer Society of Kashmir, an organisation established in

March, 1999 to give free consultation and medicine to cancer patients. Abdul Khalid, one of the officials, told Down To Earththat at least 25 patients received chemotherapy sessions since July 8 and close to 110 patients were given antiCancer medicine in the last two weeks. "We visit houses of cancer patients even when the curfew is on. Security forces let us go by doing a round of checking," said Khalid. The organisation has also treated 42 CML patients (Chronic myeloid leukaemia) ever since the curfew was imposed.

Treatment infrastructure remains crippled despite rise in cancer cases In June 2016, the state government had dismissed the argument that there has been an alarming rise in the number of cancer patients during the last five years. However, its official data says otherwise. Around 4,556 cancer patients were registered in 2011. The numbers rose to 4,848 and 5,068 in2012

and 2013. A leap of 500 more patients was witnessed in 2014 before it reached 6,358 in 2015.

Bali Bhagat, health minister of Jammu and Kashmir, had informed last month that lung cancer has become most prominent in the state as the prevalence of smoking has gone up. According to Bhagat, lung, throat, gastro-internal and lymphoma cancers are predominant in men, while cervical, breast, throat, gastro-Internal and lung cancers are predominant in women.

Despite the growing cases of cancer in Kashmir, the state government is yet to improve the infrastructure needed to attend to cancer patients. The SKIMS Regional Cancer Centre is currently the only cancer centre in Kashmir despite the government declaring the Kashmir Nursing Home at Gupkar as a Cancer Center apart from other 'Oncology departments' at GMC Srinagar.

Currently, the Medical On-

(Photo: totaltv)

Future Plan The Centre has sanctioned two new cancer institutes in Jammu and Kashmir at the cost of Rs 120 crore each. One of them will come up at SKIMS, Srinagar. Besides, three tertiary cancer care centres, sanctioned by the central government, will be set up in Kupwara, Kishtwar and Udhampur.

Best Letter

AIIMS, New Delhi Sir, Recently, in an electronic channel in an interview with the Chief-Editor of the Channel, Ankita Dutta, daughter of Late Anjan Dutta, the erstwhile APCC President ventilated many facts regarding the state of affairs prevailing in AIIMS, New Delhi. It is from the interview only, we come to learn about the sluggish and half - hearted way with which a patient in ICU, already in ventilation is treated. We notice, almost all the Union minister not excluding G.P. Nadda, the Union Health minister under the dynamic Prime-minister leave no lacunae in the act of blowing the trumpet about how our country is in escalating ladder of progress. Further as revealed by Ankita, at one point of time in connection with a cardiac test, she became fed up when the specialist Doctor who is to conduct the test asked her to bring the patient to the testing room. Ankita

cology Department of SKIMS has only three faculty members. Despite stretching work hours and taking help of Doctor of Medicine (DM) students, it is still not enough to serve a huge rush of patients. Moreover, the cancer patients at SMHS Hospital queue up with general surgery patients for operations since the hospital has no Department of Surgical Oncology. Most of the government projects have failed to take off. The Super Specialty Hospital at Deewanbagh is yet to be constructed and the Cancer Institute is yet to be made functional with staff.

The best letter

then questioned the Doctor, how could she bring a patient of ICU with ventilation to the testing room. It further transpired from her interview that Rahul Gandhi who always (During hospitalization of Anjan Dutta) kept in touch with Ankita to know about the latest condition of her father.

Ankita in that embarrassing state had to report the matter to Mr. Gandhi who immediately intervened. This interview enlightened the common men of Assam, who are crazy to go to Delhi with patients for check up or treatment in AIIMS. Will Union Health ministry wake up from slumber to set things right in AIIMS?

Yours etc.

Ashok Bordoloi Dibrugarh

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, Dibrugarh786001 (Assam) Ph: 0373-2328944 Email : editor.easterntoday@gmail.com

p O ed 'Did the blackbuck and chinkara commit suicide?'

Page 9

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, JULY 29

Rajeshwari Ganesan

Actor Salman Khan, on Monday, was acquitted by the Rajasthan high court in the blackbuck and chinkara poaching cases. Khan was accused of killing a blackbuck and a chinkara in two separate incidents in 1998 along with actors Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam during the shooting of a film. In 2006, he was sentenced to one year and five years of imprisonment for the two cases under section 51 of Wildlife Protection Act. He came out on bail, challenged the verdict and subsequently had appealed to the Rajasthan High Court which had finished hearing the cases in the last week of May. It had reserved its decision at the time.

Rate of acquittal in wildlife-related offences The verdict, yet again, brings into focus the alarmingly high rate of acquittal in wildlife-related crimes.

Housing five tiger reserves, Maharashtra, for instance, recorded only 17 convictions of the 147 court orders between 1995 and 2014, with a success rate of 11.56 per cent. The latest data available from National Crime Records Bureau of 2014 says that the out of 5,835 cases reported under environment-related offences, 770 cases were reported under the Wildlife Protection Act, for which, 134 people were arrested and fewer were convicted.

As many as 59 tiger deaths have been recorded across the country from January 2 to July 17, 2016.

Most of the poaching cases are either not reported or attributed to 'non-suspicious (Photo: downtoearth.org) The causes of deaths are known only in 12 cases, according to the official database of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Of these 12, four cases are of tigers being poisoned and one is confirmed to be poaching.

When contacted, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau refused to comment on the status of investigation.

Why does wildlife crime often go unreported?

"Foresters tend to conceal the information on poaching. Most of the poaching cases either do not come out or are simply attributed to various other 'non-suspicious' factors.

Every forest guard is so burdened today that even if they see a tiger carcass lying there with suspected

situation of being poached, they would simply try and not register it. Once he brings it to the notice of the higher authorities on record, it will be hassle to transport it and then appear at the court as witness. He may not have any money and he will be the sole breadwinner for his family.

How can we expect that tiger conservation will be strong in the country?" explains Shekhar Kumar Niraj, head of TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, in India.

Moreover, if the animal has been poisoned or dies naturally, the carcass starts decomposing in a matter of few hours. In less than four days, the carcass is not recognisable, say experts.

The chances of forest

guards spotting a carcass before this time are slim. "A lot of mortality cases fall under this category. The only way to mitigate this is to record the details correctly," says K Ullas Karanth, conservation zoologist.

After all these hurdles, the case finally reaches the court where the rate of conviction is abysmal, owing to "the lack of evidence", points out Samir Trivedi, an environmental lawyer.

Standard Operating Procedure for dealing with tiger deaths NTCA has issued an SOP for dealing with tiger deaths in 2013. According to the SOP, once the carcass is spotted, the officials have to systematically record the circumstantial observation

and extensively photograph the scene. After collecting the required evidences, the corpse is sent for post-mortem examination, following which the visceral samples are sent for forensic analysis to the laboratories with domain expertise for DNA profiling and histopathological tests.

Before disposing off the carcass, the post-mortem report has to be finalised and sent to the Chief Wildlife Warden keeping the NTCA informed. If the postmortem report is still being prepared, a preliminary report has to be sent immediately.

