Aug 28, 2015

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Vol. 1

Issue 86

Price -

Dibrugarh, Friday, August 28, 2015

5.00

Every Thursday & Sunday

Pages- 12

CM Tuki reviews disaster management Assam CM discusses preparedness in Arunachal Pradesh Naga Peace Accord ○

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ET CAPSULES

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infringes upon the constitutional boundary of Assam.

“Government of Assam has formally conveyed its protests that the Accord should not in any way harm Assam’s interest. Extension of the boundary beyond Nagaland frontier would not be tolerated under any circumstances,” he added.

In this context, Singh assured Gogoi that there is no such development taking place and that the Central Government would take the State into confidence on any matters relating to the Naga Peace Accord.

Commissioner and Secretary, Home and Political, LS Changsan was also present during the discussion.

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Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh at his North Block Office in New Delhi and discussed about pertinent matters relating to the Naga Peace Accord. In his discussions, Chief Minister Gogoi told Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh that though the Government of Assam has welcomed the Naga Peace Accord as it would bring about peace in Nagaland and the North East as a whole, it would oppose tooth and nail if the Accord ○

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'Take all NPGs on board': Naga legislators tell NSCN (IM) ET Bureau Dimapur, Aug 27

Legislators of Nagaland Legislative Assembly today endorsed the 'Framework Agreement' signed between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) for finding a permanent solution for the Indo-Naga political problem.

The legislators urged the NSCN(IM) leadership to take Contd. on Page 3 ○

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Deopani MicroHydel Phase I, II go power off

ET Correspondent New Delhi, Aug 27

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with Rajnath Singh

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File picture of landslide which occured in Changlang dist recently.

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Concerned over continuous rains for the last couple of days in Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Nabam Tuki today reviewed the preparedness with officers of the disaster management department here.

Secretary, Disaster Management, Khapa Kholie and Director D M Yeshi Wangmu Ringu were present during the meeting, an official release said. Directions were issued to the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and other senior offi-

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cials to be extra vigilant and provide immediate relief assistance to the victims in need.

They were asked to be proactive in the preparedness and response measures so that there was no loss of any human lives and minimal damages in case of any eventuality, the release said. The Chief Minister called upon all citizens to remain alert and cooperate with the administration so that there was no loss of life and property due to floods and landslides. Tuki also wrote to the Union Minister of Home about the damages suffered by the state and sought assistance, the release added.

ET Correspondent Itanagar, Aug 27

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Sriharikota, Aug 27: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) today launched its twenty-fifth home-made communications satellite in space using the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) that uses an Indian made cryogenic engine being tested for the third time.

The heavyweight Indian rocket weighs 416 tonnes and is nearly 50 meters tall.

The GSLV rocket is being powered using an Indian made cryogenic engine.

Dubbed the 'naughty boy' this rocket has had a patchy record with less than half the flights being successful.

Kiran Kumar, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said "GSAT-6 carries one of the largest antennas we have built a 6 meter diameter antenna, the prime purpose is to make sure that communication can happen with smaller and smaller hand held devices whether it is for data, video or voice.

The users for this will be the strategic sector as it gives a tremendous opportunity for using very small handheld devices in the remotest places." In 2013, India had launched a dedicated communications satellite for the Indian Navy.

The 2,117 kg Indian-made satellite carries a very special giant antennae which will open up in space like an umbrella. The large antennae will help India's strategic forces to communicate with each other on secure lines using special small hand held devices. A capability most needed in today's modern network centric warfare. (Agencies)

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ISRO's Big Launch: Military Communications Satellite GSAT-6

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Murdered Sheena Bora's brother says he knows why their mother committed the crime

Roing, Aug 27

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In a major boost for police investigating Sheena Bora’s murder, brother Mikhail Bora ○

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the the her has ○

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A relative bids farewell to his relative as he leaves for Haj from Jorhat today.

Pic - Nekib Ahmed

3 poachers gunned down in Kaziranga Bijoy Shankar Handique Jorhat, Aug 27

Kaziranga National Park security forces acting on a tip off gunned down three poachers in a fierce encounter at Kanchanjuri camp area under Burapahar beat under Burapahar range of the KNP last night, informed Mahendra Dawara, KNP conservator forest here today. The conserva-

tor said, the operation was carried out after getting specific information about a five-member poacher gang entering from Karbi Anglong side into the Burapahar range towards the Kanchanjuri area, the most highly Rhino concentrated belt out of the four KNP ranges viz, Burapahar, Bagori, Kohora and Agarotoli. Accordingly security foreces were kept on alert including police and CRPF and Mizo regiment. The

poachers at first started firing at the security forces who were more in number, but were scattered all over the area, making it difficult for the poachers to locate them. Continual gunshots for over three hours led to the killing of three out of five; the other two managed to escape by taking advantage of darkness. A number of live cartridges of 3-knot 3 rifle,

Initially it was controversial, but finally the Gauhati High Court has allowed sale of sub-1,500 kg cars which meet the crash test and emissions norms laid down by the Government. This decision reverses the court’s earlier order to stop registration and sale of 140 different models from different car manufacturers. This decision comes as a huge relief for the auto manufacturers affected by the court's earlier ruling as they struggle to grow in a crowded market. Assam is the largest northeast market of the country recording almost 5,000 sales per month, which came to a rumbling stop after the court's previous order. The next court hearing in the case is scheduled on Thursday. Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) filed a petition challenging the decision taken by Assam state transport department which led to a ban on registration and sales of cars like Swift, Alto, i10, EON and Jazz.

Contd. on Page 4

Contd. on Page 4

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Complaining that NHPC has been secretly constructing the infrastructure of the Lower Subonsiri Hydro-Electric Project at Gerukamukh of Dhemaji District, the Lakhimpur District body of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad today burnt the dummy of NHPC. The organization executed this protest programme against the big dam lobby in front of the Lakhimpur DC Office at around 1.30 pm.

The organization pronounced slogans such as ‘NHPC Go Back’, ‘Stop Constructing Big Dam,’ etc. while executing the protest programme.

Muzaffargarh in Pakistan, also known as Sajjad and Abu Ubedullah. Four of his companions have been killed in a 20-hour long encounter Contd. on Page 4

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ET Correspondent Lakhimpur, Aug 27

Doomdooma, Aug 27: Beesakopie T.E. of Macleod Russel India Ltd., Doomdooma, has issued notice to all its residential quarter holders to sell or remove the pigs from the lines/quarters within four days. "Pigs are the main cause of Japanese encephalitis and other serious diseases," said Bansi Tanti, the line chowkidar. It may be mentioned that many a people has died due to this deadly disease. (Correspondent)

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AJYCP burns NHPC dummy for allegedly continuing to construct Lower Subonsiri

Pig rearing banned

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ET Correspondent Guwahati, Aug 27

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current fourth wave of flood has affected 19 districts, the worst being Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Barpeta and Goalpara.

“Around 8.5 lakh people of more than 1400 villages had to bear the brunt of flood. We had to set up nearly 300 relief camps for about 2 lakh people evacuated from the flood affected villages.

Contd. on Page 4

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Gauhati HC allows sale of sub1,500 kg cars

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A second Pakistani terrorist was caught in Jammu and Kashmir today, less than a

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The Government of Assam has sought Rs.500 crore as immediate financial assistance to meet the challenges of relief, rehabilitation and restoration of communication caused by floods and erosion in the State. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi met Union Home

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month after the capture of Mohammad Naveed, who has given Indian investigators vital information. The terrorist has been identified as 22-yearold Javed Ahmed from

Agencies Baramulla, Aug 27

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Minister Rajnath Singh at his North Block office in New Delhi and made a plea for immediate financial assistance for Rs.500 crore to Assam for carrying out relief, rehabilitation and restoration of communication. Giving a detailed account of the substantial damages caused by floods to human lives, cattle, crops, infrastructure and other properties, Chief Minister Gogoi said the

ET Correspondent Guwahati, Aug 27

Morigaon, Aug 27: Acting on a tip off, Morigaon Border Police today arrested two illegal Bangladeshi foreigners at Mikirbheta village. Police source said that the duo was detected and declared as foreigners by the Morigaon District Foreigners Tribunal. They were sent to Foreigners' Detention Camp, Goalpara, informed Morigaon district police source. The foreigners were identified as Nantu Dey and Mantu Dey who migrated to Assam after 1971. (Dalim Phukan)

to the media," Sheena's brother Mikhail Bora told the media. Asked about the motive behind the murder, he said, "I am sorry, I will not tell it to you now. I will wait till she (Indrani Mukerjea) confesses it in front of police.

Contd. on Page 3

Second Pakistani Terrorist Caught After Encounter in North Kashmir

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Assam govt seeks INR 500 cr immediate financial assistance to meet flood and erosion challenges

2 illegal Bangladeshi nationals arrested

claimed that he knew the "exact reason" for the crime by their mother but will do the needful only if she does not confess it to the police. "I believe that our mother killed my sister. I know the exact reason of the murder and it is not the ones that are being told

ET Correspondent Guwahati, Aug 27

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The Deopani Micro-Hydel Phase I & Phase II of Roing township went power off since August 23 last due to diversion of Eze river water at the Weir/Diversion Point which was triggered by heavy rainfall.

Er AL Yadav, AE Hydropower (M) informed that the Deopani Micro-Hydel both Phase I & Phase II with the capacity of producing 750 KW (250 KW x 3) went off on August 23 last. He informed that major accumulation of sand and stones have been found in the Weir Point due to which

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river water has been diverted.

Major siltation of power channel with sands and coarse gravels has also been made.

He also informed that the power channel is in danger of collapsing at one point due to landslide underneath the channel caused by the erosion of river water. The departmental labour has been put into work from today onwards to clear the siltation in the power channel and also efforts are also being made to restore the power channel. However, restoration work may take time depending on the weather condition as the water current is too high and there is limited labour available with the department, he added. (DIPRO)

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Oil stabilised after China's central bank moved to support the country's economy, but prices stayed near 6-1/2-year lows as a heavy supply glut

Historic deal between JCILPS and the Govt. finally inked down

Pakistan contacts UN over cancellation of NSA-level talks

After 'Black Monday,' Structural Reform in China?

The fourth round meeting held between the State Government and JCILPS yesterday which dragged on past midnight

Pakistan has informed the UN about the last-minute cancellation of the NSAlevel talks with India to

The Chinese government is hard at work to bring an end to the volatility that has been plaguing the country's stock

BUSINESS

REGION

NEIGHBOURS

EDITORIAL

kept the market outlook bearish. "Oil is catching its breath a bit and seeing if markets have been oversold or not," Capital Economics commodities economist Thomas Pugh said.

Brent was up 20 cents at $43.41 a barrel intra-day

signed a 10-point agreement, the foremost being introduction of three Bills in the State Assembly. The three Bills which would be introduced and passed in the Manipur Legislative Assembly are the Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill 2015

take the international community into confidence over the Kashmir issue and the situation at the LoC. Immediately after cancellation of the meeting between the National Security Advisors of the two countries

market this week, sending shock-waves through global markets. After the Shanghai Stock Exchange fell by 8.49 percent on Monday, suffering its worse losses in 8 years, the country's central bank sprung into action.

Oil prices stabilise globally

cmyk

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Coal India Limited faced with major human resource crisis Kanpur, Aug 27

As it plans to double its output, Coal India Limited is faced with a major human resource crisis, a recent organisation-wide study has revealed.

Contd. on Page 4

SHRINKING MANPOWER Findings of trust index study reveal that the trust index of CIL is significantly below the average trust index of the top 50 companies in India.

Ø CIL has already been confronting an attrition rate of about 11%, which may go up due to the opening of mining sector and increased economic activities in the country.

Ø Coal India is faced with superannuation of about 750 middle and senior management personnel every year, which is leading to draining of years of knowledge base.

cmyk

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PAGE 2

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, AUGUST 28

Margherita's Taufiq Khan lays into Himanta Biswa Sarma for leaving Congress ET Correspondent Margherita, Aug 27: In the wake of Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, Jalukbari constiuency MLA declaring that he will join the saffron party BJP, the ruling Congress party in

Bengaluru, Aug 27: In an apparent reaction to its drivers resisting long rides, leading to frequent clashes with customers, Uber has doubled the fares for rides more than 15 km. Beginning this week, the fare for every kilometer beyond 15 km will be Rs 14 for UberGo and Rs 16 for UberX. Up to 15 km, the fare remains Rs 7 for UberGo and Rs 8 for UberX. The base fares, minimum fares and the time rate remain as they are.

Uber said the price change is to compensate drivers for long-distance trips. Drivers are incentivized to do more than a certain number of trips a day; long-distance trips make it difficult for them to meet these requirements. To make cabs easily available, aggregators have been giving incentives to drivers to raise the number of trips. But this has resulted in a spate of unpleasant incidents in recent times when passengers have booked long-distance rides.

Many drivers have even learnt to manipulate the system in their desire to meet their daily targets. They ask

passengers to break up the trip into two legs. They end the trip mid-way, and then ask the passengers to book another trip from that point.

"Drivers are even willing to give you Rs 50 if you do that," said one frequent user who did not want to be named. In June, an Uber driver in Bengaluru verbally abused a woman passenger who was travelling with her five-year-old daughter from Electronics City to Kengeri. He allegedly misbehaved with her. On reaching the destination, he also abused her mother.

Uber suspended the driver pending investigation.

More recently, a Bengaluru couple who hailed a cab were allegedly abused and attacked by an Uber driver following an altercation over the drop-off point.

They wanted the cab to go from Koramangala to Bellandur, and then to Hebbal. Uber said that even with the new fares, the cab service will remain cheaper than most alternatives.

(Agencies)

Smart cities will give quality, decent life to citizens: Venkaiah Naidu ANI New Delhi, Aug 27: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday said that smart cities will enable a clean environment and provide smart solutions to problems. "Smart cities will have the core infrastructure and will give a quality and decent life to citizens. It will enable a clean environment and provide smart solutions to problems," he told the media here. Naidu, who announced the list of smart cities, said the prime motive of smart city is to enhance urban life. "The

Law College documents seized ET Correspondent Golaghat, Aug 27: A team of Golaghat police today entered the Golaghat Law College premises and seized documents and files. There has been continuous protests against the Principal of Golaghat Law College.

The students' union has made allegations against the Principal of financial misappropriation and scams. However, the governing body of the college has been ignoring them.

On 12 August, a law student named Hemanta Saikia on behalf of the students union lodged an FIR at Golaght Sadar PS against the Principal PK Sahu. In response to the FIR, today, Golaghat police went into the college premises and seized documents and files relating to finance and accounts. The law students today again protested against the principal by boycotting classes and demanded proper investigation into the whole matter.

mission is very practical and realistic. We need public's participation.

Smart cities need smart people, we need people's co-operation to move forward in our mission," he added. The capital cities, which have not been nominated as smart cities, include Itanagar, Patna, Shimla, Bengaluru and Kolkata. 13 cities from Uttar Pradesh, 12 from Tamil Nadu, 10 from Maharashtra, seven from Madhya Pradesh, three each from Bihar and Andhra Pradesh have been included in smart cities.

Himanta Biswa Sarma for leaving the Congress party. Taufiq Khan said that Dr Himanta BIswa Sarma is a "political oppurtunist, a selfish person and also a treacherous Person". It was the

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

Villagers busy constructing foot bridge after the first wave, as their paddy gives hope for production.

Pic - Bijoy Handique

Uber doubles fares for rides more than 15 km

Assam has been ever since boiling over. Mr Taufiq Khan, Secretary of Margherita Block Congress Committee and Chairman of Margherita Sub Divisional Minority Board, criticized Dr

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

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

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

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

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

G M Hospital

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

AMC Road, Jalan Nagar Dibrugarh - 786 005

Archana Trauma & Orthopaedics Hospital

Brahmaputra Diagnostics & Hospital

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

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

Assam Medical College

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

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

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

Sanjivani Diagnostic & Hospital

Dr. Pawan Bajaj's Skin Clinic

Aastha Hospital

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

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

Rahul Gandhi and Assam Chief Minister Mr Tarun Gogoi, said Taufiq Khan. Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has no political ideology and that is why he is moving from one politi-

cal party to another, said Taufiq Khan. Congress party is a big political party and it will not be hampered by such type of "political opportunists", Taufiq Khan further said.

ASTRO FOR YOU Some exciting times are in store for you. You are likely to meet some people today who will prove to be assets in the future. You apply yourself to perfection in work, and in your thinking. Towards that end, you will have to remain practical.

