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ASSENG/2015/64205
PAGE 12
Vol. 1
Issue 320
Dibrugarh, Friday, April 29, 2016
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1. The spot at Devi Pukhuri where the blast took place, 2, 3 and 4 pictures of some of injured who were injured in the blast. Pic - Siddharth Singh
ULFA strikes back with vengeance 13 injured in twin blast carried out by Ulfa (I) cadres after Tinsukia business fraternity security forces eliminated a top field commander Mekuri panicked after crude bomb blast outside business house A day after one of its top field commanders was killed in an encounter with security forces in upper Assam’s Tinsukia district, cadres of the Ulfa (Ind) today struck and struck with vengeance by triggering twin blast in the district
which injured atleast 13 people and shook the entire security establishment of the insurgency prone district. The first incident took place at around 1.30 am this morning when suspected Ulfa (I) cadres triggered a blast in front of the residence of a tea planter at Guijan, which is in the outskirts of Tinsukia town and the
second incident which caused more injury was triggered at around 7.40 this evening in the Devi Pukhuri area in the heart of Tinsukia town. The second blast triggered such panic that there was also a rumour of the recovery of another bomb in the same Devi Pukhuri due to which bomb disposal squad of the army and police were
brought in. Infact, Tinsukia Superintendent of Police Mugdha Jyoti Mahanta accepted the fact that the twin attacks had been carried out by the outfit as an act of vengeance. Mahanta who visited the Devi Pukhuri area along with the deputy commissioner Puru Gupta, however, was quick to add that there is no
question of panic among the forces and the security forces stationed in the district will too go all out against the militants. “Take my words, we will not allow them any breathing space if they continue with such acts of terror, all the time targeting innocents and civilians”, Mahanta said before ‘The Eastern Today’ while in-
Massive peaceful rally taken out by Sarva Shiksha teachers in Itanagar A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Apr 28
Contd. on Page 3
Spl Correspondent Tinsukia, Apr 28 : All Assam Hindu Students Union on Thursday burned effigies of Prime Minisiter Narendra Modi and chief minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi at Gandhi Chow in Doomdooma. The organisation has blamed both the party for ignoring the hue and cry of people of Assam.
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Lalan Sahani, organizing secretary of the union said that before elections top leaders from both parties including central ministers visited Assam on daily basis and now when the people of Assam in under the wreak of flood no one cares to come and take stock of the situation. Not just that, prices of essential materials has surged like anything but the government has turned deaf just like the food and supply department. (Spl Correspondent)
Rishu Kalantri Tinsukia, Apr 28
Close on the heels of the gunning down of a listed Ulfa cadre in Tinsukia district, suspected militants hit back on the security establishment of the district taking advantage of a security lapse by detonating a
A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Apr 28
ET Correspondent Jorhat, Apr 28
United State's Consul General in Kolkata, Mr Craig L Hall calls on Chief Minister Kalikho Pul A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Apr 28
United State's Consul General in Kolkata, Mr Craig L Hall who called on Chief Minister Kalikho Pul today said that the US companies are keen in developing NE economy. He said that private companies of the United States are looking for ways, though difficult it seems, for more connectivity in the region so that pace of developmental activities in the region can be accelerated and added that they are very much interested to expand their business in NE India too. "In fact, the US govt is working with the Indian Govt to promote business relations with NE India" he said. Pointing to the big market of hydro-power and tourism potential of the state, he said reports of business opportunities of the state can be sent to the
United State's Consul General in Kolkata, Mr Craig L Hall calls on Chief Minister Kalikho Pul
Ambassador in Washington to encourage business in this direction. He put forward his opinion to the Chief Minister for global tendering of the hydro-power and infrastructure developments projects of the state, so that the advertisement
can also be sent to the business companies in US. Mr Craig also informed the CM that there are educational exchange programmes for teachers and professors between India and the United States, and the teachers & pro-
fessors from the state can take advantage of the programme. He informedthere is also a Youth Exchange Study (YES) programme for the high school students, Contd. on Page 3
crude bomb outside the residence of a businessman at Guijan. What is more surprising is the fact that incident took place just near a CRPF camp, which is on the outskirts of Tinsukia town in the wee hours on Thursday. Contd. on Page 4
Supposed internal Congress survey predicts 67 seats for party While the list of winners included three time Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, daughter of APCC chief Anjan Dutta but many senior leaders of the party like Barak valley strongman Gautam Roy were forecast to lose election. The survey results also predicted that BJP chief campaigner Himanta Biswa Sarma and chief ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonowal will bite the dust from their respective
Fake appointees asked to return money: Director Health, Assam
Carrying placards and shouting slogans of their charter of demands and on the injustice meted out to them, more than 3000 SSA teachers from federal units of all districts of the state arrived at the capital and marched from Akashdeep in Ganga Market to arrive at Indira Gandi Park.
Effigies burnt
Contd. on Page 4
A supposedly internal survey by the Assam Congress on the recently concluded Assam election party, which has been leaked to the media seems to have given several contestants some tense moment. The survey predicts that in Assam the Congress will win 67 seats, which is 4 seats more of a simple majority.
The Central Executive Committee, All Arunachal Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers’ Association (CEC, AASSATA) today held a massive peaceful protest rally against the failure of the state government to fulfill its demands.
ET CAPSULES
specting the blast site. Meanwhile, it has been learnt that 7 among the 13 has been shifted to the Assam Medical College and Hospitals (AMCH) in Dibrugarh for further treatment while the rest has been treated in Tinsukia.
A total of 87 appointees from two districts at the Department of Health Services of Jorhat and Lakhimpur who were found fake were asked to return their salary which they have drawn from department from the year 2014 to March 2016, states Dr Rathindra Nath Bhuyan, Director Health Services, Hengarabari, Dispur Assam vide by an official letter dated April 22 that was received by Dr Udayan Barua, I/C joint director health and family welfare, Jorhat and Lakhimpur respectively, informed Dr. Udayan Barua here today. The letter further stated and asked both the Joint directors from both the districts to recover the salary which they have received and further instructed to inform respective police station from where the fake candidates belongs to, as how come they have drawn salary from a government department without facing interview or following government advertisement or had received any appointment letter to dram a salary for over two years. It may be mentioned that out of 87, 84 hails from prestigious Assam Chief Minister district Jorhat, while three other hails
from Lakhimpur and it is to be noted that all the fake appointees having their family back ground from the Congress leaders, relatives of Health Department employees and relatives from journalistic fraternity, informs Dr, Udayan Barua,the joint director in charge. Dr. Barua further said that earlier in March 2016 a total of 5 employees from the Joint director health office, Jorhat was suspended after they were found guilty, they were Jyoti Dutta, Mala Phukan, Gono Govinda Kalita, Prabhat Saikia and a section of employees from Malaria office, Jorhat too had come to light. It came to light in the year February 2014 after which VV Solanki, the deputy commissioner of Jorhat under whose initiative the entire fake appointment racket came to light after AJYCP, Jorhat unit made fue and cry since then. Soon after DC’s interference a two member team from CM’s vigilance cell arrived Jorhat for enquiry which is still continuing as three month time was fixed from March 2016 to May 2016 for submission of the detail report which was instructed by the Chief Minister’s office, Dispur, informed Joint Director I/C Dr. Udayan Barua here.
constituency. With long gap of more than a month between the polls and results in Assam, parties in the fray are making tall claims of winning the election about which many analysts said is too close to call. This has been however outrightly rejected by candidates from all the political parties, and most have said that, this is just a prediction and anyone can make any prediction.
Raid at Amar Astha corporate office ET Correspondent Jorhat, Apr 28
Jorhat police raided the Amar Astha corporate office located at the busy MG road within the heart of Jorhat city following missing of its managing director Malabya Borpujari since first week of April. Police seized four computer sets, documents, cash and the laptop, said police. It may be mentioned that Malabya Borpujari the managing director of the Amar Astha went missing while coming from his Baligaon residence, later police recovered his Maruti car from Neematighat area which had storming the police for last 25 days as recovery and evidence still remain clueless, and had placed the police in an uphill task, informed senior police officials here.
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Spl Correspondent Tinsukia, Apr 28
DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, APRIL 29
PAGE 2 ASTRO FOR YOU Aries At times it is a good thing to be under pressure, because it brings out your potential to the fullest. You will outsmart all your colleagues in the work you do. However, results may not match your expectations. Taurus This day you are likely to make wasteful expenditure. You will be more reckless, extravagant than you can afford to be. Your expenses are sure to outweigh your income. Be as tightfisted as you can. Not buying anything unnecessary or too costly can help control losses. Think twice before you decide before purchasing anything. It would be a great idea if you avoided going to the malls or the markets today. Gemini You need to guard against hurting anyone’s feelings because of your ill-temper or harsh language. You need to help others in their troubles. You ought to reflect on the toll that the troubles that have visited you have taken on you, and accordingly empathise with others. Cancer Today, you may find yourself marooned in a sea of emotions, and the tides of turmoil will keep on getting stronger as the day progresses. However, such dire circumstances bring out the best in you, and you will be able to wade through the storm with nothing but patience on your side. Leo Decisions taken in haste will prove to be harmful. You need to carefully weigh the pros and cons of every decision that you take today, considering all the possible alternative thoroughly. You need to be extremely industrious on the work-front as well. You will feel very energetic and raring to go. However, you will run out of energy at the end of the day. Virgo Something you achieve in a most unexpected manner will make you very happy today. But your happiness may possibly be marred by getting agitated about the problems you are facing. You may expect new funds for new projects. Your business will flourish today. Libra Working for the government is always a key responsibility. But today of all days proves to be fabulous and phenomenal for all those in government service. Your actions will translate into accomplishment and you may rest assured that you shall be duly recognized and rewarded for your meritorious service. Keep your ears and eyes open and your lips preferably sealed, your bosses may wish to confide and speak confidential matters to you. Scorpio Your business associates will emerge as intangible assets for you today. You will probably start off an innovative joint venture without any doubt or indecision. Hard work and enthusiasm are always a good combination for achieving success. Your skill and business sense will bring you positive feedback from your seniors. Sagittarius You take the path of spirituality for the peace of mind and to stay away from the daily humdrum of life. You will not only seek love, but also spread love around you. In a nutshell, a pleasant day in store for you. Capricorn Aren’t you tired of doing the same thing again and again? Come out of your shell and breathe in some fresh air. Moving to a bigger and better house is on the cards for you. It will take a major chunk out of your savings, but you are not complaining. You are not a spendthrift. You understand that money can’t buy you everything, but it can certainly add to your comforts. Aquarius You have managed to carve a niche for yourself. Today, you may see the tangible benefits of all your past hard work. But business rivals may poke and pinch; even your health may trouble you. However, you will manage to smile and take things in the right spirit. Pisces You will experience mixed feelings today. On one hand tension and stress about how to set a deteriorating situation right will keep you worried, and on the other hand you will be in a mood to accept things for what they are. What you learn now will be very vital in your development, and will help you progress and become a better person in the future.
PRASAR BHARATI (India's Public Service Broadcaster) ALL INDIA RADIO : DIBRUGARH (M.W.529.1m/KHz567 F.M. 101.30 MHz) Phone No.-03732325456 E-mail -dibrugarh@air.org.in Facebook Page-All India Radio Dibrugarh Programme Highlights 29-4-16 (FRIDAY) 5-35 A.M-Bhaktigeeti(Devotional Songs) 6-10 A.M-Swasthya Charcha (Health Programme) 6-30 A.M-Vidyarthir Anusthan 7-15 A.M-Aajir Dinto (Morning Information Service) 7-30 A.M-Geetanjali(Assamese Modern Song) 8-35 A.M-Surar Panchoi(Composite Programme of Assamese Film Songs) 9-05 A.M- Antara (Composite Programme of Hindi Film Songs) 12-05 P.M-Surar Satosori (Request Assamese Songs Programme) 1-10 P.M-Troops Programme 2-30 P.M-Western Music 3-45 P.M-Programme in Mizu Mishmi 4-05 P.M-Programme in Khamti 4-25 P.M-Programme in Wancho 5-00 P.M-Programme in Idu 5-20 P.M-Programme in Tangsa 5-40 P.M-Programme in Nocte 6-15 P.M-Ganya Raijor Anusthan (Rural Programme) 7-15 P.M-Karpumpuli (Mishing Language Programme) 7-35 P.M-Ujjal Bhabishyat (Career Related Talk) 8-00 P.M-Parikrama (Regional News Unit's Programme) 9-30 P.M-Kramasha (Serial Novel Reading: Jangam) Sd-/H.O.P 10-00 P.M-Question Hour in Parliament
Prashant Mishra takes charge of DRM at Tinsukia Spl Correspondent Tinsukia, Apr 28: Prashant Mishra has assumed charge as Divisional Railway Manager of Tinsukia division. Out - going DRM of Tinsukia division Aneet Daulat handed him charge on Wednesday. It has been learnt that previously Prashant Mishra was posted at railway hq New Delhi as GGM corporate finance at dedicated freight corridor (DFCCIL). It may be mentioned Aneet Daulat during his tenure had achieved great heights in cleanliness and was known for quick action on complaints. However, illegal commercial vehicle loading and unloading at old railway station parking
lot and deviation from Rajdhani menu between Dibrugarh and Guwahati has not much changed in his ten-
ure despite his actions. It will be important to see what action does new DRM takes on the same.
Prag Cine Award to be conferred at Tezpur ET Correspondent Tezpur, Apr 28 : The mega event of North Eastern region in the cultural field the “Prag cine Award” giving function will be held at culture capital Tezpur with a two day programme on May 14 and 15. Terming Tezpur as state’s nerve centre for the culture and known for specially acclaimed cultural place like Rupkwonr’s practicum, Assam’s first Cinema Hall ‘Joonaki’, POKI, Ban Theatre etc. and it’s beautiful landscapes will be dignified through this mega event, the organizers informed that the award was instituted by Prag Television Channel in the year 2003 to recognize and honour the cultural accomplishment of Assamese cinema. “Last year the award giving function was held in Dibrugarh, the Tea City of India wherein the lifetime Achievement Award was given to Bishnu Kharghoria. The PCA event has been telecasted in Prag News across the nation.” The organizers said mentioning
this time the award will cover 17 Assamese cinema, three cinemas on different languages of Assam and 4 other cinemas of north east region. On the first day of the two day programme, the technical side will be covered while on the next day remaining parts will be covered. The life time achievement award will this time be conferred on Bidya Rao while an award christened as “Golden Icon” will be given to Bollywood Actress Dipannita Sharma. Besides these schedule, programmes of cinema artist Joya Shill and noted tabla player Bikram Ghosh and special cultural events of Jubin Garg, Angarag Papon mahanta, Dikshu, Priyanka Bharali, and Babu will also be major attraction of the very cultural event. In this programme some of the Tezpur based artists will specially be felicitated. Organizers expect cooperation from every walk of the society to make the event a grand success.
Cong Kamalpur candidate Pranjit Choudhury's bail plea rejected A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Apr 28: In a major setback for Congress leader and Congress candidate from the Kamalpur constituency, the Gauhati High Court today rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Congress leader Pranjit Choudhury, who has been accused of raping a 23-yearold. A post-graduate student of Gauhati University had lodged an FIR against Choudhury, alleging that he had exploited her physically after promising to marry her.
Based on the girl's FIR, the police had charged Choudhury with rape under Sections 376 and 420 of the IPC. The girl gave her statement to Kamrup (metro) chief judicial magistrate in which, according to court sources, she mentioned that Choudhury had lured her into physical intimacy with promises of marriage. Choudhury is absconding immediately after the case was registered. Police teams conducted searches at many places but failed to locate hi
Organization demand compensation from Govt. of Assam for Tawang landslide victims
Shambhu Boro Dhekiajuli, Apr 28: Urging the state government to show at least the slightest sympathy towards the families of the Tawang incidents victims, Ashok Singhal a candidate for the recent state Assembly election contesting on a BJP card from the 71 No- Dhekiajuli LAC demanded the state government to provide the compensation to those unfortunate families. Recently after visiting the bereaved families in the Dighaljuri village falling under his contesting Assembly segment in Sonitpur District expressed his deep condolence to the dead soul. Talking to this reporter, Singhal said that the state government is not providing any assistance to these families. “These families are citizen of Assam and the Assam government should show their responsibility towards their subjects, as it is their moral responsibility.” He said further urging the owner of the five-star Hotel also to provide compensation to these families as these fateful lives had to
embrace premature death while they were busy in construction work in the multicrore project site. It is to be mentioned here that the child of one of the victims Jiten Orang reading in class VI has now become support less after his father’s demise in the Tawang landslide insident. However, Singhal assured that he would take his entire academic responsibility till his class ten standard. “I have provided an assistance of Rs. 5000/- to each family.” He said adding the BJP run Arunachal Pradesh government has also provided Rs. 5 lacs to each of the victim family already. “Moreover, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also announced an amount of Rs. 2 lacs to these families as compensation.” He further stated and added that at this juncture the state government is yet to show sincerity towards these families. “At least at the moment of their exit, congress should carryout the minimum responsibility towards these unfortunate people, otherwise it will be
their sin.” He said with a satirical note. On the otherhand, Rana Pratap Baruah, state General Secretary of AJYCP expressing his sharp reaction over state government non-providing of any kind of assistance to these victim families till date he said that the Assam government should be aware that only because of not getting employment opportunity within Assam these poor people have to go outside on search of job to feed their families. ‘So it should be the first and foremost responsibility of the concerned government to provide aid to these families. Despite the announcement of compensation by the central government and the Arunchal government, Assam government is yet to show their accountability in this regard.” He alleged. Condemning to such reluctant attitude shown by the congress led Assam government to this issue he further demanded to take initiative in this concern without any delay.
