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ASSENG/2015/64205
Vol. 1
Issue 263
DOES INDIA REALLY NEED TO DEFEND THE SIACHEN GLACIER?
Price -
Dibrugarh, Monday, February 29, 2016
SEMBCORP PREPARES TO OBTAIN TWO POWER PROJECTS IN INDIA IN NEXT 18 MONTHS
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6 SIMPLE YET BRILLIANT INVENTIONS THAT ARE CHANGING THE LIVES OF WOMEN IN INDIA Page 9
Pages- 12 PM MODI ASKS FARMERS TO CONVERT CHALLENGES INTO OPPORTUNITIES Page 6
With an objective to defeat PM says his exam tomorrow Congress, AGP and BJP on but he is ‘full of confidence’ course to forge alliance PTI New Delhi, Feb 28
"I have an exam tomorrow", said Prime Minister Narendra Modi today on the eve of presentation of General Budget in Parliament as he sought to motivate students appearing for board exams for which he even roped in icons like Sachin Tendulkar and Vishwanathan Anand. Modi, who admitted to feeling "tension" sometimes, said he was "full of confidence" ahead of his "examination" by 125 crore people, a trait which he wanted students to emulate when they appear for their examinations for Class X and XII starting Tuesday. In his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', he emphasised that students
ET CAPSULES
Ulfa linkman arrested
should appear for the exams with a "positive approach" having free and calm mind without any anxiety. He also asked parents not to put pressure on them. In this context, he cited his example in the context of presentation of Budget which all the countrymen closely monitor and analyse.
PM Narendra Modi "Friends, your exams are starting. I too have exam tomorrow. The country's 125 crore people are going to take my examination," the Prime Minister said, while pointing out that Budget is being presented tomorrow.
all of us succeed so that the nation succeeds...Move ahead with a free mind, without any tension of success or failure," he said in his 35-minute programme.
"But you must have seen how healthy I am feeling, how full of confidence I am. Let my exams take place tomorrow and yours day after and may
To lay stress on a positive and tension-free approach, Modi roped in Sachin, the iconic cricketer, Anand, the world chess champion, besides
60 vultures found death at Kaziranga National Park ET Correspondent Jorhat, Feb 28
Nayan Jyoti Chetia Pic - Arjun Mishra Tinsukia, Feb 28: Police on Sunday arrested one person from his residence at Gellaphukri on charges of helping Ulfa (I). The accused, identified as Nayan Jyoti Chetia, has booked under section 387 IPC, 10/ 13 UA (P) Act. Officer - in - charge of Tinsukia police station Puna Bora said, based on confirm reports police arrested Nayan Jyoti Chetia. He was helping Ulfa in their extortion activities, Bora added. He said, during investigations it has also come to light that the accused was helping the banned outfit in recruitment. Police has registered a case no Tsk PS 240/16. (Correspondent)
Bharat Ratna scientist C N R Rao and spiritual leader Murari Bapu, whose messages were played during the programme. They gave their own examples of how they approached their exams in their respective fields, keeping tension aside.
A total of 59 vultures were found death at the Agoratoli range of the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) at Upai Nuhuwa Chapori , informed Ranjit Baruah, a senior forest official from the range here today. The official said on last Wednesday a total of 53 dead vultures were recovered from
the Chapori near the vulture pavilion and 14 other were shifted from the range to the animal rescue and rehabilitation centre and at the centre out of 14, 12 were cured and left them free while two vultures died on Saturday and five more dead bodies of vultures were recovered from a site of a wild carcass of wild buffalo by a royal Bengal tiger on last Tuesday. Contd. on Page 4
He also invoked Thomas Alva Edison, who invented electricity, and J K Rowling of Harry Potter fame, saying their success had possibly come after many failures. Underlining that "positive approach" and "positive frame of mind" help in all aspects of life, Modi talked about himself and said when he comes across some issues which he is not familiar with, he concentrates to deal with them. "Sometimes I feel tension
within. Then I feel that I should relax a bit so that I feel good. So I have developed my own technique. I do some deep breathing. I take deep breath three times, five times. It may take a few seconds but my mind becomes ready to deal with the situation with a calm mind.
This may be my experience but this may help you too," he told the students. Modi, a practioner of yoga, also referred to this art and mentioned how it helps in improving concentration and strengthening inner peace. "There is success in failure too" if there is a positive approach, he said, while asking students to have dedication, determination and diligence to achieve success. .
The Assam cabinet in the last cabinet meeting of the present government took several significant decisions ahead of the state assembly election. These includes extension of the job tenure of the school teachers
employed on a contractual basis for another five years, and these jobs will be regularized after five years. The cabinet has also taken the decision of hiking the honorarium of the village headman to Rs. 4000. The Cabinet also took the decision of creating more sub-
In what could be seen as a major political development which could change the course of the Assam assembly election 2016, both the AGP and BJP are on the course of making an alliance to defeat the Congress in the election which is slated to be held in April this year. The BJP which is looking for alliances to defeat the Congress has already made an alliance with the BPF. AGP sources said that the party will contest in 30 seats on its own, and these includes the constituencies where it already has an MLA and the constituencies where it has a strong hold. "We have explored the pros
Atul Bora
Sarbananda Sonowal
and cons of the alliance and have the taken this decision, and we are confident that we will be able to defeat the Congress with this alliance," said a senior AGP leader. Echoing the AGP's version,
a senior BJP leader said that initially there were some doubts but now everything is clear. "The AGP will soon be making the announcement public," said a senior BJP leader.
57-year old arrested for attempting rape Spl Correspondent Tinsukia, Feb 28
In a horrifying case, police on Sunday arrested a 57-year old person for attempting to rape a minor girl here in Tinsukia town. The incident took place at 4 pm on Saturday when the victim, an 11year old girl, had gone to her tutor's residence at Bengphukri for tution. The accused, finding the girl alone in absence of his son, the teacher, attempted rape on the minor. Contd. on Page 4
Assam cabinet takes significant decisions in last cabinet A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Feb 28
A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Feb 28
divisions and revenue circles in the state, which is being done to facilitate smooth administration in the state. In another significant decision, the Cabinet also approved the film policy for the state that has been prepared by renowned film personality Jahnu Baruah.
(All India Rank - JEE Main)
NEIGRIHMS
(All India Rank - IIT) JEE-Main
(GENERAL CATEGORY)
ASHMITA MAZUMDAR (GENERAL CATEGORY)
Assam CEE Medical
SAURAV SHAKTI BORAH KAUSHIK R. HAZARIKA SAURAV JYOTI BORAH DEEPANKAR D. BHARALI BHANUJYA SAIKIA
people of Kachajuli has been supplying due food to the elephant how much they can do within their limitation; but no forest officials of the district arrived at the spot till today morning for the due treatment of the elephant.
ET Correspondent Lakhimpur, Feb 28:
A wild huge elephant was wounded with several wounds its body by the unknown poachers with bullets. His tail was taken away after it had been cut alive without a single drop of kindness. Spirals caused by flies in the tail increasing its pain twice. One of his fore-legs has been becoming paralyzed day by day on account of severe injury on it. The elephant, in Lakhimpur District, has been suffering in the agony of death for at least fifteen days in the Ranga Reserve Forest located in the border area of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
cmyk
Lakhimpur District Forest Department, who is by no means sensitive to secure the
"We are just providing pieces of sugar-cane and banana plant to the elephant. We are totally helpless. We can do nothing with regard to treat the injury of the animal. Glimpse of the injured elephant at Ranga Reserve Forest in Lakhimpur district. Pic - UB Photos flora and fauna, once again fail to sack another wild resource from the poachers who attempted to kill the elephant for their materialistic gain.
Forest Department of the State poachers could enable themselves to cut away the horn of a rhino alive in the Kaziranga National Park last year.
For such negligence of the
However, the neighboring
"No forest officials have arrived here to take care of the animal even after the pitiable condition of the elephant was informed to them"-added another person there.
Contd. on Page 4
AYANJYOTI DUTTA KARANJEET GOHAIN (T.MARK:182) (T.MARK:176)
KUNAL ROY (T.MARK:162)
SAURAV S.BORAH (T.MARK:169)
PINGLE NATH (T.MARK:117)
SAGAR RAKSHIT (T.MARK:115)
Total JEE-Main Qualifiers : 55 Nons.
NITUPAN DIHINGIA (T.MARK:161)
SHRYA BORUAH (T.MARK:143)
ANMUN CHETRY (T.MARK:134)
AMLAN JYOTI DUTTA PORITUSH BAILUNG SHUBHAM DUTTA (T.MARK:124) (T.MARK:87) (T.MARK:127)
KAUSHIK HAZARIKA (T.MARK:118)
SANDEEP SONOWAL (T.MARK:82)
Few STAR PERFORMERS IN MEDICAL Total Selection in Medical, 2015 : 12 Nons. NEIGRIHMS Rank - 8th Assam CEE Med. SR-51
NAMRATA CHAKRABORTY
UPASANA BORKOTOKY (ASSAM CEE Med. SR-181 Sikkim Manipal Medical: 21)
SAURAV S. BORAH ANSHUMAN GOGOI (Assam CEE Med. SR-125) (Assam CEE Medical State Rank-608)
DIBRUGARH OFFICE : Amolapatty, A. T. Road, Near Natya Mandir, Dibrugarh-1, Assam JORHAT CENTRE : Baruah Chariali, Near UBI Bank Building, 2nd Floor, Jorhat-1, Assam
Phone : 0373- 2320231, 9435031699, 8811003000 cmyk
Bullet wounded wild elephant: Lakhimpur Forest Department insensitive for fifteen days
Few JEE-Main QUALIFIERS
DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29
PAGE 2
ASTRO FOR YOU Aries Passion will rule today. You may want to talk to him/her all day long, but there will be bills to pay, dear. A bit of balance will do no harm, says Ganesha. However, if you've decided to go the extra mile, make sure you're wearing the right shoes Taurus You will not just run the race but will reach the finish line with ease today, predicts Ganesha. Neither pressure nor overload will prevent your from accomplishing your targets this afternoon. However, Ganesha advises that you must learn to be patient to make the most of your success. Gemini You will don the role of a very affectionate parent today. Your children, however, may get a bit uneasy by this sudden surge of love on your part. Don't overdo it; if you have just realised that your kids need warmth, be patient with them. With your spouse, however, you will have no problem in the warmth department. In fact, expect fireworks in the evening. Cancer Your day will revolve around your spouse and matters related to him/her. Thanks to the love and warmth that he/she will shower on you, you may not want to go to work, and you would expect the same from him/her. Don't push it, unless both of you can take a break from work without any harm done to your day's tasks. A good day to plan a mini-vacation. Around afternoon, you will get some good news from distant relatives. Leo "Show me the money!" Well, you might as well be saying that aloud, because today, you are going to be heard. Ganesha foresees a fruitful day in money matters. Even professionally, you come to terms with enjoying the power of money. It is a good day for a bit of splurging, especially on those you love. So go get those pearls that your sweetheart spotted at the jewellery shop! Also, you might want to be careful about not getting swindled, cautions Ganesha. Virgo A candid conversation with your beloved is on the radar today. Labour to complete tasks you've been putting off for a while, says Ganesha. A trip to a sacred place is also blinking. But be advised, and weigh your options before making a choice. Libra Ganesha says you will see your hard work come to fruition today. This is a good and profitable day for all those of you who are associated with the business field. For those of you who are working professionals this will be a day when your senior officials will praise you for taking up tough tasks and completing them satisfactorily. Ganesha advises you to avoid arguments today Scorpio Endless ambitions and limitless energy - a day tailored to perfection, forecasts Ganesha. On the career front, you will be looking for some challenging activities. You will have more than enough vigour to tackle anything that work or academics can throw at you. You will socialise later in the day by attending parties or hosting dinner for friends. Sagittarius Actions speaking louder than words could never have been truer for you than it is today. Let the force of your actions do the talking. You may find yourself working on personality development and self-improvement later in the day. While some of your actions will be channelled to renovating your abode, still others may initiate constructing your dream home. Capricorn The day will find you in an exceedingly good mood and you will be all energetic and geared up to take on challenges as and when they come, says Ganesha. A number of business activities will command your attention, and agreements and contracts you will take hold of as a consequence may get you a fortune. On the social front, you will display your intellect and impress your audience. Aquarius Today, you decide not to mix business with pleasure. A wise decision, says Ganesha. Your commitment to work increases and you don't want to harm your prospects. However, you reserve the evening only for your loved ones, who are more than happy to have you with them. A fine balance, says Ganesha. Pisces The feelings of resentment that you have been harbouring since some time will not allow you to take any criticism that comes your way in the right spirit. This does none harm, but you. Learn to let go of your negative thoughts and indulge in some harmless fun and frolic today, says Ganesha.
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 29-2-16 (MONDAY) 5-35 A.M-Bhaktigeeti (Devotional Songs) 6-10 A.M-Swasthya Charcha (Health Programme) 6-30 A.M-Bidyarthir Anusthan 7-15 A.M-Aajir Dinto (Morning Information Service) 7-30 A.M-Geetanjali (Assamese Modern Songs) 8-35 A.M-Surar Panchoi (Composite Programme of Assamese Film Songs) 9-05 A.M- Antara (Composite Programme of Hindi Film Songs) 10-30 A.M-Presentation of General Budget 2016-17 by the Honorable Union Minister of Finance at the Parliament preceded by Pre Budget Discussion and followed by Post Budget Discussion 2-30 P.M-Western Music 3-45 P.M-Programme in Miju Mishmi 4-05 P.M-Programme in Khamti 4-25 P.M-Programme in Wancho 4-45 P.M-News for Arunachal Pradesh 5-00 P.M-Programme in Idu 5-20 P.M-Programme in Tangsa 5-40 P.M-Programme in Nocte 6-15 P.M-Ganya Raijor Anusthan (Rural Programme) 7-15 P.M-Yuvavani (Youth Programme) 8-00 P.M-Ekalabya (Sponsored Programme of KKHSOU) 8-30 P.M-Talk-"Bhasha Shikshat Byakoronor Bhumika" by Dr. Ramesh Pathak 9-30 P.M- Live Bilingual Phone In Programme on General Budget 2016-17 Sd-/H.O.P
Cong MLA busy wooing voters with blankets and yarn politics ET Correspondent Jorhat, Feb 28: With the approaching of ensuing Assembly election, the three times Jorhat sitting Congress party MLA of 98 Jorhat Legislative Assembly Constituency (LAC), Rana Goswami is allegedly busy in wooing his voters by distributing yarn bundles, blankets at various district level, town committee level, block level and panchayats level and at village level here today. It is alleged that the congress party MLAs within the district of Jorhat working day and night in preparing list to woo voters and trying to keep no stone untouched so that each and every families of the town
Two new subdivisions Mukalmua and Tihu inaugurated
as well as in the village and specially in the tea garden areas get the benefit from the CMs special package scheme which contains blankets, yarn bundles, cheque to self-help group including small pump sets, farming kits to the farmer class since last couple of days specially in Titabor LAC, Mariani LAC, Teok LAC, Dergaon LAC, Jorhat LAC and also in Majuli LAC that falls under the jurisdiction of Jorhat as the headquarter. For past few days the BPL class voters were seen making long queues in the organized venues of the distribution ceremony under the CMs Special Package Scheme.
Project and Bridge Project has been creating lots of speculation without having DPR clearance as alleged by the congress at certain levels here today. But every conscious voter is all waiting for the BJP's list that who is to contest from which Assembly Constituency. But Prodyut Bora masters from IIM Ahmadabad who an exmember from BJP will be a new face for the Jorhat LAC and has left no electric post or trees untouched to hang his candidature from an independent party as LDP i.e. Liberal Democratic Party is expected to give a good and triangular straight fight between the congress, BJP and LDP.
Devastating Fire breaks out in Golaghat
Ramen Kalita Nalbari, Feb 28 : Minster of Revenue and Disaster management Dr Bhumidhar Barman formally inaugurated two newly declared sub division Mukalmua and Tihu in two separate function held at Barkshetri development block and Tihu Revenue circle here today. In the first programme held at 11 am Dr Barman cut the ribbon of the new Mukalmua civil subdivision. Addressing the meeting Dr Barman said that the new subdivision will bring development to the area . He further informed that the Barkshtri area is also included in the proposed smart city.He added that an amount of Rs 50 crore has been sanctioned for the infrastructure development of Mukalmua subdivision. The inaugural meeting presided over by Dr Om Prakash Choudhry, deputy commissioner of Nalbari was addressed among others by Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, commissioner of Lower Assam division.The Tihu subdivision was inaugurated at another function held at 3 pm at Tihu revenue circle campus.
ET Correspondent Golaghat, Feb 28: A sudden incident of fire took place today at around 5:30 in the evening which broke out the peaceful and calm atmosphere as Sunday is a weekly closure day in Golaghat. One of the hotels named Annapurna of Golaghat
town caught fire and soon it spread to Mamun Enterprize and Balram Misthan Bhandar. Flames were seen rising high. The flames spread to other shops dealing in trunk and cotton material. Total five business establishments were reduced to ashes in the devastating
fire. People could not contact the fire and emergency service due to poor telecom network. Later two fire engines rushed to the spot and tried for several hours to control the fire. Property worth of a crore was damaged in this fierce fire. The reason of the fire is yet not known.
ET Correspondent Haflong Feb 28 : Dhruv Dholakia, the rider of Facebook fame was accorded warm welcome by Haflongites on Saturday at Boat House, Haflong in presence of huge gatherings. The 'Highlanders' rode along with Dholakia all the way from Umrangso to Haflong, where he was received with warmth and excitement. A Large numbers of school children were present and curious to meet the young biker who plans to go around all 29 states in over a years' time. On being received with so much love and affection, Dhruv gave a short speech to thank the children, 'Highlanders', the civil administration, NGOs and Assam Rifles alongwith Gorkha Rifles. Dhruv mentioned that whichever parts of Dima Hasao he had seen had great potential for promoting tourism and providing employment to residents. He was particularly impressed by Umrangso Lake, Panimur Water fall, Haflong Lake and vibrant colours of various tribal dresses. He appreciated the spirit behind the lyrics of Highlanders' Theme songs and was happy to receive the Highlander's Badge as a souvenir. Dhruv thanked Mr Amarendra Barua, Deputy Commissioner, Dima Hasao who also attended the function. Dhruv also thanked the civil administration and NGOs like MaD, Changes Society and DOTS for the gesture. He said that 'Go Tribal, Go Natural, Aao Dima Hasao' was the right slogan for a district which has people from 13 tribes and six non tribes living alongside peacefully. The Biker plans to travel down to Silchar on 28 Feburary 2016 after meeting some of the World War II veterans at Boro Mulkoi.