Today might be a day of untying and getting out of the tangles. You may take the blame for the actions of another. Things may get frustrating around the afternoon and your confidence levels may stoop. Work on your strength and work out your weaknesses.

You will meet all kinds of people in matters related to work. You will need to understand their demands and needs and will have to strive to fulfill them.

Your courteous nature will endear you to people. You will receive praise for your intelligence as well.

Today, you and your soul mate will be rolling in the hay; there will be little time or inclination to do anything else. In fact, you will show such single-minded devotion to the act of rolling as if the future of the world lies in the haystack.

Your mind can think of nothing more, and nothing less. The best part is your resilience and your ability to spring back into action when everybody else thinks you are down and out. The best thing for today is to deal with one issue at a time.

You may experience some tension trying to stay ahead of your busy schedule.

You will need to maintain your mental and physical health. Important meetings will conclude succesfully, but they may leave you fatigued at the end of the day.

You will find your banal day-to-day routine work to be very irritating today.

Avoid the tendency to exaggerate things out of proportion. You will not, however, let anything impact on your enthusiasm to work. You will do something novel to win the appreciation of people.

Your uniqueness will be the focus of attention and praise today. Your undertaking of various tough tasks and completing them today will showcase your business acumen. You will show your inclination to the finer arts like music and dance. Those of you who may have thoughts about doing varied things maybe able to put those thoughts into actions today.

You may be confronted with vital decisions at work. You will need to trust the opinions of your close friends and peers so that you may take informed decisions. Keep your mind away from negative thoughts and delegate responsibilities accordingly. Favourable returns will come from appointing the best possible person for the job.

It is not your nature to warm the bench, but you will wake up feeling lazy and laid-back today. This may be due to the fatigue of some recent endeavours. For a change, you will try and delegate your work and responsibility to those around you. Make sure that they you do so wisely as they may not live up to your standards.

For you everything is fair in love and war, and you utilise every possible means to achieve your targets. You have a strong sixth sense and it will direct you while making the right decisions. You are a soft hearted person and it makes you sad to see others in sadness and trouble. Instinctively, you will help those in need.

Expect the unexpected today! Success, money, love, whatever it is that you’d lost hope of will suddenly come your way! In the evening, you may catch up with reading, research, discussion or other such activity.

Today is a day of mixed fortunes. So, while you may not win a gazillion dollars in the daily lottery, you might just end up winning a return air ticket to Timbuktu.

No one has really been there, but it is better than nothing. However, the distress of those lost dollars is likely to be eased by the ecstasy awaiting you in the evening.

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

Congress ruling Government in Assam that had given Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma the cabinet ministry and now he has been giving controversial comments against Congress Vice President Mr

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

Phone No.-03732325456 E-mail -dibrugarh@air.org.in Facebook Page-All India Radio Dibrugarh Programme Highlights 28-8-15 (FRIDAY)

5-35 A.M-Bhaktigeeti 6-30 A.M-Bidyarthir Anusthan (Students' Broadcast) 6-50 A.M-Zikir 7-15 A.M-Aajir Dinto (Morning Information Service) 7-30 A.M-Geetanjali(Assamese Modern Song) 8-35 A.M-Surar Panchoi(Composite Programme of Assamese Film Songs) 9-05 A.M- Antara(Composite Programme of Hindi Film Songs) 12-05 P.M-Live Phone-In Surar Satsori 1-10 P.M-Troops Programme 2-30 P.M-Western Music Programme 3-30 P.M-Deuri Geet by Ranjana Deuri and Party 3-45 P.M-Programme in Miju Mishimi 4-05 P.M-Programme in Khamti 4-25 P.M-Programme in Wancho 4-45 P.M-News for Arunachal Pradesh 5-00 P.M-Programme in Idu 5-20 P.M-Programme in Tangsa 5-40 P.M-Programme in Nocte 7-15 P.M-Chah-Shramikar Aasor (Tea-Garden Programme) 8-00 P.M-Jeewanar Deegh-Bani (Radio Autobiography)-Interview with Dr. Amalendu Guha, Eminent Social Scientist. Interviewer-Dr. Akhil Ranjan Dutta 9-30 P.M-North East Collage Sd-/H.O.P

PAGE 3

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, AUGUST 28

Governor extends Onam greetings ET Correspondent Itanagar, Aug 27: The Governor of Arunachal Pradesh Shri JP Rajkhowa has extended his warm greetings and good wishes to the people of the State on the auspicious occasion of Onam.

He expressed hope that the celebration of the festival would help in fostering unity, harmony and fellow feeling among various communities, also reaffirmed the pride in the composite culture of India. May the festival usher in peace, prosperity and well being of all residents of Arunachal Pradesh, the Governor wished.

Purple potatoes can terminate colon cancer cells Washington D.C., Aug 27 : In a breakthrough discovery, researchers claim that purple potatoes can prevent the spread of colon cancer and terminate its stem cells. According to Jairam K.P. Vanamala of the Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, attacking stem cells was an effective way to counter cancer. In the study, the researchers found that the baked potato extract suppressed the spread of colon cancer stem cells while increasing their deaths. Researchers then tested the effect of whole baked purple potatoes on mice with colon cancer and found similar results. The portion size for a human would be about the same as eating a medium size purplefleshed potato for lunch and dinner, or one large purple-fleshed potato per day. According to the researchers, there might be several substances in purple potatoes that work simultaneously on multiple pathways to help kill the colon cancer stem cells, including anthocyanins and chlorogenic acid, and resistant starch.Vanamala said that the butyric acid regulated immune function in the gut, suppressed chronic inflammation and might also help to cause cancer cells to self-destruct. He suggested that purple potatoes could be potentially used in both primary and secondary prevention strategies for cancer. The study is published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.

(ANI)

BAC lists tentative schedule of Manipur Legislative Assembly emergency sitting, AMSU reiterates demand for introduction of ILPS David Mayum Imphal, Aug 27: A sitting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) held today has listed the tentative schedule of the emergency sitting of the eleven sessions (part III) of the Tenth Manipur Legislative Assembly. The emergency sitting will be held for two days, that is on August 28 and August 31. On the first sitting, three government Bills - The Protection of Manipur Peoples’ Bill, 2015 (Bill No. 16 of 2015), the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reformed (Seventh amendment) Bill, 2015 (Bill No. 17 of 2015) and the Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second amendment) Bill, 2015 (Bill No. 18 of 2015).

There will be no sitting on August 29 and 30. The last and second sitting will be held on August 31, on the day the three Bills which would be introduced on the first day would be considered and passed by the

House. It may be mentioned that the State Government has been compelled to call the second emergency sitting for passing of the three Bills after pressure from the people of the State. Mention may also be made that the dead body of Sapam Robinhood who was killed in police firing during the mass agitation demanding introduction of ILPS on July 8 still remains at JNIMS morgue as the family and JAC continue to refuse to accept the body until ILPS is implemented in the State. The JAC however had earlier stated that they would accept the dead body after the passing of the bill.

Meanwhile, the All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) today reiterated the demand for introduction of the Inner Line Permit System in the state on the 50th Hunger Marchers’ Day observance held at Pishum Ching in Imphal.

On the occasion fitting trib-

utes were paid to the portrait of Oinam Nabakumar, Pramodini Devi, Laishram Chaobhan Singh, and Waikhom Nillamani Singh who had given their life during the mass uprising of 1965 on this day. A rally taken out as part of the observance called for introduction of Inner Line Permit System in the state.

Banner and placards demanding immediate implementation of the Inner Line Permit System were carried during the rally. Former presidents and other office bearers of AMSU and incumbent president of AMSU including students from different parts of the state joined the rally after paying floral tribute to the martyrs at Pishum Chinga.

Other slogans demanding punishment of the police personnel involved in the killing of Sapam Robinhood and assurance to keep intact the present political boundary of the state were also raised during the rally.

Awareness campaign and meeting on POSCO, NCPCR, HIV/AIDS Khonsa, Aug 27: A twoday awareness campaign and meeting on ‘protection of children from sexual offences’, ‘national commission for protection of child rights,’ HIV/AIDS, ‘disaster management’ and girls’ education kicks off today at Khonsa under the aegis of the SSA district mission.

Speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function, Tirap DMO Dr. N. Lowang, while dwelling at length on HIV/AIDS, told the huge gathering that AIDS was not a disease in itself but a syndrome showing a combination of many diseases. She told the participants on how the HIV/ AIDS spread from one person to another adding that precaution was the only cure for HIV/AIDS and asked the students to create awareness. The chief guest asked the students to be aware of their rights and urged them to be always alert and cautious and told them to desist from keeping multiple partners that may potentially endanger their lives adding that discipline and caution could save them from many problems. The DMO told the

Nagaland forest officer honoured ET Bureau Dimapur, Aug 27: Nagaland's Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force (PCCF & HoFF), M Lokeswara Rao, on Wednesday received the first Tigerland India Biodiversity Conservation Award.

Legendary Bollywood actress Waheeda Rehman handed over the award to Rao, an Indian Forest Service officer, during the Tigerland India Film Festival (TIFF) at Bhopal.

The award carries a memento, a certificate and Rs 25,000 in cash, a release by Nagaland Conservator of Forests (Publicity & Advertisement), Temjenyabang Jamir said. Tigerland India Film Festival (TIFF) is an initiative to promote wildlife conservation and raise awareness through visual media.

TIFF Director Abhinandan Shukla said the work of Nagaland Forest Department under the leadership of Rao for conservation of Amur Falcon has been ac-

knowledged and appreciated by national and international media. He said conservation of Amur Falcon by the state forest department in coordination with the authorities of Pangti village has been a great success-story in the field of wildlife conservation.

TIFF acknowledged that the Satellite Tagging of Amurc Falcon, a move that earned laurels from scientific community from the country and abroad as it has enabled the world to trace

the migration route of falcons. Accepting the award, Rao said all credit for the conservation effort of Amur Falcon goes to communities of Doyang area especially Pangti village in Wokha district and to different NGOs and the forest department.

The real heroes in this are the communities who have sacrificed their livelihood for conservation of Amur Falcon, Rao said, adding that he is donating the award money to Pangti village communities.

‘Saumarjyoti’ on the rise in Lakhimpur ET Correspondent Lakhimpur, Aug 27: “There numerous promising writers in Lakhimpur and the other Districts of Assam. They have got no exposure in terms of establishing themselves in the literary field. I hope ‘Saumarjyoti’ will enable them to hog the limelight and create a new literary era in the state,” said Hemendra Kumar Gogoi at the release of the initial issue of ‘Saumarjyoti’ which will be terminally published from Lakhimpur.

It is to be noted that, Dulen Gas Agency, an established Commercial Institute of Lakhimpur has taken a solemn venture to publish ‘Saumarjyoti’, a terminal magazine covering literature, culture, sports, etc. in order to usher in a positive outlook of the future. On this occasion, the release

Story-teller Hemendra Kumar Gogoi releases initial issue ceremony of the initial issue of the magazine was held in the premises of Modern School at D.K. Road of North Lakhimpur.

The meeting of the programme was chaired by Bishwa Baruah, the former President In-charge of Asom Sahitya Sabha and anchored by Jiten Baruah the Associate Editor of the magazine. Releasing the magazine, Hemendra Kumar Gogoi, the storyteller cum former Principal of North Lakhimpur College delivered a lecture highlighting the literary movement of the state with special reference to Lakhimpur.

Uday Sankar Hazarika, the

students to take the awareness meeting with a degree of great seriousness and learn the nuances and intricacies of saving themselves from the dreaded HIV/AIDS. She further told the participants to visit ICTC at district hospital, Khonsa and CHC, Deomali to get themselves tested for HIV/AIDS. In his speech ASP S. Singpho eloquently spoke on do’s and don’t’s during disasters like earthquake and fire accident and urged the students and all

the people to take training so that they become wellversed with the emergency situations during any catastrophe. He assured all help and support from Police department for training and other logistic support. Earlier, DDSE P. Lombi in his address highlighted the significance of the two-day awarenesscum-meeting and exhorted the participants including teachers, students, school managing committee members, NGOs and pub-

lic to take the awareness campaigns seriously. He thanked the resource persons for sparing their valuable time to conduct the awareness campaign. During the meeting, pamphlets on disaster management, narcotics control bureau and HIV/AIDS were handed out. The resource persons for the two-day programme are DDMO P. Duggong, Dr. P. Rakshit, SMO, Advocate Gulley Sumnyan and Ms Lowang, law student. (DIPRO)

'Take all NPGs on board': Naga legislators tell NSCN (IM) Contd. from Page 1

all Naga nationalist groups on board while reaching the final settlement with the Government of India. A day after the NSCN (IM) held consultative meeting with the mass-based Naga civil societies, affirming to ceaselessly strive and work for restorative unity in the spirit of forgiveness and oneness, the group led by its general secretary, Th Muivah today held consultation with the Naga legislators, including the two MPs. Though the details of the marathon 4-hour meeting was not made known, sources informed that the legislators unani-

mously endorsed the August 3 "Framework Agreement" and resolved to work towards finding a peaceful solution to the Indo-Naga problem. According to sources, Th Muivah deliberated on the past consultation and agreements signed with the Government of India, leading to the 'Framework Agreement' on August 3 last.

Disclosing some of the contents of the 'Framework Agreement' during the meeting, Muivah told the legislators that both NSCN (IM) and GoI has worked upon "Pan-Naga Hoho" which would have executive, legislative and financial powers in all Naga inhabited areas.

Clarifying issues raised

by the Legislators and MPs on the integration issue, Muivah told them about the "Pan-Naga Hoho" worked out in the 'framework agreement'.

He also mentioned that the issue of integration and sovereignty has not been left out in the discussion.

The NSCN (IM) general secretary also clarified issues raised by some legislators on the reconciliation of all Naga Political Groups. According to sources, Muivah had said that he is open to reconciliation, but in the recent past, due to certain issues difference arose between the groups. He, however, said reconciliation should be done with clean heart.

Murdered Sheena Bora's brother says he knows why their mother committed the crime Contd. from Page 1

proprietor of the commercial institute has taken the responsibility of being the editor of the magazine.

Educationists and intellectuals like Chandeswar Duwarah, Rukma Gohain Baruah, Nripen Phukan, Rekha Phukan, Dr. Arorendra Gogoi,

Dipanjali Dutta, Ajit Burhagohain along with a host of prominent personalities of Lakhimpur were present at the programme and all of them appreciated the noble deed of publishing the magazine by the commercial institute like Dulen Gas Agency.

If she does not, then I will do whatever is necessary."

Bora said Sheena was his own sister and "it is shocking that our own mother introduced her daughter as her sister. That means she was telling lies from the beginning."

Indrani had taken Sheena along with her to Mumbai for higher studies and

admitted her at St Xavier's College. Later, Sheena had joined a corporate house as an employee. "I did not know that my sister was no more till this news came in.

When she disappeared in 2012, mother used to tell me that Sheena had gone to USA for higher studies.

Even when she (Indrani) visited Guwahati in 2013, she told us that Sheena was fine and is in the US," Mikhail said. Indrani left

her two children with her parents here and settled outside Assam after her first marriage. Mikhail said they met their mother only around 12 years back when Indrani had visited Guwahati. Meanwhile Mumbai police which is investigating the case have arrived at Guwahati today, and are also likely to meet Mikhail at Guwahati during the course of their investigation.

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9 Warrior 11th Independent Running Trophy Football Tournament concludes ET Correspondent Itanagar, Aug 27: The 9 Warrior 11th Independent Running Trophy Football Tournament concluded today with Yora John, General Secretary, District Congress Committee, Kara Dadi District attending the event as Chief Guest at KV 2 Playground.

The final match was played between Football Club of Ward No-2 and Gohepur Ward No-2 teams.

Speaking on the occasion John said that every player should concentrate and stick to a single discipline and should avoid drug and alcohol. "Please maintain discipline and team spirit, play well and reach to state

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PAGE 4

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, AUGUST 28

Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates High Frequency XRay Machine at Marwari Arogya Bhawan Hospital A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Aug 27: Union Minister of StateIndependent Charge for Sports & Youth Affairs Sarbananda Sonowal attended and addressed the members, doctors, staff and media at the inauguration ceremony of 400 MA High Frequency XRay Machine newly installed at Marwari Arogya Bhawan Hospital, a charitable institution. During the ceremony, Sri Jyoti Prasad Kanoi, president of the society, spoke about the legacy of the hospital, and highlighted the benefits of the new X-Ray machine which has 60% less radiation as compared to other X-ray machines. Mr. Sonowal

Indeed great news for the Tirapians !