Bamboo bridge torch led public protest in Kokrajhar ET Correspondent Kokrajhar, Apr 28: Even though the government and district administrations never built any bridge to the welfare for the common public of greater Chechpani area and failed to protect public property, unidentified miscreants torched a public built Bamboo bridge late last night in Kokrajhar district,which has led public throng to protest the incident on Thursday morning and demanded early inquiry into incident. Hundreds of commuters from 57 villages of greater Chechapani area West of Kokrajhar town, thronged at bridge spot and expressed their anger and resented over the torched a Bamboo bridge built by publics along the Gaurang River by unidentified
miscreants. The bridge which has been facilitating daily through and fro for connecting peoples from greater Chechapani area to Kokrajhar district headquarter. The incident took place at Sashanghat along Gaurang River behind Railway Bridge in Kokrajhar late last night and suspected that it was penetrated by unidentified miscreants. Common publics from protested the incident and demanded early inquiry into incident to nab the involved culprits. Publics alleged that government and district administration have failed to protect public property and taking necessary measure against unwanted situation. Jabhan Akandh,villager of Chechapani said, ‘Unknown
miscreants torched the Bamboo bridge built by publics late last night in Kokrajhar,of which why commuters,school going children along the bridge have been
suffered today’. It was unfortunate incident for the citizens,because the government and district administration never think building of bridge and
People held J K M responsible for large scale flood damage at Harangajao ET Correspondent Haflong April 28 : Serious concern and anguish was expressed by the people of Harangajao who have lost their dwelling houses by landslides and flood during last week only due to wanton earth cutting and dumping of earth haphazardly by the JKM construction company in the name of NH 54 E construction at Harangajao. People alleged that the J K M company which was engaged for the construction of NH 54 E ( East - West Corridor from Saurastra to Silchar) has been cutting earth and dumping at upper side of the village without taking any precautionary measure as a result of which the villagers have been suffering a lot caused by such landslide and flood which even caused serious damage to the dwellings for last three years. They have repeatedly approached the J K M company for the remedy but their appeal remained unheard. During recent landslides and flood due to
J K M's fault several houses, Sunflower School, LJV institution of Education were damaged and several livestock were lost. Talking to the media people said if the J K M does not built any protection wall at upper side of the village where the J K M was cutting earth for the construc-
tion then they would have to suffer for each year. They also said the J K M authority in many occasions had assured them to do the needful so that they would not suffer, but never materialised. Local Member of Autonomous Council, Sri Amendu Hojai held the J K M com-
pany responsible for the sufferings of the Damadi Hawar area of Harangajao as he feels it was only due to company's wrong and wanton earth cutting in the name mahasarak construction. He also said he would soon approach the Deputy Commissioner for apprising him and to provide relief to them.
failed to protect public properties. The involved culprits should be identify and punish as soon possible and make suitable connectivity for the commuters, he demanded. Ranjit Das, another resident along the bridge expressed resented said that it was an act of anti-peace loving persons for the area. Communication for residents from all walks life was disrupted totally through the bridge following incident. He has demanded stern action against involved persons and punished. Meanwhile,district administration and police official rushed the spot to take stock of the situation. ‘Investigation into incident is on and involved culprits would be nabbed in earliest’, said a senior police officer.
3rd in T3 Race ET Correspondent Golaghat, Apr 28: Arindam Saikia of Golaghat has brought laurel to the state after being 3rd in Desert Storm Competition . As per the information Northern Motor Sports organised Desert Storm event in association with Maruti Suzuki recently in Rajasthan. The participants apart from India , Austria too joined the same and they were 104 in numbers . The race was about 2200 km covering most of Rajasthan . Arindam Saikia of Golaghat won 3rd position in T3 category and won the fastest stage in overall . He is the son of Tea Industrialist Nepul Saikia and Lady Business Tycoon Rakhi Saikia . People are congratulating the family for the success. (Correspondent)
DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, APRIL 29
PAGE 3 Governor condoles and takes up with his counterpart A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Apr 28: The Governor of Arunachal Pradesh Shri JP Rajkhowa has condoled the demise of Ms Marnya Doye, who was found dead in her apartment on 26th April 2016 in Raigad, Maharashtra. Conveying grief and concern of the people of the State over the sudden death of Ms Doye under mysterious circumstances, the Governor took up the case with his counterpart, Shri Chennamaneni Vidyasagar Rao, Governor of Maharashtra and requested him for his intervention for a prompt and thorough investigation, while expressing hope that the Government of Maharashtra and its State Police will take necessary steps for detailed investigation in the case. The Governor also requested his counterpart to extend necessary assistance for bringing back the mortal remains to Arunachal Pradesh.
Tawang infuriated over insult of Tawang Monastery's Abbot ET Bureau Tawang, Apr 28: A public meeting called by PRI representatives of Tawang district witnessed massive public participation. The meeting, was conducted at Kalawangpo convention hall. The meeting was organised in view of the voice message circulated on WhatsApp by Lobsang Gyatso alias Anda Lama for prying the Abbot of Tawang Monastery, HE Guru Tulku Rinpoche. In the audio cilp Lobsang Gyatso has abused and threatened Guru Rinpoche to stay away from the Hydro Power issues in Tawang district The gathering was a show
because it is the fountainhead of Buddha dhrama in the region and secondly, the Abbot is directly appointed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself.
of solidarity by the masses particularly the Buddhist community of Tawang and to protest the unruly com-
ment made by Lobsang Gyatso on the Abbot of Tawang Monastery. For the Monpa community at large
and the Buddhist around the world, the seat of the Abbot of Tawang Monastery is considered sacred mainly
All the speakers strongly condemned the impudent remark made by Lama Gyatso. ZPC Tawang Jambey Tsering in his closing address to a 700 odd crowd gathered in the hall said, “We had to call the meeting at the earliest inorder to prevent any law and order problem in the district as the audio clip has deeply hurt the sentiments of the peace loving people of Tawang”. He further allged that, “Such loose
talks was only made to distrub the peace in Tawang and instigate communal violence”. Ex ZPM Dangsang, in his speech categorically questioned the credibility of said Lama Lobsang Gyatso and his unruly behaviour that had led his expulsion from his parent monastery Sera Je and also from Jamyang Choekorling Monastery at Tawang where he joined later. He condemned the acts of Lama Lobsang Gyatso’s threatening the abbot of Tawang monastery as being irresponsible and rowdy particularly for a person like Lobsang Gyatso who adorns a buddhist
monk’s robe. Later the participants of the meeting gathered in the Tawang DC’s office and apprised the DC of the serious implication that the clip may have among the local populace and demanded immediate arrrest of the offender Lobsang Gyatso. Thereafter they lodged an FIR against Lobsang Gyatso in Tawang Police Station. The meeting was attended by all strata of society - PRI representatives, GBs, ZPMs, Public Leaders, NGOs, Govt. Officers and the general populace.
DC Manages to Pay Ex-Gratia to Victims State Level Pastors’ Training Programme underway at of Telam Sumo Accident in Advance CRC, Naharlagun Aalo, Apr 28: The West Siang Deputy Commissioner Shri Pige Ligu has distributed Ex. Gratia payments to all family members of Telam Sumo accident victims as per announcements of the state Chief Minister in his Office Chamber today. Family member of late Yimar Ango, Dagyom Ango and Lt. Rejom Ingo who lost their lives were handed over Rs. 3,00000.00 each while critically in-
jured Shri Horge Ango Rs. 1,00000.00 and injured Shri Kiba Ingo, Shri Kido Naso, Shri Geba Ingo, Shri Itum Jini, Shri Renya Ingo, Shri Lijom Ango were handed over Rs. Rs. 50,000.00 each through witness from the village Shri Minrik Nosi Advocate and Smti Jumpe Ingo, UDC. Consoling the family of the victims, the DC said that the amount has been managed from available
sources to meet up the immediate need for treatment in anticipation of sanction from the Govt. that will take some more time. Rs.8.50 lac could be paid to all family members who turned up and Rs.4.50 lac has been kept ready for distribution at any time. They victims family were also asked to submit police verification and post mortem reports to process the Ex- gratia amount from the Govt.
CM Pul released DC Convenes Meeting 'ICMR-INdia Diabetes' on Proposed Bandh Call by WSTMC Aalo, Apr 28: The West Siang Deputy Commissioner, Shri Pige Ligu has called an urgent meeting with HODs and line departments to take stock of the proposed series of bandh calls given West Siang Trans Arunachal Highway Monitoring Committee on deteriorating Aalo- Basar road condition today.
A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Apr 28: Chief Minister Kalikho Pul released the book, "ICMR-INdia DIAbetes (INDIAB) Study Arunachal Pradesh amidst the presence of Dr Moji Jini, Director of Health Services, Dr Moromor Lego, Director of Family Welfare, P N Thungon, Mission Director NHM among other officers of the Health & Family Welfare Department at Chief Minister's Office on Tuesday. While releasing the book, Chief Minister said that the study had thrown lights on the health burden due to diabetes in Arunachal Pradesh and it will help plan measures for both control and prevention of diabetes in the state where the study is completed. On the occasion he advised the people of the state to have healthy life style of good nutrition, exercise and fitness through medita-
tion, yoga and pranayanam to prevent and over come the menace of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) citing that the present change of lifestyle by the people in both urban and rural due to modern way of life and technologies have greatly impacted on the general health of the people with the rising trend of NCDs like diabetes, hypertension, cancer and stroke which have become chronic and expensive for high cost treatments and management by the individual/ family. After briefly going through the study, CM said that there is a need for having awareness programme to improve the knowledge about diabetes and its complications among the general population. As the study shows that Arunachla Pradesh has 5.2% of overall weighted prevalence of diabetes and 12.8% of prediabetes.
Nearly 76.3% of the urban residents and 60.5% of the rural residents in Arunachal Pradesh said that they knew about a condition called diabetes. One of the important findings identified through this study is the significant gap in the knowledge level of diabetes and its related complications among the general population and self reported diabetic subjects. Overall 76.1% of self reported diabetic subjects said that diabetes can affect other body organs and only 31.2% of general population said that diabetes can affect other body organs. It was revealed that the prevelance of hypertension and metallic syndrome were also higher in urban areas compared to rural areas whereas prevalence of dyslipidemia is higher in rural areas .In terms of glycemic control, rural areas of Arunachal Pradesh has poorer glycemic compared to urban areas.
The DC disclosed that all efforts have been made to start the construction works through personal rapport with the T.K. Engineering to even without fund in the past. The delay in working out the compensation packages of the said road and its return for rectifications has been finalized and
sent back to Govt. and effort is on to tie up with the MOS Home to get it cleared soon. He asked the DLR&SO, AE Highway and EE PWD to come up with their clear cut explanations in detail on the status of road works to general masses in detail in the proposed meeting with the agitating leaders of Aalo on 30th April meeting. The EE PWD has been asked to explain and make it public on allocation of Rs. One crore by the Govt. to undertake the repairing and renovation works in the said road. The SP Aalo. DSP, EAC Judicial and others were present on the occasion.
United State's Consul General in Kolkata, Mr Craig L Hall calls on Chief Minister Kalikho Pul Contd. from Page 1
who canundergo one year study in US under this educational exchange programme and for that the student has to applyto the US Consulate Office in Kolkata. He said that he would be happy to see more applications and proposals from the high school studentsof the state applying for study in US under YES. On repeated claims of China over Arunachal Pradesh and some part of Assam, the Consul General said that the US Govt is very clear that Arunachal is an integral part of India. He observed that India's Look East Policy can be strengthened if road connectivity in the region is developed well, as Arunachal is located in a strategically important position having long international borders with China, Myanmar and Bhutan. Discussing on various issues pertaining to development of the state and NE Region, Chief Minister Kalikho Pul sought the support of the United States in developing road connectivity and harnessing hydropower of the state. He informed that Arunachal has the potential of
generating one-third of India's power needs and said, "United States can use their technology of generating hydro power in the state". He said, "Western investors should feel free to invest in Arunachal". He also sought the help of the US for helping the state in capacity building, particularly in training, support and equipments for dealing with Natural Disasters as the state is vulnerable to natural calamities being located in a high-seismic zone with hilly terrain and undulating topography with highvolume, high-intensity rainfall. Chief Minister on his part called to make the educational exchange programmes more periodic and regular between the students of United States and Arunachal Pradesh so as to enable more students of the state to avail of the opportunity. Chief Minister further sought the assistance of the United States in getting loans from the Asian Development Bank and other world's banks for various development projects in the state. He also asked the United States government to check and help in rectifying the world wide Google Maps wherein China has indicated Arunachal and some parts of Assam as a part of China.
A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Apr 28: Christian Revival Church Naharlagun, the mother church of Arunachal Pradesh Christian Revival Church Council is hosting and organizing a 3 day long State Level Training of the pastors for all the pastors of Christian Revival churches spread across the state get started at church’s premises today with President of APCRCC Rev. Dr. Nyakdo Tasar inaugurating the event in presence of chief guest Laisam Simai, MLA Nampong and guest of honour Balo Raja, former MLA Palin. The Training programme is being participated by pastors of around 648 churches from 13 district unit councils of APCRCC including the host Papum Pare, TawangWest Kameng, East Kameng, Lower Subansiri, Upper Subansiri, Kurung Kumey, East Siang, West & Upper Siang, Lower Siang, Dibang Valley, LohitAnjaw-Namsai, Changlang, and Tirap-Longding, besides from the various revival churches of the capital complex. Chief Guest Laisam Simai in his speech talked on the importance of
godly leadership and opined that becoming a leader could be easy but maintaining the true spirit of leadership is crucial. He endorsed the need of such trainings, in line of church oriented leadership. He further said that pastors have shepherding role which is of immense responsibilities that take along all the believers in one accord and encouraged the pastors to be role models. Balo Raja who attended as guest of honour, exhorted the participants to be disciplined, diligent and dedicated leaders and stressed that a good leader should know their members by face and names. As a pastor one should be careful about their dress and conducts. He expressed his optimistic hope that this training programme will benefit many in many aspects. Former President of APCRCC Tarh Kama in his short exhortation dwelt briefly on the significance of leading a disciplined and prayerful life by pastors. Earlier, organizing secretary of the programme Dr. David Pertin gave the welcome speech while chairing
the inaugural session. Pastor Hillang Taya in his speech narrated briefly the importance and significance of the conduct of the training as the programme is a divinely oriented one. Secretary of the host church Tad Akin proposed the vote of thanks. Later on the day, 5 technical sessions were conducted wherein Rev. Dr. Nyakdo Tasar, Pastor Hillang Taya and Evan. Vikhedo Seyie dwelt in length on various topics as resource persons. Among others, APCRCC leaders, APCRC Women wing Vice-President Gitani Tayeng, Director of Outreach Mission Evan. Dr. Joram Dol, Papum Pare district council secretary Evan. Tami Tachang, Reverends, pastors and evangelists from various churches attended. The three daylong training will cover varied topics including principles of leadership, basic responsibilities of pastors, ordinances and rites, delegations, restoration, pastoral care, laymen’s ministry, church’s finance and accountability, lifestyle and character, ministry gifts, besides many activities.
Massive peaceful rally taken out by Sarva Shiksha teachers in Itanagar Contd. from Page 1
In an attempt to send out their message in a peaceful manner to the state government, the teachers also released around 1500 balloons in the air. Speaking to the media, CEC AASSATA president Tagru Kasha reiterated the demands of the total 6,527 SSA teachers and informed that the SSA teachers of the state were fighting for three legitimate points, which included one-go regularization of SSA teachers of the entire state, implemen-
tation of the Right to Education Act as per revised norms, and enhancement of salaries and their disbursement on a monthly and regular basis. Additionally, they also demanded setting up the Opak Gao Committee to look into the matter. When questioned on whether they had received the recently released SSA teachers’ salary of Rs 1009.84 lakhs (Approximately a little above Rs 10 crore) as announced by Chief Minister Kalikho Pul on April 19 last, the teachers claimed that they are yet to receive
the salary in their accounts. Kasha also said that the pending salaries in fact amount somewhere close to Rs 15 crore and not Rs 10 crore. Further, Kasha informed that if their demands are not fulfilled, the teachers would head for a second round of protest in front of the Civil Secretariat from May 23 to 25 next. “We shall not succumb to hollow assurances this time around and head for a pens/tools down strike in the first week of June if our demands are neglected”, he added.
DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, APRIL 29
PAGE 4
Attack on Tinsukia senior scribe condemned ET Correspondent Margherita, Apr 28: Margherita Journalist's Association have condemned the attack on Saroj Gohain a senior Journalist of Tinsukia few days ago. Margherita Journalist's Association President Ram Prasad Ambedkar and General Secretary Rana Jyoti Neog said that attack on journalist's is a shameful work because journalist's are the mirror of society as well as the fourth pillar of democracy.The journalists work day and night for the
development and prosperity of our country and society but for the anti social elements we journalists are the first victim, said Rana Jyoti Neog. We appeal to the administration to provide all medical facilities to Saroj Gohain and those who are involved in this brutal incident should be given strict punishment by the law said Ram Prasad Ambedkar and Rana Jyoti Neog both President and General Secretary of Margherita Journalist's Association.
Road mishap kills 1, injured three ET Correspondent Kokrajhar, Apr 28: Atleast a person was died and three others received injuries at a road mishap at Didwmpara area on April 17 under Bishmuri police outpost in Kokrajhar district. According to villagers of Dudwmpara off lately, two bikes coming from opposite sides head on collided on April 17 last evening, leaving a person died and others three received injuries .The bikes' registration bearing no.AS16-8974 and AS15B-1367. The died was identified as Chandrasingh Basumatary of Taigirguri. Injures were admitted to
AJYCP stages sit-in-strike in Lakhimpur
hospital, included Bhumika Basumatary, daughter of Chandrasingh; Subung Basumatary alias Pilot and Dengkhw Basumatary alias Dhunu.
Demand for immediate repairing of embankments: AAUA submits memorandum
An FIR has been lodge at police with registration no.228/2016, under section (u/s) 279/338/304 (A) IPC. However, local residents alleged that police has not been conducted any investigation into mishap, besides rescued the mishap bikes from the spot till today, because two bikes are lying on the mishap spot. They also demanded early investigation into incident and rescued of the bikes from spot.