Ministry of Textile sponsors Craft Bazar-2016 ET Correspondent Jorhat, Feb 28: Craft Bazar-2016, a mega marketing event sponsored by the Commissioner of Handicraft, Government of India under the Ministry of Textile which is being organized jointly by Assam State Development Corporation for OBC limited and local
NGOs has pulled crowd for its unique collection of handicraft of both cane, bamboo, black smithy, silk, muga, eri, cotton, artifacts etc., informed Bipul Deori, the co-coordinator of local NGO here today. The craft bazaar which has over 52 stalls basically
items of silk, muga, handlooms, textiles has attracted buyers from far and near adjacent to the district of Jorhat at the venue of the Bisturam Barooah hall premises. The Participating teams for various items coming from the entire North Eastern
State were quite unhappy as the dates for the craft bazaar took place at the time of exam hours basically for the parents of HS, HSLC Examination for which they claimed that they would have witness more people if the exhibition date could be extended till the examination get over.
HC stops KAAC appointment process ET Correspondent Diphu February 28: Responding to a writ petition filed by TET (Teacher’s Eligibility Test) qualified teacher Joydip Mech and three others on February 16, single bench constituted by Justice A.K Goswami of Guwahati High Court through an injunction has stayed the appointment process of Lower Primary school teachers initiated by Education (Elementary) Department of Karbi Anglong Autonomous
Council yesterday. The court’s order has restricted the procedure till tomorrow as the case will place for hearing on that day. The whole process of appointing teachers in the primary schools by the KAAC authority received a jolt when hundreds of TET qualified teachers objected to the recruitment process of KAAC published through news paper advertisement on January 31 and February 4 of this year. The teachers basically objected
Doomdooma College to celebrate its Golden Jubilee
Activists of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS) take part the road march demanding cease of construction work of Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project in Dhemaji. Pic - UB Photos
For the ensuing assembly election in Jorhat district so far the congress has filled up with big size hoardings, wall calendars and sponsoring day-night cricket to the youths throughout the district is one of the interesting techniques to attract the young voters in name of cricket or sports. While the congress has also streamline for sponsoring to the Namghars for holding Bhagawat Path from the month of March which directly or indirectly makes the rural voters happy for such initiative taken by the congress at the grassroot level. But so far apart from congress, BJP is yet to pick up apart from Nitin Gadkari's foundation of NH
Haflong extends a warm welcome to Dhruv Dholakia
ET Correspondent Doomdooma, Feb 28: The famous Doomdooma College under Tinsukia district is going to complete its 50th years of establishment on July first. The college was founded on 1st July 1967 and in July first the college will celebrate its golden jubilee with a yearlong program. A general public meeting was held in this regards in the college auditorium at Kallol. Maneswar Barman presided over the meeting, the President of College Managing Committee and a retired principal.
In the meeting, Maneswar Barman was selected as president whereas Prakash Borthakur as executive president, Rajiv Lochan Bora as vice President, Nagen Bordoloi as Secretary, Mulendra Moran as assistant secretary and Chhabin Barman as treasurer. It was decided that on July first a big program will be conducted and many others like educational workshop, mock parliament and conference with former students will be held along with the program.
to the procedure of appointment through verbal interview; agitated teachers staged demonstration near the interview centre and submitted memorandum for selecting teachers on the basis of merit and evade all types of preferential treatment. The court’s order has clearly stated that “no appointment order will be issued based on the advertisements dated 31/1/16 and 4/ 2/16”. It is worthwhile to point out that the education in primary schools function-
ing under the administration of KAAC is in a miserable condition due to shortage of teachers. The situation in the primary education sector has driven the central sponsored agency SSA ( Sarba Siksha Abhijan) to issue notice for fund curtailment as the KAAC has failed to achieve teachers rationalization. The process of teacher rationalization stands for certain teacher and student’s ratio; and the relative quantity cannot be maintained if the number of
actual teaching staff goes down below permissible limit. “There is no practical difficulty for the KAAC authority to appoint teachers from among the TET qualified candidates, and the process could have been done much earlier without any hiccups but it is the ulterior design of certain vested interest group for indulging in favoritism and discrimination, this has jeopardized the whole process” said one of the aggrieved TET teacher.
Dergaon agents filed suit against FINIX Finance (P) Ltd ET Correspondent Dergaon, Feb28: According to sources a private financial institution which was running in the name of FINIX Finance (P) Ltd have looted crore of rupees from the district of Jorhat and Golaghat with dergaon agents Lalit Kabra and Sanjoy Sarmah. But unfortunately the said financial institution left the state with all the collected
amount. “The financial institution had collected huge amount of money from more than one thousand customer with dergaon agents Lalit Kabra and Sanjoy Sarmah and flown away secretly from Assam by breaking the hope of the poor depositors” alleged the people of dergaon region. The customers of the re-
gion immediately rushed to the Dergaon agents regarding recovery of their deposited money but in order to be self-saved from deprived customers, the dergaon agents Lalit Kabra and Sanjoy Sarmah filed a suit in Guwahati High Court against the said financial institution for cheating and recovery of the deposited amount of the innocent customers.
DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29
PAGE 3 Governor conveyed his heartfelt condolences A Staff Reporter Itnagar, Feb 28: The Governor of Arunachal Pradesh JP Rajkhowa has condoled over demise of Taba Yaki and her daughter Taba Appung in the fire accident at Aniya village near Nirjuli on 26th February 2016. The Governor, while conveying heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family, prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul
Assam polls: Central armed forces to be deployed at polling stations ANI Guwahati, Feb. 28 : Central armed forces will be deployed at every polling station in the upcoming Assembly polls in Assam. The state police will be deployed as zonal and sector force, while central forces will guard polling stations on the day of polling. The poll process for the 126-member Assembly needs to be completed by 5th of June.
District Hospital Tezu marred PMU to address various by basic health services issues concerning market Bishnu Rana Tezu, 28 Feb: Ailing District Hospital (DH) is yet to see light of the day despite innumerable representation sent to the Directorate of Health Services Naharlangun, the District Health Authority Lohit has left everything on mercy of god or some messiah to bail out the deplorable health services. As per the reports of Dr S J Bhommik SMO in – charge Medical Superintendent, the district hospital has been virtually suffering from acute crisis of General Duty Medical Officer (GDMO) and Specialists. “Presently we have 5 (five) GDMO 2 contractual and 3 regular that too on personal ground left the station leaving 2 or 3 to run the entire medical including Out Patient Duty (OPD) and emergency. We are overburden with duties. Whole day & night we are working. Everyday road accident cases are rising and
emergency has to be made available. We cannot escape and working under much pressure. Above that want of Anaesthesia & Surgeon has failed to made safe & secure delivery services whereas the Govt of India has made mandatory at least for 2 or 3 deliveries at the hospital”, rues the MS. The Gynaecologist cannot handle delivery case and directly refer to Assam due to absence of Anaesthesia and lack of Blood Bank resulting death of valuable life, he expresses. We have 12 (twelve) doctors including DRCHO, DOTS, Vector Borne Disease, AIDS control officials which is equally essentials to carry out central programme and compilation of reports, he added. Apart from that dearth of Ultra-Sound Machine, necessary minor surgerical equipments, life saving drugs and various other basic facilities has plagued the health services miserably.
Even minor cases are being referred to Dibrugarh (Assam) where poor patient failed to afford the expenses. “The DH badly suffered from basic health facilities even for simple surgery the patient are referred to Assam and sometimes the patient end up aggravating their wounds in simple delivery where several instances were already reported”, complaints one of the patient in the state of anonymity. Though the district hospital has been upgraded to zonal hospital but nothing comes tangible till day? he questions further. As per the Medical Council of India a DH should have at least 32 doctors to avail better health services unfortunately the health scenario of the district hospital is in dismal state, what to talk of the rural ? The present incumbent at the helm of affair of health ministry has largely failed to live up to the expectation of the people.
Vinod Rai appointed first Chairman of Banks Board Bureau ment of Whole-time Directors as well as non-Executive Chairman of PSBs.
New Delhi, Feb 28 (PTI): Former CAG Vinod Rai was today appointed first Chairman of the Banks Board Bureau, which will advise the government on top-level appointments at public sector lenders and ways to address the bad loans problem among other issues. Besides, ICICI Bank's former Joint Managing Director H N Sinor, Bank of Baroda's former CMD Anil K Khandelwal and rating agency CRISIL's former chief Rupa Kudwa have been appointed members. In a statement, the government said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of the Department of Financial Services for the constitution of Banks Board Bureau (BBB) with the named persons as "part-time Chairman/Members, besides the ex-officio official members, for a period of two years". There was no immediate comments from Rai, who is
They will also constantly engage with the Board of Directors of all the public sector banks to formulate appropriate strategies for their growth and development.
Vinod Rai currently in Singapore. The bureau has been set up at a time when public sector banks are grappling with a huge problem of bad loans with their collective gross NPAs (Non Performing Assets) approaching Rs 4 lakh crore level. Rai was the Comptroller and Auditor General between January 2008 and May 2013, during which a number of CAG reports led to various scams including in the telecom and coal sectors coming to light.
The bureau will give recommendations on appointment of directors in public sector banks and advise on ways to raise funds and mergers and acquisitions to the lenders. There are 22 state-owned banks in India including SBI, IDBI Bank and Bhartiya Mahila Bank. The BBB was earlier proposed by the government as a body of eminent professionals and officials, which will replace the Appointments Board for appoint-
The bureau will search and select heads of public sector banks and help them develop differentiated strategies of capital raising plans to innovative financial methods and instruments. It would also be responsible for selection of non-executive chairman and non-official directors on the boards. Besides, the body will also steer strategy discussion on consolidation based on the requirement. The government wants to encourage bank boards to restructure their business strategy and also suggest way forward for their consolidation and merger with other banks.
Trump again blames India for taking away American jobs Columbia, Feb 28: Donald Trump, the controversial Republican presidential frontrunner, today again blamed India for taking away jobs from Americans, pledging to bring them back if elected president even as the 'Trump mania' appeared to have picked up in the US ahead of "Super Tuesday" showdown.
try," Trump had said. Trump has been regularly singling out China, Japan and Mexico and occasionally Vietnam for taking away American jobs.
Donald Trump The 69-year-old real estate tycoon who became a politician only last summer has been drawing thousands of crowd across the country, hoped to "seal the deal", coming Tuesday by winning Republican primary in all the 11 states. Addressing a crowd of roughly 5,000 people, a big by US primary election standard -- inside the hanger of a local airport here, Trump sold the dream of "making America great again" by promising to bring back jobs from countries like India, China, Japan and Mexico, building the wall on US-Mexico border, "knocking the hell out ISIS", and repealing and replacing Obama care.
Every promise of his drew a thunderous applause with people cheering "USA, USA" and "Trump, Trump". People lapped on to every word he said from the makeshift stage with his Trump plane in the background. Trump had earlier added India to the list of countries that he believes is taking away jobs from the US. "What I did on June 16, we came out and we started talking about trade, how we're being ripped off with China, ripped off with Japan, ripped off with Mexico at the border and then trade, ripped off by Vietnam, and by India, and by every coun-
"They are taking our jobs. China is taking our jobs. Japan is taking our jobs. India is taking our jobs. It is not going to happen anymore, folks!" Trump told to thunderous applause from the audience. Rishu Patel, a Grade 7 student here said, "(Trump) will make us safe". Rishu and his father Jitu Patel were probably the only Indian-Americans at the rally.
"They bring in quality and diversity," he said, displaying a banner which read Trump supporters are silent majority. In his 40-minutes speech, Trump reiterated his promise of building a wall along the US-Mexico border.
Spl Correspondent Pasighat, Feb 28: A meeting of Pasighat Market Union (PMU) was held recently at main market in the office chamber of General Secretary, Pasighat Chamber of Commerce under the Chairmanship of its President, Maksup Yomso being attended by all traders/merchants of Pasighat Bazar. In the meeting, various issues concerning the market community like repeated breakout of fire
incidents, non-availability of drinking water, cleanliness of the market surroundings and prevailing insecurity & hostile environment was discussed at length. While expressing ardent need for union like PMU as a common platform to redress the affairs of market grievances after the demise of late Onyok Tamuk, President, Pasighat Market Association (PMA), Maksup Yomso said that, the PMA was lying defunct from quite some time
Thane, Feb 28 (PTI): In a macabre incident, a 35year-old man allegedly killed 14 of his family members, including his parents, wife and children among whom were two infants, by slitting their throats after sedating them and then committed suicide early today, police said. Seven children, the youngest being his three month-old daughter, six women and the father of the accused, lay dead in a pool of blood. The body of the man, Hasnen Anwar Warekar, was found hanging with a knife in his hand at his family's ground plus onestorey house in Kasarvadawali area here, they said, adding that one of the family members, who survived the gruesome incident, has been admitted to hospital. Thane's Joint Commissioner of Police Ashutosh Dhumbre said Hasnen had called his three sisters and their children from Koparkhairne in Navi Mumbai and Mahapoli near Bhiwandi for a 'get-together', which he used to host frequently. Hasnen, a commerce graduate who used to prepare Income Tax-related documents with a CA firm in Navi Mumbai, is suspected to have offered them drinks laced with sedatives following which he slit their throats. According to police, Hasnen offered prayers at around 3 AM at a mosque
near his house. After returning home, he slit the throats of his family members one-by-one and then committed suicide by hanging himself At around 5-5.30 AM, the lone survivor of the incident, Hasnel's 22year-old sister, Subiya Sojef Burmal, shouted for help from the window of the house, following which the neighbours gathered there and brokeopen the window grill and pulled out the injured woman and admitted her to hospital. They also alerted the police. "Hasnen slit the upper part of this sister s throat, she survived the attack and screamed for help. The survivor s in-laws, who were in the neighbouring house, heard her cries and tried opening the door, but it was locked from inside. The in-laws broke open the grill of a window on the ground floor and en-
Hundreds of people came to the Trump rally hours in advance. The venue was full hours before he arrived. Latest polls indicate that Trump is leading in 10 of the 11 states, except for Texas where he is giving a tough fight to his main rival and Texas Senator Ted Cruz.
One of his die-hard supporters, Mark, who works in the IT sector was of the view that Indian-Americans are not taking away the jobs in his sector.
"We might even win Texas," Trump said, as he continued to lash out on Cruz and described him as a liar. "We can be better than ever before," Trump said. (PTI)
With the suggestions and inputs given by all attending members, the President Yomso and General Secretary Dilip Tiwari showed their determination to take up some serious issues like security, fire incident, cleanliness, sanitation and drinking water, maintaining communal harmony etc on priority. PMU led by Yomso also
informed that, the market union under him will coordinate with Adi Baane Kebang Women Wing East Siang in fighting drugs and other illicit substance menace as they union highly appreciates the initiative taken by this NGOs. While appreciating DFO Wildlife DEWS, T. Mize for seizing wild meat from market recently, the PMU will also coordinate the department concern in checking wildlife meat in the market, added Yomso.
Thane shocker: Man kills 14 family members, commits suicide
New Jersey governor Chris Christie who endorsed Trump yesterday also spoke at the rally. Trump is a strong leader and is the best among others in the fray, Christie said.
Tennessee has around 25,000 Indian-Americans, majority of them living around Nashville and Memphis, which has one of the oldest Hindu temples built some 20 years ago.
now and there are many issues which need to be tackled in day to day basis.
Visitors at photo exhibition organized by Jorhat Press Club in Jorhat. Pic - UB Photos
tered the house. It was then that the police was alerted of the incident," Dhumbre said. The 14 bodies with throats slit were found lying at the ground and first floor and blood was seen everywhere in the house owned by the accused's family where they had been living for the last 10 years, police said. Besides, Hasnen's body was found hanging from the ceiling with a knife dangling in his right hand, they said. Dhumbre said the Hasnen's mobile phone and laptop have been seized to get clues regarding the murders. "Prima facie evidence suggests that the accused bolted all the doors of the house and murdered his family while they were asleep with a knife. The accused then hung himself after killing his family. There were three
rooms in the house, while he was in a room with his wife and two daughters on the first floor, his parents and sisters were in separate rooms on the ground floor," Dhumbre said. While property dispute was suspected to be the reason behind the murders, the police officer said at this stage the motive could not be stated with certainty. He said blood samples, viscera and food samples collected from the house will be sent for forensic testing. The bodies, meanwhile, have been sent for postmortem to Thane Civil Hospital, police said. In a related development, a news channel cameraman covering the incident at Civil Hospital, where the bodies were taken, collapsed and died of heart attack, doctors said.
DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29
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BPF and Congress election campaign in Lahorighat ET Correspondent Morigaon, Feb 28: The Bodoland People Front (BPF) and Congress are up in arms in the tribal belt under Lahorighat Assembly constituency in Morigaon district for forthcoming Assembly poll. It may be mentioned here that there are two tribal belts in Lahorighat namely Kushtoli and Borongoni where more than 50 thousands Bodo voters resides.
ing BPF organised a public meetings and appealed the all Bodos to cast their votes for BJP. Hagrama Mohilary in addressing a public meeting at Kushtoli on 26 Feb vehemently alleged the Congress government of Assam that have not did any development for Bodos but BJP can make it happen if they cast their valuable votes in favour of BJP.
food and Civil Supply Minister and MLA of Lahorighat, Dr. Nazrul Islam by addressing series of public meeting on February 27 at Dhupguri and Kushtoli, said to the Bodo voters that Hagrama is not the guardian of Bodo people who are residing in Lahorighat.
“BJP did nothing for the welfare of the Bodo people of Lahorighat whereas he did many Hagrama who is lead- On the other hand, the welfare schemes for the
BJP Booth member convention held at Rangia ET Correspondent Rangia, Feb 28: Booth member convention of BJP Rangia constituency was held at Rangia Pragati Maidan on Sunday with day long program. The convention was presided over by Kamal Deka President North Kamrup district committee. The State General Secretary Vijoy Gupta, Bhabesh Kalita, Dr. Pranjal Bharali, Basanti Kalita Duwara, Bhabesh Deka, Dr. Chandra dhar Deka, Gitika
Bhattacharjya, Manoranjan Kalita and Rajeev Sarma along with other leaders attended the convention. They trained the members of 200 booths under Rangia constituency. They also criticised the CM of Assam Tarun Gogoi and congress for their activities against common people. They described the 18 months activities of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The leaders appealed to the booth members to work hard and help to form next BJP govt.