Gawang Sumpa Khonsa, Aug 27 :Shri Tirong Aboh has assumed his office as Parliamentary Secretary for Supply & Transport, DoTCL on 26th August, 2015 (Forenoon).

Hope, he would immensely work for the people of Tirap in particular and state as a whole.

highly praised the work of the hospital, for serving humanity. The

hon’ble minister also spoke about the importance of Ayurvedic medi-

cine in our life, to which the president apprised him of the hospital’s Ayurvedic unit Shree Marwari Databya Aushadhalaya, Dibrugarh. The entire executive committee of the society was present including senior office bearers Vijay Kumar Deorah, Prahlad Bagrodia, Govind Parasramka. CA Sanjay Jain, treasurer of the institution, was also present. The meeting was well attended by the prominent citizens of the town and everyone appreciated the efforts of the hospital in doing humanitarian works. The vote of thanks was given

by Honorary Secretary Mahabird Pd Hansaria.

Illegal business operations on the rise in Bokajan, Journo association submits memo to SDO (C) ET Correspondent Bokajan, Aug 27: The Bokajan Sub Divisional Journalist Association irked by the administration's callousness over a host of unabated unlawful activities taking place in the area even after repeated media attempts to curb those finally submitted a memorandum to the Sub Divisional Officer taking exception to the outlawed transactions being carried out under the very eyes of the administration. Incidentally, this area serves as a busy inter-state border to neighbouring Nagaland and there has been a significant rise in numerous illicit businesses from illegal coal mining to im-

proper distribution of PDS commodities, from prostitution to illegal liquor trade, illegal sand mining, illegitimate taxation system and many more. The 60 Km stretch of highway starting right from the Karbi Anglong Entry Tax Gate, Garampani; is a high illegal taxation pocket.

The memorandum briefs the prevalent financial misappropriation in connection with distribution of PDS foodgrains as there are irrefutable proofs that these are being sold illegally in the open market.

There has also been a steady rise in the illegal distribution of subsidised fertiliser which never reaches the poor farmers

but are being illegally ferried for sale in the neighbouring states. The memorandum also states the forest department's failure to put a check on the unrestricted mining operations of coal in the subdivision even after the Supreme Court's blanket ban on coal mining especially Karbi Anglong.

The copy of the memorandum was forwarded to MGVK Bhanu, Additional Chief Secretary, CM Secretarait, DGP Khagen Sharma, DIG Central Assam - Apurba Jivan Baruah, DC Karbi Anglong - Mukul Ch. Gogoi, SP Karbi Anglong - Debojit Deori and SDPO Bokajan - Dr Manabendra Gogoi.

AJYCP alleges AGVB of discriminatory nonAssamese youth appointment for vacant posts ET Correspondent Lakhimpur, Aug 27: It is frequently alleged that the Assamese youth, though eligible, are always deprived with regard to getting appointment whether the employer be the Government or Non Government or banking sector. Many an example very often grabs the headlines of newspapers in the state. Recently, the Lakhimpur District Body of Assam, Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) raised such a complaint against

Asom Gramin Vikash Bank (AGVB) saying that the bank is hatching a plan to appoint Non-Assamese youth against some posts which are lying vacant. In this regard, the organization today initiated a protest programme by locking of the Lakhimpur Regional Office of the AGVB. According to AGVB, a racket that is hungry for materialistic benefits has been involved in this scheme. The organization demanded the bank not to appoint any person from outside.

Summer festivals become major tourist attraction in Japan Tokushima/Yokohama, Aug. 27: Japan’s biggest summer festival “Awa Dance” was held in Shikoku area of Tokushima Prefecture. “Awa Dance” was started some 400 years ago in Edo era. The festival is observed every year for four days starting from August 12. The group of choreographed dancers and musicians known as Ren enthralled the visitors with their performances. “Our “Ren” group has 92 people.

They practice the whole year to perform in the summer festival,” said Daisuke Kishi, the leader of Muso Ren. Each Ren group has its characteristics.

They include regular participants, employees of certain company, visitors and special performers from abroad. “This is my first time, really great, really love it. It’s fantastic,” said a participant. “I think everyone is just gathering on the streets, having fun and just dancing. Everybody is care free, it’s just having fun. That’s the biggest thing,” added another participant. Many foreign performers and dance teachers have specially come to Japan to participate in the event. “It is amazing, Awa Odori is amazing. The energy is great. Everyone is very supportive and energetic, so it’s perfect!” said a first-time participant. Hideaki Okajima, the chairman of Tokushima Prefecture Awa Dance Association, has 54 years experience in performing Awa dance. wa Odori has

double beat rhythm, which I think is easy to stat for everyone. I hope many foreigners visit Tokushima Prefecture to perform Awa Dance and spread it all over the world,” he said.

Yokohama city also hosted a massive dance festival in August.A large number of people from across the world visited Yokohama town area to dance with popular animation character “Pikachu”. Junichi Yamagiwa, Manager, Event Planning, Pokémon Communications Company, said the company holds many small and big events. “It aims to provide enjoyment and surprise. This event is held in the open area to give a surprise. Yokohama city is neat and clean. We want that visiting kids and fans of Pokemon enjoy the dancing event,” said Yamagiwa. After consultation to Yokohama city, this event was realized. We do not intend to hold the event only for showing or inviting. We expect participation and enjoyment of the event. So, we produced Pikachu Dance to enjoy in Yokohama town,” Yamagiwa added. Despite scorching heat, a large number of people gathered to enjoy dancing at “red brick storehouse” area.

“Participating in such a big scale dance event is my first experience. We really enjoyed. The mix of animation content in the backdrop of historical town is a good promotion method,” said a Chinese visitor. Dance festivals in Yokohama will continue till October. (ANI)

Gauhati HC allows sale of sub-1,500 kg cars Contd. from Page 1 The petition pointed on the court’s ruling which said cars in India must meet crash test norms conforming to the European New Car Assessment Programme (EuroNCAP), which are as of now, not applicable in India. SIAM further in the petition said that all cars sold in the country are certified and have passed all crash, emission and other mandatory norms prescribed by the Motor Vehicles Act of In-

dia and have been tested by authorities like the Automotive Research Association of India. The court on Wednesday said "There cannot be any prohibition restricting registration and sale of four-wheelers with a mass of up to 1,500 kg and quadricycles that have undergone the crash and emission tests conforming to the requirements and standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards and vehicles which have been certified by the statutory authority,"

3 poachers gunned down in Kaziranga Contd. from Page 1 three 3-knot 3 rifle, four mobile sets, food items were recovered from the slain poachers. Meanwhile extensive search operation has been undertaken in search of the other two poachers, who are suspected to be still inside the range area. All exit and entry points were cordoned off from Jakhalabandha to Burapahar, informed the official. In past eight

months, KNP security forces killed 31 poachers against nine rhino killed by poachers this current year, while from districts like Diphu, Karbi Along, Nagoan, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur and Golaghat, Assam Police arrested 37 persons in connection with rhino poaching, added KNP official sources here.

The slain poachers were sent to Nagoan Bhogaswari Phukononi Civil Hospital for post mortem, but are yet to be identified.

Behattar Assamea Juva Mansha Sivasagar Unit Strike Today In Front Of Mayur Company M.Oil On The Occasion Mayur Company M.Oil Illegally Packet ting The Oil . Pic - Firuz Ahmed

TAYPA demands for beautification of Sonari town ET Correspondent Sonari, Aug 27: The Tai Ahom Yuba Parishad, Assam (TAYPA) has expressed its concern for the state government not taking up any plan for beautification of Sonari and its adjoining areas, which was declared as Charaideo district on Aug. 15 by Chief Minis-

ter Tarun Gogoi. In this regard, the Sonari regional committee of the organization today submitted a 6 point memorandum for the beautification of the town.

Through the memorandum, the organization demanded beautification of the existing Lachit Udyan located in the heart of the

town. The organization also demanded fencing of the historic Sonari pond by barbed wire and clearing and development of the Meslou Pukhuri located near Sonari Kali Mandir and putting of proper identification sign of the pond. To clear encroachment on Rajadhap and Rajhouli Bheti, which

is being encroached by Tiok tea estate and to develop them to attract tourist. The organization has also demanded installation of proper drinking water facility in atleast five important points of the town and to make proper provision for separate and hygienic toilets in the town for male and female.

Poor health scenario in Golaghat ET Correspondent Golaghat, Aug 27: The health scenario especially in rural areas of Assam is still in a poor condition.

Like the other parts of the state, Golaghat also lacks modern and quality health services in the rural areas.

The Health Sub Centre situated at Gowaltoop village has been closed for

the last two years. The villagers alleged that a man donated a portion of land to the government to set up a health centre at Gowaltoop and accordingly the Health Sub Centre was set up. The authorities promised the man, who donated land, a provision of govt job to one of his family mem-

bers. But later they refused to keep their promise. The Health Sub Centre was running properly at the start. But later on, irregularities, lack of medicines and other services became a norm.

People of Gowaltoop along with ten other nearby villages were reeling under lack of better

health services. And at one point, the villagers got angry and locked the health centre up which was two years back. Now the health sub centre has turned into a dustbin.

The big question arises whether the health minister will take steps to reopen the health centre or let it to be dead as it is.

Coal India Limited faced with major human resource crisis Contd. from Page 1 The company fears staff poaching once mining in auctioned blocks begins, and its ranking among its PSU peers is lowest in key HR parameters. The study has revealed some major challenges and some uncomfortable perception issues. "The company has already been confronting an attrition rate of about 11%, which may go up due to the opening of mining sector and increased economic activities in the country," the HR report said. To top it, Coal India is faced with superannuation of about 750 middle and senior management personnel every year, which is leading to drain-

ing of years of knowledge base. Coal India aims to recruit 5,000 freshers every year, but that won't be able to recreate and replenish the knowledge base that takes decades to form.

"High rate of superannuation is a serious threat to the tacit knowledge base. It is a challenge to transfer this knowledge base to the new breed of managers. The company has to put in place effective mechanisms to address the challenges of knowledge erosion," it said.

Also, while the bottom managerial level is being replenished, there is a vacuum in the middle management preventing adequate supply of talent to top management. Beyond recruiting and retaining

staff, Coal India feels it need to move away from seniority driven promotions to a merit oriented system to fulfil the career aspirations of high-performers.

"At present, there is a system of promotion by interview only at the level of E7 onwards, and the rest of the promotions are based only on seniority. It will deprive high performers and promote mediocrity in the organization. CIL cannot achieve high growth with policies and standards that promote mediocrity," the report noted. Another aspect bothering Coal India is the perception problem among its own employees as revealed in the survey.

"A study on 'organizational culture' reveals a grim pic-

ture. The employees perceive the organizational processes as below average.

Similarly, the study on trust index reveals that it is below the average index of leading companies in the country." In fact, Coal India, after participating in the Great Place To Work Institute of India's Best Employer Survey in 2014, found out that most of its employees have given the corporation's people processes and practices a rating of only 2 in a scale of 5. "Similarly, the findings of trust index study reveal that the trust index of CIL is significantly below the average trust index of the top 50 companies in India," the findings of the HR report said. (Agencies)

Second Pakistani Terrorist Caught After Encounter in North Kashmir Contd. from Page 1 in Baramulla in North Kashmir. "The arrest of yet another Pakistani terrorist strengthens our position. There remains little doubt about Pakistani involvement in propping up terror," said Union Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju.

Javed allegedly entered India with his four companions through the Uri town. The group was intercepted in Uri,

but they managed to escape.

They were spotted again last evening, hiding in a cave in the Rafiabad area around 18 km from the Line of Control and 70 km from Srinagar. One terrorist was killed yesterday and three more were shot dead in the daylong encounter. Javed was forced out of hiding when chilly grenades were used. The terrorist has been taken to an interrogation centre in Srinagar. This is the second

capture in less than a month after Naveed was caught by villagers on August 5, following an attack on a paramilitary convoy in Udhampur. Naveed, who was in the Kashmir Valley for nearly two months before the attack, has revealed crucial details to investigators, including that he was trained in camps run by the terror group Lashkar e-Taiba in Pakistan. Naveed revealed that he trained for three months to

carry out attacks in India. India had planned to raise recent terror attacks - in Udhampur and Punjab's Gurdaspur - and the revelations of Naveed in a meeting with Pakistan's National Security Advisors scheduled for Monday; the meeting was canceled at the eleventh hour amid sharp disagreements. Islamabad has disowned Naveed, who had said just after his capture that he belonged to Faisalabad in Pakistan.

Assam govt seeks INR 500 cr immediate financial...

Contd. from Page 1 Flood has claimed 27 human lives so far,” he added.

Gogoi apprised Singh about the extensive damages to embankments with breaches at 28 locations. The Chief Minister informed the Union Home Minister that preliminary assessment conducted by the State Water Resources Department revealed that an amount of Rs.63 crore would be required for plugging the breaches to the embankments and Rs.200 crore for restoration of critically damaged flood management structures.

The Chief Minister told the Union Home Minister that

preliminary assessment of the flood damages has been going on and the final report detailing the damages would be submitted to the Ministry when the flood waters recede. “Detailed assessment of losses to infrastructure, crops and properties has been initiated and detailed memorandum will be submitted shortly. The State Government, however, needs immediate financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 500 crore to meet the challenges of relief, rehabilitation and restoration,” he added. Gogoi also requested Singh to clear the committed liabilities made by the Central Government to the damages caused by flood last

year to the tune of Rs. 2485.13 crore to undertake immediate restoration and rehabilitation measures for flood affected areas. The Chief Minister further pointed out that though the inter-ministerial team had recommended an amount of Rs.414.393 crore, the Government of India had sanctioned Rs.387.20 crore only under National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). “Even this amount has not been released so far and is said to have been adjusted against the unspent balance of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Fact is that the unspent balance with the State is already committed against the projects sanctioned

under SDRF and we need more funds to clear the committed liabilities,” he added.

Gogoi requested Singh to release Rs. 887.20 crore that includes Rs.500 crore as financial assistance and Rs.387 crore under NDRF at the earliest to help the State cope with the emergent situation. The Union Home Minister assured the Chief Minister that the demands of the State Government would be under the active consideration of the Central Government. Commissioner and Secretary, Home and Political, LS Changsan was also present during the discussion.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, AUGUST 28

Census data on religion, "faultyand unauthentic" Jamshedpur, Aug 27: The tribal organizations today described the latest Census data on religion published by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner as "faulty and unauthentic" claiming it left out over 20 crore adivasis in the report. "There is no mention of separate Sarna religion code and no column of 20,13,78000 adivasis, having faith in Sarna religion, and who worship nature," Founder President of All Jharkhand Student Union (AJSU) and President of Jharkhand People's Party (JPP) Surya Singh Besra said. Reacting sharply to the Census report published recently, Besra said it was a political conspiracy to finish the tribals in the country. The former

MLA said even if two crore of the adivasis embraced Christianity, the figure would whittle down to 18 crore all over the country. "Why were they registered in the column of Hindu religion or other during the latest census report?," he wondered claiming that adivasis worship nature and their religion is Sarna. "Why have the country been observing 'World Indigenous Day' on August 9 every year if there is no adivasi in the country or no separate code and column for Sarna?," he asked. The JPP leader appealed to the tribal community across the country to unite and launch a decisive struggle in support of the separate code and column for Sarna religion. (Agencies)

PAGE 5

REGION Historic deal between JCILPS and the Govt. finally inked down Imphal, Aug 27: The fourth round meeting held between the State Government and JCILPS yesterday which dragged on past midnight signed a 10-point agreement, the foremost being introduction of three Bills in the State Assembly. The three Bills which would be introduced and passed in the Manipur Legislative Assembly are the Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill 2015, the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh amendment) Bill 2015 and the Manipur Shop and Establishments (Second amendment) Bill 2015. Experts selected by JCILPS would participate in framing rules of the Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill 2015 by the State Government.

The Government of Manipur shall constitute a Manipur State Population Commission to assess the problems and issues of demographic

THE LANDMARK DEAL AT A HELM Ø The fourth round

meeting held between the State Government and JCILPS yesterday which dragged on past midnight signed a 10-point agreement, the foremost being introduction of three Bills in the State Assembly. ØThe State Government ØThe State Govt shall

also constitute a Manipur State Land Reforms Commission to undertake a review of the situation arising out of complexities related to land, resources and population dynamics and advise the Government on effective measures on land use.