ET Correspondent Lakhimpur, Apr 28: The people of Lakhimpur are to suffer a lot due to massive flood in the forthcoming days. It is feared because several embankments at different location have been lying either in breeched or deplorable condition or in incomplete state of repair in the district till the date. It remains so due to negligible behaviour of the District Office of the Water Resource Department of the State. Therefore the Lakhimpur
Immense hardship to commuters in Nagaon due to traffic congestion ET Correspondent Nagaon, Apr.28: Traffic congestion in Nagaon town has caused immense hardship to commuters and general public consuming their time and patience, sometimes even posing danger to life and vehicles. Most of the days in recent times the AT road stretching from Haibargaon Police Point to Natun Bazar Police Point, a stretch of about two and a half kilometres is facing acute form of congestion especially during peak hours. Traffic Police sources citing reasons behind this congestion maintain that during last few years number of three wheelers and four wheelers has increased many fold in Nagaon town whereas width of main road has remained same; and without any scope
nance in the State, introduction of inter-state permit, introduction of bi-citizenship to the people of Assam, declaration of flood and erosion of the state as 'National Problem' etc are demanded through the protest program. District President Pradip Sarmah, President and Secretary of North Lakhimpur Regional body, Jyoti Das and Mustafa Ahmed respectively along with many other activists of the district and the regional bodies were present in the program.
ET Correspondent Lakhimpur; Apr 28: The Lakhimpur District body of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Parishad today staged a sitin-strike program in front of Lakhimpur DC Office for 2 hours from 10am 12pm. The program was administered by Saurabh Das, the District Secretary, as the part of 365 day-long Strike Agenda from January 1 to December 31of this year declared by the Central Committee of the organisation. Introduction of pure autonomous gover-
to widen it, no alternative roads are also in sight so as to use it to lessen load on the main road, as a result traffic congestion has taken a menacing form. Moreover, some unscrupulous persons have opened public vehicle stands on the main road that compound the congestion and woes of the public. These persons have opened such stands unauthorized and block the road sometimes by haphazard movement of their vehicles. There are many such illegally set up bus stands near Morigaon bus syndicate, Nagaon college traffic stand, Marwaripatty, Jayashree Hall, Panigaon Chariali etc. where Travellers, Super buses, Auto-rickshawas, 709 buses etc. manoeuvre and
negotiate roads in front of them blocking major parts of it. Apart from it, large number of rickshaws plying in Nagaon town also adds to the woes of the commuters. There are, too, many hotels, business establishments, offices, nursing homes standing on the road which have no parking places of their own. As a result, customers coming on vehicles to these establishments use roads as parking places, leaving only one lane for vehicles coming from both sides to pass. Concerned citizens here feel that administration should take proper steps to clear main road from traffic congestion so as to make movement of vehicles smooth.
district body of the All Assam Unemployed Association, therefore called in the Executive Engineer of the office yesterday and submitted a memorandum with five fold demands to him. The organisation, through strongly demanded to repair those breeched, deplorable embankments and to complete the repairing works within a short span of time. Binod Das, the District President informed that the organisation demanded the immediate repairing of the
eroded portion by river Subansiri at Dhunaguri and Baligaon, deplorable portion of Ranganadi embankment at Borbil and Kharkati area. The organisation suggested to flow back the mainstream of the river Shingara which diverted at Phoolbari area threatening to breech the embankment near Bharalua Maszid. Moreover, the organisation demanded to cease to dig the sandy soil just nearer to the embankment of Kakoi river for repairing work.
ET Correspondent Sivasagar, Apr 28: Burglars ransacked two apartments including that of senior journalist Atanu Borah and decamped with cash and jewelleries near the ASTC bus stand at the heart of Sivsagar town on Thursday. Police said both incidents took place on the second floor of two attached rented flats of the same building at around 11 am. The burglars entered into the flats of Atanu Borah and Satyen Borah by breaking the door locks. According to Atanu Borah's
wife Purobi, her husband was out at that time while she was at a gym. The other victim was also not at home. After arriving she found the door locks broken. When she got inside she discovered that two steel almirahs were broken and about ten thousand cash and a few jewellery item missing. The burglars also broke the steel almirah of the other flat but did not steal anything. The occupant had moved into the flat just a few days back and had kept very few items. Both of them have filed a police complaint.
shelter in another section of the garden. The injured were initially treated at the garden’s hospital and was later shifted to Sonari for better treatment. Meanwhile, the garden authorities had taken up the matter with the forest department after which a team of forest officials visited the incident site and took stock of the situation. It might be mentioned another worker too was injured during yet another attack by the same leopard in the garden on April 12. The forest department has now decided to lay a trap to capture the animal, an official said.
Gormur central funeral ground a garbage dumping ground
Carrying dead body is at a
risk as the only road that lead to the ground is packed with dumping garbage in front and sides of the stretched road, said Dilip Agarwala, the secretary of the management committee. Complain has been place to Rana Goswami, who is the MLA of Jorhat and also the chairman of the management committee, who had earlier complain to the Jorhat Deputy Commissioner about the condition of the funeral ground area which is one of the sacred place for the people of Central Jorhat and areas that comprises of
Lightening Killed one , injured another
CBI officials raided DRDA Office at Tezpur. Pic - UB Photos ET Correspondent Tezpur, Apr 28: A CBI team today raided the office of the Sonitpur DRDA. During the one hour raid, the two member team of the highest in-
Contd. from Page 1
ET Correspondent Sonari, Apr 28: Sensation prevails in Sonari and its adjoining areas after five persons were injured in a leopard attack in adjacent Tiok tea estate today. Sources said that the attack by a huge leopard took place at around 8 this morning upon a group of workers who were plucking leaves in the No. 4 section of the tea estate. The workers injured in the leopard attack are Jinu Tasa (35), Malati Sahu (45), Saraswati Bhumij (20), Dhurba Nayak (30) and Krishna Kahar (28). After attacking the workers, the leopard took
JMB chairman Ms Aruna Dutta and its vice-chairman Anup Ghosh Dostidar both from BJP elected member from ward no.1 and 17 respectively, in spite of being from the BJP elected Town committee the present JMB, who instead of making Clean India, the JMB started creating massive air-polluted area and making people sick, which as a result creating a uphill task for people coming to funeral ground during the hours of sadness and tragedy that happens at an hour of the day.
Sushanta Roy Diphu Apr 28: Rajesh Tisso, president of Karbi Farmers Association, a Diphu based NGO has filed a case at Diphu police station against the Executive Engineer, PWD Diphu Roads Division, Jewel Timung today, charging him of committing misappropriation of public money. Rajesh Tisso has informed the media that information obtained through RTI application has revealed that Jewel Timung is involved in drawing and disbursement of rupees 2 crore against nonexistent roads within his jurisdiction. Case number 85/16 under section 420, 120 (B)/409 IPC has been registered against Timung who is presently engaged in both NRC and Assam legislative assembly election duty in addition to his regular duty. Till filing of this report police has not initiated any action against Jewel Timung.
vestigative agency interrogated the project director of the development agency, Munin Sharma regarding the implementation of fund allotted for the IAY house.
ET Correspondent Mangaldai April 28 : One Jilmil Begam (45) , an unmarried lady , a tailor by profession and a resident of village Bordoulguri under Sipajhar Police Station in Darrang district has been killed while another girl Nayana Devi (20)of the same locality sustained injuries when lightening struck them at around 9 am today during a moderate downpour . The injured was immediately rushed to the nearby Sipajhar Primary Health Centre and her condition has been stated to be stable at the time of filing of this report.
Thieves loot ULFA strikes back journalist's with vengeance residence
5 injured in leopard attack in Sonari
ET Correspondent Jorhat, Apr 28: At a time when a section of Jorhatians are trying to keep their city clean and tidy, with the initiative taken by Narendra Modi’s ‘Clean India’ project throughout the country, at the same time the elected authority of Jorhat Municipality Board (JMB) led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) committee has been dumping here and there with garbage collected from its different 20 wards, alleges Gormur Central funeral ground management committee president O P Dhoot here today. Mr. Dhoot heavily flayed the
CBI raids Sonitpur DRDA office
NGO activist sues PWD engineer
Hindu Bengalis, Assamese, Marwaries, Biharies, Nepalese which is also the official funeral ground for defence personnel from Indian Air Force, Indian Army, Assam Rifles, Para-troopers, CRPF, Indian Railways, ONGC, OIL India etc., said Dr. Deepak Chakraborty, the secretary of Charitable Trust at the funeral ground premises. Informing this correspondent, representative from JMB who is looking after the garbage removal works the ward commissioner from ward no. 15 Hriday Bora said
due to incessant rain the garbage gas to be dump at the roadside as vehicles could not move deep into the low lying areas these days. But as the weather condition improves since today we have already started to clear the garbage with JCBs from today itself and it will be cleared within a day or two, and further asked the committee to have patience as we from JMB side understand the sentiment of the people visiting the funeral ground during hours of pain and sorrow, said the Ward Commissioner Mr. Hriday Bora
The bomb suspected to be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded inside a garbage bin in front
of a shop owned by one Upendra Yadav in the highly commercialized area. The injured persons are Parag Chandra, 34, Manoj Mahato, 38, Suvam Varma, 21, Suraj Ram, 51,
Guareswar Shah, Hemanta Gohain, 84, Rajual Haque, 37, Santosh Prasad, 51, Swati Prashad, 14, Upendra Rai, 35, Manoj Shah, 22, Birmal Mahato, 20 and Nidhi Ajitsaria, 16.
Tinsukia business fraternity panicked after crude bomb blast outside business house Contd. from Page 1
However, no injuries has been reported after the blast. Talking to this correspondent, Vivek Modi, owner of Padmini Tea Estate said, a huge sound around 1.30 in midnight took us out of our deep sleep to find out a blast outside one of our residence gate. However, the gate was an abandoned one, which means the attackers wanted to create panic only. However, responding to a question by ET he said that he has not received any extortion note by any militant organization.
On the other hand, Superintendent of Tinsukia police Mugdha Jyoti Mahanta has did not rule out the involvement of either extremist group including Ulfa and maoist in the investigations so far. Talking to this correspondent, he said, we do not rule out extremist group hand behind the blast, a sort of improvised crude bomb blast, however, investigations so far suggest otherwise. Mahanta said, we have recovered papers, splinters from the site and it seems to be a crude bomb deto-
Tocklai scientist passes away ET Correspondent Jorhat, Apr 28: A junior scientist from the erstwhile Tocklai Tea Experimental station, prominent lawyer and educationist Hari Prasad Barua passes away at his Suruj Nagar residence recently. He was 84. He lives behind three wives, four sons, two daughters, and host of grand children, relatives. His funeral was performed at the Tarajan Funeral Ground in presence of well wishers and relatives. Late Barua joined Tocklai Tea Experimental Station in 1958 and continued as junior scientist till 1995. After his retirement late Barua joined Jorhat Bar Library where he practiced law till his dead. It is pertinent to inform that late Barua before joining Tocklai Experimental Station
was very interested in giving English lessons to the students of HSLC candidates. Before going and after coming back from office late Barua imparted English teaching specially grammar to over several hundreds of students from the Assamese medium back ground and had also charged very nominal fee depending upon the economical condition of any students seeking to learn English. Also he parallely taught Maths and Science too. During his career from 1958 to 1995 late Barua was very popular among his colleagues and seniors for his unique jolliness who always speak positive and was a good and district chess, carom and TT player represented Tea Tournaments held at various Tea zones throughout the state.
nate. Our investigation is on and we are looking other probable angles that cannot cannot be disclosed at this moment, he added. It must be noted a day before this blast army and police had gunned down Mekuri, a wanted Ulfa militant. Although no one has been injured in the low intensity blast but the blast near a CRPF camp, that too, in the midnight has highlighted security lapses. Not just that, in this technology era police could not get any help from CCTV footage from the incident spot or CRPF camp nearby as per sources.
Storm disrupts communication ET Correspondent Sonari, Apr 28: A massive storm which blew over Charaideo district has reportedly disrupted surface communication between Sonari, the district headquarters and Sivasagar. The storm which started at around 7 pm blew off roof tops of many huts in the Suffry, Mathurapur, Abhaypur, Khona, Majgaon etc areas and also uprooted many trees and electric as well as telephone poles. Unconfirmed sources also stated that some people also sustained injuries due to the storm which was followed by heavy rains.
REGION
DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, APRIL 29
PAGE 5
CM's wife, Sangma's Filing of nomination begins son file nomination papers
Representational image (Photo: Getty Images)
Tura, Apr 28 : Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma's wife Dikkanchi D Shira and Purno A Sangma's son Conrad Sangma on Wednesday filed their nomination papers for the Tura Lok Sabha bypoll scheduled for May 16. The bypoll was necessitated following the demise of former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma earlier this year. Both filed their nominations at the office of the
Returning Officer here accompanied by family members, friends and party workers. Stating that P A Sangma had worked tirelessly for over 40 years, Conrad said he would carry on with the vision his father had on the demand for a separate Garoland state. On the other hand, the Chief Minister's wife and Mahendraganj legislator said as Purno A Sangma's chapter is closed, the people of Garo Hills have to move in a new direction.
City weather still comfortable Shillong, Apr 28 : Despite the heat condition persisting for the last one week, Shillong climate is yet to cross maximum of 28 degree Celsius during the period. Moreover, the Shillong weather is still comfortable compared to other Northeastern hill states and the rest of India: thanks to the breeze blowing across the city.However, the sale of ice creams and cold drinks shot up and people chose to wear summer clothes. The only time this month the Shillong maximum weather touched 28 degree Celsius was on April 11 ( 28.1 degree) When apprised about the heat condition, an official
with the Upper Shillong Seismological observatory which also provides weather data, said that Shillong is still experiencing comfortable weather and added that there was no reason for anyone to complain as the condition is worst elsewhere in the country compared to Shillong. Mercury had soared to 48.5 degrees Celsius in Odisha’s Titlagarh district a few days ago. Despite the hot weather in city , the forecast of the Regional Meteorological Centre Guwahati says that thunder squall with wind speed exceeding 50 kmph is very likely to occur at isolated places over Assam and Meghalaya on April 28 and 29.
Tura, Apr 28 : The political scene in the State has warmed up once again with the two rivals — the ruling Congress and opposition National People’s Party — set for the electoral battle for the Tura Lok Sabha seat slated for May 16. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma’s wife Dikkanchi D Shira and youngest son of former Lok Sabha Speaker late Purno A Sangma’s Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday filed their nominations. Dikkanchi was first to arrive at the deputy commissioner’s office to file her nomination papers. She had earlier planned to file her nomination in the afternoon. Donning a traditional Garo Dakmanda dress in light blue color and accompanied by a host of Congress leaders including sports minister Zenith M Sangma she made her way to the returning
officer’s chamber shortly after 11:30 am. The Youth Congress members undertook a procession from the Congress Bhawan to the Deputy Commissioner’s office shouting slogans in support of the party and its candidate. The arrival of the NPP candidate was a complete turnaround from that of the Congress. Wearing a traditional dark blue Garo jacket and a Kotip headgear, Conrad Sangma went to file his nomination at the DC office walking in a quieter and solemn manner alongside his mother, younger sister Agatha and elder brother James. In a brief interaction with media persons after filing of nominations, both candidates exuded confidence of winning the election. “If you look at other recent elections like the by-polls following the death of then Baghmara MLA
(L to R) Congress candidate Dikkanchi D. Shira (3ed from left), accompanied by Sports Minister Zenith M Sangma and other party leaders, at the Deputy Commissioner’s office after filing her nomination in Tura on Wednesday; NPP candidate Conrad K Sangma ( 3rd from right) flanked by his family members and others stands outside the DC’s office shortly after filing his nomination. (UB)
Sengran Sangma and Chokpot MLA Clifford Marak, the sympathy wave did not work. I am confident this time too people will go beyond sympathy and vote for development and change,” said the Mahendraganj MLA said.
For Conrad Sangma, the story is different. “This election necessitated due to the demise of our leader and my father. This election will be a tribute to him,” said the NPP candidate. “People of Garo Hills are going to look at P A Sangma’s contribution
and give their verdict. I am contesting to continue his dream of peace and development for our people and I have full faith in the people of Garo Hills,” said Conrad. The election campaign is going to go beyond the tribute factor as far as the
Tripura revises industrial investment scheme Agartala, Apr 28 : To attract investment in smalland medium-scale enterprises, the council of ministers on Wednesday revised the Tripura Industrial Investment Promotion Incentive Scheme (TIIPIS) 2012. Chief minister Manik Sarkar said capital investment subsidy has been raised from the existing rate of 30% to 35% of the fixed capital investment (investment in plant and machinery). The ceiling for such subsidies has been raised from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 60 lakh. He pointed out that Tripura has been in a dis-
advantageous position in terms of communication and connectivity since Independence. But now, broad gauge train connectivity has been established and road connectivity via Bangladesh has opened up new avenues of investment in the state. "Connectivity with Bangladesh has provided access to the seaport at Chittagong and river port at Ashuganj in Bangladesh, enabling potential exploration of south Asian markets. The travel time has been substantially reduced for other Indian states as well. Now, Tripura has
emerged as the best destination for investment," Sarkar said. The investment incentive policy of Tripura was formulated for small entrepreneurs of the state. It had kept in mind the the capital mobilisation capacity of investors in the state. It has been revised to 'remind investors to look at Tripura again'. He claimed an investment-friendly atmosphere has been created in the state over the past few years and the state has witnessed major improvement in infrastructure, and law and order.