To conduct the DNA profiling and histopathological test, NTCA confirms that there are only four labs authorized-the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Dehradun, Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology in Hyderabad, National Centre for Biological Sciences Research, Bengaluru and Aaranyak, a Guwahatibased NGO working in tandem with the state government. "These few labs are overburdened to the extent that there are over 3000 pending cases in the court awaiting the completion of laboratory examination," says Niraj.

Bypassing legal provisions "In most cases, the carcasses rot before being sent for investigations so we cannot prove the cause of death. In case the accused is caught red-handed with the animal parts, the witnesses turn hostile or the prosecution authorities do not shown up in court. If the accused pleads guilty

they are convicted. Even in the same case, those who plead not guilty are acquitted and the absconders are discharged. Or else, the seized articles are not produced before the court by the investigation authority.

It reflects the overall lack of seriousness when it comes to persecution under the Wildlife Protection Act," he says.

Even in cases where the accused is proven guilty, wrong sections under the WPA are cited, says Trivedi. "The accused are not sentenced to the mandatory minimum punishment prescribed under the Act. Offences in relation to animals specified in Schedule I and Part II of Schedule II of the Act carry a prescribed penalty of not less than three years imprisonment, which may extend up to seven years and a fine of not less than Rs10,000.

These cases are non-compoundable.

However, there have been cases in which the seizure of a blackbuck skin led to only six months of imprisonment and a paltry fine of Rs 2,500. Blackbuck is a Schedule I animal. Take today's case of Salman Khan's acquittal. The key witness Harish Dulani, who was the driver of the vehicle that was allegedly used in both the poaching cases, was never available for cross-examination and the defence argued that his statements could not be relied upon. "So, did the blackbuck and the chinkaras commit suicide?"

Trivedi remarks sardonically.

Courtesy: Downtoearth

Rukmini Nati: A legendary story of Idu Mishmi Princess Jonomo Rondo Rukmini Nati; an Archaeological site is situated at a village called Chimiri 13km from Roing, District head quarter of Lower Dibang Valley District. Another site named after Chimiri as Chimiri Hill site is located 3 km from Rukmini Nati.

The latter site is located in a thick jungle approximately 1680 fit above mean sea level; both these sites are having traces of large number of bricks.

Rukmini Nati has two brick structures resembling to two rooms and the Chimiri Hill site has one such mound. The brick available at these sites are similar to that of Bhismaknagar brick pattern and there is also strong possibility to believe that the Chimiri Hill site and Rukmini Nati are contemporary construction with that of existing Bhismaknagar. Further, it could be stated that Rukmini Nati and Chimiri Hill site are the century points at the time of Chutiya's King whose centre of administration was at Sadiya in 11th and 12th century. Thus it could be assumed that these above mentioned sites are of the Chutiya's and their antiquity goes back to 11th and 12th century.

Rukmini Nati is an Idu Mishmi word meaning a resting place of legendary wife of Lord Krishna has been men-

tioned in the epic of Kalika Purana; it denotes the place where Rukmini took her rest. The 'Rukmini Nati', is a structure of two rooms made of bricks, traditionally it is believed that the ruins in the hilly terrain north of Lower Dibang Valley in between the Chidu and Chimiri villages via Nizamghat route were the extents of the place of Rukmini, and the area is also known as Rukmininagar in the pristine waterfalls and grandiose mishmi hills at the tip of eastern Himalayan states' of Arunachal Pradesh.

The legend associated with 'Rukmini Nati', is after the defeating of king Sisupal, Lord Krishna rescued Rukmini and made her his spouse, subsequently while travelling with her husband, Rukmini had a break at Chimiri village.

Since from the inception, the place is called as Rukmini Nati in the pages of North East Indian history till today known by the scholars and academicians as well as researchers, religious pilgrims but yet to ascertained some of the facts and events or deciphering on the possibility of speculations about the truth behind the myths and legends, folktales, folklores of Idu Mishmi people related with the stories of conjugal tie between Lord Krishna and Rukmini, which might have some misnomer or

Image for representational purpose. (Photo: guideimg.alibaba)

created by some orthodox but in social science discipline even idols and rivers, trees, stones are also became a legend like omniscient and omnipotent in the philosophy of beautiful literature. Some other also believed that Rukmini Nati or Rukmini Nagar was the abode of princess Rukmini, the daughter of great king Bhismak.

In the meantime, an exploration was conducted in the year of 197273 in this area by the Department of Research (Cultural Affairs) under the guidance of Dr. Y.A Raiker, Archaeologist. The exploration revealed a few sites in this area, they are (i) Rukmini Nati- (ii) the two rooms at Chimiri, (iii) the brick mound in the hill north of Chimiri, (iv) Choko Nati- a site said to have existed near Choko Nallah (stream), (v) Duko Yimbo near old Eyopa village, of these five sites excavation was undertaken at Chimiri only. The other sites viz. Choko Nati, the site near Chidu

ruined Inspection Bunglow (IB) and Duko Yimbo is being submerged in earth quakes in 1950s and regular changes of Dibang river course. In recent years exploration in this area could not trace out any of these sites.

However, as regards the site situated in the hill north of Chimiri, a brick mound has been traced out while exploring in the hill during the year 1991-92. The mound seemed to be a rectangular in shape with a measurement of 35mX25m. The height of the mound is approximately 1metre from the surface. The bricks measuring 8"X5"X1/2" have been used in maximum number. Unfortunately due to ravages of time the site got damaged to a great deal. The exploration work at the site is on to understand the nature of the structure and its historical bearings.

The excavation of 1973-74 at Chimiri under the guidance of Dr.Y.A Raikar of the Department

of Research exposed two mounds of bricks and bricks bats. The mounds were hidden in jungle. The excavation revealed the structures of two rooms made of bricks measuring 10mX10m and 10mX 12m. These rooms were built on a long having a slope from north to south.

Large number of pot shreds unearthed in the excavation. These pot shreds and potteries have class affinity with the Bhimaknagar potteries.

The bricks are also quite similar in shape and size with that of the bricks found at Bhismaknagar.

As regards the nature of these structures it is probable that these sites referred above are actually the parts of a single hill fort from where a watch on the plains below was possible. The existing are merely a few surviving parts of a large fort complex. The fort complex was built with a view to strategic importance.

The

antiquity

of

"Rukmini Nati", it is difficult to ascertain its date due to paucity of artifacts.

However, the material culture revealed in the excavation indicated that it was contemporary to Bhismaknagar and its time sequence could be drawn on it. Therefore, it could be said that the fort at Chidu-Chimiri could have been constructed by the first Aryan colonized who may be placed in the time bracket not earlier than 8th and 9th century. The probable builder of the fort could be the Chutiyas who had their establishment in Sadiya approximately in the same period The Department of Research (Cultural Affairs) is a nodal agency of the state government to look after the ruins of "Rukmin Nati", Archaeological site. Maintenance of the site in the form of jungle clearance, gardening and erection of bamboo fencing are regularly done. It has also been proposed to undertake conservation work and erection of barbed wire fencing at the site; steps are also taken for the beautification of the site in order to develop for the interest of culture tourism and providing more accessible facilities are still required from the government.