Deputy Commissioner inaugurates new Merapani Subdivision ET Correspondent Golaghat, Feb 28: In a bid to uplift and smooth running of administrative work in the greater Merapani region in Golaghat district, the newly declared Merapani Subdivision was officially inaugurated today by the Deputy Commissioner Anowarul Haque. The temporary office of Merapani Subdivision (Civil) which is at
Gomariguri Block was inaugurated in presence of the Extra Assistant Commissioner and Border Magistrate of Merapani Orpa Baglary who takes charge as SDO in charge of the new subdivision today. It is the fourth sub division of Golaghat district bordering Nagaland with total land area of 24635 hectares. Many officials were present in the ceremony.
Bodo in Lahorighat and he is confident that Bodos will again cast their votes for him” alleged Dr. Islam. He also further added that, he developed all connecting roads to Bodo villages, upgraded schools of Bodo villages, sanctioned money to several Bathou Mandirs of Lahorighat from his MLA fund whereas BJP did nothing accept communal politics.
Assam Sahitya Sava President Dhurbajyoti Bora " BASUDEV JALAN " award handover to Sahitiktik Nahandra Padun today at Sivasagar. Pic - Firuz Ahmed
Certificate course in management of Diabetic Retinopathy launched in Guwahati ANI Guwahati, Feb.28 : Recognising that Diabetic Retinopathy is likely to pose a public health challenge in India coupled with the associated complications of diabetes, the first of its kind ‘Certificate Course in Evidence Based Management of Diabetic Retinopathy (CCDR Cycle I)’ was announced in Guwahati on Sunday. The course is a unique four months executive on the job PAN-India program that aims to build capacity amongst primary care physicians to address management, counselling, referral and prevention of Diabetic Retinopathy. It is designed, delivered and implemented by Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), along with academic partners Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Education Academy (DMDEA), Chennai; Aravind Eye Care System, Madurai and supported by an educational grant from The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust (QEDJT) with funding from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. The QEDJT was set up on the recommendation of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Australia in 2011
(CHOGM) and therefore the onus of responsibility is on all member countries of the Commonwealth. Diabetic retinopathy, one of the foremost causes of blindness world-wide, is a neurovascular disorder that affects minute blood vessels of the retina and eventually causes painless loss of vision and blindness. DR accounts for 3 percent of blindness in India. It is now among the most important causes of visual loss during the productive years of life. DR occurs both in type 1 and type 2 diabetes and studies have shown that nearly all type 1 and up to 80 percent of type 2 diabetes will develop DR after 15 years duration of diabetes. Present on the occasion to launch the Certificate Course in Evidence Based Management of Diabetic Retinopathy (CCDR) Cycle-I was Dr. Umesh Chandra Sarma, Vice Chancellor of Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences, Guwahati, Dr. A.C. Kataki, Director, BBCI, Guwahati, Dr. Dipali Deka, Director, RIO, Guwahati along with Dr. Sandeep Bhalla, Director, CCDR, Public Health Foundation of India, Delhi, Mr. Manoj Joshi, Senior Program Coordinator, CCDR, Public Health
Foundation of India, Delhi, Regional Faculty - Dr. B. B. Kukreja and Dr. Harsha Bhattacharjee from Guwahati along with leading primary care physicians and distinguished guests from Guwahati region. Announcing the first cycle of the Diabetic Retinopathy course, Prof GVS Murthy, director, Indian Institute of Public Health, Hyderabad, PHFI and principle investigator, CCDR course said: “Diabetic retinopathy is one of the important causes of preventable blindness especially in the productive years among Indians. The increasing incidence of diabetic blindness is a major public health concern hence there is an urgent need to address this ever increasing health hazard. To manage, treat and to prevent the complications of DR we need a trained set of doctors who are equipped with the latest technology, and follow the cutting-edge international and national guidelines.” “At PHFI, IIPH, and our partner organisations Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Education Academy (DMDEA), Aravind Eye Care System, the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust and The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, the endeavour is to help
strengthen education, training, and research in the area of public health. The announcement of the 1st Cycle of Diabetic Retinopathy course is a step further to tackle the rising prevalence of diabetes and its related complications, aiming to strengthen the capacity of primary care doctors to deal with the enormous challenges that Diabetic Retinopathy poses, with the ultimate aim of improving the health outcomes of people,” Murthy added. Prof D. Prabhakaran, vice president – Research, PHFI and Co-PI, CCDR Cycle I, PHFI said: “There is a high burden of Diabetic Retinopathy in India and there is very limited attention to this problem both from a provider as well as population prospective. Given that early diagnosis and treatment remain the cornerstone of management of Diabetic Retinopathy, there is an urgent need to build capacity in early identification and management of DR. With an aim to make an impact on diabetes and its related complications such as Diabetic Retinopathy, PHFI along with its national and global partners announces a PAN-India DR course that will ultimately benefit patients with Diabetic Retinopathy. This course is a well-designed
compendium that provides practical and simple tips for disease detection and management for primary care doctors. In addition it also improve the knowledge on recent advances in DR.” The Certificate Course in Evidence Based Management of Diabetic Retinopathy is a four modular course (February 2016 – May 2016) spread across 8 states, I Union Territory and 10 cities in 10 regional training centers across India. With designated two regional faculty (1 Diabetologist or Endocrinologist and 1 Retina Specialist) at each centre, the primary objective of the course is to enhance knowledge, skills and core competencies of practicing Primary Care Physicians in management of Diabetic Retinopathy. The course further aims to develop a standard teaching protocol and module for evidence based learning on Diabetic Retinopathy, update practicing/primary care physicians with the latest advancements in the field of Diabetic Retinopathy and ultimately build a network of Primary Care Physicians and specialists in the field of Diabetes and Retinopathy.
Forest Fire occurs at Baramboi ET Correspondent Rangia Feb 28: Heavy forest fire broke out in Baramboi Mountain on Saturday mid night. Hundreds of Valuable trees and animals were burnt to ashes. According to Nripen Thakuria some miscreants set ablaze and as a result fire grasp entire Mountain with in a very short time. Several Fire services from entire Kamrup district including Guwahati rushed to the spot and controlled the fire and saved Durga temple, Majar and lives of common people. Hajo police and Forest officer from North Kamrup Division visited the spot. Police started investigation to nab the culprit. According to the Forest officer the fire is completely under control.
Congress party workers meet in Tinsukia Spl Correspondent Tinsukia, Feb 28: Congress party today organized a booth level party workers meet at Manav Kalyan Bhawan in order to motivate the party workers. The meet was attended by Itakholi and Tinsukia block level party workers. According to sources, the meeting was presided by president of Itakholi block Mrinal Baruah and addressed by ex-minister Pradyut Bordoloi, ex – MP, union minister Pawan Singh Ghatowar, Tinsukia MLA and parliamentary secretary, Rajendra Prasad Singh. The party workers were guided on preparedness for upcoming assembly elections along with how and what to say to voters, sources said.
Reputed writer, activist Anima Guha Problems in plenty for the selected for Mulagabharu award bordering villagers in Charaideo
ET Correspondent Sonari, Feb 28: The villagers of nine villages under Sapekhati revenue circle in the newly constituted Charaideo district have been facing various problems for many decades now. Since these villages are along the AssamArunachal Pradesh and Assam-Nagaland interstate border basic amenities are a far cry for these villagers. Be it proper medical care, drinking water, electrification, sanitation etc the villagers are suffering from all direc- the government. People of tions mainly due to long these villages namely years of alleged neglect by Moranhabi, Saraipung,
Gujrating, Hulungamara, Bukapathar, Baregaon, Bogabagh, Baghmorial
and Ujanikuri which comes under Sonari legislative assembly constituency have expressed their anger over education minister Sarat Borkatoky who has been representing the constituency for the last 25 years. People who are residing in these villages for several decades do not have any land documents which often causes various problems to them. “Due to lack of a veterinary hospital, minor ailments to our cattle and livestock results in their death”, a villager said. In order to address the health
issues of the area, the construction work of a health sub centre was taken up at Hulungamara village around 15 years ago. “However, the work remained half done and now the structure is in an abandoned state. It is totally covered by jungles”, another villager added. There are around 500 small tea growers in these villages who do not have any land related documents, due to which they have not been able to avail any kind of government facilities.
ET Correspondent Sonari, Feb 28: Noted writer, activist Dr. Anima Guha has been selected by the Tai Ahom Yuba Parishad, Assam – TAYPA, Charaideo district committee for the prestigious Mulagabharu award. The award has been instituted by the organization since 2013 after the name of Birangona Mulagabharu, who was a brave Ahom princess. The announcement was made by the leaders of the organization during a press meet held at the Sonari Junior College on Friday. Luhit Gogoi, the working president of TAPYA, Bhaskar Baruah, the assistant secretary, Bhrigu Hatimuria, President, Charaideo district committee and Navadeep Baruah, joint secretary who addressed the press meet said that the award will be given during a two day
60 vultures found death... Contd. from Page 1
The official further said though investigation is on the buffalo which was suspected to be killed by a royal Bengal tiger.
He also said it might be a ploy of some poachers to have spread poison in the entire body of the buffalo carcass to kill the tiger for its precious body features
and parts including a skin which has a good demand in the international market. Further investigation is on to check out the cause of the death of the vultures, informed officials here.
57-year old arrested for... Contd. from Page 1
The Jorhat Electronic Media team pose for a photograph after winning the inter media cricket tournament organised by Jorhat Press Club. Pic - Nekib Ahmed
Conforming this, Officer - in - charge of Tinsukia police station Puna Borah said, Police received a complaint around 7 pm on Saturday evening stating that the minor girl had gone for tuition when his teacher's father attempted rape on her.
Based on the complaint police registered a case (Tsk PS 239/ 16) under section 7 of POSCO Act and arrested the accused Deepak Gangu, 57-year old, after of the teacher, he added. Borah said, when the minor reached her tuition place the teacher was not present at
home. Sources said, it is only when the minor child reached home she started crying continuously and narrated the entire thing to the family member after which this heinous act came to light. The complainant is said to be a renowned - businessman of Tinsukia, sources added.
long programme on April 29 and 30 which will be held at the BPBMHS School playground. Addressing the press conference the leaders of the organization lamented over the state government negligent attitude towards provincialization of the award. “We have been repeatedly requesting the state government to provincialise the award, but so far there has not been any
proper response”, the leaders alleged. Earlier, a meeting was also held during which a reception committee was formed to organize the programme. Accordingly, retired Principal of Sonari College Robin Konwar has been made the President, while Arun Gogoi was selected as working president and Bhaskar Baruah as general secretary.
Bullet wounded wild elephant: Lakhimpur Forest Department insensitive for fifteen days Contd. from Page 1
Significantly, it is frequently alleged that a part those Forest Officials who are not sensitive to protect the wild resources, never retreats to earn their regular commission from the dishonest merchants who have been destroying the
nature trading the forest resource of the district. However, it is known that although a few forest officials arrived at the spot at 1pm today; the elephant is getting no adequate treatment for its injury because the District Forest Department had to bring Veterynery Specialist from the Kaziranga National Park.
DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29
TMC will do better in this election: Mamata
Mamata Banerjee Kolkata,Feb 28:Accusing the Congress of being hand in glove with the CPI-M, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said her party would perform much better in the next Assembly election in the state."We have to do much better than last time (2011 Assembly polls). We will do better than last time. Last time we had won less seats as Congress was with us. The Congress won so many seats because of the alliance with us. After that for last five years they have been hand in glove with the CPI-M," Banerjee said here. "Let them forge an un-
holy alliance. We're with the people and have forged alliance with the masses. In democracy, people have the last word," she said.The Congress and the CPI (M) are tipped to enter into an alliance before the coming Assembly election. After the CPI(M)'s central committee meeting earlier this month, it had said it'd seek cooperation of all "democratic forces to strengthen people's unity in West Bengal to defeat Trinamool Congress". This has been interpreted as an indication to enter into some kind of understanding with the Congress.(Agencies)
"We have to do much better than last time (2011 Assembly polls). We will do better than last time. Last time we had won fewer seats as Congress was with us. The Congress won so many seats because of the alliance with us. After that for last five years they have been hand in glove with the CPI-M," Banerjee said
Shutdown disrupts normal life Imphal, Feb 28 : A 48hour shutdown called on Saturday by an organisation demanding that a new district be carved out of Imphal East affected normal life in the area. No vehicle has been plying along National Highway 37 (linking this city to Assam) and some other roads in the Imphal East area due to the shutdown called by Jiribam Districthood Demand Committee. The shops and commercial centres remain closed. There was thin attendance in government offices and other establishments. The Committee is demanding that Jiribam, currently a sub-division of Imphal East district, be given the status of a fully-fledged district. It has vowed to launch various forms of agitations until the new district is created. Imphal East is one of the nine districts of Manipur which has a territory of 22,327 sq km. Though
the state government has said it agreed to the demand in principle, it has not yet taken any steps in that direction. There have also been complaints that some tribal areas have been included in the projected territory of the proposed district, which the Committee denies. Several Naga organisations have been saying that the proposed district should not encompass any Naga village which is an impossible task since the Naga and the Kuki villages are located in close proximity in the hill areas of the state. Meanwhile, students' bodies and other groups have condemned an alleged act of arson on Thursday targeting the Jiribam college. Local residents managed to douse the raging fire before much damage.There has also been a growing demand for the upgrade of Jiribam college, the only one in the sub-division, to a government college. (Agencies)
REGION Congress MLAs in Manipur revolt against home minister PAGE 5
Imphal, Feb 28: At least 20 MLAs of the ruling Congress party in Manipur have taken up cudgels casting aspersions against the dubious role of Home Minister Gaikhangam in suspending five police commandos to appease the Naga Students' Federation. "We held an emergency meeting at my residence on Saturday night. We resolved to urge Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh to take up appropriate actions against Gaikhangam," N. Biren, an MLA, said on Sunday"We are demanding a special meeting of the Congress Legislature Party on Monday to discuss the issue," the MLA added. The angry MLAs were in agreement on the growing suspicion that
Gaikhangam has a hidden agenda in the U-turn he took in this issue. The five police commandos who were on duty on February 14 at Mantri Pukhri near Imphal had flagged down the vehicles bringing the NSF delegates for the seed sowing festival in Ukhrul district.. The commandos were charged with harassing and snatching the mobile handsets of the delegates. Making a statement in the assembly, Gaikhangam said: "If the NSF delegates had extended cooperation nothing would have happened. They refused to get down from the vehicles. There was no beating or detention."Demanding action against police, the NSF imposed ban on the movement of the vehicles owned by the non-tribal
on entry of Manipurbound trucks).
Congress MLAs in Manipur revolt against home minister
Manipuris in the "Naga inhabited areas" from February 23. Police in Senapati district of Manipur have drawn flaks since they did nothing when the NSF activists came to the district to take law in their own hands.The 20 Congress MLAs, the All Manipur Students' Union, other
students' organisations and civil societies have orchestrated their demand to make an explanation as to why the police commandos were suspended on February 25 despite the home minister's statement that no excesses were committed.(ALSO READ: Naga Students Federation calls off ban
Khomdram Ratan, convener in charge of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System said: "It is a shameful surreder to the NSF by the Manipur government. The NSF delegates had come to assist the Nagaland Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang who had spewed venom among the different communities here on the occasion of the festival.Since Saturday night, Ibobi has been fire
At least 20 MLAs of the ruling Congress party in Manipur have taken up cudgels casting aspersions against the dubious role of Home Minister Gaikhangam in suspending five police commandos to appease the Naga Students' Federation.
Finance chief gives police the slip Tura, Feb 28: The chief of the finance division of the banned GNLA, Rakkam D Shira had a narrow escape when police raided a village school he was holed up in during the early hours of Saturday in South Garo Hills district.Police teams from Nangalbibra police station launched an operation at Nengsangre village to look for suspected GNLA militants when they came upon the place where the finance secretary of the banned outfit was taking shelter along with his girlfriend and six other armed cadres.
"Our commandos were moving up towards the village school located on a hillock when they were suddenly fired upon by a GNLA sentry," informed district police chief Anand Mishra.During the 15-minute-long gun battle the high profile militant leader abandoned his personnel items and fled along with his cadres and a woman whom police claim was his girlfriend.Besides Rakkam, wanted senior cadres Geloram, Tolang alias Lala and Robi alias Tarzan were spotted during the gun battle.Personnel items
including a kit bag, dairies, mobile handsets and unregistered SIM cards, GNLA seals and demand notes of the finance secretary and one air rifle were recovered from the school room that the militant had been holed up in.Sniper rifles seized : Meanwhile, a huge quantity of ammunition meant for use in sniper rifles of the banned GNLA have been seized and two arms dealers arrested on Friday night in Baija village, outskirts of Williamnagar. Williamnagar police raided a house in a se-
cluded corner of Baija, on the road towards Williamnagar town, and picked up two suspected arms dealers identified as Rajiv M Sangma (25) of Rangmal Badim and Malstone N Sangma alias Malket (37) hailing from Upper Chidekgre village.The arrested duo led police to a hideout where they had stocked as many as 180 live rounds of the 7.62 calibre ammunition used primarily for long range rifles.
shipped in from Dimapur town, notorious for its arms smuggling racket, after the GNLA sought its purchase in bulk.Meghalaya police are not ruling out the possibility of the GNLA having recently procured a substantial number of sniper rifles for its militant army.