Ø The three Bills which would be introduced and passed in the Manipur Legislative Assembly are the Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill 2015, the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh amendment) Bill 2015 and the Manipur Shop and Establishments (Second amendment) Bill 2015.

Nitish refuses debate, asks Gadkari to answer his questions first Patna, Aug 27: The much hyped 1.25 lakh crore package announced by PM Modi for Bihar involves majority of the state transport development schemes and as such Bihar CM Nitish Kumar wanted to get some answers from Union State Transport minister, Nitin Gadkari related to the use of the concerned investment and how he plans to engage it.On Thursday Nitish Kumar laughed away the challenge by Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari for a televised debate over Rs 1.25 lakh crore special package announced for the state and rather wanted to get his questions being answered first. "Gadkari has a habit of punching above his weight. Before debating the whole package, he should

first answer questions relating to his dept," Kumar said in a post on the microblogging site Twitter.

Gadkari was fielded by the BJP to counter Kumar's dismissal of Rs 1.25 lakh crore sop as a "repackaging" of old schemes. Transport ministry has the biggest share, with work worth more than Rs 56,000 crore set to be executed by it in the special package an-

Violence submerges Left Front's rally in Kolkata

Kolkata, Aug 27: A farmers' rally called by the opposition Left Front here on Thursday turned violent with protesters and police engaging in pitched battles and stone pelting. The rally was led by the CPI-M affiliated All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and supported by 10 other Left Front affiliated peasant fronts.It organised a Nabanna Abhiyan - a march to the state secretariat - to press for their 17-point charter of demands including issues such as farmer suicides and rehabilitation of farmers ruined by the recent floods in West Bengal. The rally was taken out from four spots, two in the city - Rani Rashmoni Road and Kidderpore - and two from neighbouring Howrah district.

The assembly at Rani Rashmoni Road turned violent after the agitators tried to break police barricades. While the police claimed several of their personnel were injured in stone pelting, Left Front chairman Biman Bose who participated in the rally accused the police of acting as "volunteers" of the ruling Trinamool Congress. (Agencies)

nounced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 18 at Arrah. Kumar had said 41 NH projects had been made part of the special package at an estimated cost of Rs 54,713 crore. "Out of this, Rs 47,553 crore are previously sanctioned cost and only Rs 7,160 crore are new and incremental budgetary allocation," he had said while trashing the special package. Gadkari had thrown a challenge to Kumar for a televised debate for every project under the special package and had asserted yesterday that the Centre had prepared all the details under the scheme. In a 'Fact Sheet' presented by the chief minister before mediapersons yesterday, detail had been given about the status of National High-

ways projects in the state.

The 'Fact Sheet' on special package highlighted detailed analysis of several NH projects in the state giving total cost of project, sanctioned cost with a remark. It talked about Biharsharif-BarbighaMokama section of NH-82, NHDP phase-IV. The total cost of the 2012 project was stated as Rs 399.54 crore with the entire money being approved. The four-laning of Patna-Koilwar section of NH-30 of 2007 which was worth Rs 492 crore and the entire cost was sanctioned.

It also highlighted pre-approved projects like 4laning of Koilawar-Bhojpur section of NH-30 and NH84, 4-laning of Bakhtiyarpur-Mokama section of NH-31 and new 4-

laned bridge across river Ganga at Mokama on NH31 worth Rs 520 crore among others, to prove that these were "repackaged". It also highlighted bridge over the river Sone connecting Panduka (Nauhata) on NH2C in Bihar and Shrinagar in Garhwa district of Jharkhand whose project cost was Rs 2000 crore.

"But, no groundwork has taken place...Not intimated to the state Road Construction Department yet," it said. Another potential new project was new NH connecting Buxar on NH-84 Chausa-Ramgarh-Mohania on NH-2 of Rs 960 crore on which the 'Fact Sheet' remarked, "No groundwork has taken place and the new project was not yet declared as NH". (Agencies)

shall implement the relevant clauses in the agreement between AMSU and AMSCOC with the Government on 22nd July 1980 and 5th August 1980 which were also reaffirmed by the then Government on 9th November 1994 on the issues of foreigners as mentioned in the agreement under the Foreigners Act 1946.

egates were also invited to attend the meeting. Addressing media persons after the meeting, Banerjee said, "This is a routine meeting. A meeting of the same type had been earlier conducted in Jaldapahar, on Wednesday it was conducted in Darjeeling, and the next one will be conducted in Jangalmahal. We have done several development work for tribal people. The new tribes who pluck kendu leaves receive government premiums, and also receive a pension of Rs.2,00,000

Government on 9th November 1994 on the issues of foreigners as mentioned in the agreement under the Foreigners Act 1946. The two sides agreed that the Government of Manipur shall urge upon the Central Government to enact any other appropriate/necessary Acts and Rules which may be beyond the purview of the State Government for the protection of the Manipur people. The agreement was signed by JCILPS convenor-in-charge Khomdram Ratan, Women Wing convenor Lourembam (O) Nganbi, Students Wing convenor Oinam Nandababu, co-convenors BK Moirangcha, Arjun Tenheiba, Ksh Somorendro, Haopu Kom and Md Kheiruddin Shah Moijingmayum on behalf of JCILPS. On behalf of the Govt of Manipur, Chief Secretary PC Lawmkunga signed the agreement. (Agencies)

NSDM should focus on the creation of employment to fight terrorism "Unemployment is the root cause of the five-decade-old terrorism in northeast India. Inimical forces misguide the unemployed youths to join separatist outfits."

Agartala, Aug 27: With the global issue of terrorism infecting every nook and corner of the world, North East does not stand as an exception and to counter anomalies taking lives of innocents, Tripura CM Manik Sarkar suggested that the newly restructured National Skill Development Mission (NSDM) should create jobs in the north-east to put a stop to terrorism in the region. "NSDM should not only concentrate on skill development, but also create scope of employment," Sarkar told reporters after returning here from New Delhi, where he attended the meeting of NITI Aayog sub-group of chief ministers on skill development. He said: "Unemployment is the root cause of the five-decade-old terrorism in

northeast India. Inimical forces misguide the unemployed youths to join separatist outfits." At the NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog meeting, he said skill development must be clubbed with education, agricultural, and industrialisation policies.

"The central government must allocate adequate funds to the state governments for the skill development schemes," he said. The final meeting of the sub-group of chief ministers on skill development, held at NITI Aayog on Tuesday, was presided over by the convenor of the sub-group and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The group consists of chief ministers of Assam, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh,

Meghalaya, Odisha, Punjab, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Tripura. Sarkar said the chief ministers of the northeastern states expressed their discontent at the current policy of the NDA government, and said that unless the special industrial package was revived, no investors would go to the land-locked northeast region. He said the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP), which was launched in April 2007, was suspended in December last year affecting the growth of industrial development in the industry-starved region.

Under the NEIIPP, various subsidies were provided to the industrial units set up by the industrialists from both within and outside the region. (Agencies)

Landslides gripped Halfway roads stuck controversial "education Mizoram with incessant scam" as CBI continues to delay process rain, houses swept making an inventory and Shillong, Aug 27: There is carry on with the investigaundue delay in the comple- tion. The CBI has been acknowledgment receipt of tion of the probe by the State police into the controversial 'Education Scam' that had rocked Meghalaya when Cabinet Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh was the Education Minister, though several FIRs were registered from 2010 to 2012 to take action against those involved in the scam. Hundreds of deserving candidates lost the opportunity to serve as LP school teachers while many candidates whose names were recommended by ministers and MLAs got jobs after the score sheets of the deserving candidates were tampered with by those at the helms of affairs in the Education Department, as per the CBI findings. However, the hurdle as claimed by the police for the last one year is non-availability of documents seized by CBI to

maintaining that only the High Court can issue an order to the CBI to make the documents available to the police since the CBI probe was ordered by the High Court. When the media contacted the State police to know the progress of the inquiry on the Education Scam, N. Thohrem, the Investigation Officer (IO), said that the Superintendent of Police should be contacted to know the reason for the delay. East Khasi Hills SP M. Kharkrang informed that the police were yet to get the papers on the recruitment of assistant

teachers for lower primary schools seized by the CBI. It was more than a year ago in July, 2014, that the then Chief Judicial Magistrate B. Joshi had directed CBI to hand over the relevant papers to the state police after

East Khasi Hills SP M. Kharkrang informed that the police were yet to get the papers on the recruitment of assistant teachers for lower primary schools seized by the CBI.

the same.

However, when the CBI filed a petition in the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, the Court directed the police to seek the intervention of the High Court for the papers seized by CBI. The petition of the CBI had mentioned that as the probe into the Education Scam was ordered by the High Court, it was felt necessary to seek the intervention of the High Court before handing over the seized papers. Following this development, police was supposed to file a petition before the High Court of Meghalaya to direct the CBI to handover the original seized papers to the police.

However, it is yet to be known whether the police filed any petition before the High Court in this regard.

(Agencies)

Mamata conducts meeting to ensure the development of tribes in the state Darjeeling, Aug 27: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday conducted a meeting with the Tribes Advisory Council (TAC) to discuss the welfare and advancement of the scheduled tribes in the state. The meeting conducted on the premises of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) headquarters in Lal Kothi, Darjeeling, however had nothing to do with the GTA as it was solely a state administration meeting, sources said. However, GTA del-

imbalance and other related matters so as to take up measures towards social harmony and peaceful development. A white paper on population influx shall also be brought out by the State Government within one year.

The State Govt shall also constitute a Manipur State Land Reforms Commission to undertake a review of the situation arising out of complexities related to land, resources and population dynamics and advise the Government on effective measures on land use policies and help ameliorate intercommunity tensions and enhance the respect for democracy and diversity in the state. The State Government shall implement the relevant clauses in the agreement between AMSU and AMSCOC with the Government on 22nd July 1980 and 5th August 1980 which were also reaffirmed by the then

once they reach 60 years of age. For the tribal families living in Jangalmahal, rice can be purchased at only Rs.2 a kilo", adding, "Many advantages are given to the scheduled tribe and scheduled caste

people with regard to employment as well. The tribal department provides pension to 1,30,000 people, among whom 200 are from the tea gardens and closed down factories." The chief minister

also said that a committee comprising a group of ministers have already been formed to look into the problems of the tea garden. It may be noted that GTA chief Bimal Gurung had earlier said that the two largest tea garden trade unions backed by the Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha (GJMM) and Adivasi Vikash Parishad (John Barla faction) namely the Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union (DTDPLU) and Progress Tea Workers Union (PTWU) will jointly start

an agitation in the tea gardens if the state government fails to implement any measures regarding the problems of tea garden workers. Principal Secretary of GTA, Ravi Inder Singh and deputy chief of GTA, Col Ramesh Allay were present in today's meeting. In may be mentioned that Lal Kothi has seen the presence of eminent personalities like R Venkataraman, former President and Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Minister, in the past.

(Agencies)

Aizawl, Aug 27: Heavy rains and landslides swept away three houses and damaged 70 graves in two cemeteries in Aizawl, officials said on Thursday.

Three houses were swept away by heavy rains and landslides in the capital city of Mizoram, while four vehicles were damaged in landslides last night, District Disaster Management Authority officials said. At least 50 graves were also damaged at the cemetery of Chaltlang locality, while 20 at the Ramhlun Vengthar cemetery, they said. Heavy rainfall during the past one week caused severe damage in different parts of the state as many district headquarters, including south Mizoram's Lunglei, Saiha and Lawngtlai districts, central Mizoram's Serchhip

district and MizoramMyanmar border Champhai district, remained cut-off from Aizawl due to massive landslides on the roads.

Over a hundred families had been rendered homeless as the river Khawthlangtuipui inundated several houses in south Mizoram's Lunglei district bordering Bangladesh in the past one week. Wet rice cultivation (WRC) area belonging to around 250 families were also inundated by the floods which submerged the road between Tlabung and Borapansury village, the lifeline of eight villages along the Bangladesh border. Villagers living along the Bangladesh border area were facing hardships as essential commodities could not be sent to the villages for more than a week, they said.

(Agencies)

Commission visits Teesta-V Power Station Gangtok, Aug 27: A delegation of Sikkim State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SSERC)/ State Advisory Committee (SAC), Sikkim visited Teesta-V Power Station, NHPC today. The delegation comprised of chairperson T.T. Dorji, the Energy & Power secretary, the Chief Conservator of Forest and representatives of Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) and Teesta Valley Power Transmission Limited (TVTL). A NHPC press release informs the purpose of this study tour was to share experience and knowledge of hydropower projects and transmission

network in context to overall power scenario of the State. The chairperson along with other dignitaries was welcomed by Teesta-V Power Station chief engineer J.R. Chaudhary. A brief presentation was given by the Station followed by presentations on 'status of the power evacuation/transmission system for Sikkim' by PGCIL and TVTL. During the interaction, various issues related to development of power projects and transmission and distribution of power were discussed.

Thereafter, the delegation was taken for a tour to the power house and its different components. (Agencies)

'Angry young man' Rahul Gandhi more concerned about scoring political point: BJP BJP alleged that Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who is least concerned about the situation at the border, is more concerned about scoring a political point ANI New Delhi, Aug 27: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday alleged that Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who is least concerned about the situation at the border, is more concerned about scoring a political point.

"It is extremely unfortunate and a very sad commentary on what kind of

Genesis of J-K issues lies with Congress' 'misrule and misgovernance': BJP

ANI Jammu, Aug 27: Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Jitendra Singh, on Thursday blamed the Congress Party's bad governance for the ongoing crisis in Jammu and Kashmir. "It

Jitendra Singh blamed the Congress Party's bad governance for the ongoing crisis in Jammu and Kashmir. was the Congress party, which was ruling Jammu and Kashmir for several decades," Singh told. "If suddenly, today Rahul Gandhi realized about problems of people living in border areas. The genesis of this problem lies with the Cong misrule and misgovernance," he added.

politics Mr. Rahul Gandhi is trying to practice. There is no appeal for peace, for calm. When you are seeing that there is a tension there, people are suffering, properties being damaged, people have lost their lives," said BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli.

"There is no concern for any of that. All that he is concerned about is scoring

generating 1,000 MW of solar power in the next five years. In the first year, our target is of generating 2040 MW of solar power and in second year, we will achieve a target of 100 MW and in next year, our target will be of 200 MW. "Similarly, government aims to generate 400 MW of solar power in fourth year and thereafter, we will then extend our target."

The power minister said

that the rates of solar power have also been similar to conventional power and hoped that solar power will be much cheaper in coming years. "Five or ten years ago, nobody would take interest in solar power... the reason was that rates of solar energy have almost been similar to the rates of conventional power. "Whatever we say about solar power and delay in implementation of

ANI Ahmedabad, Aug 27: Hardik Patel, who seems to be spearheading the Patel community agitation, on Thursday alleged that if ex-gratia isn't given to the victims of the violence here, farmers will be asked to stop

supplying basic commodities. "If ex-gratia isn't given to victims, we will ask farmers to stop supplying milk, vegetables, water etc.," Patel told. He added: "Children and women were hurt. So, the police officers responsible for this should be sus-

power project today... but it is true that there will be only solar power in future and there will be no alternative," Jain said during conference on 'Solar Power'. "We hope that there will be decline in rates of solar power and in future. The rates of solar power will be three times less compared to conventional power rates in terms of capital cost," Jain also added. (Agencies)

pended." Launching an attack at the government for not taking any action, he said: "I don't think they have any power. They should give some answers." He further added that their peaceful protest will continue but they will not tolerate violence.