Jonomo Rondo, District Research Officer (DRO), Tezu. To reach at the author jonomorondo@gmail.com Mobile (9436836905)

Prey Anishashilpi Sumitra

My left leg was persecuted by a python!!!

It was a preservative baby-python of six months.

Leaning on my backbone, It utters with an alluring voice "You are a fragile‌" With melancholy, April arrives Summer's warmness forces me to dream about Autumn.

Ye, I love the blue wide sky.

The reptile turned into twenty and six months.

I've got a pain in my both knees.

Hush!!!

Strained memories in the nest weep quietly.

My arrested heart wants to be free.

My crabbed soul wants to be free.

Why Does Disability Make Us So Uncomfortable?

Image for representational purpose (Photo: newstatesman)

Parul Ghosh "Later that night I held an atlas in my lap ran my fingers across the whole world and whispered where does it hurt?

It answered everywhere everywhere everywhere."

These lines by Warsan Shire resonate with me every single day. There's distress and conflict all around us. It's almost as the universe is giving us a signal to look beyond our own predicaments and notice the world falling apart.

Today, I woke up to a news of a 26-year-old knife-wielding man, killing 19 people with disabilities at a facility in Japan while several others were injured. Later on this man, a former employee of the facility, turned himself in and admitted performing this barbaric act to rid the world of disabled people.

There was of course a lot of uproar online, with everyone condemning the act. The exact motivation behind the crime is not yet known but today this made me think and think really hard - What is it about disability that makes us so uncomfortable?

My first interaction with disability was way back when my mother taught at a 'special school'. The kids there - they were different. They looked different, talked different and well, they even sat far away, segregated from the rest of the school. Years later I am now a disability rights professional and it has taken me a long time to get where I am. After my stint with Civil Society, I am now associated with the Government of India for a very ambitious campaign on achieving accessibility for persons with disabilities.

But this is my story. What about everyone else who has practically no exposure to disability in this country?

People with disabilities constitute an invisible population.

The reasons for this are multiple - lack of access, cultural norms, misinformation, and religious theories. Historically, disabilities have been considered punishments for sins com-

mitted in a previous life by an individual or their family members (Schlossar, 2004). And this belief continues to prevail in many parts of the country.

I often wonder how my own friends perceive disability.

How would they react if they came across a person with visual impairment? I wouldn't blame them for being ignorant or for not knowing how to communicate with someone who had a speech impediment. My peers often use the word handicapped and I am sure very few of them know that the world is now moving beyond braille into the fascinating realm of technology and communication systems. But I don't blame them.

I don't blame them because their daily interactions simply doesn't involve people with disabilities. A classic case of 'Out of sight, out of mind.' Every other day on my way to work, I see a young visually impaired man walking towards a bus stop on the ring road. The other day I spotted a girl using crutches in the metro during the rush hour. Apart from that occasional man rushing to catch his bus and the girl struggling to find a seat amongst the crowds, I have barely seen another person with a visible disability in a public space. And this is in a country of almost 70 million disabled people.

And because we don't see them anywhere, we don't really know what to do if a situation demands any kind of an interaction. We simply need to start talking about disability. Policies and implementation are of course important, but require a separate discourse. It was interesting to note that disability may soon be included in the school curriculum because honestly when it comes to awareness that's where it needs to begin. Mainstreaming and doing away with special sections was a step that was welcomed by many. But what happens to that child with hearing impairment whose teacher and friends don't know how to sign?

We need to teach our kids what diverse really means and that true diversity encompasses acceptance, dignity and respect. We need to teach our kids that we're all different, disabled or not, and that is okay.

Courtesy: youthkiawaaz

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, JULY 29

BUSINESS

PAGE 10

Second R&D centre Q1 profit of Maruti of Yamaha to come soars 23% to Rs 1,486 cr up at Kancheepuram New Delhi, Jul 28: Country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India reported 23 per cent jump in net profit for the first quarter to Rs 1,486.2 crore, its bestever quarterly result, on the back of material cost reduction and higher nonoperating income.

The auto major had posted a net profit of Rs. 1,208.1 crore for the same period in the previous fiscal. Net sales rose by 12.1 per cent to Rs. 14,654.5 crore for the first quarter as against Rs.

13,078.3 crore last year, Maruti Suzuki India said in a statement. "The profit was helped by a higher turnover, material cost reduction, higher non-operating income and lower depreciation. Adverse foreign exchange movement reduced profits to some extent," it added.

RISING PROFIT 1,208.1 crore for the same period in the previous fiscal. Net sales rose by 12.1 per cent to Rs. 14,654.5 crore for the first quarter as against Rs. 13,078.3 crore last year.

ØThe firm said it sold 3, 48, Ø Country's

largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India reported 23 per cent jump in net profit for the first quarter to Rs 1,486.2 crore.

The firm said it sold 3, 48, 443 units during the quarter, a growth of 2.1 per cent a year ago. This includes 3, 22, 340 units in Ø The auto major had domestic market, a posted a net profit of Rs. growth of 5.4 per cent.

443 units during the quarter, a growth of 2.1 per cent a year ago. This includes 3, 22, 340 units in domestic market, a growth of 5.4 per cent.

ØExports during the quarter stood at 26,103 units.

Exports during the quarter stood at 26,103 units.

"The growth in the first two months of the quarter had been 10.2 per cent, but the unfortunate incident of fire at a key vendor of the company resulted in lower sales in June 2016," the company said. The company hopes to recover the lost sales during the course of the year, it added. Maruti Suzuki India stock was trading at Rs. 4,575.00 on BSE, up 0.18 per cent from the previous close in late afternoon session.

(Agencies)

Mercedes-AMG SLC43 unveiled in India Pune, Jul 28: MercedesBenz has launched yet another addition to its AMG range in India. The SLC43 is the spiritual successor to the SLK55 AMG and has been priced at Rs 77.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). It is essentially a facelift to shift the roadster into MercedesBenz's new nomenclature, but features a new engine among other changes. Built in Affalterbach, the 2-door is the first AMG product to feature the '43' badge and is the 'gateway model' into AMG's roadster range. Following the trend of downsizing seen across the German automaker's range, the SLC43 drops the old 5.5-litre V8 engine in favour of a 3.0-litre biturbo V6 engine with an AMG-specific engine management system.

A file photo of Mercedes-AMG SLC43. (Photo: motorbeam) maximum torque of 520Nm. The oomph is driven to the rear wheels through a '9GTRONIC' 9-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters. 0-100kmph comes up in a claimed 4.7 seconds with the top speed electroni-

cally limited to 250kmph.

For improved handling and stability, the SLC43 gets a steel suspension that has been optimised to reduce body roll. You also get the AMG 'Dynamic Select' function, which enables the

driver to alter the suspension's behaviour, based on the driving scenario. Also offered is a 'handling package', which gives you a mechanical limitedslip differential for the rear axle. The AMG SLC43 gets

Pune, Jul 28: Growth of ultra-high networth individuals (HNIs) in the country slowed to under 7% to reach 1.46 lakh at the end of 201516, according to a report.