Police have, in the recent past, successfully conducted counter-insurgency operations against the GNLA leading to the recovery of a ChinaOn interrogation, the ar- made sniper rifle from rested men revealed that one of its deserter cadres. the weapons were (Agencies)
Roy retains UDP top post Shillong, Feb 28: Ending differences in the party over the issue of leadership, the present party president Donkupar Roy was again re-nominated to the top post of the party on Saturday.Though there were media reports that former Deputy Chief Minister Bindo Lanong and young leader Paul Lygdoh were in the race for the post of the party president, the party later arrived at a consensus.Earlier in the day, the nomination committee of the UDP met and recommended the names of the office bearers of the party which was approved by the general council meeting of the party later.Besides Roy, legislator from
Donkupar Roy Nongthymmai Jemino Mawthoh was nominated as the general secretary . Allan Dkhar, who was holding the post of General Secretary has been appointed as Vice President of the party among other Vice Presidents ap-
proved by the general councilSenior party leader Bindo Lanong and legislator Paul Lyngdoh will continue to hold the post of working presidents of the party. (Full list in page 10) Speaking to reporters after the party meeting,
Roy said that the UDP will work hard to ensure the victory of the party in the 2018 Assembly polls. Roy said that with the efforts of all, the UDP will emerge as the single largest party or secure majority on its own to form the government after the 2018 Assembly polls.To a query, the UDP leader said that in the fight between the Congress and BJP which are national parties, the UDP will gain more during the Assembly elections in 2018 even as he added that the party was open to have alliance with likeminded parties. He said all the leaders of the party should be well aware of the local problems being faced by the people. According to
Roy, there are many issues which are affecting the people beyond the failures of the state government and the change in politics at the Centre. He pointed out that the State Assembly is the right forum to raise issues concerning the people of the state.To a question, Roy said that though he is termed as soft, he is never weak in taking decisions."I have never succumbed to any pressure from any quarters while taking decisions", Roy added.Asked about the demand for entrusting the leadership of the party to young leaders, the UDP president said that everyone will be taken on board. (Agencies)
New flyover eases traffic and builders' woes in Kolkata's southern part Kolkata, Feb 28 : Opening of the Kamalgachhi (Kamalgazi) flyover along the southern end of Kolkata's Eastern Metropolitan Bypass, and easing of the traffic jam along its meeting point with the busy Netaji Subhas Road, has not only made commuters heave a sigh of relief but also boosted the hopes of realty firms with upcoming properties along the way.Connectivity and availability of basic amenities such as markets, schools and colleges, and medical and transport facilities is one of the key concerns of any home buyer believes Primarc, a leading realty firm of Kolkata. Primarc, along with Srijan Realty and Riya Group, is
developing a state-of-theart residential complex the along the EM Bypass, along the southern end, called Southwinds.Spread over an area of 630 cottahs, Southwinds consists of 1,323 apartments in 10 blocks with G +11 floors.The property has mandatory and other requirements in place, according to Primarcs websitemain gate with security room, surveillance system, adequate fire-fighting and prevention systems as per norms and recommendations of West Bengal Fire Fighting Services, 24 hrs filtered water supply, water and sewage treatment facility, to name a few.But what makes Southwinds attractive is its efforts to fulfil its
Opening of the Kamalgachhi (Kamalgazi) flyover along the southern end of Kolkata's Eastern Metropolitan Bypass promising tag line, live more by implementing lots of greenery and environment-friendly measures in its plan. The complex will have 25% landscape (of which 50% will have plants with draught surviving capabili-
ties) and 65% open space.Besides a landscaped garden with an adda zone, there is a water body of nearly one acre; a walking track near the water body will be an added attraction.There will be rain-water harvesting.
fighting in a bid to control the 20 MLAs.Sources said that there is no much success since these MLAs are happy with the accolades they are getting from all sections of people.The commandos were charged with harassing and snatching the mobile handsets of the delegates. Making a statement in the assembly, Gaikhangam said: "If the NSF delegates had extended cooperation nothing would have happened. (Agencies)
Windows have been designed to optimise use of daylight so that along with the use of energy-conserving electrical appliances, Southwinds will not only help in energy conservation but also help residents lower their electricity bills. The Indian Green Building Council has also awarded Primarc a silver rating for the construction of Southwinds. Interestingly, with the financial year coming to a close, many people will be looking for good investment opportunities.With the tax exemptions available on home loans, investing in realty is a good option .Besides, Southwinds is also offering a discount to buyers up to end of March, 2016. (Agencies)
Nepal keen to invest in Meghalaya Shillong,Feb 28: The Ambassador of Nepal in India, Deep Kumar Upadhyay on Saturday called on Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma at his residence and expressed the desire to carry out investment in Meghalaya. Upadhyay, who is on his first official visit to the State, noted that there are several similarities between Nepal and Meghalaya and also discussed the challenges faced by the two regions. The Chief Minister spoke of various initiatives taken by the government to address those challenges and told the visiting official of the need to have people driven programmes in order to make any developmental initiative a success.Sangma also highlighted on the need to have more of pharmaceutical and textiles industries as these have huge job opportunities.The Nepal Ambassador also expressed keen interest to invest in the State and said he would come back next time with investors and businessmen from the country. (Agencies)
UALA disbanding ceremony deferred Tura, Feb 28: The disbanding ceremony of the Garo Hills-based militant organisation - UALA scheduled for Monday has been deferred following a request from the outfit's chairman. According to official sources, the chairman requested for the deferment of the ceremony citing several difficulties including inability to contact with several cadres, revision of cadres' list and their mobilization.A new date for the disbanding would now be communicated shortly, an official statement said.In the meantime, the local committee for UALA disbanding shall closely coordinate with the outfit's chairman and commander-in-chief and facilitate reporting, safe passage arrangements in camp and verification, it said. (Agencies)
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
PAGE 6
PM Modi asks farmers to convert challenges into opportunities
Aligarh' movie a conspiracy to defame Aligarh: Mayor
DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29
Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh), Feb. 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reached out to the farmers, asking them to convert the challenges into opportunities.Prime Minister Modi, who was speaking at a farmers rally here, said the farmers are the pride of the nation."There are a lot of challenges before our farmers, but these challenges can be transformed into opportunities," he added.Prime Minister Modi also requested all state governments to give utmost pri-
PM Modi ority to farmers' issues. "I appeal not only to the Uttar Pradesh Government but to all the state governments to give utmost priority to address-
Nation honours Dr. Rajendra Prasad on his 53rd death anniversary
Nation Honours Dr.Rajendra Prasad On his 53rd death anniversary New Delhi, Feb. 28 : The nation on Sunday paid rich tributes to the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad on his 53rd death anniversary.Born on 3rd December, 1884 at Ziradei village in Siwan district of Bihar, Prasad, a trained advocate, joined the Indian National Congress and the Independence Movement.He was elected
the President of the Constituent Assembly, which prepared the Constitution of India.Dr. Prasad was elected the first President of India in 1951, and reelected in 1957.He passed away on February 28, 1963 and was cremated at Bans Ghat in Patna, where a memorial has been constructed in his name. (ANI)
Delhi: Cashier, guard shot dead at Badarpur toll plaza office New Delhi, Feb.28 : A cashier and a guard were shot dead by by four assailants at the toll plaza office in Delhi's Badarpur area on Sunday morning.The firing took place around 7 a.m. in a room on the ground floor of a building located some 500 meters away from the Badarpur toll plaza. According to the eyewitnesses, no cash was robbed from the crime scene. The attackers fled with a bag but it was empty, they claimed. "The incident took place at
around 7 a.m. when some unidentified men, who came with intention of robbery, shot at the cashier and the guard at the toll plaza office. In the incident both of them have died," G.S. Meena, Additional Commissioner, South MCD, told ANI."The police is investigating the matter and the culprits would be soon put behind the bars," he added.Chief cashier Mahipal and guard, Mohan, succumbed to injuries in the hospital. (ANI)
Smriti Irani has become 'collective liability' of Cabinet: RJ New Delhi, Feb. 28 : With the Congress deciding to move privilege motions against Smriti Irani in both Houses of the Parliament for her statements on Rohith Vemula, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Sunday said the Union HRD Minister has become 'collective liability' of the Cabinet. "Rohith's mother has been shouting on top of her voice that she (Smriti Irani) is lying and the minister has the audacity to go berserk in the Parliament. If this is not a privilege motion then what? The HRD Minister has become a kind of collective liability of the Cabinet and the government must do something urgently," RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha told ANI."It's a text book
Rohith Vemula, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Sunday said the Union HRD Minister has become 'collective liability' of the Cabinet
case of privilege motion. The way she used unverified data, unverified evidence, the way she went on to claim things in her favor, everything stands exposed," he added.The Congress and other opposition have decided to move privilege motion against Irani over her remarks in Parliament on the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula. (ANI)
ing farmers' issues and issues related to agriculture," said Prime Minister Modi."I wish to double the income of farmers by 2022 when
India will celebrate 75 years of its Independence," he added.Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the farmers today want at least one member of their family to take up job because they know that the family cannot just sustain on agriculture."We have taken multiple steps to promote scientific methods in agriculture since we came to power. Since our government has come to power, we have made efforts to bring in reforms in agriculture through science," he added. (ANI)
"I appeal not only to the Uttar Pradesh Government but to all the state governments to give utmost priority to addressing farmers' issues and issues related to agriculture," said Prime Minister Modi
Bareilly, Feb.28 : The mayor of Aligarh, Shakuntala Bharti, on Sunday said that they would not let the Manoj Bajpayee starrer 'Aligarh' based on homosexuality to run in the cinema halls of the city and alleged that an attempt has been made to defame the city."We are protesting against the screening of this film in Aligarh cinema halls because we feel that it was a conspiracy to defame the city by naming a film on homosexuality as 'Aligarh'. What was the need to do this? What was the intention behind naming the movie as 'Aligarh'?" Bharti told ANI. "There are infinite titles which could have been used for the movie. But why only Aligarh? We will not let run the film in the city at any cost," she added.
PM Modi greets nation on Science Day, lauds CV Raman's contribution New Delhi, Feb. 28 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended his greetings to the people of the nation on the occasion of National Science Day and remembering the everlasting contribution of great physicist Sir C.V Raman. "Greetings to scientists and science lovers on National Science Day. May the spirit of research and innovation grow further in our country. We remember with immense pride the rich and everlasting contribution of Sir CV
Raman to science. He is a great inspiration for young minds," Prime Minister Modi said on twitter.National Science Day is celebrated all over the country February 28, every year to commemorate the invention of the 'Raman Effect' in India by the Sir C.V Raman in 1928. Sir C.V. Raman was honoured with the Nobel Prize in Physics in the year 1930.The great physicist had worked from 1907 to 1933 at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Sci-
ence, Kolkata, West Bengal in India during which he had researched on many topics of the Physics from which the Raman Effect (effect on scattering of light when passing through different materials) became his great success and discovery which has been marked in the Indian history.The National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) in 1986 urged the government of India to designate February 28 as National Science Day in India. From the year 2013, the
"Raman Effect" has been designated as an International Historic Chemical Landmark by The American Chemical Society.The National Science Day is celebrated every year with immense passion at the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (also called GMRT) at Khodad which is a worldwide famous telescope getting operated at low radio frequencies by the NCRA (National Centre for Radio Astrophysics) established by the TIFR (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research). (ANI)
The mayor of Aligarh, Shakuntala Bharti, said that they would not let the Manoj Bajpayee starrer 'Aligarh' based on homosexuality to run in the cinema halls in the city (ANI)
The critically-acclaimed film, Aligarh, which is based on Professor Ramchandra Siras who was suspended from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in 2010 after he was filmed, having consensual sex with a man, has been objected by a group called the Millat Bedari Muhim Committee
(MBMC) in Aligarh.Jasim Mohd, secretary of the MBMC, said it was wrong to name the movie as 'Aligarh'."We don't have objection with the film but we object to its title. In the future, the name of Aligarh will be associated with homosexuality," he told ANI. (ANI)
Sedition row: JNU student Ashutosh Kumar's questioning enters Day 2 New Delhi, Feb. 28 : Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Ashtosh Kumar, who is among one of the five students who have been charged with sedition, was questioned by the Delhi Police on Sunday in connection with the controversial event at the University campus on February 9 where 'antiIndia' slogans were raised.Kumar had been called in for questioning yesterday as well, where he was grilled for almost 10 hours. Ashutosh is believed to be one of the main organisers of the event that was held on the campus.The Delhi Police had earlier on February
20 issued a look-out notice against Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya, Rama Naga, Ashutosh Kumar and Anant Prakash.The police custody of JNU students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, who are facing sedition charges, was extended by two days yesterday. Meanwhile, the Congress demanded that the case of JNU Students' Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, who is booked on charges of sedition, should be transferred to a non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled state of either Uttar Pradesh or Bihar, so that the truth in the case is revealed. (ANI)
Murthal, Feb. 28 : Sonepat Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Garg on Sunday said the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has recorded statements of the eyewitnesses in front of the magistrate, but added that there has been no major breakthrough in the case as of now."SIT has been put in place. SIT team has recorded statements of eyewitnesses in front of magistrate. No major breakthrough till now but our investigation is on. We have also examined the footage from local dhaba, there's no recording of any molestation," Garg told ANI here.
there is any witness or victim, they should come forward, we will take immediate action, as it is a very sensitive matter," he said.Conflicting statements from eyewitnesses and no complaint of sexual assault so far has added to the mystery over allegations that women were pulled out of cars and gang-raped at Haryana's Murthal, during the violent Jat quota protests a week ago. A truck driver claimed yesterday that he saw dozens of women being dragged into a field near Murthal, but said he was not sure whether they were sexually assaulted."I saw almost 50 women. They were being taken to the farms. I didn't see what was done with them," truck driver, Sukhwinder Singh told ANI yesterday.CCTV footages from various establishments along the highway do not show much to back the reports. (ANI)
Water coming from Haryana is 'poisonous', says Delhi Govt. Murthal gangrapes: No major breakthrough yet, says Sonepat SP
New Delhi, Feb. 28 : Stating that the national capital has never faced a water crisis of such magnitude, Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra said on Sunday that poison was being dumped into the water supply in certain parts in Haryana, resulting in the high ammonia level which had forced the shutdown of two major water plants."For the past two Water coming from Haryana is 'poisonous', says Delhi Govt months, we have been forced to shut down the is being water plant several times He asserted that despite monia due to the ammonia con- the efforts by the state found."Based on the retent. The plants at government, the ammo- ports that I got, it can be Wazirabad, Chandrawal nia level in the water seen that poisonous waand Okhla have been kept rising which forced ter is being dumped into shut down. The main the shutdown of the waters in Haryana in and some places. This is a canal which supplies Wazairabad water has been damaged Chandrawal plants. clear violation of the due to the Jat agitations. Mishra stated that he has Supreme Court order Delhi has never faced been receiving evi- and its irresponsible such a water crisis be- dences, reports and sur- behaviour, as we have fore," Mishra told ANI. veys on where the am- been forced to shut
down plants because of this," he said.