Purchasing capacity has also been increased, creating a conducive environment for setting up industries. "The development in the state should attract entrepreneurs to set up smallor medium-scale industrial units," he said, adding that he had attended business summits to attract investment but all had been in vain. "I have stopped attending such events. Organizing business summits or investors' meets is nothing but a wasteful expenditure. Investors will not come unless they are convinced about the in-
vestment potential," Sarkar said. He added that the cabinet has cleared a proposal to increase the upper cap for subsidy in state-supported self-employment scheme, Swavalamban. The state has natural resources like gas, bamboo, rubber, agriculture and horticulture products. "With a view to promote utilization of natural resources, the state government has decided to identify them as thrust areas to give special incentives for setting up manufacturing units that utilize them," he added.
No headway in NLFT talks: CM Agartala, Apr 28 : Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar on Wednesday said peace talks with National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) haven't yielded any results yet. Sarkar told the media that the state government has engaged the DG of Tripura Police and director of the tribal welfare department to initiate talks at the Centre's request. He said his government has shown interest in peace talks, but the militant outfit did not re-
ciprocate. "NLFT has sent its lowprofile leaders for talks. The dialogue should be tripartite. The chief secretary has been asked to take up the issue with the Centre," added Sarkar. The talks received the first jolt last year when NLFT wanted the Centre to appoint former militant leader and incumbent president of Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) Bijoy Kumar Hrankhwal or Mizo National Front (MNF) leader
Zoramthanga as an interlocutor with certain conditions. According to Sarkar, NLFT wanted ceasefire against it before the peace talks. But the state government did not accept it. "We are ready to talk on any issue, but it must be held under the framework of the Constitution," he said. Last year, the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) wrote a letter to the state government informing it that NLFT wants peace talks. The
Left Front government in Tripura had welcomed the initiative and peace talks began. So far, two rounds of dialogues have been held in Shillong and Delhi. "We categorically rejected the ceasefire plea of the outfit. We can't allow one-sided truce. Our forces will remain at the ground to tackle them," said the chief minister. However, CPM has been alleging that some people are trying to disrupt the amity between tribals and non tribals.
CPM state secretary Bijan Dhar said, "Ideologically, there is no difference between a separate state and Twipraland. People know who are raising these demands. Tripura is a land for both tribals and non-tribals and will be the same in the future too." The NLFT and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) are demanding secession of Tripura from India. But as most ATTF cadres have surrendered, the group is almost nonexistent now.
Bamboo flowering BA student killed in Kokrajhar witnessed in Sivasagar for witch-hunting case
ET Correspondent Sivasagar, April 28: Bamboo flowering has been witnessed in some parts of Sivasagar district this year. The phenomenon is believed to be a bad omen as in the past several northeastern states have been witness to it which is accompanied by an increase in rodent population. It is believed to lead to famines and natural calamities. This belief is older than the Indian epic Mahabharata,
written 5,000 years ago. In the story, the evil king Jayadrath forcibly abducted Draupadi, the Pandavas wife, and trampled through the forest in his chariot. She cursed the king that he would be destroyed, just as bamboos bring forth instant ruin by their blooming. In October 29, 1958 the Mizoram district council cautioned the Centre of impending famine in the state and demanded financial assistance for relief measures.
This warning was preceded by bamboo flowering and increase in the rat population in the state. However, the government rejected the financial demand on the ground that such anticipation of famines is unscientific. In 1959, the state was reeling under drought and famine. However, the scientific relationship between bamboo flowering and natural calamities is yet to be proved.
ET Correspondent Kokrajhar,Apr 28: Member of a family accused of practicing black magic went missing since 22 April last at East Maligaon village in Kokrajhar district. The family member suspects foul play and filed a FIR at Kokrajhar police station today. Ashinta Basumatary alias Ola, a BA 4 semester student at UN Brahma College, Kajalgaon in Chirang went missing from his house since April 22 last. Meanwhile, police has started inquiry into incident and expected that the whole incident would be find after thorough investigation, said a senior police officer. A case has been registered in this connection with Kokrajhar PS,police of-
ficial added. Ashinta’s mother Gaijrai was accused of being a witch five years back after the death of her husband and forced to leave her house last December. She has since been living at her parents house at Sulmari in Gossaigaon subdivision. In September 2013, the villagers of Sulmari and East Maligaon even held a meeting in this regard and a resolution was adopted that the family should be allowed to live in the village without any problem. But the family were harassed continuosuly forcing Gaijrai to leave her home and stayed with her parents leaving her two sons and a daughter. The ordeal resurfaces again after Gaijrai came
to visit her children for a family function few days back. Some villagers accused her of spelling black magic resulting the death of a cow in the village after her visit in the village. Ashinta’s elder brother Mahanta said they received a threat few days back by some villagers, who even took away their goat as punishment. Mahanta said after receiving threat his brother(Ashinta) asked him and his wife to leave the place as precautionary measure. Mahanta said he left for his in-law’s place Ultapani on April 20 last but could not contact his brother since April 22. ‘I heard that he was taken away and killed, he said.
The family member named five suspectThobra Narzary, Gobinda Basumatary, Elek Narzary, Borai Basumatary and Sontola Basumatary- in the FIR. The family member demanded finding of Ashinta. They also demanded a thorough investigation into the matter and arrest of the culprits involved. Anil Basumatary, a villager from Sulmari,was accompanied with Gaijrai said that they heard of Ashinta’s missing,so filed FIR with police. He expressed his suspect that the villagers of East Maligaon killed Ashinta for not getting his accused mother(Gaijrai) at her home.He also demanded that involved culprits be nabbed and punished.
NPP is concerned. “We are also going to make the people aware about the state government’s poor track record on development front and law and order in the Garo Hills. The poor financial position of the state will also be raised during our campaign,” the NPP candidate said. The NPP has also endorsed the GNC’s stand for a Garoland state. “P A Sangma had always said that India needs smaller states for development. We will continue this issue and carry forward his dream,” said Conrad. When pointed out that people who have heard him speak claim he lacks humour and wit unlike his late father, Conrad replied, “My father was a complete man. He had many qualities which were all divided amongst the four children. James has the vision while Agatha has the humour.”
Mizoram quota students to agree to work for state govt Aizawl, Apr 28 : Students admitted to post graduate courses in medical colleges of the country on Mizoram state quota would have to sign an agreement for two years of mandatory employment with the state government after completion of their studies, an official statement said today. State Health Minister Lal Thanzara announced this at a conference of Mizoram Government Doctors' Association here and said the decision was taken to tackle manpower shortage in the medical department. Lal Thanzara also asked government doctors to give satisfactory mental, physical and spiritual care to their patients. He also appealed to the doctors not to neglect their patients in the government hospitals while being engaged in private practice. (PTI)
NPP accuses Cong of poll code breach Tura, Apr 28 : The National People’s Party (NPP) is planning to lodge a complaint with the Election Commission of India against the Congress party’s high pitched slogan shouting that took place during a procession to the deputy commissioner’s office on Wednesday, a day for filing of nomination papers. The Youth Congress had taken out a procession which included shouting of slogans while passing through ( the main road beginning from Congress Bhawan, near Members’ Hostel, up to the gate of the deputy commissioner’s office when Congress candidate Dikkanchi D Shira arrived to file her nomination, a little before noon. “We are going to bring it to the notice of the election commission of India about the violation of the model code of conduct by the Congress which indulged in slogan shouting. It happened all along the main road and outside the office of the Returning Officer,” alleged NPP leaders.
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, APRIL 29
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IRNSS-1G launch 'gift to people from scientists': PM Modi New Delhi, Apr.28 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated the Indian Space Research organisation (ISRO) for the successful launch of satellite IRNSS-1G in the orbit, saying this would help the nation to determine its own path with indigenous technology. Speaking to scientists at the ISRO's control room in Sriharikota via a video conference, the Prime Minister described the launch as 'a great gift to people from scientists', while asserting that space science has the power to transform lives of the
people. "India has launched seven such navigation satellites which have been successful. First and foremost, I want to congratulate all ISRO scientists and the entire team. I also congratulate the people of India," Prime Minister Modi said. "With this successful launch, we will determine our own paths powered by our technology. This is a great gift to people from scientists...In space science, our scientists have achieved many accomplishments. Through space science lives of
Prez congratulates ISRO on successful launch of PSLV-C33
President Pranab Mukherjee New Delhi, Apr. 28 : President Pranab Mukherjee has congratulated the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on the successful launch of PSLV-C33 carrying IRNSS-1G, India's seventh and final in the series of navigation satellites of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS). "I extend my hearty congratulations to you and your entire team at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the successful launch of PSLV-C33 carrying IRNSS-1G, the seventh and final in the series of navigation satellites of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)," he said in his message to ISRO chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar. President Mukherjee said the launch of PSLV-C33 is an important landmark in the country's space programme with India now joining the small group of nations hav-
ing their own regional satellite navigation system. "It demonstrates, yet again, India's growing capabilities in space launch technology. The nation is proud of this achievement," said President Mukherjee. "Kindly convey my greetings to all members of your team and all others involved in this great mission. I wish the ISRO continued success in its future endeavours," he added. India today successfully put into orbit its seventh and final navigation satellite called IRNSS-1G with its own rocket. On the historic occasion at the Indian space centre, PSLV C 33 rocket carried the seventh satellite of the IRNSS series. The 1425 kilogram satellite was ejected by the launch vehicle around 20 minutes after takeoff. (ANI)
Sonia Gandhi to lead 'Loktantra Bachaao Yatra' march on May 6
Congress president Sonia Gandhi New Delhi, Apr. 28 : Congress president Sonia Gandhi will lead a ' Loktantra Bachaao Yatra' march from the Jantar Mantar to Parliament on May 6 to register protest against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government's unwarranted move in Uttarakhand. The march comes in the wake of ongoing political crisis in Uttarakhand, which erupted when the Centre deposed chief minister Harish Rawat and imposed President's rule. The Supreme Court on Wednesday put on hold till further orders the floor test for the Harish Rawat government in the Uttarakhand assembly on April 29 as directed by the High Court. The apex court also posed seven questions to the Centre, asking it to justify the imposition of President's rule in Uttarakhand. The apex court asked if proceedings
in the Assembly can be considered by the President for imposing Central rule. The court also sought answer to the question as to when the President's role comes in picture with regard to Appropriation bill. It asked, whether a delay in the floor test can be a ground for proclamation of President's rule. While hearing the Centre's appeal against the High Court order, the apex court said the Speaker is the master of the Assembly. The court asked whether disqualification of MLAs by the Speaker is relevant for the purposes of invoking President's rule under Article 356. It also asked, could the Governor have sent the message in the present manner under Article 175 (2) for conducting floor test in the Assembly. It further asked if proceedings in the Assembly can be considered by the President for imposing Central rule. (ANI)
ing the unexplored, it will be known as 'NAVIC'...Indian sailors used to determine their paths observing position of stars & speed of moon and sun," he said. "This is a precious gift given by Indian scientists to the people of nation," he added. ISRO today launched PSLV-C33 to place India's seventh and final navigation satellite IRNSS-1G in the orbit from Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota island. The launch of the fourstage Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) took place at 12:50 p.m.
Trump running most 'reckless and dangerous' campaign: Albright
from Satish Dhawan Space Centre here. The 54-hour countdown for the launch of ISRO work horse, PSLV, began at 9.20 a.m. on Tuesday. The satellite with a design life span of 12 years has two payloads for navigation and ranging. Till date, ISRO has launched six regional navigational satellites (IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C, ID, 1E and 1F) as part of a Prime Minister Narendra Modi constellation of seven people can be trans- said that this would be of satellites to provide acTrump running most 'reckless and dangerous' formed," he added. immense help to them. curate position informacampaign: Albright Dedicating the launch to "Dedicating this to Intion service to users 'Indian sailors and fisher- dian sailors and fisheracross the country and Washington, Apr 28 : trust of our allies while in men', the Prime Minister men' courage of explorthe region. (ANI) Donald Trump is running effect promising to blackthe most "reckless and mail them in terms of supdangerous" presidential porting us. campaign in modern his- "If you do not help us, we tory, former US secretary do not help you kind of of state Madeline Albright talk. said as she joined others He then talked about the New Delhi, Apr. 28 : power when bribe was in slamming the contro- importance of Western Bharatiya Janata Party given and taken? It is versial Republican front- values but questioned (BJP) president Amit very clear that those in runner for his "incoher- why we would think Shah on Thursday asked power in the UPA are reent" foreign policy. about supporting democCongress chief Sonia to sponsible and they "I have gotten to listen to racy in other countries. come out clear in the should clarify it now bea lot of foreign policy Then, I think the one that Agusta Westland heli- fore the nation," he speeches over the years really made the least copter controversy and added. but I have got to tell you, sense of all," Albright said that those in power Parliamentary Affairs I have never seen such a said. during the former UPA Minister M. Venkaiah combination of simplistic Trump said he would regime were responsible Naidu earlier today said slogans, contradictions work with Muslims to for the same. the government is pursuand misstatements in one fight terrorism but he has Continuing his tirade ing the case with all serispeech," Albright said already alienated them against Gandhi, Shah ousness. yesterday. with proposals to block said it is quite amazing Naidu, who was talking "What Donald Trump's them from coming into that the flip flops of the to the media outside Par(BJP) president Amit Shah goal today may have been the country, she said. UPA came to the fore liament, wondered why was to convince us that he "What I think was most when it was in power, the Congress is accusing "These things are just (ED) and the Central can be presidential, but troubling in this speech adding the same has the ruling dispensation of falsehood. Where are the Bureau of Investigation instead of doing that he was the flat out dangerous grabbed eyeballs even the deal which was not proofs, they are lies, they (CBI). just underscored the fact ideas that he continues to now. even signed in its tenure. are part of the strategy of Michel told The Hindu that he is running the most embrace. His foreign "I heard the Congress Former defence minister character assassination from Dubai earlier this reckless and dangerous policy slogan of America president's statement yes- and senior Congressman for which we have week that he was willing presidential campaign in first is so clearly, maybe terday. She said that she A.K. Antony, however, known these people in- to answer all questions modern history," she said he has never read history, is not scared of anybody. countered the BJP's accu- dulging in," Gandhi told from the Indian investi- in a conference. or he does not understand I just want to say her that sations and said the NDA ANI. gators in order 'to clear' Albright said that several it," said the former secrewe Bharatiya Janata Government should "These people have been his name, but insisted he things in Trump's foreign tary of state. Party leaders fear the speed up the inquiry by in the government for had never met the Con- policy speech was trouConstitution, rule of law the CBI which the UPA two years and the enquiry gress president or a bling. "But he clearly did not and societal norms. And had ordered in the case. is on, why they don't 'single Gandhi' in his life. "First, there were no de- understand what the you have rightly said that Antony said the truth complete it quickly as Agusta Westland's Rs tails in the speech, and in- America Firsters used to you do not fear anybody. should come out and the soon as possible, an im- 3,600 crore contract for stead, we heard a lot tough talk about was that there So, such matters keep on middleman be punished. partial inquiry and every- supplying 12 VVIP chop- talk and simplistic slogans was not any Nazi threat to coming to the fore," Shah The Congress president thing will come out, the pers to the Indian Air and empty promises. Sec- American interests. If he said. yesterday alleged that the truth will come out," she Force was scrapped by ond, it was incoherent and keeps talking about "When the National Her- NDA Government was added. the UPA government riddled with contradic- American interests, but ald (case) took place then indulging in the politics over charges of paying tions. I can not list every still recalling America you say that we are not of character assassina- James Christian Michel, kickbacks to Indian example, but there were a Firsters, that is a mega afraid of anybody, when tion and blatant lies over the accused middleman agents. In January 2013, few which stand out. He contradiction," Albright Westland takes place the AgustaWestland in the chopper deal, has India cancelled the deal talked about regaining the said. (PTI) then you say that we not chopper deal, while re- offered himself up for and the CBI was assigned afraid of anybody. I just futing allegations being questioning by the En- to investigate the matter. forcement Directorate (ANI) want to ask who was in labelled against her.