The total wealth of the ultra HNIs, or those with a networth of over Rs 250 million, grew by 5% to Rs 135 trillion, a report by Kotak Mahindra said. Even though the growth in the number of ultra HNIs as well as their wealth slowed down, the report estimated that the community will grow to 2.94 lakh with a combined networth of Rs 319 trillion over the next five years.

This will be driven primarily by emerging sectors and newer avenues of investments promising higher returns, it said, adding smaller cities will also house an increasing number of the ultra rich. The report, prepared by professional services firm EY for Kotak Mahindra Wealth, said the

average age of the ultra HNIs is also falling and nearly half of the 1.46 lakh are under the age of 40. Going by their investment preferences as per asset classes, 39% of the money went to equities, followed by 28% in real estate, 22% in debt while alternate investments accounted for 11%. Equities found less favour due to the subdued markets which led to a spurt in allocations in other asset classes, it said, adding 72% of this universe invested in commodities.

Impact investing or investment which does good for the society is also gaining traction, with 44% of the ultra HNIs having an exposure to it, the report said. Financial services, affordable housing, clean and renewable energy are the favourite avenues.

a new front bumper with large air intakes, a muscular bonnet, 18-inch light alloy wheels and a new rear bumper with integrated tailpipes. On the inside, it gets a flat-bottomed, multi-function steering wheel draped in nappa leather, AMG nappa leather/Dinamica microfiber upholstery for the sports seats, and the AMG instrument cluster that sports a 4.5-inch multi-information display and a race-timer. For entertainment, the car is offered with a 7-inch infotainment system that supports Bluetooth connectivity, a DVD player, internet radio and the 'Linguatronic' voice command system. AMG's range in India will now include the SLC43, CLA45, GLA45, C63 S, E63, S63, S63 Coupe, G63, GL63 and the AMG GT S. (Agencies)

Chennai, Jul 28: Yamaha Motor Research & Development India Pvt. Ltd. (YMRI) has set up its second R&D (research and development) centre on the premises of its unit in Kancheepuram district in Tamil Nadu at an investment outlay of Rs.66 crore. The fresh investment on the R&D front is a part of the Rs.1,500 crore that the company has committed to make in India by 2018. The objective of setting up thenew centre is to ensure optimum utilisation of resources at both the locations and focus on capacity and capability enhancement, said a release.

Yasuo Ishihara, Managing Director of Yamaha. (Photo: autocarpro) mance, innovation, design, style and sportiness," it added. The new centre has state-of-the-art facilities, including prototype testing and validation and a testtrack with simulation of In-

dian road conditions. "The objective of the new centre is to develop models for India and eventually, the global market," Yasuo Ishihara, Managing Director, said.

(Agencies)

Net profit of KVB rises 8.75%

46.4 cr turnover reported by Shanti Gears for Q1

"The company's long-term plan is to develop products which fit the Indian and global customer requirements, but, at the same time, carry the brand DNA of perfor-

Pune, Jul 28: Karur Vysya Bank's a net profit rose 8.75 per cent to Rs.146.35 crore for the quarter ended June, 2016 compared with Rs.134.58 crore in the same quarter the previous year.

The net interest income increased by 13.71 per cent to Rs.481.12 crore from Rs.423.10 crore a year-ago.

The ratio of gross NPA (non-performing assets) to gross advances decreased to 1.79 per cent from 1.91 per cent. The ratio of net NPA to net advances, on the

other hand, decreased to 0.79 per cent from 0.88 per cent.

The provision coverage ratio stood at 78.49 per cent, according to a company statement. Aggregate business rose 8.71 per cent to Rs. 90,096 crore, from Rs.82,879 crore a year-ago.

Deposits recorded a yearon-year growth of 11.07 per cent to Rs.50,715 crore.

Gross advances increased to Rs.39,382 crore. (Agencies)

Mercedes models now to have TECHNOLOGY Growth of HNIs reaches petrol variants Sony Xperia XA Ultra 1.46 lakhs in FY16: Report

The output figures are delicious as ever, with a peak power output of 367PS and

unveiled in India

Image for representational purpose. (Photo: pcadvisor) Expanding the successful Xperia X and Xperia XA family, Sony India launched Xperia XA Ultra smartphone at Rs 29,990 which will be available at Sony Centres and electronic stores across the country.

Targeting selfie lovers, the smartphone features 16MP front camera with `Optical Image Stabilizer` and smart selfie flash to click the perfect selfie. The 21MP autofocus rear camera comes with quick launch capabilities which enables users to capture images in a split-

second. Both the cameras are equipped with EXMORRS sensor for low-light capture. The smartphone sports 6-inch full HD display, 2.0 GHz octa-core processor, 3GB RAM and runs on Android 6.0 operating system. The device has 16GB of internal memory that can be expanded up to 200GB and houses 2700mAh battery. Users will also get free content worth over Rs 2,000 with applications like Sony LIV, Hungama Play and Kindle. Bengaluru, Jul 28: (Agencies) India's biggest online re-

close on August 4, 2016.

Bids can be made for a minimum of 55 equity shares and in multiples of 55 equity shares thereafter. Besides, private equity investor New York Life Investment Management India Fund (FVCI) II LLC, which holds 10.5 per cent stake in SP Apparels, is making an offer for sale of up to 900,000 equity shares. (Agencies)

tailer Flipkart is buying a smaller rival Jabong for $70 million (Rs.470 crore) in cash, according to Jabong's parent company Global Fashion Group (GFG). The acquisition will help Flipkart to compete with its bigger rivals Amazon and Snapdeal, according to analysts.

GFG which is backed by Germany's highest-profile startup investor Rocket Internet SE and Swedenbased investment AB Kinnevik said the transaction is a decisive step in

GFG's strategy to refocus its business on core markets and further accelerate its path to profitability.

Flipkart's unit Myntra, an online fashion retailer which is buying Jabong said it aims to create India's biggest online fashion retailing business. "We see significant synergies between the two companies especially on brand relationships and consumer experience," said Ananth Narayanan, chief executive of Myntra in a statement. Flipkart would combine Jabong's business with Myntra, creat-

"The company focused on enhancing service levels, growing profitable segments, improving operational efficiencies and cost reduction initiatives which resulted in higher profitability," according to a release.

The company was planning to invest in modern technology equipment to enhance its capability to service high precision, heavy-duty gearboxes, the release added.

(Agencies)

12% revenue growth reported

by TVS Motors Germany, Jul 28: Mercedes-Benz will make available all its existing models in petrol variants by this September as it awaits the final verdict on Supreme Court's ban on over 2,000 cc diesel cars in Delhi-NCR region. However, the German luxury car maker feels that diesel as a fuel will bounce back. "We are introducing petrol versions in all our vehicles… we already have the largest portfolio of locally manufactured petrol

versions available. By September, we will have every model available in petrol variant," Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and CEO Roland Folger.