He also said that the current condition meant that water was not being able to reach almost 35-40 lakh people into the national capital and added that water will not be completely provided in north and central Delhi until Chandrawal and Wazirabad plants are activated again."The ammonia level has reached 3.6 and our team is working 24 hours to fix the problem. The matter is simple if there is poison in the water, we can't supply it out," Mishra said.During the quota stir, members of the Jat community had damaged the Munak Canal which is the main source of water for the national capital. (ANI)
Delhi metro to start cargo services on Airport Express line New Delhi, Feb. 28 : The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has decided to start cargo services on the Airport Express line on an experimental basis from next month.From March 1 onwards, cargo services for the transportation of non-perishable/ecommerce items will be facilitated through the Airport Express line.The DMRC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a specialised cargo agency for the same. The agency will utilise the Airport Express line
for transporting cargo between the New Delhi and IGI Airport Metro stations on a trial basis for three months. Prohibited items as per statutory rules or as notified by DMRC from time to time shall not be allowed and the cargo will be transferred after the necessary security checks.This would be the first ever occasion, when a Metro system in India would be used for the transportation of cargo. These trials would help in accessing the cargo volumes that could be potentially be generated
on this route on both directions, especially ecommerce cargo.Based on the experience, a tender for a long term arrangement shall be floated. This initiative will also reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, CO2 emission and improve the air quality as less number of cargo vehicles will ply on the roads as a result. It will also be possible to transport cargo faster to and from the airport since a journey by road to the airport would take much longer time.The Airport Express line trains have
dedicated coaches for luggage which is separate from the passenger coaches. Therefore, the introduction of the cargo services will not cause any inconvenience to the general commuters at all. The Airport Express is India's only dedicated high speed Metro connection between the city and the airport. It is suited for the transportation of cargo since there is a separate coach for luggage and the services are available all through the day from 5.15 in the morning till 11.30 p.m late in the night. (ANI)
"They (witnesses) said they never saw any incident like this. But if any witness and victim come we will investigate them. The footage has been captured, but it did not show any such incident," he added."I would like to appeal to everyone that if
Sonepat Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Garg
DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29
PAGE 7
NEIGHBOURS
Myanmar anti-drug group abandons poppy field mission after clashes Yangon, Feb 28: A group of Christian hardline anti-drug vigilantes Sunday abandoned plans to destroy poppy fields in an area of northern Myanmar after clashes broke out between their members and armed attackers in the past week.Pat Jasan, which is known for flogging drug users, said it was calling off the mission in mountainous Kachin state because local police and military said they could not provide protection. On Thursday the group said its members were attacked by a mob wielding explosives and stones after it set out from the town of Waingmaw to try
Myanmar lawyers to visit Sri Lanka next month Yangon,Feb 28:A team of senior lawyers from Myanmar will visit Sri Lanka next month seeking assistance from legal experts to set up the legal system in Myanmar. They will meet legal experts during the Law Conference organized by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) from March 18 - 20.The Myanmar lawyers have called upon the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) to permit them to have one-on-one discussions with legal experts, said President's Counsel Ali Sabri, Chairman of the BASL's Law Conference. "We are exploring the possibility of helping the collective of Myanmar lawyers to get the legal system on the right track. A strong collective of senior lawyers is working together to set up a legal system after the new government was formed in Myanmar. President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Chief Justice, Sri Pavan and Judges of the Supreme Court and many other dignitaries will participate. Several South African dignitaries in the legal fraternity will attend the conference. (Agencies)
5 children injured in Chittagong wall collapse Dhaka,Feb 28:Five children have been injured in a wall collapse near an under-construction building in Nondonkano area in Chittagong. The injured are Shojib, 6, his brother Arif, 6, Riad, 9, Mehedi, 7, and Yasin 15.Deputy Director of Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters in Chittagong said: "The wall collapsed when the children were playing near it around 1pm Sunday. The wall was weak."He said: "Of the injured, four were sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital while Yasin was given primary treatment."(Agencies)
and destroy nearby fields against the wishes of local farmers.At least 32 members, including women, were injured in the fray."We have cancelled our mission and our members are now coming back to town," Lum Hkawng, a senior Pat Jasan leader in Waingmaw, told medis on Sunday.He accused local authorities of failing to protect them."When our leaders met with government officials, police said they couldn't give security. Also the army said we would have to talk to the central government directly as they couldn't give security." Myanmar is the world's second largest opium
Myanmar anti-drug group abandons poppy field mission producer after Afghanistan, despite the government's repeated vows to eliminate the drug trade.Production has boomed amid weak law enforcement in the northern war-torn frontier, where ethnic minority rebel groups seeking greater autonomy from
the state have been battling the Myanmar army for decades.It is believed that both ethnic militias and the Myanmar military have tapped the lucrative multi-billion dollar trade to finance their l o n g - r u n n i n g wars.Impoverished farmers in the remote region
meanwhile say they have few ways other than poppy cultivation to make a living.The sudden attack Thursday morning followed a standoff lasting several days between the Pat Jasan marchers and police, who had blocked the group from entering surrounding poppy fields, citing concerns armed farmers were ready to hit back.Local police have not responded to repeated requests to com-
ment. Pat Jasan, determined to end the scourge of heroin addiction that has devastated local communities, formed its loose network two years ago with the backing of the powerful Kachin Baptist Church.Its members, who don camouflage vests and combat helmets on their missions, have used forceful methods, including beating drug users, to try to break addictions. (Agencies)
A group of Christian hardline antidrug vigilantes says it called off the mission in mountainous Kachin state because local police and military said they could not provide protection
China to launch second space lab tiangong-2 in q3 Beijing,Feb 28:China will send its second orbiting space lab Tiangong-2 into space in the third quarter of this year, which is expected to dock with a cargo ship scheduled to be launched in the first half of next year, sources from the manned space program said Sunday.As part of the country's space lab program, China also plans to launch the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft, which will carry two astronauts on board, in the fourth quarter of this year to dock
with Tiangong-2, according to the program's spokesperson. After its first test flight in the Wenchang satellite launch center in south China's Hainan Province, a next-generation Long March-7 rocket will put the country's first cargo ship Tianzhou-1, which literally means "heavenly vessel," into space in the first half of 2017 to dock with Tiangong-2 and conduct experiments. During the process, China will verify key technologies including
cargo transportation, onorbit propellant resupply, astronauts' mediumterm stay, as well as conduct space science and application experiments on a relatively large scale, the spokesperson said. Preparation for the space lab program is progressing steadily, according to the spokesperson.The astronauts to board the Shenzhou-11 are receiving training, while the Tiangong-2, Shenzhou11, two Long March-2F carrier rockets to be used to lift them into space,
the Long March-7 rocket, and the Tianzhou-1 are either being assembled or undergoing assembly examination. China's multi-billiondollar space program, a source of surging national pride in the country, aims to put a permanent manned space station into service around 2022.By around 2020, the construction of the country's first orbiting space station should be completed, according to the spokesperson.The space station is expected
to consist of three parts - a core module attached to two labs, each weighing about 20 tonnes. China already launched its first space lab, Tiangong-1, in September 2011 and has conducted two dockings with the module in the following two years.The Tiangong-1 has been in service for four years and a half and is in good working condition, which enables it to remain in orbit for continued operation, the spokesperson said. (Agencies)
Hong Kong anti-China activist facing riot charge stands in poll Beijing, Feb 28:A Hong Kong activist who seeks independence from China and has been charged over recent street battles with police stood for office Sunday in a byelection that highlights the city's political faultlines. Edward Leung, 24, one of the leaders of "localist" group Hong Kong Indigenous, is vying to become a legislator after a prominent pro-democracy politician stepped down.Student Leung is taking on six other contenders for the New Territories East seat, including candidates from proBeijing and pro-democracy camps.He is not tipped to win but his candidacy will be a barometer of how much support the fledgling localist movement - fiercely opposed by Beijing - can garner at the ballot box. Since massive rallies in 2014 calling for fully free leadership elections
failed to win concessions from Beijing, young protesters like Leung have become increasingly disillusioned with more established pro-democracy parties.Smaller groups have emerged under a "localist" banner, pushing for greater autonomy and even independence from China as fears over interference from Beijing grow. Their frustrations spilt over into violence earlier this month when running battles with police left more than 100 injured. Leung is facing a rioting charge for his involvement."Hongkongers are the masters of their own soil," he said Sunday. "I will defend Hong Kong people's interests and Hong Kong people's rights."Hong Kong is semi-autonomous after being handed back to China by Britain in 1997 and its freedoms are protected by a 50-year agreement.But there is growing concern those
Hong Kong activist Edward Leung, one of the leaders of "localist" group Hong
freedoms are under threat as China seeks to stamp its authority on the territory. The disappearance of five Hong Kong booksellers known for publishing titles critical of Beijing has exacerbated fears.Four of the men is now under official investigation on the mainland and the fifth has said he is "assisting" authorities."I voted for him (Leung). We need to speak out about what's happening,"
said a 56-year-old engineer surnamed Cheung."It's completely understandable that young people want change," Cheung told media.Others urged calm. "We should not be radical," said one 40-year-old voter surnamed Yeung. "Any problems should be dealt with peacefully and rationally."Observers say either Alvin Yeung of the established pro-democracy Civic Party or Holden Chow of the pro-
Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) are most likely to win. Yeung criticised Leung's involvement in the street battles and defended the pro-democracy movement's peaceful track record."I understand people are not satisfied, but... we need principles and our bottom line is non-violence," Yeung told media.The pro-Beijing camp casts democracy campaigners as a threat to stability and prosperity in the city.Beijing has dismissed localists as "separatists" - a label they do not shy away from.By mid-afternoon, 200,000 people had voted, with polls due to close late Sunday and the result expected overnight.If Chow wins, the pro-democracy camp will still hold enough seats in parliament to block important bills, but will risk its ability to block other parliamentary decisions. (Agencies)
Pakistan, US to hold strategic talks tomorrow Islamabad,Feb 28: Pakistan and the United States will hold the sixth round of the strategic dialogue in Washington on Monday. Sartaj Aziz, adviser to the prime minister on national security and foreign affairs, will lead the Pakistani side. US Secretary of State John Kerry will lead his team to the talks.The dialogue will focus on Pakistan's economic growth, trade and regional stability, energy cooperation and extremism and terrorism. The two sides will review the progress made by the working groups on
Pakistan, US to hold strategic talks tomorrow economy and finance, defence, law enforcement and counterterrorism, security, strategic stability and non-proliferation and energy.The last stra-
tegic dialogue was held in Islamabad in January 2015. The strategic dialogue process started in 2010, but it was interrupted in 2011 when a US mid-
night raid in Abbottabad killed Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. The process resumed in 2014.Political analyst Dr Rasul Bakhsh Rais said that Pakistan was in favour of stability and peace in Afghanistan and India. He said that Pakistan was suffering the most from the volatile situation in Afghanistan. He said Islamabad always stated that peace in Afghanistan would benefit Pakistan.Dr Rais said that Pakistan had accepted the US as a major stakeholder in Afghanistan. He said that Pakistan was trying to bring
the Taliban and other Afghan groups on the dialogue table for the next round of talks, which would be held in Pakistan.He said that Pakistan wanted friendly relations with the US and an end to hostility with India. He said that Pakistan was taking measures for regional stability and countering extremism and terrorism at the same time. He said that Pakistan needed support in its counterterrorism efforts, especially up-to-date technology. He said that Pakistan needed the US to overcome its energy shortage. (Agencies)
PM opens development works of 10 economic zones today
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to formally inaugurate the development works of 10 economic zones today.
Dhaka ,Feb 28:Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to formally inaugurate the development works of 10 economic zones today.In an attempt to attract more foreign and domestic investments across the country, the PM will launch the overall development works of the economic zones through a video conference to be held at a programme at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the city. The industries, to be set
up at the nearly completed economic zones, may start operation within a year, said BEZA officials. The government has undertaken a plan to establish 100 economic zones in phases over the next 15 years for creating more opportunities for investment, industrialisation and employment. Once established, the economic zones are expected to increase export earnings by US$40 billion and generate about 10 million additional jobs. (Agencies)
Beijing museum to display Haihunhou tomb artifacts Beijing,Feb 28: More than 400 artifacts from a 2,000-year-old tomb in east China's Jiangxi Province are set to go on display in Beijing's Capital Museum.The exhibits on show from March 2 to June 2 were selected from 20,000 items unearthed from the tomb of "Haihunhou" (Marquis of Haihun) since the excavation began in 2011, said museum spokesperson Yang Dandan Sunday. Yang said that the exhibition will prioritize group visitors and allow only 1,000 individual visitors a day in the first week, and increase the daily limit to 5,000 people after that.This will be the first exhibi-
tion of the artifacts outside Jiangxi. Last year, a display featuring 120 items from the tomb attracted 180,000 visitors to the Jiangxi Provincial Museum.The Haihunhou tomb, which dates back to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC -- 24 AD), covers roughly 40,000 square meters and contains eight small tombs and a burial site for chariot horses.The bestpreserved tomb of its age found in China, it is thought to belong to Liu He, grandson of Emperor Wu. Liu was given the title "Haihunhou" after he was deposed as emperor after only 27 days. Haihun is the ancient name of a very small kingdom in the north of Jiangxi. (Agencies)
20 Indian fishermen arrested in Pakistan
The Maritime Security Agency (MSA) has arrested 20 Indian fishermen for fishing in Pakistani waters
Islamabad, Feb 28: The Maritime Security Agency (MSA) has arrested 20 Indian fishermen for fishing in Pakistani waters, a media report said on Sunday."The Indian fishermen were arrested on Saturday by the MSA while they were fishing in Pakistani limits of the Arabian Sea," said an official at the Docks police station. "Their four fishing boats have also been seized by the MSA. We are in the process of taking their custody from the MSA. They will be then produced in court," the po-
lice official said. The fresh arrests were the second of their kind within a week. On February 20, MSA authorities arrested 88 Indian fishermen while they were fishing in Pakistani territorial limits of the sea, officials said. Meanwhile, an official at the Fishermen's Cooperative Society said the release and exchange of arrested fishermen has been halted for the past many months as over 150 Indian fishermen were already in Pakistani prisons and more than 50 Pakistan fishermen were in Indian jails. (Agencies)
"The Indian fishermen were arrested on Saturday by the MSA while they were fishing in Pakistani limits of the Arabian Sea," said an official at the Docks police station.
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DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29
Does India Really Need to Defend the Siachen Glacier? Air Pollution Polluted Year for India Air Pollution has been causing massive trouble to several countries in the world. However, India and China have been the top contributors when it comes to high pollution levels. And last year, India left its counterpart China behind in being Photo:wikimedia more polluted. Also India, since the year 2011, when China had its most polluted year, conditions have significantly improved. At the same time, India has suffered a setback regarding pollution levels. According to the World Health Organisation, India is home to 13 out of 20 most polluted cities in the world with air pollution levels deteriorating during the past decade. China still has more deaths per day from air pollution - 2,700 in 2013 compared to 1,800 in India. But air quality in Beijing has improved over the last two years despite the city's first smog red-alert during the winter, when a blanket of air pollution shrouded the capital for more than three weeks. Meanwhile, new research shows that air pollution has even wider health implications than previous thought, as it may lead to childhood obesity A new Greenpeace study shows that last year was the first year on record that the average Indian was exposed to more air pollution than the average Chinese. As per the report levels of the most harmful fine particulates, PM2.5 (short for "Particulate Matter up to 2.5 micrometres in size"), have fallen by 17 per cent in China between 2010 and 2015, while in India they have expanded by 13 per cent. By comparison, in the United States they have fallen 15 per cent, and in the EU by 20 per cent in the period 20052013. Greenpeace analysis of satellite-based particulate matter measurements over the past decade shows that China's systematic efforts to combat air pollution have achieved an impressive improvement in average air quality in the country in the past few years -although pollution levels remain alarmingly high, Greenpeace India said in a report, Clean Air Action Plan: The Way Forward. Greenpeace said the reduced levels were testimony to government efforts on a national level to tackle air pollution in China, including setting targets for air quality and for clean energy. In contrast, air pollution levels in India, and in particular North India, have risen rapidly, with 2015 being the most polluted year on record. Like China, India also needs to come up with a full-proof action plan to curb pollution levels in the country. Or else, that day won't be far away, when a mask would become a necessity for every Indian citizen.
Wtch-hunting Practice won't magically end The practice of witch-hunting has plagued Assam for generations. For as long as the belief has existed, the superstition has been exploited to settle personal scores. Vulnerable women, men and children, the elderly and the mentally ill have been branded witches and condemned to death. Particular targets have been single women who inherit property or gain political influence. Between 2010 and February 2015, as many as 77 people died in so-called witch-hunts, 35 of them women, and around 60 were injured. Where victims weren't killed, they were chased away from the area and, yet, nobody was ever punished for doing so. And more than 2,000 people accused of being witches have been killed in India over the last 15 years in poor, remote areas of the Northeast. The victims, nearly all of them women, have been swept up in modern-day witch hunts, often accused by a neighbor or family member who might blame devious sorcery for a bad harvest or an unexplained illness. But the allegations sometimes stem from personal disputes over property and the land rights of women. In a welcome step The Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Bill, introduced in the state assembly which mandates a jail term of between three and seven years for branding any person a witch, which may be extended to life imprisonment if the person is driven to commit suicide as a result of being labeled a witch. Also most of these incidents are far from rare, but simply the latest occurrences in the everpresent practice of witch-hunting across the South Asian nation. In the state of Jharkhand, data from India's National Crime Records Bureau shows that 220 people have been murdered for witchcraft between 2008 and 2013 - the most of any Indian state. The problem is far more widespread, though, with the Indian government reporting nearly 2,300 deaths of alleged "witches" nationwide since the year 2000. In Assam for three decades, Birubala Rabha, an activist, has fought to end this violent, retrograde practice of punishing women accused of witchcraft. She works with state legislators and residents of rural villages to investigate accusers and protect victims and their families. But the Assam government too has an opportunity to end the inhumane practice of witch-hunting that has victimised women for ages. It must make sure that it gets things right.
The latest tragedy has triggered debate over the need to station soldiers on the icy heights. The Siachen Glacier, the 1970s India woke up to the world's highest battlefield, fact that publications is once again in the spot- abroad, including U.S. govlight. On the morning of ernment documents, were February 3, an avalanche carrying maps that showed hurtled down this icy waste- the LoC extending northland, swallowing an Indian east from NJ 9842 to the military post and claiming Karakoram Pass. In other the lives of ten soldiers. words, the Siachen Glacier The tragedy has drawn was appearing in maps as public attention to the ex- part of Pakistani territory. treme weather and hostile Besides, it learned that Paterrain that soldiers contend kistan was permitting Westwith daily at these icy ern mountaineers access to heights. It t h e has trig- Sudha Ramachandran Siachen gered discussion in India and the ridges flanking it, over the strategic value of quietly establishing its claim the Siachen and whether In- over the area. dia needs to continue its India concluded that Pakideployment of soldiers at its stan was resorting to cartoicy heights. graphic invasion and The 75-km long Siachen oropolitics to bolster its Glacier is located in the east- claims over the Siachen. ern Karakoram Range of the Then, in the early 1980s InHimalayas. It lies to the dia learned of Pakistan's north of Point NJ 9842, purchase of high-altitude where the Line of Control fighting gear. Anticipating a (LoC) between India and Pakistani occupation of the Pakistan ends. Siachen, India sought to The Siachen has been an preempt it and in April 1984 important bone of conten- landed two platoons of soltion between India and Pa- diers on the Bilafond La and kistan since 1984 when the Sia La, two key passes on Indian Army took control of the Saltoro Ridge. With the glacier, beating Pakistan Pakistan's access to the to it by a week. Saichen blocked, India esThe roots of the conflict tablished control not only over the Siachen lie in the over the glacier but over all ambiguous text of the 1949 its tributary glaciers and key Karachi Agreement that passes as well as the ended the 1947-48 India-Pa- Soltoro Ridge that lies to the kistan war over Kashmir. glacier's west. Since then, That agreement described both countries have dethe Ceasefire Line in Kash- ployed soldiers in the area, mir as running up to map co- India's on the Siachen and ordinate NJ 9842 and "‌ the Soltoro and Pakistan's thence north to the gla- at much lower altitudes and ciers." Under the 1972 Simla some distance away from Agreement, the Ceasefire the glacier. Line was converted into the The two countries base LoC but the fuzziness of the their claims over the glacier boundary beyond NJ 9842 on different interpretation of was not addressed. the words "‌ thence north "So inhospitable is the ter- to the glaciers" in the 1949 rain of the Siachen Glacier and 1972 Agreements. To that even as late as 1972 Pakistan it means a straight neither India nor Pakistan line from NJ 9842 in a norththought it necessary to easterly direction to the clarify the boundary here," Karakoram Pass, giving it a major-general of the In- control over the Siachen dian Army told The Diplo- Glacier. India argues that mat. Neither country from NJ 9842, the boundary thought the other would be line should run through the interested in an area that nearest watershed, the was "neither resource-rich Saltoro Ridge, which means nor habitable or seen to that the glacier is rightfully have great strategic value." India's. That perception changed a Echo of Gunfire few years later. In the late Since 1984, the Siachen has
resounded to the echo of India-Pakistan gunfire as Pakistan sought to wrest the glacier from India. It has not succeeded. A ceasefire has been in place since November 2003 and while the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) that separates the Indian and Pakistani positions in the Siachen region has seen no violations or exchange of fire since, soldiers are dying. The hostile terrain and weather in the Siachen are claiming many lives. Temperatures here plunge to minus 40 degrees and blizzards whip up winds of speeds in excess of 300 km per hour. Oxygen is so rare at these heights that "every breath is a painful battle for survival," the major-general said, recalling his stint on the glacier over 15 years ago. The "combined impact of high altitude and cripplingly cold weather" causes severe depression, hallucination, memory loss, blurred speech, frost bite, pulmonary and cerebral edema, and even death. Around 2,000 Indian and Pakistani soldiers are said to have lost their lives in the Siachen region, the overwhelming majority of them to natural disasters, terrain and bad weather. The financial costs of maintaining soldiers here are huge as well. The high human, financial and material costs of maintaining soldiers in the Siachen area have prompted calls for a demilitarization of the glacier. But sections of India's strategic community are opposed to India pulling out of the Siachen. They point to improved living conditions for soldiers stationed there and a drop in fatalities in recent years. Even if deployment is costly, they argue, no cost is too great if it is to defend the country's sovereignty, especially since the Siachen plays a key role in India's forward defense. It "serves as a wedge" between Baltistan in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and the
chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). The Indian military is cautious in its approach to the Siachen's demilitarization. It wants its control of the Saltoro and Siachen to be recognized and recorded first.