OROP row: 'Nothing can be more insulting', say ex-servicemen ANI New Delhi, Aug 26: The ex-servicemen, who are staging a protest at the Jantar Mantar here over the implementation of the One Rank, One Pension scheme, on Thursday said it is extremely unfortunate and insulting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is not accepting their demand. "It is very unfortunate that the we gave our entire life to this nation and today we have to come on the streets for our right at

this age, nothing can be more insulting than this. The Modi Government should look after this matter as to what is the way they are treating us in this way," said Major (Retd.) Piar Chand Rana "We have decided we will sit unless our demands are met," added another exserviceman. OROP scheme has been a long-standing demand of nearly three-million ex-servicemen and war widows in the country. It seeks to ensure that a uniform pension is paid to de-

ANI New Delhi, Aug 27: Former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member Yogendra Yadavon Thursday lashed out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for supporting his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar, saying it is an attack on the soul of the anti-corruption movement. "This is

the people, who wish to continue to stay here that at least keep your one foot in your own country. If the father is here, son should go back to his own country or if the son is here, the father should return to his own country (India)," Swaraj said. The External Affairs Minister also used the occasion to highlight New Delhi's commitment for the Indian nationals staying abroad. "There have been three challenges in India which I saw myself. First in Iraq then in Libya and later in Yemen. Those people were living a healthy life there and suddenly everything changed... We rescued 6,200 people from Yemen, including 48 Indian nationals," said Swaraj. "I'm giving you small examples that show India is changing," she added.

shocking and insulting. It is an attack on the soul of the anti-corruption movement which has brought Aam Aadmi Party where it is today," Yadav told . "Supporting Nitish Kumar, who is a leader of a corrupt regime in Bihar at a time when there is a presence of other corrupt people like Lalu Yadav

and Congress Party is a setback moment for fight against corruption. Is this the honest politics that we have been dreaming and talking about?"he asked.

Kejriwal is presently in Patna on Thursday to carry forward his ties, which was so far restricted to warm and frequent meetings in

the poor is a tour, when they meet industrialists its politics," he said while a addressing a gathering in Baramulah. Rahul Gandhi pointed out that the people who were affected by ceasefire violations wanted compensation for the damages suffered by

Delhi, with Nitish Kumar.

Kejriwal was shown black flags by the protestors, who claimed to be the supporters of veteran social activist Anna Hazare, on his arrival at the Patna airport on Thursday. The protestor alleged that Kejriwal has betrayed Hazare.

British ISIS hacker reportedly killed in US airstrike ANI London, Aug 27: A British hacker, Junaid Hussain, belonging to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has been reportedly killed in a US airstrike. Hussain was a key figure in ISIS' so called "Cyber Caliphate". Hussain is believed to be the most prominent UK citizen who has joined ISIS after "Jihadi John" who became popular for being an ISIS executioner. As of late Wednesday, the US had yet to officially announce Hussain's death, which could not be independently verified. The strike is believed to be a US military operation, rather than a CIA drone attack.

Gunman kills police officer, woman in US state of Louisiana ANI New York, Aug 27: A gunman in southeastern US state of Louisiana shot dead a police officer and fatally stabbed a woman, said officials. The suspect was identified as 35-year old Harrison Riley Jr. Riley was arrested two

hours after he crashed into a convenience store about three blocks away, barricading himself in an office. SWAT team members lobbed tear gas and "Cgas" into the convenience store building, then broke in using hammers and fire axes.

them. Gandhi also condemned the opposition's move to play politics over the Congress' posters and flags in Srinagar. "The Congress Party is an ideology. Removing a few hoardings and banners won't change the love which the people have for

the Congress." "The Congress respects everyone irrespective of their religion, caste or creed," he added.

Rahul Gandhi is on a twoday visit to the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir and interacting with the people who have suffered by the cease-fire violations.

OROP scheme has been a longstanding demand of nearly threemillion exservicemen and war widows in the country. fense personnel, who retire at the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement.

WHO declared maternal and neonatal tetanus free New Delhi, Aug 27: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that mothers and newborns are free from tetanus at the time of birth in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Thursday. He was inaugurating the Call to Action Summit 2015 - an initiative to reduce child and maternal deaths across the world - and said the event will help the developing countries to tackle health challenges related to women and child. Boasting India's polio-free status, Modi said: "Indian was declared polio free because of the collective efforts of several stakeholders. I am happy to inform you that today the WHO has declared India maternal and neonatal tetanus free." Over 600 delegates from across the world will attend the

two-day summit to discuss initiatives to reduce maternal and child mortality rate.

Health Minister JP Nadda and the health ministers of several nations including Senegal, South Sudan, Afghanistan and Ethiopia were among those who attended the event. According to the WHO, there are 24 countries that make up for 36 percent of the global popu-

Arrested godman, son to appear in court through VC

Kejriwal's visit to Bihar 'an attack on soul of anti-corruption movement': Yogendra Yadav

Do not politicise my J- K visit: Rahul Gandhi ANI Baramulla, Aug 27: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for politicising his visit to Jammu and Kashmir. "BJP says 'Rahul Gandhi is on a tour'. For them, meeting

the farmers, who are facing difficulties. "Farmers of the entire nation are in difficulty but this government belongs to two or three big businessmen. The states are getting the special package but here the famers are not helped," said Gandhi. The Congress vice-president is presently on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir.

Give ex-gratia to victims or farmers won't supply milk and vegetables: Hardik Patel

Sushma urges Indian nationals in Berlin to return to their homeland

ANI Berlin, Aug 27: The visiting External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj, on Thursday urged the Indian community in Berlin to return to their homeland.

"You left the country just like others in search of a livelihood but today India is changing," said Swaraj, adding that now there are a lot of opportunities in the country. She also said that now is the right time for the people to return to India. "I would also like to appeal to

a political point almost like adding fuel to fire so that he may become relevant.

What kind of politics is this? In any case, he is one who keeps on showing his anger," he added. Asserting that the BJP-led NDA is a government of selected industrialists, the Congress vice-president said the ruling dispensation at the Centre is least concerned about

AAP government has set a target of generating 1,000 MW of solar power in next five years New Delhi, Aug 27: AAP government has set a target of generating 1,000 MW of solar power in next five years, Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday said. Addressing a conference organised by Assocham here, Jain said that solar power will be the only option in future as the cost of conventional power is "drastically" increasing every year. "Our government has set a target of

PAGE 6

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, AUGUST 28

Cuttack, Aug 27: Allowing a plea of Odisha Police, a court here has ordered the Choudwar jail authorities to make arrangements for video conferencing (VC) to avoid physical production of arrested godman Santosh Roul and his adopted son Satyam in court. Facing problems in production of the father-son duo in the court and apprehending threat to their lives, the Crime Branch of the police had urged the court to dispense with their physical production and hold the hearing through video conferencing. The court of sub-divisional judicial magistrate (SDJM) here yesterday accepted the Crime

Branch plea and directed the jail authorities to make necessary arrangements for video conferencing. Both the accused, who are under judicial custody, were directed for appearance in the court on September 2. Earlier, under heavy escort, the duo were made to travel from jail to court and vice versa. The Crime Branch had also beefed up security in the court premises as mobs were chasing and heckling the alleged fake godman and his son. Under section 167 of CrPC the accused under judicial custody are to be produced in the court once in every fortnight till the charge sheets are filed. (Agencies)

lation and account for 70 percent of child and maternal deaths. Mali has the highest Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) at 78, while South Sudan has the highest Mother Mortality Rate (MMR) at 730. India's IMR stands at 40 while the MMR stands at 167. in compairion, in 1990, the IMR was 380, and the MMR was 540.(Agencies)

Maoist camp destroyed and some materials were seized in Koraput: Odisha Koraput, Aug 27: A Maoist camp was destroyed and some materials were seized by security personnel following an exchange of fire with the rebels in a forest in this district, police officials said on Thursday.

Acting on a tip off, a joint team of District Voluntary Force (DVF) and Special Operation Group (SOG) led

by Koraput SP Charan Singh Meena busted the Maoist camp yesterday at Jhodiaguda forest, they said. Some injuries in the rebels were suspected as a gun-battle ensued between the security men and the Maoists. "There were around 12 naxals at the camp. Spotting our men, the Maoists started firing to which we retaliated. The exchange of fire continued for 25 minutes," the SP said.

While coming across the site, police spotted blood stains which suggests that some Maoists had been injured. "We have recovered various items, including utensils, medicines, Maoist literature from the camp," he said. According to the SP, the Maoists belonged to the Boipariguda Area Committee of the MalkangiriKoraput Border Joint Divisional Committee.

Obama expresses concern over gun culture in US The President expressed his sorrow over such incidents and described them as "heartbreaking."

Washington, Aug 27: A day after the Virginia shooting incident, President Barack Obama on Thursday expressed concern over the gun culture in the US, saying, the number of people who die from gun-related incidents around this country "dwarfs" any deaths that happen through terrorism.

The President also expressed his sorrow over such incidents and described them as "heartbreaking." "It breaks my heart every time you read or hear about these kids of incidents," Obama told.

"What we know is that the number of people who die from gun-related incidents around this country dwarfs any deaths that happen through terrorism," he said.

24-year-old TV reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward, 27, were killed on live television when a "disgruntled" ex-employee of the TV station opened fire in Virginia before succumbing to his injuries from a selfinflicted gunshot wound. The White House has criticised the Republican-controlled Congress from refusing to tighten gun control laws.

This is another example of gun violence that is becoming all too common in communities large and small all

across the United States," White House Press Secretary, Josh Earnest, told reporters.(Agencies)

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, AUGUST 28

NEIGHBOURS

Pakistan contacts UN over cancellation of NSA-level talks Islamabad, Aug 27: Pakistan has informed the UN about the last-minute cancellation of the NSA-level talks with India to take the international community into confidence over the Kashmir issue and the situation at the LoC. Immediately after cancellation of the meeting between the National Security Advisors of the two countries, Pakistan's permanent representative at the UN Maleeha Lodhi was instructed to contact the UN leadership to discuss the rejection of dialogue by India. The UN was contacted as part of a decision to take the international community into confidence over Kashmir and the situation at the Line of Control (LoC), it said. Eliasson was informed that it was India that had reneged on the agreement reached by the Pakistani and Indian Prime Ministers in the Russian city of Ufa on discussing all is-

sues outstanding between the two countries. The deputy secretary general was also told that Pakistan decided against sending its NSA Sartaj Aziz to Delhi to meet his counterpart Ajit Doval because it found the Indian condition of not inviting Kashmiri separatists

PAGE 7

for consultations unacceptable. "Consultations with Kashmiris, who are an integral part of the Kashmir issue, are essential to evolving a peaceful solution," the UN official was told. The talks were called off because of differences over the agenda proposed by Islamabad and

a planned meeting with the Hurriyat leadership with Aziz. The meeting between Lodhi and Eliasson was followed by a statement by UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon on Tuesday regretting the cancellation of the talks.

"The Secretary-General reiterates his call to both countries to continue to address their differences through dialogue," the UN said in a statement. Earlier, Pakistan had decided that appropriate steps will be taken to highlight the issue of Kashmir and alleged violations by India of the 2003 ceasefire agreement. Lodhi also raised the issue of ceasefire violations along the LoC. Pakistan claims that since June, Indian troops have violated the ceasefire more than 130 times on the LoC and Working Boundary, as a result of which 16 Pakistanis have been killed and over 60 others injured. (Agencies)

Pakistan hangs man convicted for multiple murders Islamabad, Aug 27: Pakistan today hanged a death row prisoner convicted for multiple murders, taking the total number of convicts executed to 212 since the country lifted its moratorium on the death penalty in March this year.

Maqbool Hussain was hanged early this morning in Multan central jail in Punjab province. Hussain was convicted for murdering six people in 1996 to avenge the killing of his

brothers and his petitions were already rejected by higher courts. Pakistan lifted its moratorium on the death penalty in all capital cases on March 10.Executions in Pakistan resumed in December last year, ending a six-year moratorium, after Taliban fighters gunned down 154 people, most of them children, at a school in Peshawar. Hangings were initially reinstated only for those convicted of terrorism of-

fences, but in March they were extended to all capital offences. So far 212 convicts have been executed in total despite the criticism from United Nations, the European Union, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.More than 8,000 prisoners are on death row in Pakistan and about 160 convicts have been executed since the Nawaz Sharif government lifted moratorium on death penalty. (Agencies)

Nepal's top court orders suspension of surrogacy services

install 120 early warning sensors covering one-third of the country with support from the Institute of CareLife in Chengdu in China's S i c h u a n province.According to Pokharel, the 10 sensors are installed and connected with an early warning centre set up on the Nast premises that would provide advance warnings 10 to 22

seconds before an earthquake depending on the distance from the epicenter. If the epicenter of the quake is farther, the people living in the area having the early warning system will have at least 22 seconds to react while those near the epicenter will get advance warning at least 10 seconds before a moderate to major earthquake .A real-time sys-

Sensors installed and connected with an early warning centre set up on the Nast premises that would provide advance warnings 10 to 22 seconds before an earthquake depending on the distance from the epicenter

tem will provide warnings seconds after the primary seismic wave resulting from an earthquake generated from the sensor and transmitted through radio waves that travel faster than seismic waves through ground to the central warning station placed on the Nast premises in Khumaltar. A central early warning centre has already been installed at Nast. Nast plans to install a total of 120 sensors throughout the country in the next few months under the first phase and later install additional 120 sensors in the second phase.

(Agencies)

11 citizens' legal notice seek abolishing Section 57

Dhaka, Aug 27: Eleven citizens, including university teachers and writers, have a sent a legal notice to the government, requesting it to scrap section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act.On behalf of the citizens, Supreme Court lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua served the notices to the secretaries of the law, ICT and home ministries by

post today. In the notice, it was mentioned that legal procedures will be initiated if they do not reply within 24 hours, said the lawyer.The 11 citizens include Dhaka University history teacher Ahmed Kamal, journalism department's Gitiara Nasreen and Fahmidul Haq, international relations teachers Akmal Hossain and Tanjim Uddin Khan,

social science's Samina Lutfa, Jahangirnagar University economics teacher Anu Mohammad, writer Rakhal Raha, Biplobi Workers' Party General Secretary Saiful Haque, cultural activist Arup Rahi and Dhaka resident Abdus Salam. Section 57 of the ICT Act conflicts with Article 39 of the Constitution, which ensures freedom of speech, said the

Power, gas price hike announcement today Dhaka, Aug 27: The energy regulator will announce increased prices of electricity and gas today afternoon. The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) acting secretary AKM Monowar Hossain Akhand disclosed the information to the media. He said: "The new prices will be disclosed at a press brifing around 4pm today."The bulk price of electricity is being raised after three years, retail price after one year and that of gas after seven years.After six months of public hearing, the energy regulator is going to announce the revised tariffs following a meeting with prime minister's energy adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury on Wednesday where they discussed fixing the tariffs on fuel oil, power and gas at the bulk and consumer levels and transmission charges.State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid; BERC Chairman AR Khan and members Salim Mahmud, Delwar

Hossain, Md Maksudul Haque, Rahman Murshed; Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Abul Kalam Azad; Power Division Secretary Monowarul Islam and Energy Division Secretary Abu Bakar Siddique attended the meeting .The cost of production and distribution of a single unit of electricity now stands at Tk6.54 while the rate at the wholesale level is Tk4.70.Since 2009, the BERC has increased power tariffs six times .In the latest increment made in September 2012, power tariff at the bulk level was raised by 17% to Tk4.70 per unit. In March 2014, retail price of electricity was raised by 7.17% to Tk6.5 from the previous Tk5 per unit rate. The last time the price of gas was increased in November 2008.

After coming to power in 2009, the Awami League-led government only increased the price of compressed natural gas (CNG) several times. (Agencies)

notice.Yesterday, a writ petition was filed and a legal notice was also served asking the government to scrap section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act, amid severe criticisms regarding its alleged abuse by the law enforcement agencies.The ICT Act was passed in 2006 and amended twice - in 2009 and 2013. In the latest amendment, offences under section 57 were made nonbailable and the maximum punishment was extended to 14 years' imprisonment.

Offenders can be punished by minimum seven years imprisonment and the fine can be as high as Tk1 crore under the Act.Debate over section 57 and demands for its cancellation began since the formulation of the Act. But the controversy intensified when veteran journalist and war crimes trial campaigner Probir Sikdar was arrested and sent to jail as he posted a status on Facebook, expressing fear that his life was in danger because of some influential persons. (Agencies)

New York, Aug 27: Chinese prosecutors have detained 11 people over the massive warehouse explosions that killed at least 139 people. According to media , the national prosecutor's office said that they are accused of dereliction of duty and abusing their positions.