Currently, Mercedes GLE and GLS are not sold in petrol variants. Mr. Folger spoke on sidelines after the company unveiled Mercedes' sixth vehicle in the current year - AMG 43 priced at Rs.77.5 lakh (exshowroom Delhi). (Agencies)

Jabong bought by Myntra for $70 mn

Rs.215 crore IPO unveiled by SP Apparels Mumbai, Jul 28: SP Apparels Ltd., a leading supplier of kidswear to international high-street retailers, has announced plans to tap the capital market to raise Rs. 215 crore through an Initial Public Offer (IPO). The price band of equity shares of the value of Rs.10 has been fixed between Rs.258 and Rs.268. The IPO will open on August 2, 2016, and

"Ultra HNIs are increasingly getting involved in renewable energy initiatives - be

it on the investment side or even embedding it into their daily life," EY's Partner for advisory services Murali Balaraman said. The report, for which over 250 individuals were interviewed, said 98% of the ultra HNIs considered succession planning as critical. While wills continue to be the most common instrument of choice among the UHNIs, forming trusts is also gaining traction, it said.

On the spending side, wearable devices such as smart watches, fitness bands, virtual reality headsets and head phones are popular, with the UHNIs looking at them as status symbols.

Nearly 57% of the UHNIs have incorporated such effects as part of their lifestyle. Contrary to popular assumption, there were higher adoptions in the 3650 age group rather than those below 35 years, it said.

(Agencies)

Mumbai, Jul 28: Shanthi Gears Ltd. (SGL), a subsidiary of Tube Investments of India Ltd. of Murugappa Group, reported a turnover of Rs.46.42 crore for the quarter ended June, 2016 against Rs.41.67 crore in the same quarter last year. Profit before tax for the quarter was Rs.6.63 crore (Rs.2.46 crore).

Face, Swarovski, Timberland and Lacoste. Binny Bansal, chief executive and co-founder of Flipkart said fashion and lifestyle is one of the biggest drivers of ecommerce growth in India. "This acquisition is a continuation of the group's journey to transform commerce in India," he said in a statement.

Flipkart had acquired Myntra in 2014 in a deal estimated to be worth $370 million to compete Binny Bansal, chief executive and co-founder of against online retail giant Flipkart. (Photo: livemint) Amazon which entered the ing a firm with a base of users and offering luxury Indian market in 2013.

15 million monthly active brands such as The North (Agencies)

Bengaluru, Jul 28: TVS Motor Company has reported a revenue growth of 12 per cent for the quarter ended June 2016. Total revenue grew to Rs. 2,880.94 crore in the quarter under review from Rs. 2,574.09 crore in the corresponding quarter the previous year.

Profit before tax (PBT) grew 23 per cent to Rs. 160.82 crore (Rs. 130.35 crore).

Profit after tax (PAT) increased by 21 per cent to Rs. 121.25 crore (Rs. 100.08 crore), says a company release.

During the quarter ended June 2016, the overall twowheeler sales of the company, including exports, grew by 15.3 per cent to 7.01 lakh units, up from 6.08 lakh units in the previous quarter. Motorcycles sales grew by 11 per cent to 2.83 lakh units (2.55 lakh units).

Scooter sales increased to 1.96 lakh units (1.65 lakh units), registering a growth of 19 per cent. The company exported 0.89 lakh units of two-wheelers in the quarter under review as against 0.92 lakh units in the first quarter of 2015-16. Three-wheelers registered sales of 17,337 units (30,229 units).

(Agencies)

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, JULY 29

Features

PAGE 11

TRAVEL & TOURISM

Places to Visit in Coorg For a Memorable Vacation The coffee plantations of Coorg covered with stunning greenery would charm anyone. With its undiluted landscapes, lovely waterfalls and an amazing assortment of flora and fauna, it has much to offer visitors.

Wake up to the view of misty mountains in the morning and enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee. But of all the places to visit in Coorg, the wildlife sanctuaries are the most fascinating if you are with a loved one or on a family trip. Spot a bison, an elephant and if you in luck then a Panther.

Take a look below for some of Coorg's tourist places and plan your trip to the 'Scotland of India'.

How to Reach Coorg The nearest railway station is Mysore about 120 kms away. The nearest domestic airport is the Mangalore International Airport, about 160 kilometres away. KSRTC bus services connects Coorg to nearby Karnataka cities such as Mysore, Mangalore and Bangalore among others.

Abbey falls - Gushing through the rocks Abbey Falls makes for one of the most popular places to visit in Coorg.

Located 1 km from the town of Madikeri, the waterfall is located between coffee plantations and spice estates. Enjoy the gushing beauty where the Kaveri River cascades down a rockface turning into the falls. The best time to visit is November and December, just after monsoons.

Brahmagiri Peak - Trek through the verdant trails Brahmagiri Peak is a scenic spot full of forested woods and mist-topped hills. On the way to the peak, you will trek through grasslands, colourful floras and sparkling streams of clear water. It also has a wildlife sanctuary which includes Lion-tailed Macaque, Jungle Cat, Spot-

ted Deer, Nilgiri Langur, Giant Flying Squirrel amongst others. It is one of the most beautiful places to see in Coorg.

Dubare Elephant Camp for animal lovers One of the most interesting things to do in Coorg is get close to elephants at the Dubare Elephant Camp.

With over 150 elephants, the camp is a great chance to get to know these enchanting creatures. Watch the elephants being given a bath, fed and trained by Mahouts. In addition take a coracle ride on the River Cauvery and spot a crocodile, gaur, the wild dog, sloth bear and peacocks.

Iruppu Falls - Rush of the torrents Of all tourist places in Coorg, Iruppu waterfall is one of the most popular.

River Lakshmana Tirtha takes a 60 feet plunge amidst the green mountains to turn into these falls. The picturesque view of the ferns along with the gushing sound of the falls makes for a memorable experience.

Nagarhole National Park for the love of the wild If you are interested in wildlife, the Nagarhole National Park is possibly one

of the best places to visit in Coorg. Despite the dense jungle, it has open sightlines along the river bank, which makes for fantastic place to watch animals and over 270 species of birds.

The best time to visit is during summer (April to May) or winter (November to February).

If you are into cultural tourism, an interesting thing to do in Coorg would be to visit a local village.

Chettalli is a small village on the Madikeri - Siddapur Road is just the place. With the misty hills being perfectly complimented by the unending greenery it provides a great place to enjoy the serenity and relax.

Raja's Seat - Mystical views and cottony clouds Present in the town of Madikeri, Raja's Seat is considered one of the most scenic places to visit in Coorg. A popular sunset point, it provides a breathtaking view of the green valley and the surrounding hills. It is also surrounded by a beautiful garden of seasonal flowers and musical fountains. The best time to visit is during the early

Bylakuppe - A cultural delight Of all tourist places in Coorg, Bylakuppe is full of cultural delights. The second biggest Tibetan settlement in India, the main attraction in Bylakuppe is the Golden Temple or Namdroling Monastery which adheres to the typical Tibetan style of architecture. The town is especially great to visit during the festival of Losar (Tibetan New Year), which is celebrated with much fervor.