Image for representational purpose Photo: image.clip Shaksgam Valley that Pakistan illegally ceded to China; India's control of the glacier prevents China and Pakistan from "militarily linking up." Besides, the Saltoro and Siachen give India "the much needed depth to important mountain passes that are the gateways to Ladakh and Kashmir." If Indian troops pull out of the Siachen, the major-general warns, "Ladakh would be exposed to a SinoPakistan pincer attack." Additionally, its control of Saltoro gives India the "tactical advantage of dominating height." Sitting at much lower altitudes, Pakistani soldiers are completely "shut off from a view of the Siachen Glacier" and are thus at a "severe tactical disadvantage" all along the AGPL. Demilitarizing the glacier would amount to India surrendering its advantage. However, not everyone is convinced of the strategic and tactical value of the Siachen. Brigadier (retired) Gurmeet Kanwal has argued that in the event of Pakistan and China launching a joint offensive to occupy the Ladakh region of Kashmir, they are unlikely to approach it via Siachen's "treacherous mountain terrain" as "better options are available" for them to access Ladakh. India's control of Siachen then does not deny Pakistan and China approaches to Ladakh. Its control of the heights gives India "neither offensive nor defensive advan-
tage," Happymon Jacob, associate professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi and author of Kashmir and Indo-Pak Relations: Politics of Reconciliation, told The Diplomat. "No amount of concentration of forces in those areas can help India deter the socalled Chinese designs in the greater Karakoram region," he said. "Nor can it be used to stage any offensive military operations against either Pakistan or China." Consequently, the advantage that accrues to India from its control of the Siachen is "mostly symbolic and political, not strategic or military." Demilitarizing the Siachen In the wake of the recent tragedy, calls to demilitarize the Siachen have grown in India, as they did in Pakistan in 2012 when an avalanche engulfed its Gayari military base, killing 129 Pakistani soldiers and 11 civilian contractors. Such calls for demilitarization evoke alarm in India's military and intelligence establishment. Will the politicians fritter away the long term strategic advantage of holding the Siachen for short term political gains? There is concern that after India withdraws its troops from the Siachen, Pakistan would send its soldiers to occupy it. "Withdrawal from these strategic heights without any iron clad guarantees that do not extend beyond declarations of intent would be the height of folly," warns Vikram Sood, a former
As the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command of the Indian Army, Lt General D S Hooda recently said, the actual position on [the] ground‌ where [the] Indian Army is positioned should be authenticated first and that should be agreeable to both sides" before talks on demilitarization can begin. Others have gone further. In 2011, India's then Air Chief Marshall P V Naik, for instance, said that the demarcated AGPL should be "internationally approved." However, would Pakistan agree to authenticate and demarcate existing ground positions on maps? That seems unlikely, as this would legitimize what it sees as India's "occupation" of the Siachen. Given their differences on the sequencing of steps in the demilitarization process and the deep mutual distrust, an agreement seems a long way off. Natural disasters are known to spur peace processes. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, for instance, brought the Indonesian government and Acehnese rebels to the negotiating table. This culminated in a peace agreement and an end to the armed conflict. The same tsunami opened space for co-operation between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan government, an opportunity that both sides rejected. That led to an escalation in the fighting. Which example will inspire India and Pakistan? Dr. Sudha Ramachandran is an independent journalist/ researcher based in Bangalore, India. She writes on South Asian political and security issues and can be contacted at sudha.ramachandran@live.in.
India's Deadliest Sub Is Ready for Operations The Indian Navy's INS Arihant could already be commissioned next month. The Indian Navy's first in- gone extensive deep sea digenously developed bal- diving drills and weapons listic missile nuclear sub- launch tests. During the marine (SSBN), the INS various tests, conducted in Arihant, could be commis- utmost secrecy off the sioned as early as next coast of Vishakhapatnam, month, according to local the boomer has been acmedia reports. companied by a Russian "It has submarine passed ship Franz-Stefan Gady rescue all tests of Russia's and in Black Sea many things has surpassed Fleet, the RFSEpron. our expectations. Techni- The Indian Navy currently cally the submarine can does not possess a submanow be commissioned at rine rescue vessel and had any time," a senior defense to rely on Russian support official. to conduct the INS The submarine has under- Arihant's sea and weapons
trials. The first missile tests aboard the SSBN were conducted in October 2015. The submarine will be armed with the K-4, an intermediate-range nuclearcapable submarinelaunched ballistic missile (SLBM) also under development by DRDO, with a rage of up to 3,500 kilometers, as well as with the K15 Sagarika SLBMs with a 700-750 kilometers range. Both missiles can be armed with nuclear warheads. The sub has four vertical launch tubes, which can be armed with either four K-4
missiles or 12-three per launch tube-K-15 missiles. Another missile, the 1,000 km-range subsonic tactical cruise missile Nirbhay, has also been test-fired in October 2015 for use on the sub. However, the test has only been partially successful. As I noted back in October 2015: Should the Nirbhay not receive operational clearance soon, the INS Arihantwill face limitations as integral part of India's nuclear triad given the K-15's limited range, which would mean
that the submarine would have to move closer to enemy shores to launch its missiles, making it vulnerable to detection. The Arihant is the lead vessel of the Indian Navy's future fleet of four (some media reports say five) Arihantclass SSBNs. The shipyards at Vishakhapatnam have allegedly already started working on two more vessels of the class. India's new submarines are based on the Russian Project 971 Akula I-class nuclear-powered attack boats. The Arihant itself will
Agitation And Destruction of Public Property
Image for representational purpose (Photo: Pics.art)
Sir, Gloomy-scenario prevails all around, but a ray of light is noticed at the end of the tunnel. It has been observed that the agitationists in any agitation be it for 'Reservation' or 'Separate state' or other demands destroy public properties and hold the people to ransom. It is reported, in the last Jat agitation for reservation, both the government of India and the state government incurred a loss of Rs. 35,000 crore. Agitationists of the 'Greater Koch Bihar People' Association for a separate Kamatapur state blockading railway track holding the people to ransom for days together, created a havoc. The agitationists disperse only after police took tough measures including firing. In the Jat agitation, myriad of Public and government properties had been damaged. The six tribes including Koch Rajbongis have been spearheading their movement for 'Reservation' and in doing so, meanwhile, they destroyed properties both Public and government. If these agitationists are not bridled, they will definitely let loose a reign of terror, the way
Moran tribes are doing now at Tinsukia. The apex court bench comprising Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar and Justice C. Nagappan underlining those involved in destruction of Public property, would not escape the consequences of their actions and that the Hon'ble court would lay down guidelines to act against the people damaging public property and holding people to ransom in the course of agitation. How long the peace-loving common people will suffer? As both state and the Central government would not like to take stringent measures in view of the forth coming assembly election, leaving the people with their own lot to suffer. Now, the apex court comes to the rescue of the people. It remains to be seen how would the executives translate the Judiciary's verdict into reality and save the people. Yours etc. Ashok Bordoloi Dibrugarh
be a technological demonstrator, rather than a fully operational SSBN. As I reported before, India's nuclear warfare policy is centered on a No First-Use (NFU) doctrine. As a result, New Delhi needs to field a credible second-strike capability. Yet, as of now, India keeps its nuclear warheads de-mated from the actual missiles. However, in order for the new sub class to fulfill its role as the sea leg of India's nuclear triad, SLBMs with mounted nuclear warheads will need to be deployed on the boomers.
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6 simple yet brilliant inventions that are changing the lives of women in India Have you ever wondered their exhaustion, and how simple life would be they're removed from as a woman if you could being able to make an pee standing? Or have income, better care for chulhas that don't choke their children, or in a you? As it turns out, in- younger girl's circumnovative use of technol- stance, be able to get a ogy has proper edumade these Shruti Sonal cation." wishes and Designed by many more possible, Wello, an American somaking life easier for cial venture company to women both in the rural facilitate the transportaand urban sphere. Here tion of water in a more are 6 such examples: 1. efficient and hygienic Water Wheel: One of manner. It consists of a the key problems faced round 50-litre container by women in rural India made of plastic that is the long trek to fetch makes it possible to roll water that has both down water instead of physical and socio-eco- physically carrying it nomic repercussions. from the water source. The Water Project high- 2. Smokeless chulhas: lighted this problem and As per an NDTV report, took up the task of pro- over 140 million houseviding an innovative so- holds in India still use lution to this problem. "In- chulhas with wood, cow dian women can take up dung or charcoal being to six trips a day to used as fuel. Given it is gather and transport mostly on women that water. These walks in the burden of cooking rural regions can aver- falls on, not only does this age ten miles a day, car- lead to indoor pollution rying up to fifteen liters that impacts women's every trip. The women health but also adversely load jars or buckets on impacts the environtheir heads to carry wa- ment. Project Aanch unter. The heat increases dertaken by Enactus, a
group of students from IIT Delhi, set out to solve this issue. Although "smokeless chulhas" also work on wood and cowdung, they emit less smoke and use 1/3rd wood an average chulha consumes. 3. JANMA Birth Kit: Lack of access to healthcare and sanitation, especially at the time of childbirth, is a bane for women in rural India. Ayzh, founded by Zubaida Bai, aims to develop affordable health technologies for women in rural India. JANMA, developed by Ayzh is a clean birth kit that contains simple tools recommended by the WHO and is worth just Rs. 100. The clean kit helps prevent infections that can occur at the time a woman gives birth thereby helping reduce maternal and infant mortality rates. Not only this, Ayzh also increases income of women in rural parts of India by enabling them to be the producers and sellers of tools like
people on your emergency list. Similarly, the Nirbhaya App lets the user send an SMS alert or call with a single touch in the event of an emergency. Another unique app is one called "Susuvidha" that collects information about all public toilets located in the vicinity and presents it to users in an easy-to-use format. Till now, over 4,000 toilets from India have been registered in the app's database and can be found by users when needed. Image for representational purpose only. (Photo: youthkiawaaz) sterile birth kits. 4. Life-Saving Dot: Iodine deficiency has been one of the major issues plaguing the health of women in India, leading to cancer in some cases and complications during pregnancy. While supplementary pills are available, many women often don't take them or have access to them. To tackle this, a joint effort by "Grey for
Good", a philanthropic corporation from Singapore and an Indian NGO called Neelvasant Medical Foundation and Research Centre was created. Together they created iodine patches known as the Life Saving Dot that can be worn as a bindi. Once placed on the forehead, the daily required amount of iodine (150-220 mg), which is injected into the bindi, is directly absorbed
through the skin. 5. Apps That Help: In this smartphone savvy world of today, many apps are working studiously to help tackle problems that women face. Among many, the 'I'm Shakti' (IMS) app allows one to reach their emergency contacts by pressing the power button 5 times (in 2 seconds). A preset emergency SMS is then sent along with your GPS location to the
6. GPower: A program that is a mobile based data collecting and analysis tool, this was launched by the Child In Need institute in 2014. Focussed on bettering lives of adolescent girls in particular, members of the team visit localities and ask the girls questions about their education, health, family environment and general well-being, based on which they identify their levels of vulner-
ability. It looks at this real-time data monitoring to help tackle the issues of child labour, trafficking, malnutrition and even child marriage. As the team says, "We focus on adolescent girls because about 25 percent of India's population falls into the age group 10-19. They will shape the future of our nation." Their timely intervention has proven to benefit the lives of many young girls who are vulnerable and need assistance. While laws and legislations take care of the bigger problems that plague women, these simple inventions help make the everyday lives of women a tad bit easier. And given the way science is constantly evolving and discovering, we look forward to more such interesting inventions that bring with them #windsofchange for a more equal society where no obstacles of any kind hold women back!
Where's the nationalism in Govt. crackdown, media Why making universities hoist playing god and goons beating up people? the National Flag is not going to make everyone 'patriotic'
In relation to what is cur- already know this? Here's rently happening in why! Jawaharlal Nehru Univer- A Whole University sity, a lot of people have Branded Anti-National said a lot of things. From The level of fanaticism in demonising the institution this country seems to be at to calling university politics an all-time high. People may "a waste of have said taxpayers' t h i n g s Arunima Singh money," which we there really isn't much left don't agree with. It is disto be said. In case you think sent. And it is the right of I am exaggerating, here's each one of us. But I will not something: go there. Right to free "'3,000 Beer Cans, 3,000 speech has become a joke. Used Condoms‌' BJP Law- Anyway, after whatever maker Lists JNU's 'Sins'" happened on the 9th of FebHere's what I want to dis- ruary, what made me cringe cuss: a small number of stu- was the sudden raising of dents hold protests against slogans against JNU. How the 'judicial killing of Afzal that made sense to anyone, Guru', slogans are raised, I don't get. Branding one of suspicious and even anti- the most prestigious uniIndia slogans. A self-pro- versities in the nation 'anticlaimed nationalist party's national' because of a posyouth wing ABVP (Akhil sibly doctored video, with Bharatiya Vidyarthi barely any or no evidence, Parishad) calls the whole is as shameful as it gets. thing 'anti-national' and de- Even if they were to be conmands that the students in victed, the JNU has a large question be punished. body of students and teachNow it gets interesting. The ers, and the significant part media turns around and of its students don't have looks at a great opportunity any political affiliations. to exploit the already vulner- Putting all of them in harm's able 'national vs. anti-na- way by portraying them as tional' debate. Without veri- enemies of the nation, fied proof or anything sub- falsely blaming them for stantial to go by, many problems they aren't renews channels openly call sponsible for, what kind of these students 'anti-na- nationalism allows that? tional'. Kanhaiya, the presi- And here, RSS predicting dent of the JNU Students' the future in 2015: Union is arrested after he "JNU is home to anti-narepeatedly claimed that he tional forces which aim to didn't raise slogans against disintegrate India: RSS the nation. Other than the mouthpiece" allegedly doctored videos, Do tell me if this doesn't reek I don't know what the po- of conspiracy, of a huge lice has. I guess we will see. scheme to bring disrepute The court can decide that. to an institution they can't Some students decide to go penetrate. What else could underground. In the very this be? few days that have passed, Assault On Kanhaiya, Some the media does what it does Other Students And Jourbest - play God. They come nalists, With No Conseto the conclusion that Umar quences For The PerpetraKhalid, a known communist tors and atheist, has links to Pa- The argument that most kistan, the Gulf, Kashmir people give against disand basically any place with cussing Afzal is that our Islamic extremists. It was Supreme Court had decided also said, without even pre- he was a terrorist, and that fixing it with 'allegedly', that we shouldn't question judihe had made 800 calls to a cial authority. good number of countries But it is okay to disrespect in the past few days. And that same judicial authority no one decided to question by assaulting people in their claims. Umar was de- court premises? And that clared a terrorist. too, with the tricolour in Umar Khalid quoted Rohith your hand, shouting 'Bharat Vemula's words soon after Mata ki Jai'? What kind of a resurfacing when he said mother wants its children to that they were "reduced to beat each other up? What their immediate identity." kind of nationalism allows Unfortunately, for the 'ter- us to fight each other inror' seekers, these stead of looking out for 'seditionists' are back. The each other? video, it has turned out, was That's not even the worst most likely doctored, and part. The worst bit is, these the media is back in the au- goons dressed as advodience. cates seem to be getting You ask me why I am narrat- away with it. ing these incidents to you This is how much they rewhen most of you probably spect the court of law:
On June 11, 1990, the Supreme Court of the United States made flag desecration legal in the country.
Image for representational purpose only (Photo: youthkiawaaz) "EXCLUSIVE: Kanhaiya wet his pants while we beat him up in police custody, say lawyers behind Patiala House assault" And this, is extremely shameful: "890 personnel failed to stop assault on Kanhaiya Kumar" Media Trials And Propagation Of Disastrous Lies What perhaps we should be embarrassed about as a population, is how we allowed our media channels to call out these youngsters on TV and not allow them to speak. They put words in their mouths. Kanhaiya's identity was brought into play. Umar Khalid, a wellknown atheist was even called a Muslim 'terrorist' by some. A Terrorist! Now that he has returned, no news channel has gone back and issued apologies as forcefully as it propagated those lies, making baseless claims without evidence. No one has issued apologies for showing the doctored footage of these youngsters without verification either. It was this video which brought this madness to such a level. "Zee News producer quits: Video we shot had no Pakistan Zindabad slogan" "Times Now First Denies Airing Doctored Video, Then Concedes it Did" In a democracy, where the media is not accountable to us, where they feel they can show anything, say anything and get away with it, where are we headed, really? University Politics I never thought I'd have to defend this one. Political awareness is a must for the citizens in a democracy. It is our responsibility to elect our government and keep a check on them. To question them and to oppose them when necessary. That's what democracies are based
on. What exactly do our taxpayers want? History students that remember nothing but dates? Who feel nothing about the institutionalised exploitation they study about? Do the taxpayers want students of political science to not dare ask a single question about the present political situation in the nation? Do the taxpayers want humanities students who don't care about other human beings? I pay taxes too. And that's not what I want for my nation. And for those who don't understand such complex ideas, leaders such as Amit Shah started with ABVP and Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha. In fact, at one point, our Prime Minister was himself the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh 'pracharak' in charge of the ABVP. Perhaps they should speak on this matter. I'll leave that here. On Afzal Yes, they organised a march and had quite a lot to say about Kashmir. But video where slogans of 'Bharat Murdabad' and 'Pakistan Zindabad' can be heard, was most likely doctored. While I may disagree with them on the stance they took on Afzal Guru, I refuse to accept that it was antinational. A nation are its people. And whoever spoke, did so for a large segment of people in Kashmir. We hear such things there all the time. And in much stronger words. In fact, an honourable mention to the BJP and the PDP forming an alliance in Kashmir is a must. It is widely known that PDP calls Afzal a martyr. Of Nationalism, But Not For The Nation What I would like to conclude with, is that a very demented idea of nationalism is presently spreading
like wildfire. Rabindranath Tagore had warned us of the evils of nationalism, and before you let something slip out of your mouth that you may regret, remember that it was he who wrote the 'Jana Gana Mana', our 'nationalist' national anthem! Here I speak, not in favour of JNU. Not even in favour of our right to dissent or free speech. Here, I only speak as an Indian who is very confused. Who is it that I owe my loyalty to? The government or the people? What is the nation? It's people, right? Our Constitution is built in a way that allows us to accommodate changes and revise laws with time. Our Constitution is for the people. Just like the government, and the state apparatus. And, I hope I am not jailed for this, but so is the army. They are doing a great job too, but bringing them up in every political discussion makes very little sense. I am a patriot and proud. But I do not identify with a nation where people who ask questions, who want to know why journalists and students were assaulted in court, who want accountability from the media and who want the government to address problems rather than hoist flags everywhere, are labelled 'anti-national' and shamed. Shoving ideas down people's throats is not nationalism. Call it whatever you want, it is not nationalism. To me, a couple of students in a university who were non-violently protesting, no matter how disagreeable, can never be a matter of shame quite as much as a government misleading its people, the media acting like the God, and some 'nationalists' beating people up with the tricolour in hand. Where is the nation in this nationalism?