Police have also detained 12 executives from Ruihai International Logistics and another company. The blast that took place on August 12 destroyed hundreds of homes after it sent a huge fireball in the sky. (ANI)

Pro-Govt. tribal elder killed in TTP blast

Nast installs 10 quake warning sensors Kathmandu, Aug 27: The National Academy of Science and Technology (Nast) has installed earthquake early warning sensors at 10 locations in Dhading, Kavre and Kathmandu districts that would alert people as much as 22 seconds before a major earthquake. Nepal has become the fourth country in the world after Mexico, Japan and China to have an early warning system, said Nast Vice-chancellor Jibaraj Pokharel. After the major earthquake on April 25 and its aftershocks, the Nast, under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, agreed to

Chinese authorities detain 11 people over Tianjin explosions

Kathmandu, Aug 27: Nepal's top court has ordered a halt to commercial surrogacy services in the Himalayan nation until it rules on the legality of the practice, an official said today. Nepal has become a destination for foreigners seeking to have children through surrogate mothers. The practice is controversial, with critics saying it exploits the poverty of women. Although Nepal has no laws on its books covering surrogacy, the government last year allowed foreign women to serve as sur-

rogates in Nepal but barred local women."There are no laws regarding surrogacy. It raises many constitutional and legal questions," said Nahakul Subedi, spokesman for the Supreme Court."So the court issued a stay order on surrogacy services yesterday. Until the case is settled," Subedi told media. Advocate Prabin Pandak, who filed the original lawsuit against the practice, told media the court's order would put a stop to the registration of new cases."Women should not

be a subject of trade, neither should a child," Pandak said."Nepali women are not allowed to be surrogate mothers but they are misrepresented as Indian and used for surrogacy," she said.

Nepal has become an attractive destination for couples who find its services cheaper than those offered by surrogacy agencies in the west. Israel in April airlifted 25 infants born to Indian surrogate mothers in Kathmandu after Nepal was hit by a devastating quake that killed nearly 9,000 people. (Agencies)

Pak court issues arrest warrant against former PM Gilani in corruption case Islamabad, Aug 27: Former Pakistan prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was issued an arrest warrant by a federal court on today for his alleged involvement in approving and disbursing illicit trade subsidies amounting to millions of rupees to numerous fake companies. According to media, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) issued a charge sheet with 12 cases on Pakistan People's Party

(PPP) leader Gilani pertaining to multi-million rupee scandal in the Trade Development Authority (TDAP).

Another PPP leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim was also allegedly involved in the case. The court had previously issued notices to Fahim and Gilani but they went unheard, according to the Dawn. The court has also approved the FIA challan and issued non-bailable arrest warrant against

ADB to strengthen its support to help Sri Lanka become a competitive economy Colombo, Aug 27: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said for the next five years it will strengthen its support for Sri Lanka's human capital development to help the island nation become a competitive economy .The ADB will more than triple the lending for education to $1 billion for the next 5 years.This is in line with the government priority for human capital development to ensure equity of the social market economy vision, and the plan to gradually increase education expenditure to six percent of gross domestic product, the ADB said in an update on its Country Partnership Strategy. Lending for education will include $300 million for skills development, $300 million for higher education, and $400 million for secondary education. During 2012-2015, support for the over-

all education sector totaled $300 million. In other areas, some hard infrastructure projects focus on the final stage of ongoing development, such as for rural road connectivity and rural electrification. The proposed Rural Electrification Project will support achieving 100 percent electrification from the current 98 percent in Sri Lanka. It will provide electricity to more than 17,500 rural households, including in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

The Bank will lend $70 million in 2016 to finance the project. The proposed SME Credit Line of $ 100 million in 2016 will provide funding to SMEs through participating financial institutions. New borrowers, women-led enterprises, and SMEs outside of Colombo will especially be targeted to receive the support. (Agencies)

the two directing the police to arrest the accused immediately and bring them for hearing on September 10.

(Agencies) The FIA issued a charge sheet with 12 cases on Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Gilani pertaining to multi-million rupee scandal in the Trade Development Authority (TDAP)

Karachi, Aug. 27: A progovernment tribal elder has been killed in a blast in Bajaur tribal agency's Chamarkand tehsil in Pakistan.According to the media, the blast occurred due to a planted improvised explosive device (IED) which killed tribal elder Malik Gul Rahim.

Te h r e e k - i - Ta l i b a n Pakistan(TTP) has claimed responsibility for the blast. (ANI)

Australian firm to explore gas in Myanmar Yangon, Aug 27: An Australian firm has signed a production sharing contract with Myanmar to explore gas in the Mottama offshore area, according to an official report. The agreement provides a $5.2 million signature bonus and a $3.5 million data fee, the report said on Thursday, adding that $110.75 million will be spent during two years' observation period in the gulf of Mottama and another $110.75 million during a six-year oil testament period. The exploration will be launched at block M7 involving a local private company. An environmental impact assessment and social impact assessment are to be conducted before the exploration begins. Statistics show that in the first half of this year, seven companies from Britain, Australia, Japan, Italy and India had respectively signed production sharing contracts with Myanmar to explore oil and gas at blocks off Rakhine coast, Taninthayi coast and Mottama.

Myanmar is rich in natural gas resources especially in the offshore areas. Foreign investment in Myanmar's oil and gas sector amounted to $19.641 billion as of the end of May 2015.

(Agencies)

Taiwan's former VP to attend China's WWII anniversary parade Taipei, Aug 27: Former Vice President Lien Chan will attend World War II commemorative activities in Beijing, including a military parade next week, and hold a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit, an aide has said. Former secretary-general of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) Chang Jungkung said that Lien, a former KMT chairman, will make a "lowkey visit" to Beijing as a private citizen, accompanies by his wife and a small number of close aides.While Lien is expected to attend all the activities commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII, former Premier and Chief of the General Staff of Taiwan's military Hau Pei-tsun said today that he has not been invited to the parade on Sept. 3 and that he would not attend even if he had been invited. Hau's office denied press reports saying he was among a number of former ROC generals invited to the military parade that is being boycotted by many Western leaders in order not to lend support to China's efforts in recent years to build up its military might.Anyone attending Beijing's commemoration of the end of World War II should make clear the leading role played by the Republic of China government in the fight against Japan's aggression 70 years ago, a presidential spokesman said today. (Agencies)

PAGE 8

DIBRUGARH, THURSDAY, AUGUST 27

After 'Black Monday,' Structural Reform in China?

Growth of India's Muslim population A disadvantage over advantage Hindus accounted for 96.63 crore or 79.8 percent of India's total population of 121.09 crore in the 2011 Census, according to data on Population by Religious Communities of Census 2011 released by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner on Tuesday.

An official press release, quoting the data said Muslims accounted for 17.22 crore (14.2%), Christians 2.78 crore (2.3%); Sikh 2.08 crore (1.7%); Buddhists 0.84 crore (0.7%); Jains 0.45 crore (0.4%), Other Religions & Persuasions (ORP) 0.79 crore (0.7%) and Religion Not Stated 0.29 crore (0.2%). According to the release, the proportion of Hindu population to total population in 2011 has declined by 0.7 percentage points (PP); the proportion of Sikh population has declined by 0.2 PP and the Buddhist population has declined by 0.1 PP during the decade 2001-2011. The proportion of Muslim population to total population has increased by 0.8 PP during this period, it said. There has been no significant change in the proportion of Christians and Jains, it added. The growth rate of population in the decade 2001-2011 was 17.7 %. The growth rate of population of the different religious communities in the same period was: Hindus - 16.8%; Muslims 24.6%; Christians - 15.5%; Sikhs - 8.4%; Buddhists 6.1% and Jains - 5.4%.

The percentage of Muslims in the country's population increased 0.8 percentage points between 2001 and 2011 to 14.23% or 17.22 crore. In the previous decade, i.e., between 1991 and 2001, their share in the total population had increased by a bigger measure or 1.73 percentage points to 13.43%. They were, however, the only community to register a growth in terms of their share in the total population. The Census 2011 data on Population by Religious Communities, released by the Registrar General of India, also showed that the percentage of Hindus dipped by 0.7 percentage points (PP) in the decade 2001 to 2011, pulling it for the first time below 80%. Hindus now constitute 79.8% of the country's total population. In the previous decade, the proportion of Hindus in the population showed a sharper fall by 1.94 percentage points. India's Hindus have dropped below 80 per cent of the population for the first time since independence.

Census data, released by the ministry of home affairs, showed that Hindus declined to 79.8 per cent of the country's 1.2 billion people in 2011, from 80.5 per cent a decade earlier. Muslims, India's largest minority group, now make up 14.2 per cent of the country, up from 13.4 per cent in 2001.Christian numbers stayed put at 2.3 per cent, while the Sikh population fell to 1.7 per cent from 1.9 per cent. In the first census, conducted after Britain carved India and Pakistan out of colonial India in 1947, Hindus accounted for 84.1 per cent of the Indian population. But comparing to then population of Hindus in India, today's statistics show a vast difference.

Surging onion prices Controlling onion prices might hold the key to BJP Onion prices, which are already ruling the mandis at around Rs 80 per kg in most parts of the country, are likely to increase further by 10 per cent on tight supplies due to unseasonal rains affecting the crops. The situation is going to be more critical in future and it is expected that the price will go up by another 10 per cent in the coming days because the current crop, which is expected to hit the market next month, might be affected due to scanty rainfall.

The 100-200 containers, 30 tonne each, of onions imported will be distributed in the entire country. Mumbai itself needs 80-100 trucks daily, each containing 12 tonnes. Despite the government taking measures, prices have gone up unabated both in the wholesale and retail markets across the country in the last few weeks due to tight supply following shortfall in the domestic output.

Total onion production is estimated to be at 189 lakh tonnes in 2014-15 crop year (July-June), slightly lower than 194 lakh tonnes a year ago. The Centre has raised the minimum export price of onion to USD 700 per tonne from USD 425 per tonne.

Global markets may be see-sawing wildly but in India the price of a key asset class is rocketing: onions, a crucial ingredient for most Indian dishes and one of the country's most politically sensitive commodities.

In the past month, onion prices in the vast Lasalgaon wholesale market in Maharashtra, India's biggest onion-growing state, surged to a new high of Rs 57 per kg, up from Rs 25 at the end of July.

Retail prices are now averaging about Rs 80 per kg, raising fears they could cross the Rs 100 per kg mark.

High onion prices are a big problem for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, ahead of crucial state legislative assembly elections in Bihar. The BJP is hoping for a decisive election victory in Bihar to reaffirm Mr Modi's popularity and reinvigorate the government, after a difficult year when many crucial reforms have stalled.

But high onion prices could sour the public mood in a state that grows few of its own and depends mostly on supplies from other parts of the country.

Onion prices have a politically potent history in India: they were considered a decisive factor in the outcome of two state elections in 1998, and were blamed for the fall of the central government in 1980.

Mr Modi's government has blamed the current price spurt on unseasonal rains during the crucial March to June growing season, which yields about 60 per cent of India's total annual onion production - and provides supplies that are supposed to last consumers until October or November. But critics believe a powerful clutch of traders who control much of India's onion supplies are working together to manipulate the market and drive up prices, as a 2012 study sponsored by the Competition Commission of India found they had done on occasions in the past.

China's leaders haven't pursued structural reform to the extent necessary.

After 'Black Monday,' they might have to. ? ......Ankit Panda The Chinese government is hard at work to bring an end to the volatility that has been plaguing the country's stock market this week, sending shockwaves through global markets. After the Shanghai Stock Exchange fell by 8.49 percent on Monday, suffering its worse losses in 8 years, the country's central bank sprung into action.

The People's Bank of China (PBOC), after letting the renminbi lose value against the U.S. dollar, has moved to cut benchmark interest rates and lowered reserve requirements, allowing Chinese banks to lend more.

The PBOC has cut the oneyear lending rate to 4.6 percent and the one-year deposit rate to 1.75 percent.

The Chinese central bank's move came after it allowed the renminbi to lose value against the dollar (I discussed that in greater detail here).

The short-term objective of these PBOC moves is to allow the Shanghai Stock Exchange to stabilize and to restore confidence in

China's economic resiliency. Unfortunately, these moves appear to fall far short of curing the disease afflicting the Chinese economy-they focus on treating symptoms instead.

Indeed, as hundreds of commentators have noted, both since Monday's crash and over the past two or so years preceding Monday's crash, China's economy is fundamentally off-kilter.

The Chinese economy's rate of growth has slowed down-we first started observing signs of this earlier this summer. The lead-up to "Black Monday," as even the Chinese media are calling it, was presaged by drops starting in mid-June.

Fundamentally, the Chinese Communist Party's attempt at dirigisme economics in shifting the country from a export-led growth model, which paid dividends over the years and boosted to China to economic superpower status, toward a demand-driven consumer economy cracked. For a moment, the ebullience with which the Chinese middle class embraced the country's equity markets

suggested that the Party had started to succeed, but Monday proved that all to be smoke-and-mirrors.

For Xi Jinping and company, this summer should serve as a muchneeded reminder that whatever China's technocratic leadership is doing, it isn't working. Particularly, tinkering with monetary policy and credit regulation may patch things in the short-

term (including thwarting capital flight from a devalued yuan), but it won't get at tackling the fundamental problem that far too great a proportion of Chinese gross domestic product continues to be devoted toward investment. At the Communist Party's most recent Third Plenum, in late 2013, it was apparent that China's leaders had successfully diagnosed the

problems facing the Chinese economy-they simply didn't go far enough with structural reform at the time.

In this sense, this summer's crash may finally allow China's leadership to shed its obsession with posting certain GDP growth targets year-on-year and instead pursue the deep structural reform necessary to put Chinese households in

the driver's seat instead of state-owned enterprises.

Unfortunately, looser credit and a weaker a yuan don't even begin to move China toward reform. The PBOC's moves could prove deleterious by concentrating additional credit and capital in state-owned enterprises, bypassing the country's middle class altogether.

Simply put, nothing the government has done in reaction to the current bout of financial malaise suggests that China is about to successfully balance its investment and consumption.

China is in trouble, and after this week, the world is witness to what may be the start of a new Chinese economic normal. The initial scramble of monetary policy and regulatory moves by the Chinese leadership is to help steer the country's economy toward a less-hard landing than necessary (a soft landing isn't on the cards anymore). After the dust settles, it'll be long past due for Xi and the leadership to pursue serious structural reform.

Vietnam Warns of Coming Economic Bombshell for Mainland Southeast Asia A recent ominous message from Hanoi should be taken seriously. ? ........Luke Hunt Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar are the poorest, least well-run countries within ASEAN. They are also notoriously publicity-shy. Anything negative that needs to be shared is usually served-up amid a flurry of bureaucratic dogma that tends to bury the bad news. The messages are still there, but one needs to pay attention.

And it's worth adding that there is nothing that could be less appealing to a newspaper editor - even a communist one - than a gathering of bureaucrats for a discussion about "budgets and oversights" at a joint workshop for ASEAN's most economically challenged.

Recently, it was at such a function that the head of the National Assembly's Committee for Finance and Budget, Phung Quoc Hien, underscored that "any changes in the global economy would have huge impacts on developing countries like Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar."

Yes, Hanoi said "huge impacts." And it's worth more than the passing notice it barely got while buried on the webpages of the stateowned Vietnam News Service (VNS).

The obvious economic bombshell to hit Indochina is landing directly from above, led by an inevitable rout of theChinese stock market where Beijing has repeatedly failed to end the massive sell-off with a series of measures including a devaluation of the yuan.

Devaluation has already forced regional governments to follow suit and bring down the value of their currencies in order to maintain their competitive-

ness within their respective export markets.

The cause and effect of this is impossible to predict at this early stage of what should be a major shake out in the global economic cycle But China is not the only problem. The economic consequences of a conflict in Thailand or Vietnam's ascension to the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) are another two imposing risks. Meanwhile, Malaysia appears ready

todescend into a financial abyss and the rest of the region would also be significantly hurt by another downturn in the United States.

Against that backdrop are constant threats in the South China Sea, where Beijing seems intent on pushing Southeast Asian claimant states into a confrontation over disputed reefs, islands and maritime borders.

Hien's warning was de-

livered at a two-day workshop for the four countries to "share experiences in financial management helping them adjust and complete legislative mechanisms."

It should be taken seriously. Vietnam has spent the past three years in the economic doldrums while Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar are struggling to shed their least developed status.

Economic growth has

been impressive - on paper at least - for some. But a yawning wealth gap is emerging as a major issue for governments to deal with. Then there's the impact of quantitative easing, not just in the United States, but among ASEAN countries and their neighbors as well.

According to the VNS report, paraphrasing Hien: "Vietnam has joined the group of middle-income countries, and this had posed tremendous challenges to growth quality, productivity, competitiveness, the macro-economy and the labor market."