Cauvery Nisargadhama Time to the beaten tracks Nisargadhama is a beautiful island, 28 km from Madikeri, surrounded by thick foliage of bamboo groves, sandalwood and teak trees. An interesting things to do in Coorg would

Kathmandu is the largest city and capital of Nepal and the namesake of the Kathmandu Valley. Once thought to be the fabled and inaccessible ShangriLa, Kathmandu is now a hub for independent travellers as well as a growing vacation spot catering to all budgets. As a result of considerable urban growth in recent decades, it is now part of one continuous urban area together with Patan to the south.

Get in By plane Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport (IATA: KTM), is the largest and only international airport in Nepal, located 5.5km east of the popular tourist neighborhood of Thamel.

Money Exchange at the Airport Try not to exchange money at the airport as there are service charges and lower rates offered than what you can get in Thamel or elsewhere in the city.

If you keep the exchange receipt, you could change back to your original currency at the rate on the receipt.

From India Buses run between Kathmandu and the Indian cities of Patna, Gorakhpur, Varanasi (INR1,200), and Lucknow.

Get around Swayambhu aka Monkey Temple A site on a hill overlooking the city with a large stupa and other Buddhist and Hindu iconography.

One of the most sacred Buddhist sites in the country. There are 350 steps to the top - the back route is less steep but the views on the way up are not as nice.

Aside from the views over the city and the ancient carvings in every available space, it's crowded with monkeys mingling with the visitors. The base of the hill is a 30 minute walk from Thamel (make sure you have a map as there are several confusing intersections along the way), or take a taxi or rickshaw.

As with the Boudha Stupa, are plenty of Buddhist and Tibetan-inspired trinkets for sale. There are also drinks for sale at the top, and at least one small restaurant selling momos. For those that have their own transport or have difficulty climbing stairs there is a parking lot at the back entrance that significantly reduces the number of stairs that need to be climbed to gain access to the main compound. This is one of seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley. Foreigners: NPR750 for a multiple entry pass.

NPR200 for single entry (Dec. 2014) Boudha Stupa in Boudha.

One of the most sacred sites for Tibetan Buddhism.

This huge stupa is one of the largest in the world. It is located to the north-east of Dwarikas' Hotel and just to the north of the airport area.

This is another World Heritage Site.

Narayanhiti Palace Museum This is the former Royal palace which was turned partly into a Museum and partly into the Foreign Ministry after the abolition of the monarchy in 2009. Now you can visit the splendid Halls of the main building of the palace. Giant fruit bats hanging from the tall trees and 20 foot-tall bamboo around the otherwise modern (and still well secured) former palace are a sight, especially around sunset when the bats depart en masse.

Foreigners: NPR500 Thamel Chowk a tourist neighborhood with many restaurants and shops.

Freak Street Historic street where western hippies seeking enlightenment would stay.

Now just a few restaurants and hotels.

Pashupatinath An important Hindu temple to Shiva in the

form of Lord of Animals.

See monkeys, cremation, sadhus and meditation caves. Morning or sunset are great times to go. 1000 Rupess for foreigners, though you can sneak in through the park at the North side of the temple, as many locals do (beware of police though, who try to catch people doing exactly this). No entry inside the main temple for foreigners, though you can peer inside from the doorway. Also, there are stairs on the East side of the river leading to the Boudha Stupa (a short walk away).

Garden of Dreams / Kaiser Mahal Relax in this beautiful and peaceful walled garden close to Thamel and the former Royal Palace.

Beautifully renovated in partnership with Austrian government. Currently has two pavilions depicting two of the six annual seasons in the Hindu calendar. It has several expensive cafes and a bar. Nice toilets. NPR200.

Budda Neelkanth Temple (Narangdham), (6km from Main Bus Park, Kathmandu). An Idol of Bhagwan Vishnu in a sleeping position surrounded by water is an extraordinary cool and calm experience.

Courtesy: tripoto

While there are many places to visit in Coorg, yet your vacation will be incomplete without a trip to Ooty & Kodaikanal Photo: waytoindia

Chettalli - The less trodden pathways

morning and evening hours.

Mandalpatti View point Nature at it's best With abundance of greenery, trekking is definitely one of the things to do in Coorg. And Mandalpatti is one of the best tourist spots to indulge in the adventurous activity. Climb up towards the Mandalpatti View Point via the scenic Makkandur route but be sure to pack some water for the way!

be to stay in the treetop bamboo cottages here, and enjoy the elephant rides and boating on the river side.

Best Time to Visit Coorg Plan a trip to this hill station between November to March not just for the pleasant weather but also to celebrate Puttari, the harvest festival and indulge in some mouth-watering local delicacies.

Where to Stay in Coorg There is no shortage of great resorts to stay in Coorg, each providing a different kind of experience to the visitors. While some are better suited for couples with facilities like spa, others are focused on families with options of safaris and adventurous activities.

Whatever you may choose, make sure you pick a room that allows a view of the breathtaking landscape. So, here are a few best places to stay in Coorg: Coorg Jungle Camp One of the best resorts in Coorg, located near Kushalnagar, Coorg Jungle Camp is an ideal escapade for travelers. With the view of the Harangi backwaters and surrounded by dense forest and coffee plantations, it is an excellent place to take part in a jungle jeep safari, trekking and kayaking.

Old Kent Estates and Spa Resort Part of a 200 acre coffee plantation, this resort is tucked away in Suntikoppa, 20 kms from Madikeri. The estate has large varieties of flora and fauna and is a wonderful place for bird watchers. The English garden in front of the lodge boasts of over 50 varieties of flowering plants commonly seen in the United Kingdom. Both families and couples are guaranteed to have a good time here. It is amongst the most amazing resorts to stay in Coorg.

Heritage Resort

Of the many hotels and resorts in Coorg, nestled amidst plentiful greenery, the Heritage Resort offers panoramic views of the surroundings. The resort has an Ayurvedic Spa facility and is equipped with a great game parlour. The beautiful swimming pool faces the green covered mountains and the misty horizon and is an excellent place for a lazy afternoon.

Orange County Coorg This is amongst the best resorts in Coorg for a romantic getaway. The resort is set up with thatched cottages facing the paddy fields, giving it a village feeling. And is surrounded by coffee and spice plantations, with the River Cauvery on one side and Dubare Reserve forest on the other. This resort is perfect for a romantic getaway with your partner.

The Tamara This boutique resort is a remote, scenic hideaway with luxury wood cottages and offer expansive view of the plantation and waterfalls. Indulge in trekking, coffee plantation tours, picking and processing berries which are offered as activities. Another attraction is the Rudraksha trail to the Giant Rudraksha Tree.

While there are many places to visit in Coorg, yet your vacation will be incomplete without a trip to Ooty & Kodaikanal. Visit the Kashmir of South this summer for a soothing holiday!

Plan your trip now and enjoy the gorgeous hill stations famous for their deep gorges, pristine waterfalls, peeking brooks, scented plantations, abundant nature and mesmerizing views.

Trek along the trails and enjoy the sunset where the sky turns into hues of orange and blues and spellbind yourself.

Courtesy: traveltriangle

COOCH BEHAR TOURISM

The only planned city in the north Bengal region, Cooch Behar is also one of the largest cities of the state of West Bengal. It is replete with signs of the bygone era, the most prominent of them being the breathtakingly beautiful Cooch Behar Palace.