It has been also criticised by so many Indian politicians that it is a surprise how this law still exists in the world's largest deAll laws Akshay Tarfe mocracy. criminalising flag burning The list includes were declared unconsti- Jawaharlal Nehru, who tutional. Protecting the called it "highly objecflag was ruled as a viola- tionable" and M.K. tion of the first amend- Gandhi, who called it the ment, the right which "prince among political gives unrestricted free- sections of Indian Penal dom of speech to the Code." United States' citizens. The attempts to reverse Now, if you are thinking the Supreme Court's that I have collected judgement have failed these old quotes from since then. Google to support my argument, then look at For a nation which openly the most recent example sports flags in schools, where former Law houses and universities, Minister Veerappa the judgement definitely Moily demanded review came as a shock. The of the sedition clauses in path chosen by the Supreme Court was clear. It wanted to uphold individual rights over the symbols which were formed a few decades or even centuries ago to represent a particular idea of 'nation'.
What makes alleged slogans raised in Delhi more criminal than those in the state of Jammu and Kashmir? The BJP was happily sharing power in the same state with Peoples' Democratic Party, the party which has open links with separatists. It also explains that sedition law cannot even be implemented on large scale. In the age of globalisation, where we talk about the world turning into a global village, how can these symbols and a 19th-century concept of a nationstate survive? One should understand that a nationstate is an idea after all. It means there should be enough scope for everybody to disagree with it, or
Coming back to India, a lot has been already been written about the incident at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi and the chain of violent events that followed it. I will suggest that you read in detail about the chain of events. Each account points out that Kanhaiya Kumar and the JNU Students' Union had nothing to do with protest over the death of Afzal Guru. Kumar is still attending a trial for sedition. A crime which he, in all likelihood, didn't even commit. The latest media reports allege that the footage of the protest played in media might be doctored. The infamous section 124A of the IPC seems nothing but the antithesis of Article 19 of the Indian Constitution and US Supreme Court's judgement.
Image for representational purpose only. (Photo: wikimedia) the IPC by the Law Commission of India. National statistics of sedition cases have a different story to tell. The militant hit state of Jammu and Kashmir doesn't have any single case of sedition in the year 2014, National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reports. It is surprising that police have chosen not to enforce sedition law for a state which has a long history of 'anti-India' slogans being raised and armed uprisings.
come up with their own version of the same. If we can allow anybody to disagree with basic scientific facts such as gravity or even evolution, then arresting students shouting slogans for sedition and criminal conspiracy sounds ridiculous. More such incidents will follow if Indians in general, and courts in particular, do not uphold the individual rights over archaic colonial laws. Instead of that, the government has responded to this with a 'flag' project across central universities, each of which is expected to cost around 40 lakhs.
DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29
BUSINESS
Sembcorp prepares to obtain two power projects in India in next 18 months New Delhi, Feb 28: Singapore-based power company Sembcorp recently said it is looking to acquire two power projects, one brownfield and another greenfield, with combined capacity of nearly 1200-megawatts (MW) in the next 12 to 18 months. According to Atul Nargund, CEO of Sembcorp Gayatri Power Complex, the group is interested in acquiring power projects located preferably in 'mine mouth' areas (where coal mines are located). "We are looking at a few projects...We are looking at acquiring a Brownfield project and a
Greenfield project preferably in mine mouth areas (like Chhattisgarh or Odisha). We will do that in a year or a year-andhalf time. We will go for supercritical power projects. So the size would be 1200 MW plus," Nargund told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of company's Power Complex in Nellore recently. Sembcorp has announced the launch of 2,640 MW Sembcorp Gayatri Power Complex. The Rs 20,000 crore complex houses two 1,320 MW supercritical coal-fired power plants. The first plant Thermal
POWER PROJECTS TO ROLL OUT Singapore-based power company Sembcorp recently said it is looking to acquire two power projects.
The group is interested in acquiring power projects located preferably in 'mine mouth' areas.
They will introduce one brownfield and another greenfield, with combined capacity of nearly 1200-megawatts (MW) in the next 12 to 18 months.
The first plant Thermal Powertech Corporation has been completed and commenced full commercial operations in September last year while the other plant, NCC Power Projects, is expected to be fully completed by October this year.
Powertech Corporation has been completed and commenced full commercial operations in September last year while the other plant, NCC Power Projects, is expected to be fully com-
pleted by October this year. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu, Piyush Goyal, Prakash Javadekar and YS
Chowdary, Singapore Trade Minister S Iswaran were among present on the occasion. To a query, Nargund said Sembcorp's renewable energy portfolio consists of more than 900 MW of
Sembcorp has announced the launch of 2,640 MW Sembcorp Gayatri Power Complex.
the wind and solar power assets in South India. "The idea is to have 5,000 MW power portfolio in India. So that will be the total investments we may make in the country," Nargund further said. Tang Kin Fei Sembcorp Group president and CEO, in his address earlier said the Group with its strong track record in both thermal and renewable energy sectors, will continue supporting India in meeting its energy requirements and in reaching its industrialisation and urbanisation goals. (Agencies)
Reserve Bank of India rigid on sole subsidiary for foreign banks New Delhi, Feb 28: The Reserve Bank of India is sticking by its proposal that foreign banks run their operations in India as a single wholly owned subsidiary (WoS), spurning a suggestion by overseas lenders that they be granted dual licenses. Large foreign banks, which have so far been operating under the branch licensing norms, had approached the banking regulator for separate licenses, one for a retail subsidiary and another for corporate banking under the branch route. However, the RBI is not keen on dual licensing and wants foreign banks to operate only under the WoS route, said people directly involved with the matter, who didn't wish to be named. The global financial crisis of
Reliance Retail commences entry-level LYF-4G mobiles Mumbai, Feb 28: Reliance Retail, a subsidiary of Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), has introduced an entry-level LYF-4G mobiles -- Flame 1 and Wind 6 -- priced at Rs 6,399 and Rs 7,099, respectively. The entry-level range from LYF devices is equipped with a cutting-edge technology such as VoLTE and VoWi-Fi, delivering a 4G experience on a VoLTE supporting network, Reliance Retail said in a statement. The handsets would offer HD quality voice and video calls, multiparty voice and video conferencing, Wi-Fi calling and high-speed Internet, among others. Both phones are equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon Chipset and 1GB RAM and come with a 5 megapixel (MP) front and rear camera with blink and smile detection. Reliance Retail on the occasion also announced a new online portal -www.mylyf.com -sharing information about the products available from the company. (Agencies)
2008 had prompted the central bank to tighten the rules that govern foreign banks in India. As a result, in 2013, RBI had released norms for setting up a wholly owned subsidiary for overseas lenders.
However, large foreign banks like Standard Chartered, Citibank and HSBC, have so far shown little interest in adopting the WoS route. The overseas lenders contend that converting to subsidiaries will affect their ability to find the resources to write big ticket loans since the units, unlike branches, won't be able to leverage their parent's balance sheet.
While the central bank had not made it mandatory for existing foreign banks to convert their Indian operations into a subsidiary, the regulator had expected voluntary adoption. This was because, the RBI had assured foreign banks that subsidiaries would be treated on par with local banks, in
terms of branch licensing.
given about 15-20 branch licences in a year.
Till now, only a few smaller lenders like DBS Bank and SBM Bank (Mauritius), have opted to convert their branches into a subsidiary.
While branch licensing for domestic banks has been liberalised allowing them to freely open branches subject to certain conditions, foreign banks collectively are
Also overseas lenders were promised stamp duty benefits and told they would be allowed to acquire local private banks, if they opted for the subsidiary route.
As a middle-path, the large foreign lenders had proposed a dual licence arrangement - one for retail banking operations under the subsidiary format and another for
Raghuram Rajan, RBI Governor (Photo: static.dnaindia)
branches to do wholesale banking, an executive from a foreign bank said on the condition of anonymity. But the central bank isn't enthused by the idea of dual licensing because they are not convinced that foreign banks will be serious about retail operations, where margins and business volumes are low, sources said. "They may not be focusing on retail business, which is essential to increase banking penetration in the country," said a person familiar with the matter. The wholly owned subsidiary route was proposed mainly for protecting local retail depositors. The RBI is of the view that local incorporation provides effective control to the regulators, according to the sources. (Agencies)
Rs.5,400-cr Jaypee deal pulled out by UltraTech Chennai, Feb 28: Kumar Mangalam Birlaled UltraTech has called off a Rs.5400-crore deal to buy Jaypee Group's 2.1 mtpa cement plant in Madhya Pradesh as new MMDR Act 2015 barred transfer of mines not allocated through auctions. UltraTech was forced to call off the deal after the Bombay High Court refused to approve the scheme of arrangement entered between UltraTech Cements and Jaiprakash Associates (JAL), for acquisition of entire cement business along with mining rights
situated at Bela and Siddhi in Madhya Pradesh. The court cited recent amendments in the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act of 1947, that prevented transfer of mines granted other than through auction. "Under the circumstances, it was decided to apply for the withdrawal of the scheme filed before the High Court, which was permitted by the High Court at the hearing held on 25 February 2016," according to a statement from UltraTech. "Since
the Regulatory approvals (including sanction of Hon'ble Bombay High Court) could not be received prior to the Long Stop Date, the Scheme stands revoked," according to a separate statement from JAL. The move comes when UltraTech is said to be in race to buyout Jaypee Group's 20 mtpa cement assets, valued at Rs.20,000 crore along with other buyers like private equity firm KKR & Co. Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd and Sajjan Jindal led JSW Group. Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar
Image for representational purpose (Photo: livemint) Mangalam Birla had told that UltraTech will maintain
its leadership position in India. (Agencies)
Ratan Tata spends in home rental startup NestAway Mumbai, Feb 28: Top industrialist and Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, Ratan Tata has invested an undisclosed amount in home rental company NestAway Technologies, a statement said. This is Tata's eighth personal investment in a startup in 2016 so far. He has invested in over 20 startups.
TATA EXPANSION Ratan Tata has invested an undisclosed amount in home rental company NestAway Technologies This is Tata's eighth personal investment in a startup in 2016 so far. NestAway turns unbranded, unfurnished houses into fully furnished and managed apartments and provides them at affordable prices to verified tenants. The startup has provided quality rental homes to about 5,000 tenants across six cities so far.
NestAway turns unbranded, unfurnished The company has raised over $13 million (Rs houses into fully fur- 89.35 crore) in capital in two rounds from marnished and managed quee investors.
apartments and provides them at affordable prices to verified tenants, said the statement by IDG Ventures India, which is an investor in the company. So far, the startup has provided quality rental homes to about 5,000 tenants across six cities. Until recently, NestAway counted working professionals who are single among its target audience, but now it has also forayed
into the family segment. NestAway was founded by Amarendra Sahu, Smruti Parida, Deepak Dhar and Jitendra Jagadev in January 2015. The company has raised over $13 million (Rs 89.35 crore) in capital in two rounds from marquee investors, including IDG Ventures India, Tiger Global, Flipkart and entrepreneur Naveen Tewari. (Agencies)
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Flipkart stake value slashed by Morgan Stanley
Image for representational purpose (Photo: flkcr) Mumbai, Feb 28: A mutual fund owned by Morgan Stanley has slashed the value of its holdings in India's biggest e-commerce firm Flipkart Ltd. by 27 per cent. The move comes at a time when India's booming start-up ecosystem has seen record fund flows in the past two years, raising concerns about valuations in the absence of visibility about profits. In
a filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund Trust said it valued its stake in Flipkart at $58.9 million as of December 31, down from $80.6 million in June 2015. This translated into per share value of Flipkart coming down to $103.97 as of December, from $142.24 a share in June 2015. (Agencies)
First-ever gold mine auction in India won by Vedanta Chhattisgarh, Feb 28: The first-ever auction of a gold mine in the country was recently held in Chhattisgarh. Vedanta Ltd won the auction for Baghmara (Sonakhan) gold mine with its highest bid of 12.55% of IBM (Indian Bureau of Mining) price of Rs 74,712 per troy ounce (1 troy ounce = 31.10 gram), official sources said. The production from the Baghmara mine can reduce the gold imports into the country, the state mines department officials said. This was the first time a composite license for gold mining was given in the country, officials added. The mine is situated in Balodabazaar-Bhatapara
district of Chhattisgarh, 130 km north-east of the state capital Raipur. In November last year Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta Resources had said the merger of its subsidiaries Vedanta Ltd and cashrich Cairn India will happen in June quarter of 2016 as against the first quarter stated previously. In June, Vedanta Ltd had announced absorbing oil firm Cairn India in a $2.3 billion all-share deal to create India's largest diversified natural resources firm. Earlier this month it was announced that Cairn India and Vedanta will be dropped from the National Stock Exchange's (NSE) Nifty 50 index with effect from April 1. (Agencies)
TAFE Motors reveals new engines, aims to double profit Chennai, Feb 28: TAFE Motors and Tractors Ltd. (TMTL), a subsidiary of Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd. (TAFE), has come out with indigenously-developed new medium and high horse power (HP) engines and gensets with a promise of 15 per cent lower total cost of ownership (TCO) compared to competition. The new series of engines and generators in the 82.5-125 kVA range, priced between Rs.5 and Rs.6 lakh, is expected to fill its gap in the engine market and help the company double the turnover of its engines business to Rs.1,000 crore in three years. "The new series of silent gensets and engines will position us strongly in the higher HP range and also provide us opportunity to serve the industrial segments. Besides, we will also have comprehensive range of engines to serve the emerging markets in Asia and Africa," Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman and CEO, TAFE said after unveiling the new range. The company has developed this new CPCB-II emission compliant engine series in technical collaboration with AVL of Austria. For the first time CRDI technology has
been used in its 125 KVA range. The introduction of new productscomes on the back of favourable growth outlook in the medium and high HP categories. The expected rise in per capita energy consumption and higher energy requirement in India is expected to spur strong demand for power back-up solutions. "With the new range, the company positions itself as a one stop solution provider for genset applications, especially for big builders," she said. The company claims leadership position in agro sector and a dominant position in telecom tower sector. It is also witnessing faster growth in retail and other segments. The company said that its strong after-sales support is also a key driver. "We have increased share in every segment during 2015-16," said Ms.Srinivasan. The company offers two distinct series of engines. It sells air-cooled engines in 5-45 kVA range under Eicher series and watercooled engines in 62.5125kVA range under TMTL range. The company's total engine sales are expected to increase to 80,000 units by 2018-19 from about 40,000-50,000 units now. (Agencies)
DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29
Features
PAGE 11
ENVIRONMENT Gharial- In danger of extinction Gavialis gangeticus, most commonly known as the gharial, the gavial, or the fish-eating crocodile, is a crocodilian of the family Gavialidae, native to the Indian Subcontinent. The global gharial population is estimated at fewer than 235 individuals, which are threatened by loss of riverine habitat, depletion of fish resources and use of fishing nets.