"In addition, development gaps and the middle-income trap remain setbacks to the nation ‌. Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar could face the same challenges because they had similar economies," the dispatch said.

Importantly, the policy wonks are worried and are looking out on the horizons for an economic tsunami, which will initially threaten the heavily indebted.

Whether the next economic downturn will match the force of the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997/98 or the Global Financial Crisis a decade later is already the question among many investors. But with so many unknowns, answers are unlikely anytime soon.

Politics without ideology Sir, The news of Congress leader and former minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma expressing his willingness to join the BJP would surely provide a major political mileage to BJP but it would also leave a void in the Assam state Congress party which would be very difficult to fill before the upcoming 2016 Assembly elections. The latest development could be seen as an ambitious move by both BJP and Dr. Sarma.

Given his controversial recent past and rebellious attitude against the Chief Minister, the former minister might have observed it beneficial to work under Amit Shah, whereas on the other hand, Dr. Sarma also known for his charisma and large scale influence might prove handy in fulfilling BJP's mission in the upcoming Assembly polls.

With the former minister's crossover, the saffron party might witness another exodus of young Congress leaders into its fold in the near future.

Ironically, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma was described as a figure of corruption and black-money and was even named as the prime suspect in the Louis Berger bribery case in the state by BJP. This surely raises serious questions whether principles and ideologies have any role in modern day politics. This also provokes one to believe that the BJP's catchphrases like "Congress-free India" and "corruption-free India"

were mere electoral gimmick. It must be noted that upon Amit Shah's approval, the allegations against the former minister have also been dropped by the party. Is this the kind of an "alternative government" the BJP is planning to provide in Assam by inducting controversial figures especially from political groups having ideological differences?

Yours sincerely, Himangka Kaushik Dibrugarh

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

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

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DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, AUGUST 28

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Why Our Voiceless Friends Need Our Corruption and RTI Help Now, More Than Ever Lomhom Tangha

Aradhna Singh In the scorching heat, my colleague and I were standing with nothing but a sheet of paper and a pen in our hands. This was for a campaign advocating for the freedom of captive elephants. Our aim for the day was to get 500 signatures. It may seem like an easy task since we were at a crowded place in the Delhi University North campus. However, it took us 5 hours to complete it.

That day, I conversed with students who had signed the pledge to not go to a zoo that holds captive elephants. I told them about a campaign by FIAPO (Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisation) called Living Free. Living Free upholds the notion that people should not exploit animals and their products.

I told them why we believe so and what the goal behind it is, however I could sense the contempt most felt. That was my first campaigning event and I was taken aback by the reactions I saw. Here I was, trying to be the change I want to see in the world, yet I felt that the world didn't appreciate it.

When it comes to animal welfare, most people don't understand its importance.

This adds to the daunting job of campaigning for such causes. The natural tendency to incorporate animal welfare into our lives is not as prevalent as it should be. Being an animal activist, I have always hoped to influence people in a way that this goal is achieved. Throughout my

experience with activism and campaigning, I learnt a various ways of enhancing this influence but it came with strings attached.

Around the globe, people are unaware of the cruelty endured by animals for human benefits. Issues such as the torture faced by animals in slaughter houses, the excruciating misery faced by rabbits for production of Angora wool or simply, the ruthless conditions that captive animals are made to live in, are just a few I came to know about while working with FIAPO. I understood that

No Job, No Experience: Why I Think Getting An Internship Is Crucial For One's Career With all the recent uproar about the UN Intern who was living in a tent in Geneva, the system of internship; rather unpaid internships comes under scrutiny.

When we enter a graduation or a professional course, we are eager to learn about the field and hope to one day make a mark in it.

Often the hopes and pride of our families are attached to us as well. Then comes the phase of holidays. What was once a time of bliss is now a time of rigour, that is, if you worked for that rigour during the pre-holiday season to land an internship or an industrial training.

Institutions have attached weightage to a set number of internships or training that a student must go through during their academic tenure, and require a documentation or report of the events and experience they garner. This is brilliant as students get exposed to true blue industrial culture and often get to work on real life projects. In fact, companies often come to campuses to provide internships to students and sometimes these students are offered a Pre-Placement Offer (PPO) or Pre-Placement Interview (PPI) depending on their performance during the internship period.

But that is not available throughout the education system. Not all institutes attract companies for internships and that often means that it ends up becoming just a courtesy activity for most.

Even if students manage to get into some companies by their own grit, it is not necessary that they will get genuine experience. Sometimes, companies take up interns just to boost their numbers for certain duration. It is not very different from the unregulated labour market.

Even this would have been acceptable to some degree if students were driven enough to try to gain something out of the opportunity. However, it is not uncommon for students to get by on the bare minimum or sometimes even manipulating the information, which is dire as internships then lose value in the eyes of a potential recruiter.

The point of an internship at the end of the day is to help students gain experience before they begin their professional careers, thus breaking the chain of qualifications required for various positions.

With portals such as internshala and oysterconnect coming up, transparency is increasing and students have more options, even on an international level. Nonetheless it is vital to realize that an internship is not a job and it shouldn't put unnecessary financial strain on you for the very simple reason that there are a plethora of options, and international exposure will mean for nothing if you cannot make ends meet back in your country.

Rahul Jain

most of the cruelty that animals face is due to their commercial exploitation.

Within a few months I learnt how I can take matters into my own hands.

During campaigning, I found that though a considerable proportion of society disregards animal rights, there are many people who want to fight for the animals but do not know where to start. The Boot Camporganised by FIAPO is a perfect opportunity for these people. It provides an arena to learn how to optimize your potential and to imbibe the best tactics re-

quired for campaigning and revolutionising animal welfare. If I had been given the opportunity to know how to administer such campaigns and what goes into achieving a successful one initially, I would not have doubted humanity as a whole.

The recent Kerala Boycott Movement has enraged animal rights activists worldwide. This movement is against the imprudent decision of the Kerala Government to euthanize "dangerous" stray dogs in the state. This protest was acknowledged by various

people all over the world as it involves man's best friend. The fact that such a case can unite such a diverse group of people is only proof that the right to defend animals is innate among us. It is imperative that we as denizens of the world should understand the gravity of the issue of animal rights and act upon it.

If you feel the absolute need to stand up for our voiceless friends and light the torch to commence the movement then join us at the Boot Camp on the 18- 20 of September in Delhi and 25-27 of September in Chennai.

Today, looking at the present social and political scenario in our state most of us, as citizens are perplexed, baffled or even confused as to where we are heading. We feel insecure in our own land considering the various unusual things happening around us these days like shortages of FPS quota, insufficient enough for one average household, short supply of LPG cylinders, hike in cost of living and what not. The root cause is unabated rise in corruption and at the same time being unable to raise our voice for our rights, because our understanding and positive mindset is being rendered narrow by the notions of nepotism. There is a great deficit of justice in our social surrounding because nobody dares to stand up for the truth paving the way for more corruption in turn.

Since money is the game changer in every sphere of life, money power has emerged in the society as the lone invincible king that dominates society.

Nevertheless, we come across once in a while intellectuals, civil societies tirelessly working to combat this all-encompassing corruption using several ways and means including RTI despite pressures coming from the corrupt rich and powerful. These bravehearts however must be encouraged by the fact that the common people's support is with them.

Unfortunately, there has been an emergence of a new trend - RTI, a handy tool to fight corruption, has been paradoxically encouraging even more corruption. It

might be questioned, how this could be possible. RTI activists are being offered huge sums of money to withdraw RTI applications that stand to badly expose corruption committed by the rich and powerful. It perhaps, becomes hard for even the honest RTI activists to resist giving into such alluring temptations.

Meanwhile, as a matter of fact, RTI has encouraged corruption in another way - the perpetrator of corruption in the wake of the RTI Act thinks that one day or the other some RTI will be filed by some activist and so in order to make ends meet, more money needs to be kept in stock which in turn results in committing further corruption.

With the advent of RTI Act passed in parliament on 12/ 13 May, 2015, a year ago, the victims of corruption became happy that they have been handed the lone weapon to deal with corruption in the country, but its rampant and gross misuse has weakened their spirit for once and for all.

It was thought that the economic disparity between the rich and poor would be reduced by curbing corruption but it could not practi-

cally yield results as expected. Corruption in Indian society has been prevalent since time immemorial in one form or the other. Nowadays, corruption can be witnessed everywhere, and when we talk of corruption in public life, it covers corruption in politics, state and central government, business, industry and so on. Public dealing counters in government offices are the places where corruption is most evident.

If one does not pay something extra for the work which is practically the duty of the concerned individual to do it for the sake of it, one can be sure that the work won't be done.

People have grown an insatiable appetite for money and that drives them to go to any extend to get money.

Undoubtedly they talk of morality and the importance of value based life but that is just for show, their inner voice is something else. Political corruption is the worst of its kind and detrimental for overall development. We are moving at a turtle's pace in the developmental domains much below par as compared to our counterparts due to unabated indulgence in corruption.

How Shell's Plan To Dig For Gang Rape Is 'Impractical' Oil In The Arctic Is A Massive And Worse: Sexist Things Disaster In Waiting Indian Politicians Say Nisha Umesh On April 20th, 2010, the most disastrous oil spill in the history of the United States occurred in the Gulf of Mexico. Following the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig and death of 11 workers, around 3.19 million barrels of oil had already spread through the gulf in almost three months.

This environmental disaster had irreversible longterm effects upon wildlife, both marine and land, as well as humans. Some of these effects include the fish and wildlife marine population decreasing drastically as a result of oil not only covering the body of the animals, but ended up being ingested by them.

Seagulls' feathers were saturated in oil, preventing them from flying; turtles were stranded in the spill zone and covered in oil; dolphins, among other marine life fell very sick, etc.

Additionally, fisheries in the area of the oil spill were adversely affected, losing business and revenue from a loss of seafood. The tourism in the area, primarily in Louisiana, was negatively impacted. The economic prosperity and revenue gained from the local businesses around the once crystal clear waters of the Gulf suffered a huge loss.

And yet, Royal Dutch Shell company has received approval to begin drilling for oil in the Arctic, specifically the Chukchi Sea in Alaska. Seven billion dollars have been invested into this expedition, as it is believed that an estimated 20 percent of the world's undiscovered oil reserves are located in the Arctic.

While there is a need for oil and energy in the future, as our current reserves begin to run low, environmental-

Misha Dwivedi

ists strongly advise against proceeding with this risky venture. They foresee negative consequences, similar to those following the spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The oil will have lasting effects upon wildlife, still suffering from prior invasion and destruction of their habitats. The land and water surrounding the drilling will also be contaminated, posing a threat to these ecological systems.

However, apart from the environmental consequences of drilling in the Arctic, there are dire repercussions which can directly affect the people living in the region. We must address how drilling into these regions for oil can displace indigenous people and destroy their homes.

Many indigenous people are currently protesting Shell's drilling in the Arctic, as their livelihood and commerce is built around the surrounding land and ocean. Drilling into these oil reserves procure negative environmental effects upon the land, which displace these native people

from their homes. The Swinomish Native American Tribe gathered in canoes near Shell's drilling rig in Elliott Bay in Seattle and protested by holding up signs and banners denouncing their expedition.

I strongly believe that Shell should not be entering the Arctic to drill for oil, as our environment is at a tremendously high risk for degradation. The repercussions will be severe, harming both the environment and wildlife if there is another spill. While these devastating effects exist, we must remember that humans are also directly affected by this drilling. We should confront corporations such as Shell, who freely trespass into, and destroy regions that do not belong to them.

They must answer to the people who are being displaced by their enterprise and realize that they are doing more harm than good. It is not smart to continue putting both, environment and human lives at stake for the sake of striking oil and ultimately, striking rich.

Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav has done it again and with equal aplomb as in the past.

Caught again with his foot in his filthy mouth, he has been summoned by a local district court in UP for his latest remark on gang rape being 'impractical'. The summon has been issued under Section 504 (intentional insult), 505 (statement conducting to public mischief), 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 116 (abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment) and sections under Indecent Representation of Women Prohibition Act 1986.

I reckon by now you must be familiar with his infamous series of outrageous misogynistic public remarks and his absurdly horrifying views on rape. If not, here is a refresher1. "One commits rape and then four more are named.

Can such thing happen? It is impractical. If one brother commits rape, his three other brothers would also be made accuse in the case." (So, all the gang rape cases registered by the police are an inexplicable farce aimed at destroying the reputations of saintly men?)

2. "Ladke, ladke hain. Galti ho jati hai. Rape accused should not be hanged. Men make mistakes." (Speaking like a sheepish parent defending his child at a parent-teacher meeting in school for pinching a fellow student, this gem came at a time when the entire country was aghast at the heinous nature of the 2012 December 16 gang rape case.)

3. "When their friendship ends, the girl complains

that she has been raped."

(Words fail me, I've been silenced into shock by this unimaginable theory.)

Besides these incredible statements, Mulayam also possesses other weapons in his fat arsenal such as"What can I say about the kind of women who will enter Parliament? The wives and daughters of officers and businessmen, who invite whistles from boys", in context to Women's Reservation Bill, 2010. I am pretty sure Mr. Yadav must've done his fair share of whistle-blowing and 'friendly' eve-teasing in his salad days.

While MSY's backward remarks unarguably win him the title of the Most Sexist Political Leader in India, there are innumerable others in this never-ending race: 1. Abhijit Mukherjee, President Pranab Mukherjee's son: He characterised female protestors at India Gate as "dented and painted women" and claimed that the activists had come out right after a bout of dancing at the discotheque about the protesters against the 2012 gang rape case. Such a provocative statement from the son of our nation's first citizen is unfortunate to say the least.

2. PM Narendra Modi: He called Shashi Tharoor's

wife Sunanda Pushkar, "50 crore ki girlfriend". (Whatever be the context, this remark borders on defamation and reflects the speaker's callous attitude towards women.)

3. BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj: "The concept of four wives and 40 children will not work in India. The time has come when a Hindu woman must produce at least four children in order to protect Hindu religion." Referring to Muslim men who can legally have four wives, he reduced Hindu women to baby-producing machineswith disturbing ease. The remark highlights his fear of India being taken over by Muslims which is echoed by many other BJP leaders.

4. Jitendar Chattar (leader of a Khap Panchayat): "To my understanding, consumption of fast food contributes to such incidents (rape). Chowmein leads to hormonal imbalance, evoking an urge to indulge in such acts." He probably also believes that cows can fly.

By far, the most abnormal view on rape.

With such deep-seated sexism in our political class, gender equality seems like a surreal concept, perhaps a concoction of female minds getting too naughty, eh? I'm sure Mamata Banerjee will agree.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, AUGUST 28

BUSINESS

Dispute over cautionary note between Flipkart and Nikon settled New Delhi, Aug 27: The Nikon India Pvt. Ltd. on Wednesday told the Karnataka High Court that it would put out a general cautionary note for the customers for checking warranty entitlements while buying its products from ecommerce portals without mentioning names of ecommerce portals like Flipkart. Nikon's counsel made this submission during the hearing of an appeal, filed by the Flipkart Internet Pvt. Ltd., which had questioned July 16 order of a City Civil and Sessions Court refusing to grant injunction restraining Nikon from using name of Flipkart in the cautionary note. Meanwhile, Flipkart's counsel agreed to Nikon's decision to put out general cautionary note about purchase of its products from ecommerce portal. Justice B.S. Patil, before whom the appeal came up for hearing, disposed off Flipkart's plea as the issue raised by it in

the suit before the civil court does not survive any more as Nikon has taken off the cautionary note in which names of Flipkart was indicated. The Court has also asked the Flipkart to withdraw or seek dismissal of the suit pending before the civil court. The notice in Nikon's India website read: "Please note that e commerce websites like Flipkart, Snapdeal are not our authorised partner/ dealer. We advise you to check the warranty entitle-

ments while buying from online portals." In its suit, the Flipkart had contended that Nikon India had defamed its name while also seeking apology from the Nikon for using the name of Flipkart in the cautionary note. However, the Nikon claimed that it did not intend to target or defame a particular e-commerce portal in its cautionary note, which was general in nature though names of Flipkart and Snapdeal were used.