Cooch Behar is also the birthplace of Maharani Gayatri Devi, the third Maharani of Jaipur and probably India's most famous queens.

The city gets its name from Koch dynasty which ruled the region and Behar from the Sanskrit word vihar meaning house. There is another theory that says that the word Behar is derived from the Sanskrit bihar which means to travel. Cooch Behar is known for its legacy of royal palaces, temples, kings and its natural beauty.

Nripendra Bahadur Narayan, the 17th of the Koch dynasty monarchs, is considered to be the architect of the modern Cooch Behar. A hotspot of cultural diversity, the region is a rich blend of various culture from West Bengal and Assam.

The Ras Purnima fair held at the Madan Mohan Temple is the most popular festival of Cooch Behar The Cooch Behar Palace, also known as Victor Jubilee Palace, is the main landmark of the city. Designed by Maharaja Nripendra Narayan, it was modeled on London's Buckingham Palace. The palace is renowned for its grandeur and the monument is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. With verandahs with alternate rows of single and double pillars, the Cooch Behar palace projects out at the northern and southern ends. There is a regal metallic dome on top of the hall which rises to a height of 124 ft and is built in the Renaissance style of architecture.

In ancient times, a territory of Kamrup existed in the region where the city of Cooch Behar now stands. Sculptures and coins excavated from different parts of the region stand testimony to that.

The region was ruled by various rulers of Narayan Dynasty till the 18th century when it was taken over by the British. Cooch Behar was merged with West Bengal after India won independence in 1950.

There are many budget hotels in Cooch Behar that are scattered throughout the city along with many guesthouses and few mid-range hotels.

There are no luxury hotels in Cooch Behar, but the midrange hotels near Gopalpur offer good service.

Rajbari, a heritage hotel shows strong influence of European styles and is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the city. It was built by Nripendra Bahadur Narayan who was the most notable ruler of the Narayan Dynasty.

Most eateries in Cooch Behar serve non-vegetarian dishes but there are a few hotels that serve vegetarian dishes too. You will mostly find Bengali cuisine at restaurants. Few restaurants also serve North Indian, South Indian and Chinese cuisines.

Raas Mela in Cooch Behar The Raas mela in Cooch Behar district is the oldest and traditional fair and is one of the most famous festivals celebrated in cooch Behar.

The fair is held on the auspicious day of Purnima in the month of Kartik according to Bengali calendar. The fair is held to celebrate the Raas yatra of Sri Madan Mohan Thakur. The holy wheel is a structure built during Raas Mela in the honour of Lord Krishna. Courtesy: tripto

Planning to travel around Kathmandu?

Swayambhunath temple in Kathmandu

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DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, JULY 29

PAGE 12

Choepheling FC & Scorpion Returns register victory

Kerala Blasters Bags Aaron Hughes as Marquee Player New Delhi, July 29: Kerala Blasters on Thursday named the signing of experienced campaigner and veteran international Aaron Hughes from Northern Ireland as marquee player for the upcoming edition of the Indian Super League.

Known as a cultured defender, Hughes is the most capped outfield player in Northern Ireland's history and has captained Northern Ireland on forty-six occasions to date after his first captaincy in April 2002.

Northern Ireland. He also recently played in Euro Cup 2016.

A dramatic debut with Newcastle United FC at the age of 18 in 1997 lead to 278 appearances for the Magpies before moving to Aston Villa FC for two seasons.

After having played for U16, U18 and 'B' level, his debut in international football came in March 1998 against Slovakia, and he has since earned 103 caps for

This was followed by a very successful seven years at Fulham and later brief stints with Queens Park Rangers, Brighton & Hove Albion and Melbourne City.

Steve Coppell said, "Aaron Hughes' as a marquee player bringing a wealth of experience, he will also mentor the players. I am looking forward to working with him."

Aaron

Rafael Nadal will travel to Rio, but injury situation still delicate: David Ferrer Two action moments from today’s matches. Pic - Indrajit Tingwa

Indrajit Tingwa Miao, July 28: The fourth day of the ongoing Independence Cup Football Tournament witnessed some exciting game of soccer. Sri Sethai Sena, former Changlang district Congress chief and prominent public leader of Miao graced today's matches as the chief guest. In the first match of the day, Choepheling Football Club beat Teachers United 1-0 in a keenly contested extra time penalty shootout after both teams locked 2-2 in the

allotted time. Teachers United were leading with two goals to Choepheling FC's nil till half time.

In the later part of the second half Choepheling FC successfully made use of a penalty in their favour and in the last few minutes netted another equally Teachers United's score of two.

In the penalty shoot too both teams drew their score,5-5 then 3-3 till decider came when Teachers United goalkeeper failed to stop Choepheling FC's shot dur-

ing the third round and two men each penalty shootout.

The Choepheling FC thus advances to the next round.

During the first match two yellow cards were issued, one for fault and another for the player not in protective gear.

The second round had been eagerly anticipated for the Scorpion Returns, a team which had ruled the Miao football scene for quite a few years in their former club name Scorpion.

Today they returned to the field after almost a decade.

Narsingh Yadav doping controversy: NADA hearing to continue on Thursday The WFI has named Praveen Rana in the reserve slot in case Narsingh is not able to participate in the Olympics. cloud last Sunday when he returned a positive result for a dope test conducted NADA on June 25.

Following this, Narsingh was handed a provisional suspension. And the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has put Parveen Rana in the reserved slot to save India the quota place.

New Delhi, July 28: Narsingh Pancham Yadav will know his 2016 Rio Olympics fate on Thursday as the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) hearing failed to come to any decision today in New Delhi.

NADA likely to declare verdict on wrestler Narsingh Yadav's doping case on Thursday Related Video NADA likely to declare verdict on wrestler Narsingh Yadav's doping case on Thursday Subscribe To Zee News on The hearing to the 26-yearold's doping case started on Wednesday at NADA office in New Delhi with elaborate security arrangements as the

grappler's supporters turnedout in huge numbers.

Have put forward arguments before NADA.Nothing has been decided. Hearing adjourned till tomm-Narsingh Yadav's They shouted “Narsingh bhai Zindabad” and demanded a CBI enquiry into the matter.

The hearing lasted more than three hours, but the verdict will be delivered only tomorrow.

According to reports, the defence team cited at least couple of international examples, which are similar to Narsingh's case.

Narsingh's chances of participating in the upcoming Rio Olympics came under a

The 26-year-old ran into further trouble on Wednesday after it was announced that a second test conducted on July 5 has also returned a positive result.

The wrestler had claimed of a conspiracy to frame him and had filed a police report in this regard, although he refrained from naming anyone.

The WFI has named Praveen Rana in the reserve slot in case Narsingh is not able to participate in the Olympics.

Meanwhile, WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh today revealed the names of two junior wrestlers who are alleged to have spiked Narsingh's food with banned substances.

WATCH: EPIC! Here's who won after The Great Khali and Kane traded brutal chair shots New Delhi, July 28: Through the course of his WWE journey, The Great Khali was involved in some iconic battles with Kane.

Before the duo developed an intense rivalry, Kane had a first-hand experience of the Punjabi's strength.