range. They inhabit foremost flowing rivers with high sand banks that they use for basking and building nests. They usually mate in the cold season. The young hatch before the onset of the monsoon. The gharial is one of three crocodilians native to India, the other two being the mugger crocodile and the saltwater crocodile
As the population has declined drastically in the past 70 years, the gharial is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. The gharial is one of the longest of all living crocodilians, measuring up to 6.25 m (20.5 ft). With 110 sharp interdigitated teeth in its long thin snout it is well adapted to catching fish, its main diet. The male has a distinctive boss at the end of the snout, which resembles an earthenware pot known as ghara. Gharials once inhabited all the major river systems of the Indian Subcontinent, from the Irrawaddy River in the east to the Indus Riverin the west. Their distribution is now limited to only 2% of their former
Status and conservation of Gharials Threats A population decline of 96-98% has occurred over a three-generation period since 1946, according to IUCN and the once-widespread population of an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 individuals has been reduced to a very small number of widely spaced subpopulations of fewer than 235 individuals. The drastic decline in the gharial population can be attributed to a variety of causes, including overhunting for skins and trophies, egg collection for consumption, killing for indigenous medicine and killing by fishermen. Hunting is no longer considered to be a significant threat. However, the wild
population of gharials has declined by about 58% between 1997 and 2006 because of the increasing intensity of fishing and the use of gill nets throughout most of the present gharial habitat, even in protected areas; the loss of riverine habitat to dams, barrages, irrigation canals, siltation, changes in river course, artificial embankments, sand-mining, riparian agriculture, and domestic and feral livestock. In December 2007, several gharials were found dead in the Chambal River. Initially, it was suspected that fishermen illegally had caught fish using nets, in which gharials became trapped and subsequently drowned. Later post mortem pathological testing of tissue samples from the dead gharials revealed high levels of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium, which together with stomach ulcers and protozoan parasites reported in most necropsies were thought to have caused their deaths. Status
The species is considered to be one of the most critically threatened of all crocodilians, and was alarmingly close to extinction in the 1970s. Fortunately, there has been some recovery, and a reasonable amount of hope lies with the conservation and management programs now in place. Full protection was granted in the 1970s in the hope of reducing poaching losses. There are now nine protected areas for this species in India alone. They are linked to both captive breeding and ranching operations where eggs collected from the wild are raised in captivity and then released back into the wild, much like some salmon and sea turtle management. But still, the total population, wild and captive, is estimated at under 1,000 animals. Plans for the future include surveys of areas where the status of the gharial in the wild is unknown; it is suspected to be very poor. Management and conservation programs cannot proceed without good data to back them up. Existing management programs
also need to be refined, especially where river systems are shared by more than one country. Although poorly equipped to devour a human, such ability has nevertheless been attributed to the gharial and indeed most crocodilians. Human remains and jewelry have been found in their stomachs, serving to validate this fear. These were most likely scavenged from corpses. The Hindi funeral ritual ends with the remains of the cremated body being sent down the river. Jewelry is possibly ingested in the same way that stones would be in order to be used as gastroliths, hard objects, which presumably aid in digestion and add weight to alter buoyancy. Conservation By 1976, the estimated total population of wild gharials had declined from what is thought to have been 5,000 to 10,000 in the 1940s to less than 200, a decline of about 96%. The Indian government subsequently accorded protection under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. In 1997, the total popu-
Gharial, an endangered species. (Photo: phys.img) lation was estimated at 436 adult gharials that had declined to 182. This drastic decline has happened within a period of nine years, well within the span of one generation, and qualifies the gharial for Critically Endangered listing by the IUCN. Estimates from population surveys carried out in 2007 indicated 200-300 breeding adults left in the world. Conservation programs have been undertaken in India and Nepal, based on the establishment of protected areas and re-
stocking these with animals born in captivity, but nowhere has restocking re-established viable populations. Juvenile gharials were released into largely inhospitable habitats in Indian and Nepali rivers and left to their fate. Reintroduction did not work so well, largely due to growing and uncontrolled anthropogenic pressures, including depletion of fish resources. Monitoring has not been consistently carried out, and little research on adaptation, migration and other key aspects has been con-
ducted. Project Crocodile began in 1975 under the auspices of the Government of India with the aid of the United Nations Development Fund and Food and Agriculture Organization. The project included an intensive captive breeding and rearing program intended to restock habitats with low numbers of gharials. Gharial eggs had been collected from wild and captive-breeding nests, and over 5,000 gharials reared to about a meter or more in length and released into the wild. (Agencies)
Blackbuck- Towards extinction Indian hog deer-The solitary animal The blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is an ungulate species of antelope native to the Indian subcontinent that has been classified as near threatened by IUCN since 2003, as its range has decreased sharply during the 20th century. The native population is stable, with an estimated 50,000 individuals.The blackbuck is the only living species of the genus Antilope. Its generic name stems from the Latin word antalopus, a horned animal. The specific name cervicapra is composed of the Latin words capra, she-goat and cervus, deer. . Blackbuck is considered to be the fastest animal in the world next to Cheetah. There is a fast decline in the population of Blackbucks throughout the country due to poaching and habitat loss. Threats During the last century, blackbuck range and
cially where they co-occur with Nilgai. Blackbucks are hunted for their flesh and skin. Occasional incidents of poaching still occur. The remaining populations are under threat from inbreeding. The natural habitat of the blackbuck is being encroached upon by local people who need arable land and grazing ground for their livestock. Exposure to livestock also exposes them to bovine diseases. Its protected status has gained publicity through a widely reported court case, in which one of India's leading film stars, Salman Khan, was sentenced to five years imprisonment for killing two blackbucks and several endangered chinkaras, in a protected area. The court case was prompted by intense protests from the Bishnoi ethnic group, which holds animals and trees sacred, and on whose
Blackbuck, an ungulate species (Photo: Wikimedia) Blackbucks can be seen in zoos. They are also found in open areas near Dindori, Madhya Pradesh, at Karopani Black Buck Conservation Area, which is located about 15 km from Dindori and also near Koppal in Koppal District about 15 km from its
Blackbuck, a type of antelope (Photo: phys.img) numbers have declined sharply due to excessive hunting. Increasing numbers of livestock and humans destroy blackbuck habitat. Some blackbucks are killed illegally espe-
land the hunting had taken place. Conservation In India, hunting of blackbucks is prohibited under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
headquarters. In Balaghat Lane, Kolar Gold Field blackbucks are found in unprotected area. Action suggested: To save the blackbucks,
government and forest department must estimate the remaining number of blackbucks in these un-protected areas and involve the villagers to protect them and prevent poaching. Government and forest department should also mark their habitat and secure it from further conversion into agriculture fields, commercial and residential land, cancel arms license of criminals/hunters and of those who have multiple arms on single license. In addition to this control and implement checks on the sale, purchase and manufacturing of 0.22 bore air guns, and strict action is need to be taken against hunters and poachers. Efforts should be taken for rehabilitation of tribes involved in poaching and provide them alternate livelihood, confiscate hunting tools from them and punish them whose are involved in repeated hunting cases. (Agencies)
The Indian hog deer (Hyelaphus porcinus) is a small deer whose habitat ranges from Pakistan, through northern India, to mainland Southeast Asia, which inhabits much of the IndoGangetic Plains of Pakistan, northern India, Nepal, Bangladesh, southwestern Yunnan Province in China, all the way to western Thailand. Introduced populations also exist in Australia, the United States and Sri Lanka. It gets its name from the hog-like manner in which it runs through the forests with its head hung low so that it can duck under obstacles instead of leaping over them like most other deer. Cover is taken as soon as it is feasible. During flight, the tail is held erect, showing the white underside. Habitat and Distribution Floodplains and wet grasslands in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains, from Pakistan to Cambodia. Hog deer tend to avoid forest and culti-
A solitary hog deer (Photo: clkrimg) vated areas. In India, the Hog Deer can be found in Karziranga, Manas and Corbett National Parks. The approximate range is depicted in the map below. Hog deer have been introduced to Australia (the southeast coast), the United States (Texas, Florida, and Hawaii), and Sri Lanka. Conservation Status Threats: Hunting (primarily for bushmeat), habitat loss due to settlement and agriculture and the subsequent fragmentation of populations. Hog
Hog deer, small but powerful (Photo: flkcr)
deer populations have experienced dramatic declines in the past few decades, and now survive only in isolated pockets of suitable habitat. Between 1991 and 2012, hog deer in Southeast Asia declined by over 90%, with central Cambodia holding the last remaining scattered populations. Kaziranga National Park (India) is one of the species' strongholds, with large population estimation. Interesting facts about Hog Deer 1. The term 'hog deer' is derived from this deer's habit of running through the forest with its head held low, ducking under obstacles in the manner of a wild pig, rather than leaping over them like most deer. 2. The hog deer is named so because it is powerfully built for its small size and has short legs like a hog. 3. Group Structure: The Hog Deer are solitary animals and not found in large herds. 4. They make a whistling sound when alarmed and
give a warning bark. 5. They have a habit of rushing through grass with their head down like a pig, rather than bounding or leaping over obstacles like other deer species. 6. Diet: Their diet consists of grass, leaves, young shoots, herbaceous plants and riverside vegetation. 7. Reproduction: After approximately 6 months the female gives birth to 1, rarely 2 young (calves). 8. Natural Predators: Leopards, wild dogs and crocodiles. 9. Lifespan: 20 years. 10. Mating period of Indian Hog deer falls during the months of autumn, usually September. The gestation period is of 8 months. When the mating period approaches, male deer gather in the open and indulge in antagonistic encounters. 11. At a particular point of time, a male fights over a single female only. Hog deer do not give mating calls like other deer. (Agencies)
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DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29
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Marine Cricket Club edge past Phoenix by 18 runs to register victory Sports Reporter Dibrugarh, Feb 28: Marine Cricket Club, Margherita defeated Phoenix Cricket Club, Sivasagar by a margin of 18 runs to register victory in today’s match of the 1st JKM trophy of excellence
knock from 50 balls with 6 hits to the fence. Pankaj Konwar made 24 from 33 balls with 3 boundaries. All rounder Daniel Thapa who eventually bagged the man of the match award for the all round show remained un-
18 runs short of their target. The team scored 146 losing all their wickets in 32.5 overs. Newar scored 66 from 83 balls with 7 boundaries and 1 hit over the fence. Utpal Saikia remained unbeaten on 15 facing 16 balls with one boundary. Rajpal Saikia too contributed 15. For Marine, medium pacers Javed Khan picked up 3 wickets for 36 runs while Daniel Thapa took 2 for 16. Rajat Khan and Bikram Bhowmick took 1 wicket each. Man of the match Daniel Thapa was awarded with a cash award of Rs. 1000/- along with a memento by Dr. Meenakshi Saikia, Co-ordinator, National Anti Doping Agency. There is no match tomorrow. Cricket Club of Dibrugarh – Blue will play against Jorhat Cricket Coaching Centre on Tuesday.
1st JKM trophy of excellence All Assam prize money cricket tournament which is underway at the Dibrugarh District Sports Association outdoor stadium, here. The tournament is organized by the Cricket Club of Dibrugarh in which 10 top teams of the state are participating. Winning the toss, Phoenix invited Marine to take first guard. Marine scored 164 losing 9 wickets in their 35 overs. Rajat Khan top scored with a 38 run
beaten on 25 facing 22 deliveries. His knock included 1 hit over the fence. Dhurbajyoti Dutta scored 19 facing 34 balls. For Phoenix, medium pacer Shyam Gurung picked up 3 wickets for 22 runs in his 7 overs spell, while Bharat Newar, Rajpal Saikia, Sunny Ahmed and Myundung Singpho shared a wicket each. In reply, Phoenix despite a half century knock from No. 3 batsman Bharat Newar fell
Ronaldo blasts Real teammates post Atletico drubbing
Cristiano Ronaldo ANI Melbourne, Feb.28 : Real Madrid star striker Cristiano Ronaldo has launched a blistering tirade on his teammates after his side suffered a 1-0 defeat to local rivals Atletico Madrid in their
La Liga clash at the Bernabeu. Reflecting on his team's performance, the Portuguese international claimed, "If we were all at my level, maybe we would be leaders." He subsequently downplayed
his comments saying that he was referring to his "physical level". Ronaldo also rued the absence of injured first choice players like Gareth Bale, Marcelo, Pepe and Karim Benzema, who trudged back to the pavilion at half-time with a hip problem. While maintaining that constant injuries to players are adversely affecting the team's chances in the league, Ronaldo insisted that it becomes harder to win games in the absence of the best players, news.com.au reported. Antoine Griezmann scored the decisive goal in the 53rd minute as Atletico strengthened their grip on second place in the Spanish league and stretched their lead over Real to four points.
Man United face Arsenal. Liverpool take on Man City in the League Cup final at Wembley. New Delhi, Feb 28 : Football fans are in for a treat as the Super Sunday show promises excitement and intensity in England's big domestic club matches is set to take place. In the Premier League, injury-hit Manchester United take on Arsenal in a gigantic clash at Old Trafford. Whereas, high flying Tottenham Hotspur face Swansea City at White Hart Lane to get off with the proceedings. United, who are a dismal sixth in the EPL, will look for a victory at home against Arsene Wenger's side to get back to fifth and close the gap on fourth-placed Manchester City. Third placed Arsenal
on the other hand, will want to keep the pressure on leaders Leicester City. United have clinched progression in both FA Cup and the Europa, to be unbeaten in two successive matches. But what will worry the fans is their dismal run in the Premier League.
glory in the League Cup finale to be held at Wembley in London. Both sides will want to get a hold of the season's first trophy in sight.
Arsenal meanwhile come from a heart-breaking 0-2 loss in the Champions League, Round of 16 first leg tie against Barcelona. A lot will be at stake for Arsene Wenger who will fancy a win against struggling United. Manchester City and Liverpool meanwhile, see themselves fighting for
Manuel Pellegrini, who is leaving City in the summer, will want to go on a high and therefore this trophy would be one bite on the cherry. For Jurgen Klopp the League Cup bears a significant meaning. This honour could be his first trophy in a debut season in England domestic plight.
Manchester United FC skipper Wayne Rooney to miss international friendlies, confirms Louis van Gaal New Delhi, Feb 28 : Manchester United skipper Wayne Rooney will miss England`s friendlies against Germany and the Netherlands next month due to his knee injury, said club manager louis van Gaal. According to a report Daily Star Sunday, LVG confirmed that the star forward will not be ready for the international friendlies. "No, he won`t be ready for England next month," said United manager Louis van Gaal. The England captain and record goalscorer Rooney, 30, damaged knee ligaments during United`s 2-1 defeat at Sunderland earlier this month in the Premier League. England will be playing world champions Germany in a friendly in Berlin on March 26,
before hosting Holland three days later as they build up to Euro 2016. Gaal also said that Rooney has a brace fitted now and is expected to be out for a crucial period of time. "Wayne has a brace fitted now and he has to wear it for two and a half weeks. After that we then have to look again.” The Dutchman went on to add that Rooney has to be ready for United and not England as a decisive phase comes in the EPL. "Now he`s resting and isn`t able to do any work yet. He has to be ready for us -- not the English team." United face Arsenal at Old Trafford in a Premier League encounter on Sunday.
Liverpool are eyeing an eighth League Cup trophy as City will vie for their fourth one.
Pitch not ideal for hitting practice ahead of WT20: Dhoni PTI Mirpur, Feb 28 : India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels that the 22-yard-strip at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium is certainly "not ideal" for the batsmen to try and practice attacking shots keeping the ICC World T20 in mind. "We thought it will be very good practice for T20 World Cup but in terms of hitting maybe it is not. But when it comes to reading the game and respecting conditions, it is good for us," Dhoni said after India defeated Pakistan in a lowscoring game where 15 wickets fell in 33 overs. "Whether it is good (advertisement) for T20 cricket is difficult one to answer with so much of bounce and movement.
In games over here, it has been very difficult to come out and play big shots. In one game, we scored 170 but it seemed like we would score 140, because of the firepower in our batting and few good overs, we managed, to reach 170. Otherwise all other games have been low-scoring ones, which is not good," Dhoni was frank in his assessment. Dhoni also agreed that scores like 80's and 100's are not what people come to see in a Twenty20 game. "You know people love T20 for the sixes and the fours and at the same time you don't want 80's and 100's to be scored. Low scoring should be 130135 and high scoring games could be anything between 200 and 240. But in a way
it is good for us (chasing 84), as we are a side that plays aggressive cricket. "In a way it pushes (forces) us to respect the conditions. In the coming games, our openers will not go with a set mindset like what happened in Australia. We knew the wickets were so good that we knew even if there is a bit of movement, you can play on the merit of the ball or the bounce which is not case over here," he said. He expressed happiness that Virat Kohli has time and again shouldered extra responsibility in pressure situations but refused to draw comparisons about whether the Delhi batsman was the best India has ever produced in crisis situations.
ICC Twenty20 World Cup Mushtaq rates `world-class` trophy is our goal, says Ashwin above Nathan Lyon Australia skipper Steve Smith
Steve Smith New Delhi, Feb 28 : One trophy that has eluded Australia's cabinet is the ICC Twenty20 World Cup and skipper Steve Smith has said that it is the side's goal to achieve that in the upcoming 2016 edition next month. "It's one that's alluded us, the T20 World Cup, and it would be great to win that trophy, that's our goal," Smith said. The 2016 ICC T20 World Cup will be held in India from March 8 and Smith feels although it will be a tough tour, the Aussies have the resources to go all the way. "It's going to be a tough tour in India, in conditions that are foreign to us. But it's really exciting and I think we've got the squad to give that tournament a real shake." Australia are the world champions in 50-overs cricket and also number one in the ICC Test world rankings. The T20Is is the next thing they want to target and reach the summit in order to get a hold in all fronts of the cricket field. Australia's next campaign ahead of the World Cup is the T20I series against South Africa. It is the ideal
preparation ahead of the mega March 8-April 3 tournament. Australia were drubbed by India 3-0 in the T20I series last month and Smith feels India will be tough opponents to beat on their home soil. "I think India in Indian conditions are going to be very tough to beat. They're a very good side as we saw out here in the three Twenty20s we played in Australia so I think they're going to be right up there." Australia are rich in resources and boast of a heavy batting line-up and will look at the players to deliver the goods. Smith said the side has some destructive options to choose from. "I'm not really sure of the make up of our top three or four yet, obviously, there are a lot guys who fill those positions. We've got three games to have a look at that before the World Cup. We've got some very destructive and talented batters up the top of the order that we can choose from." Australia get their World T20 campaign underway against New Zealand in Dharamsala on March 18.
ANI Melbourne, Feb.28 : Pakistan spin legend Saqlain Mushtaq has described Ravichandran Ashwin as a 'world-class bowler', insisting that the Indian premier spinner is way ahead of his contemporaries like Nathan Lyon of Australia and England's Moeen Ali. Ashwin, who has taken a staggering 176 wickets at an average of 25.39 in his 32 Tests, has established himself as India's spin spearhead lately. Mushtaq, who revolutionised the art of finger spin by developing the 'doosra' in the 1990s, observed that Ashwin has proved his talent at Test level while the other two still need to do a bit more in the longer format of the game.
Saqlain Mushtaq The former Pakistan spinner said that Ashwin was bowling superbly at the moment and that he has skills to trouble batsmen in both subcontinent as well as overseas conditions, news.com.au reported. Meanwhile, Ashwin's av-
erage has climbed to 36.66 in Tests while playing away from home. But, Mushtaq believes that it was natural to see the performance graph of a player go down slightly when playing in varying overseas conditions of England and Australia.
Real coach Zidane concedes title hopes post Atletico drubbing their lead over Real to four points.
Zinedine Zidane ANI Madrid, Feb.28 : Following a 1-0 loss to local rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday, Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has admitted that winning the La Liga title is beyond their reach but insisted
that his side will put their best foot forward in remaining games. Antoine Griezmann scored the decisive goal in the 53rd minute as Atletico strengthened their grip on second place in the Spanish league and stretched
The defeat also left Zidane's men nine points behind league leaders Barcelona. "Before you ask, the league is over," the Frenchman was quoted as saying by goal.com. "It was always difficult. I told the players yesterday that if we lose points it will be more difficult. "We are not going to throw the league away though, whatever happens." The former attacking midfielder expressed that he was not happy with his side's performance, adding that his immediate focus would be towards the next game.
Amir's fiery spell draws applause from cricket legends ANI Mirpur, Feb.28 : Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir, who produced a sensational performance in his side's five-wicket loss to fierce rivals India in Asia Cup on Saturday, has received rave reviews from the cricketing fraternity. Defending a paltry target of 84, Amir briefly raised his side's hopes of claiming an upset win over India after reducing
the opponents to 3-8 in the third over in Mirpur. The 23-year-old removed both Indian openers Rohit Sharma (0) and Ajinkya Rahane (0) in his first over with a brilliant inswinger before dismissing Suresh Raina (1). However, star batsman Virat Kohli remained calm under tense situation in his 49-run knock as he thwarted the opposition's fightback to help his side cross the
Mohammad Amir
victory target. "I actually congratulated him while he was bowling. I was so happy to play such an amazing spell. He is a world class bowler," Man-of-theMatch Kohli said of Amir's stunning bowling spell. Meanwhile, former greats Wasim Akram and VVS Laxman also lavished praise on the left-armer, who returned to cricket earlier this year after serving a
lengthy ban for spot-fixing. "What a spell from Amir. What a game!!This is unreal cricket #IndvsPak," former Pakistan pace spearhead Akram wrote on Twitter. "Thoroughly enjoyed watching Mohd.Amir bowl tonight. It was a great sight to see him swing the ball at 145150kph. Gr8 talent #AsiaCupT20," legendary Indian batsman Laxman said.
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