Agusta Westland deal: Amit Shah taunts Sonia, says BJP fears rule of law
Haji Ali row: Trupti Desai now receives threat from AIMIM Mumbai, Apr. 28 : AIMIM's Haji Rafat Hussain on Thursday threatened to smear black ink on activist Trupti Desai if she attempts to enter Mumbai's Haji Ali Dargah. Hussain told ANI that Desai was attempting to disturb the prevailing ambiance with her ulterior motive, adding that the Mumbai Police should take note of the same and stop her. "We are of the opinion that whatever work Desai ji has done for the temple that's okay, but I feel that the Muslims would not tolerate if she raises fingers at them," he said. Bhumata Ranragini Brigade founder Trupti Desai, who had earlier announced that she would enter the dargah on April 28, launched the campaign 'Haji Ali For All' in April to allow women to the tomb of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari and offer 'chadar' there. Desai today asked
Haji Ali
Bollywood actors Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan to lend support to their cause, which is aimed at eradicating differential treatment meted out to women at religious places. "I think Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan should state their stand on what we are trying to achieve here, on our cause... That way I believe that their fan following will join us and support us in our fight
for equality," she told ANI. After spearheading a successful campaign for women's right to worship in temples, Desai had on Monday said that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) should allow women to join the organisation. Speaking to ANI, Desai expressed hope that the RSS would respect their stand and consider their demand. "I think Mohan Bhagwat ji is a pro-
gressive thinker and he will respect our stand of entry for women in RSS," she said. Desai had earlier insisted that the threats of Shiv Sena leader Haji Arafat will not work. "This kind of threat is wrong. Everyone has the right to protest in a democracy," Desai said. On Saturday, Shiv Sena leader Haji Arafat said that he would not allow her to touch the mazare-sharif at the Hazi Ali Dargah. Arafat, who joined the Shiv Sena after leaving the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in 2014, said that the attempt by Desai to enter the Haji Ali Dargah is a conspiracy meant to disturb Mumbai's peaceful environment. The Haji Ali Dargah does not allow women to enter the inner chamber. Only men are allowed to go inside the Haji Ali Mazar and pray. This ban came into force in 2011. (ANI)
UN chief Ban appoints Indian to University Council
United Nations, Apr 28 : An Indian academician is among 12 people appointed by UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon to the global body's University Council to formulate its principles and policies, consider and approve biennial budget and work programme. Radha Kumar, 63, the Director General of New Delhi-based think tank Delhi Policy Group was named to the governing UN University Council. The 12 appointees, who will take office next month, will serve for terms of either three or six years. The main functions of the UN University Council are to formulate the principles and policies of the University, govern its operations, and consider and approve its biennial budget and work programme, a press statement said. Appointed members of the Council serve in their individual capacity and not as representatives of their country's government. They are selected with the aim of achieving a geographic and gender balance, with due regard for major academic, sci-
entific, educational and cultural trends, as well as each member's fields of expertise. Kumar is a specialist in ethnic conflicts, peacemaking and peace-building. Formerly Director of the Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia University, Kumar has also been a Senior Fellow in Peace and Conflict Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations in the city. She had also served as one of the three-member Group of Interlocutors appointed by the Government of India for Jammu and Kashmir. The other members appointed to the UN University Council include Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana Ernest Aryeetey, Dean of Faculty of Law at National University of Singapore. Simon Chesterman, lecturer at Harvard and MIT Isabel Guerrero Pulgar of Chile, Executive Director of Arab Reform Initiative Bassma Kodmani of Syria and Dean of School of Public Policy and Management at China's Tsinghua University Lan Xue. (PTI)
DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, APRIL 29
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NEIGHBOURS
No headway in talks with India: Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry Sudarsan Pattnaik bags Islamabad, Apr. 28 : Pakistan has admitted that the recent Foreign Secretary-level talks held between the Asian neighbours on the sidelines of the Heart of AsiaIstanbul conference in New Delhi could not achieve any 'major breakthrough' as the latter refused to give any timeframe for the start of comprehensive bilateral dialogue. Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry and his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar met in New Delhi as part of latest efforts to break the impasse in bilateral ties. After his return from New Delhi, Chaudhry indicated that no headway was made as far as the
formal start of the composite dialogue with India was concerned. "India has not given any date for the meeting of foreign secretaries," the Express Tribune quoted Chaudhry as saying. He said that no major breakthrough was achieved during the talks although India agreed that dialogue was the only way forward to resolve all outstanding issues. When asked to identify the obstacles in the resumption of peace talks, the Foreign Secretary said the question should be put before the Indian Government. "Pakistan believes in sustained and structured dialogue. We will welcome whenever India is ready
No headway in talks with India: Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry for the dialogue," he said. The arch-rivals had agreed to resume comprehensive bilateral dialogue in December last year after Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj
Aziz. Following the meeting, the Foreign Secretaries of both nations were to meet in January and discuss issues of mutual interest. However, the dialogue process derailed after militants stormed India's Pathankot airbase
near the border with Pakistan in January this year. India held Pakistanbased Jaish-eMohammad responsible for the attack. Pakistan condemning the attack formed a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to help India probe the incident. The team recently visited the incident site in India and the final report on it is yet to be made public. However, initial foreign office reaction suggested that limited access to the Pakistani side was provided. Asserting that Pakistan 'firmly but politely' raised all issues of its concerns with India in an 'open and frank' manner, the Foreign Secre-
tary said Islamabad clearly informed India that Kashmir remains the core dispute between the two countries and called for early commencement of bilateral dialogue, including people-to-people contact and water issues. The Foreign Secretary said that he also conveyed Pakistan's concerns over the activities of Indian intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), in the internal affairs of Pakistan. Chaudhry said that Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and the US under the banner of Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) remained engaged in facilitating the talks between the Afghan Government and the Taliban representatives. (ANI)
Pak committing atrocities on Mujahirs: MQM to US
Militants are moving around freely in Pakistan, says Wall Street Journal
Washington, Apr 28 : Pakistan's army and paramilitary forces are committing atrocities against the Mujahir community in Karachi, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) alleged today in memorandum to the US government. "Since the formation of MQM in 1984, over 20,000 MQM workers and supporters (mostly ethnic Mujahirs) have been brutally murdered by the Pakistan Army and other law enforcement agencies," the MQM said in a memorandum submitted to the Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Olson. The memorandum titled 'SOS' was accompanied with a fact sheet report about extra judicial killings, arrests and missing party workers in Karachi since 2013. Copies of the memorandum along with the report was also presented to members of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee by members of MQM during a Congressional hearing on Afghanistan and Pakistan on Capitol Hill. "Since 2013, thousands of MQM workers have been arrested and tortured by paramilitary rangers, dozens have been extra-judicially murdered and hundreds have disappeared while their whereabouts are still unknown," the memorandum said.
border Afghanistan, where officials believe Pakistani Taliban leaders are based. Clean-up operations are reportedly also taking place in Karachi, but according to the WSJ, the group is extending its reach. Punjab province, which Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's home base, has, according to the WSJ, has seen a far more low-key approach to fighting extremists, and according to Riaz Husain Pirzada, minister of federal-provincial coordination and a member of parliament from Bahawalpur, security operations are only launched against those outfits that attack the police or the army. Pirzada further goes to claim that the breeding grounds for militants i.e. the madrassas are still being financed. It's another matter that Punjab is home to more than half of Pakistan's 182.1 million strong population (2013 figures). Though there is recognition that both the Lashkare-Taiba and Jaish-eMohammad represent real risks to Pakistan itself, the WSJ quotes an unnamed western diplomat, as saying that no one really has clarity on how to address this challenge. For instance, incidents like the terror strike on an Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Pathankot on the Indian side of Punjab in January this year. The gun battle
These facts have also been confirmed in the latest human rights report of the US State Department, it said. It alleged that high ranking officers of Pakistani intelligence agency ISI are now calling MQM lawmakers directly and threatening them to either leave the MQM, join an ISIsponsored political party, or face devastating consequences such as arrest, torture, or outright death. "The Pakistani military establishment's main priority is to eradicate the MQM from Pakistan's political arena, and by doing so, pave the way for a rightwing or right-leaning military-sponsored setup in Pakistan, particularly in MQMdominated cities of urban Sind province," it said.(PTI)
New York, Apr.28 : The Government of Pakistan may have vowed to go after militants across the country with a vengeance, and announced several initiatives and operations to meet this goal, but the fact remains that militants continue to move around freely across the length and breadth of the country. Despite Islamabad maintaining before the international community that it is waging a concerted campaign against all militants, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has in a report quoted experts and critics of the Sharif regime, as saying that both the military and the madrassas are offering shelter to what they call "useful" jihadists. The WSJ report cites the experts, as saying that madrassas in the less-developed south of Punjab, districts like Bahawalpur,
Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan, serve as a nursery for jihadist groups by teaching the hard-line Deobandi version of Islam, a puritan Sunni movement that is followed by the Pakistani Taliban and most other militant groups. To back this claim, the report says the banned extremist group Jaish-eMohammad (JeM) is constructing a new madrassa on a 10-acre plot of land located off the highway on the outskirts of Bahalwalpur town. It quoted a JeM cleric, as saying, "We don't hide who we are. We are a jihadist group." Over the past two years, Pakistan's armed forces have tackled jihadists, especially the Pakistani Taliban, in the northwestern tribal areas and the southwestern province of Balochistan. Both areas
and the subsequent combing operation lasted about 17 hours and resulted in the deaths of five terrorists and three security personnel. What has followed in its wake is New Delhi giving leads and proof and Islamabad undertaking an investigation on the surface for public consumption and declaring the findings of the former as farcical. Pakistan has also being doing a flip-flop over what it is doing with the JeM and its founder Masood Azhar, sometimes saying it has sealed the offices of the Jaish, or saying that it has placed Azhar in protective custody, and later going into a state of denial about his detention. Then, there is the incident of a suicide bomber killing more than 70 Christians on Easter Sunday in Lahore's Gulshan Park, leading the government to make the cliched vow of going after Islamist militants in the area. The responsibility for the massacre was claimed by a faction of the Pakistani Taliban, which has long been a major target of the security forces. But simultaneously, we see another outlawed extremist group, with ties to al Qaeda, operating openly in this city of 600,000, which is the headquarters of the Pakistan Army's XXXI Corps. Last month, Pakistan's close ally China blocked India's bid to have Masood Azhar listed as a terrorist
at the U.N. Security Council, leading to a perceived strain in bilateral ties between New Delhi and Beijing. Now, we hear the latter suggesting to the former to discuss and sort out differences on the issue bilaterally with Islamabad. Rana Sanaullah, Punjab province's law minister, said in an interview that Jaish "isn't involved in terrorism in Pakistan." He said he hadn't seen any evidence from India to implicate Mr. Azhar in the Pathankot attack. He said that the Jaish madrassa in Bahawalpur was searched and "nothing found" there. "If there is an area anywhere in Punjab where there is some safe haven, militancy training, recruitment, if there is a madrassa, mosque or neighborhood like that, we will go there and sort it out," said Mr. Sanaullah, adding that 500 madrassas had been searched in the province. The U.S. State Department has repeatedly told Pakistan not to discriminate between terror groups regardless of their agenda, while Afghanistan has urged Islamabad to act responsibly and not make a distinction between good and bad terrorists. Islamabad, on the other hand, according to the WSJ, accuses India and Afghanistan of supporting insurgents inside Pakistan, a charge both Delhi and Kabul deny. (ANI)
gold medal at sand art contest in Moscow
Sudarsan Pattnaik bags gold medal at sand art contest in Moscow Moscow (Russia), Apr. 28 : Renowned artist Sudarsan Pattnaik bagged the gold medal at the ninth Moscow Sand Sculpture Championship "The magical world of sand" 2016. Pattnaik won the championship for best composition 'Mahatma Gandhi - World Peace'. About twenty sand artists from countries around the world participated in the championship. The championship event was held from April 21-27 at Moscow.
Pattnaik's solo presentation-about fifteen feet high sand sculpture 'Mahatma Gandhi' depicted the message of non-violence and peace. He has participated in more than 50 international sand sculpture championships across the world and won many awards for the country. He has also got the fourth highest civilian award- Padma Shri in 2014. Pattnaik runs a sand art school at Puri beach in Odisha. (ANI)
Difficult to prove wrongdoings against Panama accused, informed Senate body
Difficult to prove wrongdoings against Panama accused, informed Senate body Islamabad (Pakistan), Apr. 28 : The Senate Standing Committee on Finance has been informed that the judicial commission constituted by Pakistan to investigate all accused featuring in Panama Papers will not be able to prove any wrong doing as there exists no law under which the government can seek information from the countries concerned about offshore companies. An official of the State Bank, who briefed the committee in this regard on
Wednesday, assured the Senators of extending cooperation to the judicial commission for probing the leaks. At the same time, the committee was informed that under the law, an individual can carry up to $10,000 out of the country. But permission from the State Bank was required in case an individual wanted to take an amount ranging between $10,001 and $5 million out of the country, Dawn reports. (ANI)
N. Korea's launch of Musudan Nepali Congress missile ends in failure: military President Deuba returns
Seoul (South Korea), Apr.28 : North Korea fired what appeared to be its Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) early Thursday, but the launch ended in failure. The Yonhap news agency quoted a military official, as saying, "The missile, presumed to be a Musudan, was fired around 6.40 a.m. (local time) from the vicinity of Wonsan, but it appears to have crashed a few seconds later." "It is highly likely that the
launch failed. With that in mind, South Korea and the United States are conducting a detailed assessment," he was further quoted, as saying by the agency. Others said the missile seems to have plunged into the coastal area, and the failed launch was caught by a U.S. surveillance satellite. This was the second missile launched by North Korea in the month of April, which failed. The first missile fired earlier in the month exploded a
few seconds after liftoff, even before entering its
flight phase, reportedly due to engine problems.
The two failed launches represent the country's first-ever test-firing of these longer range missiles. The back-to-back failures also indicate the unreliability of the communist country's untested IRBM capability. With a targeted range of 3,000-4,000 kilometers, the missiles are designed to reach as far as Guam, where a large number of United States military forces are stationed. North Korea is believed to have deployed some 50 Musudan missiles since 2007. (ANI )
to Nepal from Delhi Kathmandu, Apr.27 : Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has returned home from New Delhi after concluding his 10day private trip on Wednesday.Deuba had left for the Indian Capital on April 18 for his wife lawmaker Arzu Rana Deuba's health treatment,reports The
Himalayan Times. Rana Deuba had successfully undergone a hip replacement surgery on April 20.During his sojourn in Delhi, Deuba had held a meeting with Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on April 21, though no any political meeting was scheduled earlier.(ANI)
Earthquake rocks southwest France, no casualties reported Paris, Apr.28 : An earthquake measuring between 5.0 and 5.2 on the openended Richter Scale rocked parts of southwest France on Thursday. The earthquake's epicenter was located near the towns of La Rochelle and
Rochefort in the French region of Charente-Maritime. The epicenter was said to be approximately eight kilometers southeast of La Rochelle, which is a port on the Bay of Biscay with a population of just over 75,000. It struck at 8.45 a.m. local time at a depth
of 15 kilometers, the Daily Express and RT News websites reported. There are no reports of any damage so far, but witnesses said they felt two strong tremors that lasted several seconds. Buildings, including industrial sites and schools in
La Rochelle were evacuated. On Monday, an earthquake of a lesser magnitude struck Austria near its capital Vienna. The quake measured 4.4 on the Richter scale. Earthquakes in the area are rare, but geologists have warned that Vienna runs the
risk of being struck by a large quake in the future. An active fault line runs deep under the Vienna Basin, which covers the city's area, as well as parts of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. According to one expert, geologist, Dr. Kurt Decker from
the University of Vienna, the Vienna Basin has about six known fault lines, which are moving at a very slow rate. He added that every 20,000 years or so, these fault lines are capable of causing an earthquake on the scale of 6.0 or 7.0 on the Richter
scale. The last time France was hit by a deadly earthquake was in 1909, when the town of Lambesc near Marseille was struck by a magnitude-6 tremor, which killed 46 people and injured a further 250. (ANI)
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DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, APRIL 29
Why Violence in Kashmir Is Getting Worse
Rise in price Who will bell the cat? The recent price rise in the essential commodities has hurt the common man where it hurts the most. The prices of onion, tomatoes, pulses have skyrocketed which adds flavor to the otherwise normal lifestyle of below average Indian. The above statement is a Photo: indolinkenglish sarcasm in itself, but its necessary to show the grave situation which the normal citizens of this country are facing in the normal time. The price of pulses which is nearly a staple diet for most of the country has risen to a large extent from the last 2 years. This may be due to less area under production for pulses in country or less per hectare yield of pulses or growth in demand. But the apathy is that there is no supportive government policy which could have helped India to raise the pulses production by giving more incentives to the farmers growing pulses, reducing loses to the intermediaries. One more benefit of higher pulses production is it takes less of nitrogenous fertilizers and is essential for regular wheat rice fields. The prices of onion has risen nearly 300% or more in the last few months. The first reason is inefficient government policy which does not foresee demand supply situations, since onions are perishable quantities. The major culprit here is no control over the last leg of supply chain i.e retailers, they are having the profit margin of more than 50%. They are speculating on the deficient supply and holding the common man on ransom. Moreover in India expert was stopped at a much later stage, which led to the spike in prices for the first instance. There is another factor which is at play in high inflation rates across the commodities and it is ever increasing rates of petrol and diesel. The common plea given by the government to the people of India during every rate increase is raising international crude prices but they should first answer why there is double taxation by center and state on sale of petrol and diesel. The contentious issue which is common to all the commodities price rise and bone of contention between the government and opposition parties that is forward trading. The forward trading increases the speculation in markets and people who are really not in the supply chain of these commodities get into it and unnecessarily disrupts the chain leading to disparity in normal price mechanism of these commodities. Corruption has also given rise to rising prices. Our former Prime Minister, Mr Rajiv Gandhi had taken it upon himself to root this evil out in his regime but with the passage of time this problem is give least importance by our politicians and leaders of our country.
Swatch Bharat Going back on the track "A clean India would be the best tribute India could pay to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150 birth anniversary in 2019," were the exact words spoken by our respected PM Shri Narendra Modi when he launched the Swachh Bharat Mission at Rajpath in New Delhi on 2nd October 2014. Swachh Bharat Mission was launched throughout length and breadth of the country as a national movement. By inviting people to participate in the drive, the Swachhta Abhiyan has turned into a National Movement. At the initial stage of the mission a sense of responsibility was seen to be evoked among the people through the Clean India Movement. With citizens then becoming active participants in cleanliness activities across the nation, the dream of a 'Clean India' once seen by Mahatma Gandhi was thought to begun to get a shape. But nearly after 1 and half years of its launch the mission now slowly seems to lose its track among other bigger topics such as infiltration, unemployment etc. A total of 31.83 lakh toilets were built between April 2014 and January 2015 under this campaign, which is 25.4% of the target for 2014-15. Over the next 5 years, the government plans to invest nearly Rs 2 lakh crore to construct 12 crore toilets across India. India's ambitious toilet-construction programme - part of the Swachh Bharat (Clean India) mission to make India open-defecation free by 2019 is slipping, according to government data submitted to the Lok Sabha. Another part of the Swachh Bharat Mission, to process urban garbage, is also failing its targets, as the second part of this series will detail. Even if the toilet programme, started in September 2015, is brought on track, Indian cities and towns currently process no more than a third of the sewage generated by 377 million people, IndiaSpend reported in January 2016. The rest is randomly dumped in rivers, seas, lakes and wells, polluting three-fourths of India's water bodies. As many as 85 million people in urban India lack adequate sanitation, more than Germany's population. About 1.9 million toilets in urban areas are under construction, according to the government, but progress is slow. Four of the five states that do best in toilet construction are governed by India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Gujarat constructed the most toilets until December 2015, with 327,880, followed by Madhya Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh, the only non-BJP state in the top five, comes in third. Some areas that are constructing toilets slowly, such as Delhi and Uttarakhand, may already have a high percentage of homes with toilets. More Indians (households) use toilets in urban areas (81 percent) than in rural areas (43 percent), according to a Lok Sabha reply. Use varies, as some cities have better toilet facilities than others, although there is no reliable data. As far as community toilet construction goes, Delhi tops the list, indicating a government effort to provide sanitation to slums, which is largely where such toilets are built. Sewage systems are as important as toilet construction. India has 522 working sewage treatment plants, 62 of which are in Maharashtra, according to a Central Pollution Control Board report. Nearly 16 million toilets were constructed over two years (in rural areas), according to the government; 95 million need to be built over the next three to meet the government's target of making India open-defecation free by 2019. We all should join our hands and stand together towards achieving the target of Swatch Bharat Abhijan.