The former made his way to the ring after Khali had just beaten CM Punk.

Both had chairs in their hands, with the excitement level of fans shooting through the roof.

Kane delivered a stinging chair shot on Khali, who recovered

in no time.

Just as Kane attempted an encore, Khali punched the chair out of his hands. Kane could not believe what he had just witnessed.

What Khali did next left the wrestling fans in true shock..

The Scorpion Returns defeated Neotan Football Club 5-1. The Scorpion Returns' centre forward Tumke Bagra (Bokey) scored a hatrick giving a big boost to the team's goal tally.

Tomorrow Mpen United will lock horn with Nayang in the first match while New Era will take on TFC in the second.

New Delhi: Rafa Nadal`s injury situation is "delicate" ahead of the Rio Olympics, according to Spanish team mate David Ferrer.

Nadal, a 14-time grand slam champion, has not played a competitive match since May 27 when a left wrist injury forced him to pull out of the French Open after the second round and miss Wimbledon.

World number four Nadal won gold in Beijing eight years ago and will be Spain`s flag bearer in Rio. "I will travel with Rafa on Sunday to Rio," Ferrer told Spanish radio Cadena Ser. "His situation is more delicate. It`s never easy to come back after an injury. We will

Rio Games 2016: Hopes rest on Usain Bolt to lead athletics out of doping darkness Rio de Janeiro, July 28: What you need to know about athletics at the Rio Olympics: + World athletics is counting on Jamaican superstar and six-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt told lead the sport out of its darkest hour amid doping and corruption scandals. "I accept the man is a genius. He`s probably the most recognisable sportsman or woman on the planet. It`s a high-class problem. Many sports would really like to be discussing a Usain Bolt in their ranks: they don`t and they can`t," said IAAF president Sebastian Coe who still believes that other track stars deserve the Rio spotlight. + Organised athletics can be traced back to the Ancient Olympic Games from 776 BC. The rules and format of modern athletics events were defined in Western Europe and North America in the 19th and 20th century, and then spread to other parts of the world. Athletics forms the backbone of the Summer Olympics after being first included in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, with women allowed to compete from 1928. + Athletics is overseen by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), founded in 1912, which has been plunged into its worst crisis by doping and corruption scandals affecting several countries and former leaders. "I feel the pain that we all feel at the moment because we love our sport. It`s

been painful to see where our sport is at the moment in public perception," IAAF president Sebastian Coe told AFP recently. + "Citius, altius, fortius" "faster, higher, stronger", the Olympic ethos perfectly summing up athletics, which will feature 47 events (24 for men, 23 for women - they skip the 50km race walk) from the blue riband 100m to the marathon. Running from August 12-21, track and field will feature 2,000 athletes (1,100 men and 900 women), each country limited to three athletes for individual events and a maximum of six for the relays. The venue is the revamped 47,000-capacity Olympic Stadium, while the marathon will finish at the Sambodrome and the race walks take place alongside the Pontal beach. + Aside from Bolt, much attention will be on any Russian athletes who manage to get to Rio. Doping cheat 800m runner turnedw h i s t l e b l o w e r Yu l i y a Stepanova had hoped to compete as a neutral after being accepted by the IAAF. But the IOC has said the Olympic Charter does not allow such a gesture even if they have invited Stepanova and her husband to Rio. Stepanova said the IOC decision was "unfair" and would put off future whistleblowers.

US-based Russian long jumper Dariya Klishina has been cleared to compete. (AFP)

see how he feels."

Roger Federer has pulled out of the Games due to a knee injury and Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic and others are skipping the event due to concerns about

the Zika virus.

"At the Olympics, you want to see all the players compete so it`s a shame," Ferrer said. "But our calendar is very tight and then there is the Zika issue."

Ferrer, 34, is looking to put a disappointing season behind him and is relishing the opportunity to play a third Olympics.

His form has dropped in 2016 and he fell out of the world`s top 10 in May for the first time in almost six years, before suffering a second-round exit at Wimbledon.

"After Wimbledon, I needed a break to regain my enthusiasm," Ferrer said. "It hasn`t been my best year, very irregular and I just haven`t shown my best.

"You can`t always be at your maximum level and every year is more difficult, but I believe I can give more. I know I can play and compete better." (Reuters)

Rio 2016: Note perfect Andy Murray ready for more Olympic glory London, July 29: Andy Murray has revealed the secret behind the personalised notes that fuelled his Wimbledon triumph and will inspire his bid for more Olympic glory.

Murray was often seen reading a sheet of paper in breaks between games as he marched to a historic second Wimbledon title in July.

The Scot offered a rare insight into the motivational scribblings after his success at the All England Club.

The 29-year-old, who has worked with a sports psychologist in the past, writes down important aspects of his game-plan to focus on during each match and sprinkles in inspirational reminders of his qualities.

As Murray prepares to defend the Olympics singles gold medal he won so memorably in London four years ago, the world number two will again turn to his notes for guidance in Rio. "They're personal notes.

Some of them stay the same the whole time. They're basic things I remind myself to do during the matches," Murray said.

"When I play my best tennis I feel like I'm doing these things. They would be like, Make sure you're moving your feet when you're nervous. People have a tendency when they're nervous to not move, not use their legs.

"I think when I play my best tennis, I do this, X, Y and Z, whatever it is on the notes. Then I have some notes of the tactics for the match.

"Sometimes when you're in the heat of a second set tiebreak in a slam final, it's easy to forget exactly what you're trying to do.

"Sometimes I just look at the tactics that I've written down for the match. I refer to them at change of ends. I find it helps me."

Murray's notes are typical of the perfectionist nature of the British star, who will travel to Brazil refreshed after a long break in the aftermath of his draining fortnight at Wimbledon.

His imperious march to the title culminated in a final victory over Milos Raonic which made him the first British man to win multiple All England Club crowns since Fred Perry in the 1930s.

Determined to recover mentally and physically in time for the Olympics, Murray opted out of Great Britain's Davis Cup quarter-final win over Serbia and also pulled out of the Toronto Masters 1000 event.

That will leave the threetime Grand Slam champion with no match action under his belt since Wimbledon.

Instead, Murray was due to fly to Mallorca to begin his

Olympic preparations with a 10-day training camp including practice time with injury-plagued Spanish star Rafael Nadal For all Murray's success at the majors, the Olympics will always retain a special place.

Having lost in a tearful Wimbledon final to Roger Federer, Murray returned to the All England Club weeks later to avenge that painful defeat.

Inspired by seeing Mo Farah and a host of other British athletes take gold on home turf, Murray routed Federer in the Olympic final -- becoming the first British man to win the singles gold medal in tennis since 1908.

He also earned a silver medal with Laura Robson in the mixed doubles.

It was a far cry from Murray's Olympic debut in 2008 when he suffered an embarrassing first round loss to Taiwan's Lu YenHsun in Beijing.

Murray has his sights set on taking home another medal from Rio. "You obviously want to try to win a medal. Yeah, I'm looking forward to it," Murray said.

"I love being involved in the Olympics, hopefully I can have a good run there."(AFP)

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