How Hindu nationalism and India security policies help fuel Kashmir's independence movement. The renewed turmoil in Indian-controlled Kashmir following the recent killing of five civilians by Indian forces in a remote hamlet of Kupwara has yet again thrown light on the grim realities of the region's political landscape. The gulf between Delhi and Srinagar is seemingly greater than ever, with morelocals willing to pick up guns against the Indian rule. In this continuing Haris political conundrum, never before in Kashmir's political history has the assertion of Kashmiri Muslim identity acquired more significance and prominence than it has now. At the heart of this enduring conflict is the valley's sociopolitical labyrinth that has apparently reconfigured significantly, and is galvanizing Kashmiris again towards a violent political movement against Delhi's rule. Pertinently, there has been significant discourse about the growing anti-India sentiment, and the rise of new age militants in Kashmir. The valley has been witnessing increasingly greater public participation in the funeral of fallen militants, with many people also flocking to encounter sites to help encircled militants escape. Observers have citied various reasons for this "radicalization" of the Kashmiri population, with some arguing that the absence of any political dialogue between Delhi and Islamabad, and between Srinagar and Delhi, on resolving the political dispute has fostered deep-rooted resentment. Many emphasize that alienation has further increased in the absence of any economic opportunities, which has left Kashmiri youth feeling frustrated due to high unemployment. Others point out that the absence of political space and status quo environment was making militancy attractive again, while some highlight that exces-
sive militarization of the public space, and repeated human rights violations by the state security apparatus, are fueling anti-India sentiments. While these assertions do provide some rationale for the valley's changing sociopolitical order, they don't answer many crucial questions. Most new entrants into militancy come from socially Zargar and economically well-off backgrounds. India has been conducting various de-radicalization exercises like Operation Sadbhavana to integrate Kashmiris into the Indian mainstream, and also recruiting many more for the military and paramilitary services. In addition, these theories offer little clarity in explaining how the current radicalization is different from that in the earlier armed phase. The fresh metamorphosis of the Kashmir dispute, particularly in its internal dynamics, can only be examined through the analysis of dynamic society. The valley's sociocultural ethos has been significantly restructured that has now transformed the Kashmiri group identity into a political one. The identity for Kashmiris Muslims has become politically relevant in its recent historical context, and it is this primary factor that is motivating the valley's younger population for change in the territorial status quo. The bitter experience of Indian military rule has left a profound imprint on the conscience of the Kashmiri Muslims, and has convinced people to call for independence from the Indian state. Indian nationalism and Kashmiri identity Ugandan scholar Mahmood Mamdani highlights that political identities need to be understood as specifically a consequence of the history of state formation. The economic liberalization of India in the early 1990s
saw the emergence of an assertive middle-class and the growth of right-wing Hindu nationalism. This resurgence shaped both Indian identity and nationalism; together these strands have become vanguards for the identity of the Indian state, which sees it self as a new global power. In this scenario, maintaining territorial sovereignty becomes imperative for India to sustain the projection of a powerful nation, as any potential crisis to territorial integrity would undermine its identity. Holding territory, even through force, becomes critical for maintaining that identity. Political contestation can generate a counter-identity for a populace that is shaped in reaction to perceived threats to territory, power, or survival. For the Kashmiris Muslims, the rise of this forceful Hindu nationalism has also affected how they view the Indian state. In wake of this perceived adversity to their identity and survival, the rise of Indian nationalism has, consequently, reshaped Kashmiri Muslim identity as well. For instance, the ruling party People Democratic Party (PDP) used an anti-BJP plank during Assembly elections to rise to power in the state, and is now seemingly at its least popular within months after forming a coalition government with the same right-wing party. Concurrently, while Kashmiri nationalism draws significant inspiration from political Islam, it has predominantly played a subsidiary role in the conflict. Both the political and armed movements against Delhi's rule in Kashmir began as a result of political contestation and over issues of sovereignty. Religion in contemporary Kashmiri resistance movements, unlike in many other such conflicts, does not lend "legitimacy" for the political cause, or for asserting a common national bond, as generally perceived. Instead, pan-
Image for representational purpose (Photo: nation.pk) Islamism is used to draw international support from Islamic countries politically, and foreign fighters militarily. Religion also became relevant in the case of Kashmir since India showcased it as a success of its secular credentials; it was the only Muslim majority state in an otherwise Hindu Majority nation. Collective memory and resistance It is important to note that collective memories are also at the crux of Kashmiri national identity. That identity has been constructed in part by recalling memories of resistance. However, memory has not essentially strengthened the hatred against India, but has rather inspired a new generation to believe that establishing a sovereign, independent state is the best means of collective self-preservation. Much of Kashmir's new generation was born after the armed uprising erupted during late 1980s. The valley's first tryst with an armed movement, and the subsequent brutal counterinsurgency operation initiated by India, left a significant impact on the collective conscience of the Kashmiri Muslim population. This was further rein-
vigorated by the continued human rights violations and denial of justice for victims of enforced disappearances, mass rapes, and extra-judicial killings and torture. Despite shifting to a nonviolent mode of resistance, the summers of 2008, 2009, and 2010 saw hundreds of protesters killed and many more injured by Indian security forces. The memory of the hanging of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front leader Maqbool Bhat in 1984 gained new life following the 2013 execution of Afzal Guru, who was convicted of taking part in a 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament. Most Kashmiri across the ideological lines believed he was wrongly executed for his KashmiriMuslim identity. Kashmiri youth, unlike their previous peers, now have new "heroes" of resistance to look up to. Many now openly voice their affection for these "role models" through popular art and writings. Remembrance of Indian army atrocities and human rights violations is viewed as part of resistance. Oral history and memory is used as a tool to counter the Indian narrative in the valley; Kashmiris now regularly commemo-
rate anniversaries for atrocities like the Gawkadal or Sopore massacres. The alleged mass rapes at Kunan Poshpora, which took place on February 23-24, 1993, are now remembered as Kashmiri Women's Resistance Day. Various memorials for fallen militants, locally known as martyr's graveyards, now dot the entire length and breadth of the valley. Thus, the collective memory and political mobilization of Kashmiri identity has fundamental left a deep impact on Kashmiri society, creating the narrative for resistance and independence. Contemporary Kashmiri Muslim identity and self-consciousness as a nation and separate group has not only been shaped by the repeated assertion of Indian state's control over Kashmir's territory, but by collective resistance and counter-assertions to this perceived aggression. As such, in a sense India itself catalyzed the process that has cultivated contemporary Kashmiri national identity, prompting its population to adopt strategies of resistance. Courtesy: The Diplomat
Parliamentary panel moots penalty for misleading celebrity endorsements A parliamentary panel has sions to be included in the recommended that celeb- bill to tackle misleading rities featuring in mislead- advertisements. ing advertisements of The panel recommended a products should be held fine of Rs. 10 lakh or imliable and penalised with prisonment up to two years a fine of up to Rs. 50 lakh or both for first time ofa n d fendf i v e It Karnika Bahuguna ers. years a l s o of imprisonment. recommended a Rs. 50 The Parliamentary Stand- lakh fine and imprisoning Committee on Food, ment for five years for a Consumer Affairs and second time offence. Public Distribution It recommended that the headed by J C Divakar penalties be increased proReddy tabled its report on portionately based on the the Consumer Protection value of sales volumes of Bill, 2015 in Parliament products or services for on April 26. subsequent offences. The committee recom- "The Committee strongly mended stringent provi- feels that misrepresenta-
tion of a product especially a food product should be taken very seriously considering the influence of celebrities and high networth individuals or companies. The existing laws are not deterrent enough to discourage manufacturers or publishers from using such personalities for misleading advertisements," the report said. It further recommended the Advertising Standards Council of India had got some legal teeth to compel the misleading advertiser to issue a corrective advertisement. It also suggested that some punitive
measures be incorporated in the advertising code. The committee said that the definitions relating to misleading, false and objectionable advertisements need to be clearly defined to avoid any ambiguity. Food Adulteration Noting that adulteration of food products was a major issue in the country, the committee said there was an urgent need for stringent provisions to prevent adulteration in other products like drugs, medicines, fertilisers, pesticides, seeds as well which are used as inputs by farmers for production of food grains.
Recommending severe penalties on offenders, the panel said the government should consider inserting suitable provisions in the Consumer Protection Bill, 2015 to make it mandatory for law enforcement agencies to take immediate action in cases where a consumer makes a complaint of adulteration of products for human consumption. It recommended registration of a First Information Report (FIR) and arrest of the accused. If for any reason, the FIR is not registered by the law enforcement agency, it should be deemed to have
Modes of Traditional Fishing potentially annihilate the aquatic life and destroy the water bodies. Apart from use of these harmful methods of fishing, rampant collection of boulders, pebbles and sands from the rivers is also adversely affecting the fish population. This method of catching fish is practised by some of the Tani tribes. The Noctes may also adopt this sustainable method of fishing. Yours etc Denhang Bosai DIPRO, Khonsa
A Flawless NRC A method of catching fish practised by some of the Tani tribes
Sir, The different ethnic entities of Arunachal practise different modes of traditional fishing. All of them are eco-friendly and sustainable unlike the modern and destructive forms of fishing like poisoning, electrocution, blasting etc that can
Sir, A good number of forged or fake documents submitted to authenticate the citizenship by many dubious citizens infiltrating into India by the porous Bangladesh border turn the head of those who are trying hard to work out a flawless National Register of citizens (NRC). A good chunk of such fake documents have been received by the authority compiling the NRC from lower Assam. Of the forged ones, most of the documents submitted are either from the Board of secondary Educa-
tion Assam (SEBA) or from Assam Higher Secondary Education council. On verification, it comes to light that Roll numbers shown in the documents do not match the original ones. Now, the deputy commissioners have been asked to take appropriate action by the NRC authority. The SEBA or the council apart, the health department will file cases against those who submitted the fake birth certificate and the income Tax department is all set to file cases against those who obtained and submitted PAN cards using the forged date of birth received from the aforementioned offices. As conceded by the NRC authority that it remains their sincere effort to ensure compilation of a flawless NRC, simultaneously ensuring that appropriate action is taken by the different departments against those who submitted false documents in an effort to legalize their citizenship. The NRC authority deserves Kudos once it is able to compile a flawless National Register of citizens (NRC).
Yours etc. Ashok Bordoloi Dibrugarh
been registered after a lapse of 21 days from the date of complaint, it said. It further said that sufficiently well-equipped laboratories with qualified technicians for checking the quality of products should be provided from Central to district level. "The Committee is of the considered view that setting up well-equipped laboratories with highly qualified/experienced staff in all parts of the country for testing ingredients of all edible products would go a long way in addressing the issue of adulteration of products." Courtesy: Down to earth
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A lowdown on diverse hair jewellery and trends from bygone eras The Rajasthani borla, lar feature. But note how south Indian nethi chutti, the paasa worn by and Islamic paasa‌ are Mastani immediately bejust some of the many came a marker for her head ornaments worn by Muslim-ness? women in past eras. Gargi For the film's costume Gupta gets you the designer Anju Modi, who lowdown on the diverse spent two years researching evhair jewellery and trends Gargi Gupta ery little detail from bygone of what the characters would wear eras The paasa, the women's right from the drape of hair ornament worn the sari to the adornments pinned to one side of the in the hair, the paasa was head, made a comeback as much a marker of the on the big screen after times and the culture the decades with Bajirao film is set in the 17th cenMastani. In the 1950s and tury Peshwa court - as 1960s, when Muslim so- the distinctive sun-mooncial dramas and historical flower hair pins that period romances were Kashibai wore high on her more popular, this hair bun. ornament favoured by "Hair adornments have royal and high-born Mus- always been an integral lim women was a regu- part of Indian fashion,
and you can see it in the Ajanta caves," says Modi, who visited the over 2,000-year-old site while researching the film. "They added to a woman's beauty. Married women, in particular, wore the more elaborate matha pattis and maang tikas. In our culture, it is considered impolite to look directly at a woman's face or eyes, and the glittering pieces on her hair are supposed to deflect attention from her face," she adds. No wonder you see an immense diversity of hair ornaments across India. For instance, the Islamic paasa has a south Indian counterpart - talai saman - circular ornaments worn on both sides of the
head, signifying the sun and the moon, the male and female energies. Similarly, the maang tika, an embellished chain-like ornament that covers the front parting, has a Rajasthani counterpart in the borla (also called raakhdi), which has a rounded, bell-like shape. The south Indians have the nethi chutti, which is a more elaborate, bandlike ornament embellished with red and green gemstones. Then there is the maatha patti, an even more elaborate headpiece comprising three golden chains the central one along the parting, and the two side ones that define the hair line. Several versions of this basic design are
worn in different parts of India - Rajasthanis have the khaancha, which is generally worn attached to the borla; brides sometimes wear sheesh pattis, an additional jewelled hair band, along with the khaancha in a layered style that covers the head. But a more interesting and rarely seen variation of this is a hair ornament called the shinka, worn by tribals in Gujarat, a series of heavy chains in gold or silver held together by flat metal strips or carved motifs of peacocks or other animals. The maang tika, says fashion jewellery designer Shillpa Purii, and the maatha patti have come back into fashion in the
Hair adornments have always been an integral part of Indian fashion and had an immense diversity of hair ornaments across India (Photo: static.dnaindia) last few years. "Everyone wants a little glitter in their hair. Mostly for weddings, not just for the bride, but also close relatives. In some cases, I have even designed something that could be worn with a Western gown." Among other traditional pieces of hair jewellery is
the sheesh phool, pinned on the bun, which is a variation of the cuda-mani that Sita is mentioned as wearing in the Ramayana, says Usha Balakrishnan, a historian who specialises in Indian jewellery. The most elaborate headadornment is, however, the jadai hu (also called
jadai nagam) which starts from the top of the head and runs all the way to end in tassels at the tip of the plait. "It is usually worn by brides and elaborately carved with motifs of vines, snakes, beads and flowers," says Balakrishnan. Courtesy:Dnaindia
Why Are We Making It So Hard For Does India Really Have The Right Indian Women In Sports To Succeed? To Lay Claim On The Koh-i-Noor? India has another Olympics star this year: young Dipa Karmakar who has become the first Indian gymnast to qualify for the Olympics. This is a great time for us to shine a light on women in sports in India or basically ask, where are they? Ask any- Saswati one to name five Indian sportswomen in action today and after the inevitable Saina Nehwal and Sania Mirza, there's a bound to be a lot of awkward clearing of the throat. Some will mention Mary Kom (and why not, after all, Priyanka Chopra starred in a movie about her) or reach further into the past till P.T Usha. But as for the rest, many remain stumped. On the other hand, ask about male athletes and the answers come flying: Tendulkar, Gavaskar, Paes, Bhutia, Milkha Singh, the lot. The question arises: do we not have enough Indian female athletes or are they simply ignored? How many people would have heard of Mithali Raj (first woman cricketer to score a double hundred), PV Sindhu (first woman to win a medal in World Badminton Championships) or Heena Sidhu (pistol shooter)? These and more are among the top ranked Indian sportsmen but it is very unlikely for most to have even heard of them. This year, the Indian women's hockey team qualified for the Olympics, a first since the 1980 Olympics, yet there is hardly any news about it despite the fact that hockey is our national sport. Indian women are breaking records everywhere and yet their achievements are swept under the rug. Part of it comes from the stigma associated with women participating sports at all, leading to difficulties in maintaining one's training. We might look at the case of Karmakar herself where, despite all her hard work and talent, she nearly did not reach the Olympic Games due to a lack of funding and government interest. While government treatment of nearly any
sports (that is not cricket) is abysmal, it is worth noting that it is frequently female athletes who suffer the most. One of the most recent cases to hit the papers was the controversial defeat of Sarita Devi, a boxer, at the 2014 Asian Games Chatterjee i n South Korea despite her having put up a strong show against her opponent Park Ji-Na. She was suspended for a year by the AIBA, for refusing to accept the bronze medal. One would think at a time like this the Indian government should rally behind its representative but not only did she not receive any assistance from the
cent statement by Novak Djokovic reveals, this is something which is treated as normal. Our question would be, do woman's sports not make as much money because of the women themselves, or because of the dramatically reduced press they receive? Do we care about women in sports at all, unless it's a select few big names? Dipa Karmakar was the exception in this scenario, because she struggled against overwhelming odds and succeeded. This is not true for most sportswomen, for no fault of theirs. For sportswomen to keep up, they need to be in continuous training and have access to proper equip-
Dipa Karmakar has made the whole nation proud as she becomes the first ever Indian to qualify for the Olympics in gymnastics. (Photo:tensports) authorities, she and her husband had to borrow funds in order to lodge a complaint. Hers is not the only case of governmental neglect either. Rishu Mittal, another gold medalist in boxing, works as a domestic helper due to lack of government funding to help her pursue her passion. Situ Saha, who won two bronze medals at the Athens Special Olympics now helps her mother sell gol gappas rather than continue her training. Bronze medalist Nisha Rani had to sell her archery equipment to continue supporting her family. Not only do these women often not receive the spotlight when they deserve it, they are often underpaid when compared to their male compatriots. As the re-
ment. None of which appear to be available to women right now. And yet, despite all of this, India continues to produce remarkable sportswomen who would be the pride of any Indian. What we need to do is to show our gratitude properly and help them achieve their goals. One can only imagine what wonders they will achieve then. India has another Olympics star this year: young Dipa Karmakar who has become the first Indian gymnast to qualify for the Olympics. This is a great time for us to shine a light on women in sports in India or basically ask, where are they? Ask anyone to name five Indian sportswomen in action today and after the inevitable Saina Nehwal and Sania Mirza, there's a bound to be a lot of
awkward clearing of the throat. Some will mention Mary Kom (and why not, after all, Priyanka Chopra starred in a movie about her) or reach further into the past till P.T Usha. But as for the rest, many remain stumped. On the other hand, ask about male athletes and the answers come flying: Tendulkar, Gavaskar, Paes, Bhutia, Milkha Singh, the lot. The question arises: do we not have enough Indian female athletes or are they simply ignored? How many people would have heard of Mithali Raj (first woman cricketer to score a double hundred), PV Sindhu (first woman to win a medal in World Badminton Championships) or Heena Sidhu (pistol shooter)? These and more are among the top ranked Indian sportsmen but it is very unlikely for most to have even heard of them. This year, the Indian women's hockey team qualified for the Olympics, a first since the 1980 Olympics, yet there is hardly any news about it despite the fact that hockey is our national sport. Indian women are breaking records everywhere and yet their achievements are swept under the rug. Part of it comes from the stigma associated with women participating sports at all, leading to difficulties in maintaining one's training. We might look at the case of Karmakar herself where, despite all her hard work and talent, she nearly did not reach the Olympic Games due to a lack of funding and government interest. While government treatment of nearly any sports (that is not cricket) is abysmal, it is worth noting that it is frequently female athletes who suffer the most. One of the most recent cases to hit the papers was the controversial defeat of Sarita Devi, a boxer, at the 2014 Asian Games in South Korea despite her having put up a strong show against her opponent Park Ji-Na. She was suspended for a year by the AIBA, for refusing to accept the bronze medal. One would think
at a time like this the Indian government should rally behind its representative but not only did she not receive any assistance from the authorities, she and her husband had to borrow funds in order to lodge a complaint. Hers is not the only case of governmental neglect either. Rishu Mittal, another gold medalist in boxing, works as a domestic helper due to lack of government funding to help her pursue her passion. Situ Saha, who won two bronze medals at the Athens Special Olympics now helps her mother sell gol gappas rather than continue her training. Bronze medalist Nisha Rani had to sell her archery equipment to continue supporting her family. Not only do these women often not receive the spotlight when they deserve it, they are often underpaid when compared to their male compatriots. As the recent statement by Novak Djokovic reveals, this is something which is treated as normal. Our question would be, do woman's sports not make as much money because of the women themselves, or because of the dramatically reduced press they receive? Do we care about women in sports at all, unless it's a select few big names? Dipa Karmakar was the exception in this scenario, because she struggled against overwhelming odds and succeeded. This is not true for most sportswomen, for no fault of theirs. For sportswomen to keep up, they need to be in continuous training and have access to proper equipment. None of which appear to be available to women right now. And yet, despite all of this, India continues to produce remarkable sportswomen who would be the pride of any Indian. What we need to do is to show our gratitude properly and help them achieve their goals. One can only imagine what wonders they will achieve then. C o u r t e s y : Youthkiawaaz
The controversy sur- The argument made by rounding the Kohinoor Solicitor General Ranjit has reached a new high Kumar (who repreof late, given the recent sented the government's volte-face by the Indian case in court), ties in fagovernment. The Cul- vor of the British right to retain t u r e t h e Ministry's Kohinoor. l a w y e r s Sabah Kochhar It says first stated that the Kohinoor was that this diamond was not under British hands 'acquired' by them after due to a cruel twist of Ranjit Singh's succesfate or colonial plunder, sor, Duleep Singh instead, given as a signed the Bhyroval "gift". Now, they seem treaty in 1846. Howto have suddenly recon- ever, while this might be sidered their decision, legally well within the
Pakistani soil also has its role to play in the saga. Even as these arguments hold true, the reality is that the British may as well be keeping not just the Kohinoor, but Tipu Sultan's sword, Mughal artifacts, and even ancient Southern Indian temple columns all in full public view and on display in their museums. Because the real issue at hand here isn't the Kohinoor itself, but our own inconsistent histories, misinformed
The Kohinoor, or "mountain of light," diamond, set in the Maltese Cross at the front of the crown made for Britain's late Queen Mother Elizabeth. (Photo: ) saying they wanted the relic returned in an "amicable manner"! Indeed, one look at the history of what some have touted as the "cursed diamond" shows that the politics of ownership behind the Kohinoor is highly contested, with not just India and Britain, but also Pakistan, Bangladesh and South Africa arguing their rights of ownership, each justifiable in its own way. The diamond's history is one of many inconsistencies and involves traveling down the hands of Alauddin Khilji to Humayun to Ahmad Shah Abdali before it finally landed in the hands of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Ranjit Singh died in 1839, but it was a decade later that the diamond was somehow "taken hold of", so to speak, by the British.
rights of the King to do so, it is also important to highlight that Duleep Singh himself was no more than 8-10 years old when this treaty was signed. The ownership of the Kohinoor, however, clear its legality may be, is still a cloudy issue on the moral or ethical front. Who knows how Duleep Singh signed the treaty, whether a little boy acted of his own accord or out of force or coercion? Other arguments include that if India seeks to recover its right to the Kohinoor, then what was erstwhile part of the same land under the Raj (namely Pakistan and Bangladesh) also deserve to stake their claims to it too. After all, the diamond was taken by the British from Singh's rule in Lahore, and thus, present-day
political stances and lack of awareness regarding how the past affects the present. Debates on colonial reparations or empire era loot on display in museums are a mirror to our present times. They point to stories of how the powerful manage to get away with injustice. The Kohinoor is but one object among thousand others, but this incident should help us ask hard questions. The diamond isn't just about material loss, but symbolic of the legacies of colonialism and imperialism. Much like other practices of systemic inequality, it is the "principle" of unjust acquisition and not material wealth that matters here: Does Britain acknowledge it stands on the wrong side of history? Courtesy: Youthkiawaaz
DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, APRIL 29
BUSINESS
PAGE 10
LeEco mops 910 million with sale of 7,50,000 super-phones in a flash 11.36% stake in ANI New Delhi, Apr 28: The China based company LeEco has swept the market all over again with its newly-released second generation super-phones such as Le 2, Le 2Pro, Le Max2 as it witnessed over 23 million registrations onLeMall.com. Meanwhile, registration of the fourth generation Super TVs have also exceeded 18 million. The new ranges of products from distinct industries have all made a big hit right after their launch on April 20, proving the power and efficacy of a comprehensive ecosystem that LeEco endeavors to build. The company seems to break
all the industry records of making the fastest sale in the largest amount of 7,50,000 units in a single day in China when one of its super-phones, Le Max2 got sold out in just 57 seconds. LeEco also saw the registrations for the fourth generation Super TVs exceeding 18 million. LeEco launched an entire new range of products belonging to distinct industries mobile, TV, automotive and VR, on April 20, 2016. The products offered by the company have organically and synergistically connected hardware, content and services, providing exceptional user experience and transforming the internet lifestyle of
Suresh Prabhu initiates steps to boost Indian Railways
ClearTax raises USD 1.3 million from Max Levchin
ANI New Delhi, Apr 28: As a major boost for the government's 'Make in India' initiative, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has envisioned unprecedented approach for the creation of a scientific and technological collaboration forum among the major government technical and scientific agencies for development of special materials and technologies for improving the Indian Railways. The move will give impetus to creation of new technologies within India and witness a major boost for the government's 'Make in India' initiative. The aim is to reduce the Indian Railways dependence on other countries and give impetus to creation of new technologies within the country by creating an organized synergy between the major government bodies in the field of technological research and production. A meeting was recently chaired by Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha to discuss this issue. The event witnessed guests from the ISRO, CSIR, DRDO, RDSO, Department of Science and Technology and Defence Production. The areas in which Indian Railways sought collaboration were structural materials, paneling material for coaches, germicidal and wear resistant furnishing material, coating and special paints with better cleaning properties and pest control capability. It will also help in developing systems for the Indian Railways, which are best suited to the country's local conditions and needs. Additionally, it would create a constantly evolving rolling stock technology development process to create exportable products like coaches, locomotive, wagons, cranes and special vehicles etc. The meeting ended with the announcement of a permanent mechanism of Standing Intra Government Technical Collaboration Panel (SITCOP) to converge the government's internal capabilities to create better and futuristic rolling stock for the Indian Railways with minimal foreign dependence in critical areas.
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE The company seems to break all the industry records of making the fastest sale in the largest amount of 7,50,000 units in a single day in China when one of its superphones, Le Max2 got sold out in just 57 seconds.
Meanwhile, registration of the fourth generation Super TVs have also exceeded 18 million.
The new ranges of products from distinct industries have all made a big hit right after their launch on April 20, proving the power and efficacy of a comprehensive ecosystem that LeEco endeavors to build. LeEco launched an entire new range of products belonging to distinct industries - mobile, TV, automotive and VR, on April 20, 2016.
many. Unlike other smartphone and TV brands, LeEco's superb devices have become the best
companions in daily life, backed by the user-centric ecosystem. Besides the innovation of business mod-
els, LeEco has been sparing no efforts in technological disruptions in the past few years. Aiming to
The China based company LeEco has swept the market all over again with its newly-released second generation super-phones such as Le 2, Le 2Pro, Le Max2 as it witnessed over 23 million registrations onLeMall.com.
ANI New Delhi, Apr 28: Once again underlining its position as one of India's most promising fintech ventures, ClearTax, India's leading Income Tax Returns e-filing website, has announced securing an angel investment of USD 1.3 million recently by top Silicon Valley angels. Making their way in to this list are many like PayPal Cofounder Max Levchin who marks his first Indiafocused investment with ClearTax's latest funding round. The investment will be used by ClearTax to further its mission of simplifying the process of tax filing through technology. While the investment itself is enough for the country's start-up industry to sit up and take no-
tice, what is even more encouraging for the Bangalore-based start-up is the fact that the funding round was participated in by investors with vital industry experience behind them. These names further include Scott and
ANI New Delhi, Apr 28: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) with technical support from global health experts Vital Strategies has announced the launch of powerful outdoor 'Tears You Apart anti-tobacco campaign' to raise awareness of the harms of smokeless tobacco. The exterior of the trains run by Indian Railways at India's busiest major railway routes across eight states from today until September 2016 will now have images and messages from the recentlylaunched campaign. The railway ads will potentially be seen by millions of low and middle income Indians - who are more likely to use smokeless tobacco - across ur-
ban and rural areas. This campaign is one of the most geographically extensive health promotion campaigns to utilize the world's most heavily used railway network. The 'Tears You Apart' campaign features a Public Service Announcement (PSA) filmed in B. Barooah Cancer Institute in Guwahati, Assam and at the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, Maharashtra, which shows real victims suffering from horrific cancers and disfigurements as a result of their chewing addiction. It also includes the victims' relatives, who describe how tobacco-related disease has destroyed careers and family life, and added to their financial burdens. The railway ads could
PayPal Co-founder Max Levchin. (Photo: fortunedotcom) Cyan Banister, serial investors in ventures such as Uber, SpaceX, Postmates and Zappos and winners of the Crunchies Angel Investors of the Year 2016 award. Others who participated in the round included
LeEco also saw the registrations for the fourth generation Super TVs exceeding 18 million.
WhatsApp's Business Head Neeraj Arora, Angel List Founder and CEO Naval Ravikant, Dropbox VP Ruchi Sanghvi, Y Combinator alum Sumon Sadhu and Flexport's Founder and CEO Ryan Petersen. Speaking on the announcement, Spokesperson, ClearTax, said, "We are absolutely thrilled to be chosen for angel investment by some of the most renowned names in the global start-up ecosystem today. Having these industry leaders, with trenchant knowledge and understanding of the fintech industry, choose ClearTax for such a big investment is a measure of their belief in our vision, business model and execution capability. This development is a massive shot
bring the best-in-line services and experiences for the users with cuttingedge technology, LeEco has obtained over 11,000 patents in the fields of smart-phone, TV, automobile, Internet-of-Vehicles (IOV), electric car, eUI, virtual reality (VR), with the industry-leading research and development team and programs. Chinese conglomerate entered the Indian market in January 2016 with a focus on device and content offerings. In just few months it has become the favorite of Indian consumers by outlining its plan to bring the entire ecosystem to India and launch more product variants here.
in the arm for us, and will encourage us to push on and achieve greater landmarks in the future in terms of the quality of our service." A fintech start-up which helps millions of Indians e-file tax returns, ClearTax was only the fourth Indian start-up to be funded by Y Combinator and the first one which focused on the Indian market. The latest funding highlights the sheer potential ClearTax enjoys in revolutionizing the fintech landscape of the country. The fact that leading investors globally are choosing the company to make their foray into the Indian fintech market gives a boost to ClearTax's vision of realizing its goal speedily in the near future.
NHPC to be sold by Govt.
Image for representational purpose. (Photo: 7606presscdn-0-74) Nagpur, Apr 28: Kickstarting the disinvestment process of the current fiscal, the government on Wednesday will sell 11.36 per cent stake in National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) at Rs.21.75. This is likely to fetch the ex-chequer more than Rs.2,700 crore. The government holds 85.96 per cent in NHPC and selling over 125 crore shares or 11.36 per cent would help it comply with minimum public shareholding norms. As the newly-renamed Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) races to meet the budgeted disinvestment target of Rs.56,500 crore, NHPC would be the first PSU
stake sale on the block. The government has already lined up over a dozen PSUs for stake sale in the current fiscal. NHPC would be the third PSU to be sold under the new offer for sale rules notified by SEBI. While institutional investors would bid in the first day of the OFS, retail investors would get to bid on the second day. NHPCis engaged in generating power through conventional and non-conventional sources, and dedicated to the planning, development and implementation of an integrated and efficient network of power projects in India. (Agencies)
Net interest income of India Railways to promote 'Anti-tobacco campaign' Axis Bank improves
C.K. Mishra, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. (Photo: carnamdb)
reach people who had not previously seen the campaign on TV. C.K. Mishra, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, said: "The Government is committed to ensuring healthcare and social safety for all Indians. Warning people about the
dangers of tobacco, is a key part of our strategy, using mass media campaigns, Film Rule, and all other methods of behavior change communication." "Tears You Apart shows that tobacco-related suffering isn't limited to disease and disability among patients; their loved ones also
share immense health, emotional and financial pains and hardships. It was important for us to highlight this reality in this campaign," added Mishra. President and Chief Executive Officer of Vital Strategies, Jose Luis Castro, welcomed this initiative. "We congratulate the Government of India on this campaign and are delighted that it will reach so many Indians in the course of their daily lives as they travel on the railway or see the trains go past. India is facing an increasing burden of non-communicable disease for which tobacco use is a leading risk factor, and an economic burden from tobacco-related disease of more than 1.4 trillion rupees every year," said Castro.
TECHNOLOGY Swipe Elite Note unveiled in India at Rs 7,999 New Delhi, Apr 28: Swipe Technologies has launched its new range of Elite smartphone in India. The Swipe Elite Note is priced at Rs 7,999 and is exclusively available on Flipkart.
IMPROVEMENT IN INCOME
The third largest private sector bank has added around Rs.300 crore to the contingency pool, taking the total amount to Rs.480 crore. In the third quarter, Axis Bank used Rs. 200-odd crore from the contingency pool. Total provisioning was Rs.1,168 crore during the quarter as compared to Rs.710 crore in the same period of the previous year.
UNVEILING THE NEW Swipe Technologies has launched its new range of Elite smartphone in India. The Swipe Elite Note is priced at Rs 7,999 and is exclusively available on Flipkart.
The increase in provisioning is mainly due to the additions to the contingency pool and provisioning of Rs.100 crore for advances made to the Punjab Government for food grain purchases.
The phone features 5.5 inch HD IPS display with 2.5 Arch Touch screen that supports Vi-Di technology.
The overall asset quality of the bank remained stable with gross NPA at 1.67 per cent of gross advances.
It houses 13 megapixel rear sony camera and a 5 megapixel front shooter.
The Swipe Elite Note comes with a masive 3000 mAH battery. The dual-SIM phone supports 4G LTE networks and Wi-Fi.
pool and provisioning of Rs.100 crore for advances made to the Punjab Government for food grain purchases. The overall asset quality of the bank remained stable with gross NPA at 1.67 per cent of gross advances. "The asset quality largely remained stable on a sequential basis but the stressed asset outlook remains elevated and the operating environment continues to remain challenging," said Jairam Sridharan, Chief Financial Officer, Axis Bank during the postearnings conference call. Net interest income (NII) of the bank grew by 20 per cent Rs. 4,553 crore during the period under review on the back of 21 per cent growth in advances. Retail advances grew by 24 per cent and now constitute 41 per cent of the net advances portfolio. (Agencies)
Axis Bank reported a marginal decline in its net profit to Rs. 2,154 crore for the quarter ended 31 March, as the lender decided to beef up its contingency reserves.
The phone features 5.5 inch HD IPS display with 2.5 Arch Touch screen that supports ViDi technology. It houses 13 megapixel rear sony camera and a 5 megapixel front
The mobile phone is powered by a 1.2 Ghz 64 bit quadcore processor coupled with 3 GB RAM.
Mumbai, Apr 28: Axis Bank reported a marginal decline in its net profit to Rs. 2,154 crore for the quarter ended 31 March, as the lender decided to beef up its contingency reserves. The third largest private sector bank has added around Rs.300 crore to the contingency pool, taking the total amount to Rs.480 crore. Though there is no regulatory mandate, some banks set aside a proportion of profit as contingency reserves which are used at a later date if there is an unexpected rise in provisioning. In the third quarter, Axis Bank used Rs. 200-odd crore from the contingency pool. Total provisioning was Rs.1,168 crore during the quarter as compared to Rs.710 crore in the same period of the previous year. The increase in provisioning is mainly due to the additions to the contingency
Image for representational purpose. (Photo: img5a.flixcart) shooter. The mobile phone is powered by a 1.2 Ghz 64 bit quadcore processor
coupled with 3 GB RAM. The Swipe Elite Note comes with a masive 3000 mAH bat-
tery. The dual-SIM phone supports 4G LTE networks and Wi-Fi. (Agencies)
Net interest income (NII) of the bank grew by 20 per cent Rs. 4,553 crore during the period under review on the back of 21 per cent growth in advances. Retail advances grew by 24 per cent and now constitute 41 per cent of the net advances portfolio.
DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, APRIL 29
Features
PAGE 11
TRAVEL & TOURISM Magical Menchuka With beautiful mountains, crystal clear waters and friendly innocent souls, Menchuka is a heavenly abode, hidden between the Nguli wildernesses of nature. Nguli Dabi shares his experience of Menchuka and tells us why one should visit this place if they want solace from the hustle of city life and need peace amidst pure nature. About a day drive from Arunachal's capital city of Itanagar, Menchukha is the beautiful and isolated valley of snow covered mountains located at the easternmost tip of West Siang district bordering China. From the foothills of Papum pare district to plains of Assam, and then climbing up and down through the hills of west Siang, I knew the journey was going to be a marathon one. Every year, the first week of November 69 marks a calendar event hosted by the Department of Tourism Arunachal Pradesh under the banner of "Adventure @ Menchukha" with a catchy tagline "the adrelenin is back"!
"Men-chu-kha" or Mechukha as it is popularly known, stands for medicine- water - and snow. Also known as the of Dabi Switzerland Arunachal by many, its demography consists of four major tribe's memba, libo, ramo and bokar, besides harbouring many other indigenous tribes of this multicultural state in small numbers. The moment I reached Menchukha,I was mesmerized by its snow capped mountains shining like pearls on the mountain tops with sliding clouds in and around, providing a perfect picture of nature in solitude. The beauty of it was the contrasting shades of colour all around the landscape, the yellow hazy foot long grasses on the land, the greenish mountains, the deep blue river Siyom flowing through and the snow capped white peaks all around the town, there were all complementing each other like different gems in a crown. Captivated by the beauty of the place, I was all set to
look out and have some fun and adventure in Menchukha. As my visit coincided with the annual adventure festival, it meant I could also have the taste of culture and traditions of the local population. The small yet geographically rich town is nestled 6000 feet above sea level and has tremendous scope for adventure sports like paragliding, trekking, rafting, etc. I decided to explore and trek the first day, to have an eagle eye glimpse of it, from a mountain top visible from the centre of the town, where the name of the town Menchukha was engraved in white. En route to conquer the top, with some juice, water and my camera, I found some army personals, who guided me with the proper tracks to reach the top. With local wooden houses, young children playing around muddy waterlogged roads in the village and through feet long yellow grasses on my way, I reached the top hill point in an hour and a half. The whole town could be seen and the feeling of be-
ing in the clouds was eminent. On my front view was the small town of Menchukha, while on the other side was a range of mountains covered with thick dense vegetation of coniferous trees, capped in snow. The cultural fest started early evening at around 4.00 pm with some performances by local troops, showcasing bokar, pai- libo, ramo and memba traditions. The performers were mostly young students, dressed up in their traditional attire, performing with full enthusiasm and dedication to showcase their proud culture and tradition. The variety of dances and songs, took the crowd on their feet, and I could clearly feel the festive vibe standing among the localities. Then there were a group of artists under a banner Link, from the Capital city who showcased a variety of artists, including a mash up band, hip hop dance troops, rappers, beat boxer, and two very young designers showcasing their traditional fusion and casual
collection in the first two days. The third day marked a rock performance, by a state based band, which played some fusion rock and alternative rock numbers, and a renowned, well known designer of the state showcased her collection. The programme scheduling was very well managed with a balanced mixture of traditional culture and modern gigs. All thanks to the Adventure fest I had a taste of kayaking and rafting downstream river Siyom, which was fun. Quad Biking was introduced this year in the festival and it sure was a great ride through the slopes of Menchukha at less than 1000 bucks. The adventure packages included rappling, horse riding, archery, and were available at pretty cheap and reasonable rates, compared to other adventure fests in the state. I ended my day looking at paragliding tourists, kid's zorbing around at the festival ground and to complete the tiring day, flew a kite in the cool breeze of Menchukha as the sun slowly began to fade out
Menchuka, a heavenly abode (Photo: kipepeo ) among the mountains. And since no trip is incomplete without the sightseeing process, I started with the very famous Guru Nanak Mandirof Menchuka, which has a myth of its own associated with it. According to the legend, two disciples of Guru Nanak were travelling to China when they stopped at a juncture for resting and hence went into deep meditation. While meditating they were attacked by a tiger and as they stood up, the rock above their head melted due to the energy acclaimed
during meditation, this melted rock marks the main site of this small but religious temple here. Below the temple there is an ancient cave, which is very cramped and the localities have a belief that only people with pure heart can pass through the cave. Just below the cave there is a hole on a big rock near the river bank that decides if a person has an evil or a pure heart according to random selection of a single stone, from the aforementioned hole. From the 5 stones inside 3 are black
which resemble an evil heart while two were white, which stood for a pure one. The next spot was a 400 year old monastery located at the westernmost tip of Menchukha. As expected the monastery or Gonpa also provided a breathtaking views of the landscape around. The silence, peace and serenity of the location, provided a much needed spiritual vibe in the atmosphere that I had been missing. A magical experience altogether! Courtesy: Northeasttoday.
Largest River Island of the World - Majuli Andro, Ancient Village Northeast is one of the most tion that connects Majuli Slenderbilled Vulture wonderful and mostly unex- with the mainland. And thus Gyps, White Backed Vulplored places in India. This it is advisable that the tour- ture, Greater Adjutant zone can surprise you in ists avoid the monsoon and Stork and many more. every possible way with its rather prefer the winter Smaller birds include Warnature's bounty which is while making plans to visit blers, Little Grebe, Purple simply the is- Heron, White Necked breathland. Stork and lots more. Since t a k i n g . Moumita Karmakar Standing Majuli is a river island, it So there u n d e r also houses a lot of fish speis a very unusual landmass the blue sky and clear river cies which includes some set in the river Brahmaputra water, Majuli is an impor- common as well as some which has over the time tant ecological hotspot in uncommon varieties as taken the shape of an island. the state of Assam. Since well. Do not be surprised This island is none other than 'Majuli', ecologically sound and a reservoir of the Neo-Vaishnavic culture of Assam for which it is also known as the cultural capital of Assamese civilisation. It took many years for Majuli for its transformation into an island as it stands alone as the one and only largest river island in the whole world now. Majuli is surrounded by river Brahmaputra towards its Majuli-World's largest river island (Photo: south and Kherkutiya Xuti, amazingindiablog ) a sub branch of the river itself while towards its north this piece of landmass is far if you see any crocodile or river Subansiri flows. To away from any form of pol- snake resting under the sun reach this abode of tranquil- lution or environmental on the river bank because lity, ferries are always avail- degradation, it is the house the island's geographical able from the city of Jorhat of a lot of beautiful resident location also makes it a in Assam. Ferrying is the and migratory birds like habitat of a lot of reptiles only medium of transporta- Spot billed Pelicans, as well. Apart from the
favourable environment of the island, it is also because of the love of the NeoVaishnavite people towards the wildlife that this place is still a perfect destination for the pure wildlife lovers and bird-watchers. Majuli has extremely fertile land because of which agriculture is the main occupation of the people living here. The people living here follow their religion profoundly and simplicity and friendliness are their armour. In the month of February, the island gets completely transformed and decorated as the people celebrate their famous festival - Ali aye ligang and dance 'Gumrag Soman', the traditional Mising dance. People here also celebrate, Raas Leela for three days when they virtually enacts the tales from Lord Krishna's life. The Neo-Vaishnavite religion encourages the people to engage in handiworks like pottery, handloom making, craft making, mask making and the Kalambari Satra - the art of making the finest boats. The potters here follow the age old practice of pottery
as that of the Harappan culture while the handlooms made by these people are equally famous across the world. This is because the people of this island have kept themselves far away from any means of modernity. Just when you are thinking of the preservation of these talents, it will be excruciating for you to know that Majuli has not yet been granted the title of 'Indian Heritage'. Added to this woe, the landmass is gradually depleting because of the unchecked flood and erosion during the rainy seasons. It is hoped that the Assam Government will not take much time in realising the importance of preservation of such a cultural as well as ecological hotspot and provide the 'heritage' tag to the world's largest river island, Majuli in the coming days. Once you hit the island, do not forget to witness the beautiful sunrise and sunset. Another advice is that you might get some decent options for staying there but you'll have to forget luxury to enjoy the novelty of this incredible place. Courtesy: Nelive.
in Manipur Manipur is one fascinating hilly state in North eastern fringes of India that is a favorite with tourists. From the beautiful hills and valleys to enchanting caves and national parks, Arnab you will find plenty of things to enjoy and explore in Manipur. In some rustic areas of the state, the tribes live while adhering to their ancient
warm and hospitable by nature. Things to see f you are a fan of the Lord of the Rings franchisee, chances are there Andro will remind you of the Ghosh hobbits! The villagers resort to harvest for living mostly and they are very particular about maintaining the ancient customs and ways of life. They are
Ningthou. The responsibility to keep the sacred fire burning is on the entire village and every household keeps it burning by turn. While visiting this ancient village where time seems to stand still, do not miss out the local beverages! The Loi communities prepare indigenous brew like Sekmai and Andro. The women of this community are
Mawphlang: The Sacred Forest in Meghalaya The northeastern Indian states are loved by tourists for their amazing biodiversity, wildlife and fascinating heritage. Meghalaya is one state in this region Arnab that has enticing wildlife and natural bounty. Apart from the national parks, sanctuaries and hilly terrains in Meghalaya, there are some special natural splendors that can leave you spellbound. The state known for thick forest coverage has witnessed loss of natural splendor- resulting in tribes taking steps to preserve their ancient forests. The 'sacred' forest of Mawphlang is one such notable instance. Nuances of Mawphlang 'Sacred' forest The East Khasi hills district in Meghalaya has a lot of natural attractions to entice
any visitor. However, the 'sacred' forest of Mawphlang is a big tourist draw. It is about 25 km away from Shillong. Deemed as auspicious by local Khasi population, Ghosh the forest is protected with utmost care and visitors require entry to explore the region. The forest is spread over an area of approx 700 acres. Since ancient ages, the natives have preserved the forest and cutting trees or any harmful activities are not allowed. Their religious beliefs are associated with this place. The ground is covered by grasslands. In the forest, you will find a rich range of flora comprising of rare flowers, herbs and orchids. There are sacred groves in the forest encircled by foliage of ferns. A lot of Khasi pines
Mawphlang of Meghalaya (Photo: nelive) are also seen in the region. The lack of human access has resulted in creation of thick network of trees and plants that are connected. Some of the ancient trees are said to be nearly a thousand years old. There are lots of rudraksh tress and some rare plants with medicinal value as well.
When and How to Visit You can hire taxi from Shillong to reach the Mawphlang sacred forest. The journey takes about 45 minutes or so. The forest remains open from morning till 5 pm. Local Khasi residents often act as guide. The entry fee is INR 20 and same is charged for photog-
raphy. While you can choose to stay at Shillong and cover the forest by a day trip, there are also a few accommodation options nearby. In fact, you will find a few hotels within a km of the region. The forest can be visited all over the year but in winter months the weather becomes really cold. The Beliefs and Rituals of Tribes The Khasi tribes who protect the forest from encroachment and harm of any kind have age old beliefs regarding it. They also resort to performing ancient rituals in the forest. Sacrificing rooster or goats are done inside temples of the forest for benefitting the community at times. The tribes believe removing anything from the forest is not good and it may affect their health and well being. Courtesy: Nelive.
Serene Andro village (Photo: iromxmo ) ways of life. They stick to their age old customs, and rituals. It can be fascinating to observe how they remain unaffected by influx of modernity over the decades. The ancient village Andro is one prime example. Andro: where time sits still Andro village, located about 25 km from capital city Imphal has a charm of its own that lures thousands of visitors. The natural splendor, serenity and traditions maintained by the villagers are nothing less than enthralling. The village is located in the picturesque Nongmaiching Hills. The villagers belong to the Loi community. They are
also skilled in pottery. The Mutua Cultural Heritage Complex set up in 1993 here also attracts a lot of tourists. It showcases interesting and diverse tribal artifacts. The model houses of tribes, stone monuments and wood carvings make the complex worth a visit. You can also watch tribal dolls, traditional ornaments and pottery here. The villagers at Andro are inherently proud of Mei Mutaba. This is an ancient temple where sacred fire which was supposedly lit 1000 years ago is maintained by the locals. The temple houses the village's governing deity Panam
skilled in pottery. Interestingly, they do not use any pottery wheel to make clay crafts. They make use of a unique shaped wooden bat. While the villagers are careful about preserving the unspoiled beauty of the place, they have also woken up to the benefits of tourism in recent years. After a water reservoir has been built at the foothills and the Santhei Natural Park has been set up, the tourist footfall has gone up significantly. It has become a picnic spot and villagers ensure it is kept clean. An orchid farm is also being set up to boost tourism prospects. Courtesy: Nelive.
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DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, APRIL 29
PAGE 12
Finger injury ends Du Plessis' IPL stint ANI New Delhi, Apr.28 : Rising Pune Supergiants suffered yet another setback as opening batsman Faf du Plessis has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League after sustaining a broken finger. "And so my Ipl tournament unfortunately comes to an end. Broken finger and out for 6 weeks.Thanx India and @RPSupergiants it's been fun," wrote Du Plessis on his Twitter
Faf du Plessis
Waqar believes Inzamam can bring difference in Pakistan
Waqar Younis ANI Karachi, Apr.28 : Former Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis has backed the appointment of Inzamam-ul-Haq as the new chief selector, saying that the latter would surely going to make a difference in the team's performance. Inzamam was appointed as the Pakistan chief selector in a major overhaul of the team following the dismal World T20 campaign in India. 46-year-old Inzamam, who represented Pakistan in 120 Tests and 398 ODIs, shortlisted former cricketers Tauseef Ahmed, Wasim Haider and Wajahatullah Wasti
as a part of the new selection panel.
Saina enters Asia Championship quarters, Sindhu falls a 21-14, 21-18 win over Thailand's Nitchaon Jindapol in the second round contest that lasted 45 minutes.
handle. The South African T20 captain scored 206 in six matches at an average of 34.33, with highest being 69. Earlier, Pune lost the services of former England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who was forced to end his IPL campaign with a calf injury. Pune are currently sixth in the points table after winning two out of their six matches.
Saina Nehwal ANI Wuhan, Apr.28 : Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal produced a clinical performance as she progressed through to the
quarterfinals of the women's singles event at the Badminton Asia Championship here on Thursday. Fifth seed Saina claimed
Meanwhile, compatriot PV Sindhu failed to sustain the momentum after clinching the opening game as the two-time bronze medallist at the World Championship went on to suffer a 13-21, 22-20, 21-8 defeat to eighth seed Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan in another second round contest. Saina remains the last hope for India in the tournament, which is the last event before the Rio Olympics qualification deadline.
Allan Donald named Australia's Williamson named New Zealand skipper in all three formats bowling coach for Sri Lanka tour ANI Melbourne, Apr.28 : Former South African paceman Allan Donald has been announced as Australia's bowling coach for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. The appointment of Donald comes after Western Australia bowling coach Adam Griffith was announced as the bowling coach for the tour of the West Indies in June, which precedes the Sri Lankan tour. While expressing delight over his appointment, the South Africa's fourthleading wicket-taker revealed his ambitions of holding the job for longer, the Sydney Morning Herald re-
Allan Donald
ported. Meanwhile, head coach Darren Lehmann believes that Donald, who had previously mentored the likes of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, would be able to bring in
fresh perspective into the team in view of his considerable success in subcontinent conditions. Also, former Australian batsman Stuart Law was confirmed as the interim batting coach for the tour.
ANI Wellington, Apr.28 : New Zealand star batsman Kane Williamson has been officially announced as the national captain in all three formats of the game. The 25-year-old prolific batsman, who is currently leading his side in one-day international and Twenty20 outfits, succeeds Brendon McCullum, who retired in February following the Test series against Australia. Williamson also proved his skills as a leader in the recently-concluded World Twenty20 in India, where he led his side to the semifinals. Reflecting on his newest appointment, Williamson admitted that he had learned a lot from his pre-
Kane Williamson decessor, insisting that he was determined to continue McCullum's legacy, Stuff.co.nz reported. Crediting McCullum and head coach Mike Hesson for the team's success in recent times, Williamson expressed that having good players and people alongside him would cer-
tainly make his job easier. In addition to being the 34th player to skipper the New Zealand team in full internationals, he will become the country's 29th Test skipper when he will lead his side to Africa in July-August, with two games in both Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Jubilant with the Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to implement one of his suggestions that he gave after the 2015 World Cup, Waqar said that Inzamam would not going to be dictated by anyone and insisted that everyone should support his appointment, the Express Tribune reported. Waqar further said that Inzamam has moved on from the era of being considered to be a tough taskmaster and that he now pays more focus on cricket rather than the religious practices of the players.
Niguez gives Atletico edge over Bayern in Champions League semis
Atletico Madrid ANI Johannesburg, Apr.28 : Saul Niguez scored the decisive goal as Atletico Madrid edged past Bayern Munich 1-0 in their first leg semifinal clash of the Champions League to give the Spanish club a slender advantage ahead of next week's return leg at the Allianz Arena. Niguez outwitted Bayern's de-
fenders to find the net in the 11th minute of the game, Sport24 reported. Although the German champions dominated the second half, Atletico held firm till the end with striker Fernando Torres hitting the post in a rare counter. Elsewhere, Real Madrid and Manchester City played out a goalless draw in the other semifinal first-leg clash on Tuesday.
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