(Agencies)

Draft financial code still have a lot of gaps, says RBI deputy governor New Delhi, Aug 27: The Reserve Bank of India has said that the draft financial code released by the finance ministry based on recommendations of the financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission has a lot of gaps in its effort to codifying regulatory objectives into simple rules. The draft code had run into controversy with both the finance ministry and the FSLRC headed by Justce Srikrishan disowning it. The latest critique of the report comes from RBI deputy governor HR Khan. Speaking at an annual conference of bond dealers in Prague last week,

Khan said while central banks, as extended financial regulators, have been enjoined upon greater responsibilities in the postcrisis context, they have also been at the center of criticism for not getting the balance right. "This is a judgement issue and policy makers are expected to carry out this responsibility within a broad set of principles and an understanding shaped by various adaptive learning processes. It is difficult to codify this into a set of simple rules/laws. The draft Indian Financial Code (IFC), though an ambitious

attempt in this direction, leaves large gaps unaddressed," said Khan. The draft report was earlier criticized for taking away monetary policy decisions from an RBI determined panel to one that was appointed largely by the government. The draft also did away with veto power for the governor on decisions taken by the committee. Although RBI governor Raghuram Rajan had thrown his support against a veto power, central bank officials had said that there should be some continuity in transition to the MPc. (Agencies)

Plea against DLF's project rejected by CCI

Ahmedabad, Aug 27: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) recently rejected anti-competitive practices charges against real estate major DLF in one of its project in the national capital region. The latest complaint pertained to apartments booked in the residential project DLF Capital Greens, Phase III, in the national capital. The fair trade regulator had dismissed the allegations after finding that prima-facie there was no violation of competition norms espe-

cially since DLF is not in a dominant position in the relevant market. "Since DLF is not found to be in a dominant position, the question of its conduct being abusive does not arise," CCI said in its order. The complaint was filed by Ess Cee Securities and Signature Securities. According to CCI, the complainants were primarily aggrieved with the alleged abusive conduct of DLF in regards to making false representations regarding delivery schedule, concealing infor-

mation relating to requisite approvals/ sanctions and selling of parking spaces, among others. "There are many other real estate developers operating in Delhi, who are engaged in the provision of services relating to the development and sale of similar residential dwelling units. Some of such developers include Delhi Development Authority, Ansal API, Umang Realtech, Emaar Group, CGHS Group, Parsvnath, etc. "These developers appear to pose competitive constraints to DLF in the relevant market," the order said. Presence of other real estate developers in the relevant market indicates that the informants (complainants) were not dependent upon DLF for purchasing residential apartments, it added. DLF has been under the CCI scanner, in which the regulator had ordered two separate probes. (Agencies)

Oil prices stabilise globally

Taiwan, Aug 27: Oil stabilised after China's central bank moved to support the country's economy, but prices stayed near 6-1/2year lows as a heavy supply glut kept the market outlook bearish. "Oil is catching its breath a bit and seeing if markets have been oversold or not," Capital Economics commodities economist Thomas Pugh said. Brent was up 20 cents at $43.41 a barrel intra-day, and U.S. crude was up 15 cents at $39.46 a barrel. Oil has lost a third of its value since June on high U.S. production, record crude one session after heavy falls pumping in the Middle in equity markets. "The East and concern about trend remains down, but in falling demand in Asian an erratic phase where ateconomies. On Monday, tempts to recover are being both crude oil benchmarks made," PVM Oil Associsaw their lowest trades ates director Robin Bieber since early 2009, dropping said. China has cut interas much as six per cent in est rates and lowered the STABILIZED STATE Oil prices stayed near 6-1/2-year lows as a heavy supply glut kept the market outlook bearish.

Brent was up 20 cents at $43.41 a barrel intra-day, and U.S. crude was up 15 cents at $39.46 a barrel.

Oil has lost a third of its value since June on high U.S. production, record crude pumping in the Middle East and concern about falling demand in Asian economies.

U.S. crude stocks fell by 7.3 million barrels last week to 449.3 million as refinery runs increased, compared with analysts' expectations for a rise of one million barrels, industry data from the American Petroleum Institute showed on Tuesday.

power, creativity, institutional nimbleness and global reach to capitalise on new opportunities and have a lasting impact on society and industry through cutting-edge digital research and a long-term commitment to education." The gift will also endow Presidential Fellowships and Scholarships, increasing the availability of a CMU education to outstanding students and in doing so, TCS will help equip Carnegie Mellon undergraduate and graduate students with the knowledge they need for future careers. "Together, our two organisations have the capabilities and capacity to make breakthrough discoveries, and the scale to make societal impact on a global scale," Subra Suresh, President, Carnegie Mellon said in a statement. TCS joins an increasing group of major technology companies moving to the Pittsburgh region in recent years. Now more than 250 companies have partnerships with CMU. (Agencies)

Manufacture of batteries by Panasonic to be stopped in Beijing Step likely to cut 1,300 jobs

reserves banks must hold and injected 140 billion yuan into banks through short-term liquidity operations to calm fears about a severe economic slowdown. The Shanghai Composite Index, is now 43 per cent below the June peak for the year. ANZ said China's rate cuts had calmed commodity markets, but they remained cautious and gains would be limited as global oil oversupply is likely to persist in the short term. Mr. Pugh at Capital Economics said he thought the oil market was "already pricing in a worst case scenario in China at the moment", adding: "I'd be surprised if we drop much further." But physical oil traders say the

physical market remains stubbornly weak, with the global crude oil glut proving difficult to clear. Several members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries are producing record volumes of oil. OPEC member Iran plans to increase crude production and reclaim its lost export share after international sanctions are lifted, and Nigeria is also boosting exports. U.S. crude stocks fell by 7.3 million barrels last week to 449.3 million as refinery runs increased, compared with analysts' expectations for a rise of one million barrels, industry data from the American Petroleum Institute showed on Tuesday.

(Agencies)

Tokyo, Aug 27: Japanese electronics giant Panasonic Corp (6752.T) will stop making lithiumion batteries at its factory in Beijing this month, cutting 1,300 jobs as it faces stiff competition from South Korean rivals, the Nikkei business daily said on Thursday. The plant, which produces batteries for mobile phones and cameras mainly for nonJapanese brands, has been struggling to boost profitability, the paper said.

Panasonic will shutter the 15-year-old factory next month and focus on more promising batteries such as those used in cars and industrial equipment, the paper said. The plant is owned by subsidiary Sanyo Electric. Panasonic, like other domestic peers, has been moving away from consumer electronics products in general, restructuring its business to focus on higher-end goods such as electric car batteries. Panasonic could not be immediately reached for comment. (Agencies)

Highest ever sales recorded by Mercedes New Delhi, Aug 27: Mercedes-Benz is all set to become the first luxury car brand in India to clock annual sales of over 11,000 units this calendar year. The top luxury brand in the country by volumes has indicated that it continues to see strong sales momentum and is confident of posting double digit growth for the third year in a row. "Sales momentum is still there for our brand. July and August were good. Usually, second half of calendar year will be better in sales due to festive season. So, we hope 2015 will be yet another strong year for Merc," Eberhard Kern, Managing Director &

CEO, Mercedes-Benz India (MBI) said after the inauguration of Titanium Motors, Merc's new dealership by VST Motors, which has spent about Rs.45 crore in opening two showrooms and a service centre in the city. MBI ended the first half of this calendar year with total sales of 6,659 units, up 41 per cent over a year-ago period. It is now the fastest growing luxury brand in India. After a robust first half, Merc is confident of doing even better in the second half which will get a festive boost. Thus, even a lower double digit growth in annual sales will see Merc's volumes crossing 11,000

units in 2015, thereby becoming the first brand in the luxury segment to achieve

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS Mercedes-Benz is all set to become the first luxury car brand in India to clock annual sales of over 11,000 units this calendar year.

MBI ended the first half of this calendar year with total sales of 6,659 units, up 41 per cent over a year-ago period.

Even a lower double digit growth in annual sales will see Merc's volumes crossing 11,000 units in 2015, thereby becoming the first brand in the luxury segment to achieve such landmark sales in a calendar year.

The company posted sales of 10,201 units in 2014. Meanwhile, Merc is gearing up to launch five new models in the next four months.

The next launch by Merc will be AMG C63S on September 3.

Merc will also launch its AMG-GT as well as three more new models.

About two thirds of Merc's sales come from upper end models.

Merc now offers the widest reach among the luxury brands with 78 outlets across 39 cities.

such landmark sales in a calendar year. The company posted sales of 10,201 units in 2014. Meanwhile, Merc is gearing up to launch five new models in the next four months. Most of these new launches would happen in the upper end of the luxury segment. The next launch will be AMG C63S on September 3. This model, which comes in the performance segment, will be its 11th launch in this calendar year. Merc will also launch its AMG-GT as well as three more new models, details of which were not disclosed.

Mr. Kern said Mercedes was

no longer one or two products brand and its portfolio included at least nine volume driver models that include C Class, E Class, and GLA. "About two thirds of our sales come from upper end models. Luxury compacts are major volume drivers. But other segments also contribute in a big way," he added. In terms of dealer outlets, Merc now offers the widest reach among the luxury brands with 78 outlets across 39 cities. Its faster network expansion has also been a major driver of sales growth. (Agencies)

ICICI offers home loans with guarantee

TCS donates $35 m to Carnegie Mellon Pune, Aug 27: In a development marking a new era of partnership between leaders in industry and academia, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in the U.S., received a $35 million (around Rs.230 crore) gift from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). This represents the largest corporate gift to CMU from outside the U.S. and will be used to fund a new facility, the Tata Consultancy Services Building, which will support education and cutting-edge research by CMU faculty and students, a statement from TCS said. The approximately 40,000 sq.ft. standalone structure will house facilities for collaborative spaces for CMU faculty and staff as also space for TCS staff to interact with CMU faculty, staff and students. "TCS is proud to invest in this landmark partnership with CMU to promote market-driven innovation and accelerate advancements in technology," N. Chandrasekaran, CEO & MD, TCS said. "As global leaders, Carnegie Mellon and TCS have the intellectual

PAGE 10

Mumbai, Aug 27: Those who have not managed to buy a house until middle age can now get a longterm loan with ICICI Bank introducing a product for this segment. The

home loan has been made possible with the help of a guarantee from a company promoted by National Housing Bank and US insurer Genworth Financial. Unlike standard

loans which are not available beyond the retirement age of a borrower, ICICI Bank's 'Extraa Home Loan' allows loans that are repayable up to 67 years of age. In a first

such deal, ICICI Bank has tied up with the newly promoted India Mortgage Guarantee Corporation (IMGC), which will guarantee the repayment of the loan. The fee for the guarantee, which will be around 1 per cent of the loan amount, will have to be paid by the borrower and will be built into the equated monthly instalments. Borrowers up to 37 years of age can avail of a 30-year loan.

The longer tenure of the loan would shrink the EMIs and increase the borrower's loan eligibility. According to ICICI Bank officials, loan eligibility will increase by up to 20 per cent depending on the age of the borrower. peaking at the launch of the scheme, ICICI Bank MD & CEO Chanda Kochhar said the home loan industry has been growing at 15 per cent for over 10 years and the government's focus on housing for all will push up demand for home loans and the new products will increase acces-

sibility of mortgages.

"The housing sector is of strategic importance to any economy. It is the key driver of growth with linkages to a number of sectors," she said. To begin with, the loans will be available at the bank's branches in Greater Mumbai, NCR, Bengaluru and Surat.

Subsequently, it will be rolled out across the other cities in the country. The salaried as well as selfemployed individuals seeking home loans of a maximum amount of Rs 75 lakh are eligible for this loan and the maximum age at entry is 48 years. Mortgage guarantees with the intention to mitigate risk taken by lenders, banks and housing finance companies, over time make it easier for people to get access to home loans with lower down payment amounts (as prescribed by regulations) earlier in life than would have been possible without IMGC's involvement.

(Agencies)

“We play for only one reason …We play to win. So we have got a chance, in a position now, where if you win this test match you win the series, which is massive. So, there is no point being shy of going for a win. At the same time, it is not the case of being overconfident. You got to have a right balance and go and play proper cricket like we did in the last test match for five days,”

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, AUGUST 28

PAGE 11

Ravi Shastri

Can Kohli's India clinch first Test series win in Lanka in 22 years?

Colombo: India goes into the third and final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Friday hoping to register their first series victory in the island nation in 22 years. Having registered his first Test victory as captain, after India humbled the Lankans by 278 runs in the second Test at the P Sara Oval last week, Virat Kohli is on the cusp of claiming his maiden rubber as well. It was Mohammad Azharuddin who, in 1993, last led an Indian team to a Test series triumph on Sri Lankan soil. Kohli's fivebowler strategy has paid rich dividends, albeit with different results. From three spinners in Galle, and dropping Harbhajan Singh for Stuart Binny in Colombo, the team did well to pick all the 40 Lankan wickets on offer. It's been a horses-for-courses policy thus far, and it has worked well.

Riding on Ravichandran Ashwin's terrific form with the ball, the visitors dominated almost eight out of the nine days of cricket played thus

far in the two matches.

Ashwin, who bagged a fivewicket haul to help India skittle out Sri Lanka for 134 and win the previous game, combined well with Amit Mishra, who has taken 12 wickets in the series. The Ashwin-Mishra combination has proved quite a handful for the Lankan batsmen. The two spinners were ably supported by Ishant Sharma in the pace department. As such, the team only needed

League Cup: Everton survive scare

reinforcements in the guise of a fifth bowler, and, thus, Binny was summoned for the second game. Upul Tharanga is expected to replace the outgoing lefthander, and is likely to bat at No.3. Skipper Angelo Mathews has taken up the number four slot, leaving Lahiru Thirimanne at number five. The big worry here is that Tharanga is also a left-hander and their record against Ashwin in this series has been worrisome for

Lanka. Twelve of his 17 victims have been lefthanders, with Kumar Sangakkara accounting for four dismissals and Thirimanne another three.

It is easy to assume that the Indian attack will bear the same look, as it did at the Oval and SSC. There's some rearrangement of the batting line-up too. Ajinkya Rahane has moved to number three and Rohit Sharma, after a failed experiment in three Tests, is

van Wyk put on 89 for the first wicket. The world's top-ranked batsman in this format put on another 86 runs for the fourth wicket with David Miller, but was bowled by Doug Bracewell just as he began to accelerate at the start of the final 10 overs of the innings. While de Villiers was at the crease, South Africa appeared to be on target to post a 300 plus total but his departure left Farhaan Behardien to get them close to that figure as he produced a neat 40 from 28 balls. Seamer Ben Wheeler took three wickets for the tourists, but they came at some cost as he went for 71 in his 10 overs.

World Athletics: Vikas Gowda qualifies for discus final stands at 66.28m, achieved his best mark of the day on his first attempt itself and then hurled the disc to 63.84m before fouling his third and last qualification round throw. Gowda is competing in his third World Championships and had finished seventh in 2011 and 2013. Fedrick Dacres of Jamaica led the

then again, they have already been mixing their batting order in the past two Tests, so it shouldn't matter this time around either. All in all, it puts a lot of onus on the top-five batsmen to get runs, and that has not been an easy task thus far. Perhaps, it also puts the SSC groundsmen in a quandary. In Galle, the pitch was tailor-made for Rangana Herath and he came good on day four.

The P Sara Oval pitch was a little more conservative, and while their batsmen didn't give a sniff to Herath this time, the Indian bowlers were persistent in their approach. It remains to be seen if the SSC wicket will resemble either of the pitches from the first two Tests, or will be flatter in nature, pointing towards a draw. Either way, India's dominance in this series will have a bearing on it. Certainly, Sri Lanka will not want to lose a second home series in succession, after going down 1-2 to Pakistan.

(Agencies)

De Villiers leads SA to series win

Barnsley: Premier League Everton survived a mighty scare to beat League One Barnsley 5-3 after extra time in the League Cup second round. Everton trailed 2-0 at halftime and after drawing level through Kevin Mirallas and Steven Naismith they fell behind again to a goal by Daniel Crowley. Striker Romelu Lukaku levelled for Everton to take the tie to extra time and the powerful Belgian struck again after an own goal by Marc Roberts to end third-tier Barnsley's hopes of a major upset. Everton will travel to Championship Reading in the third round. (Agencies)

Beijing: Vikas Gowda qualified for the final round of the men's discus throw event with a modest effort of 63.86m on the sixth day of the World Athletics Championships in Beijing.

Gowda, the reigning Asian champion and Asian Games silver medallist, finished fourth in Group A qualification round to make

now slotted at number five.

With the five-bowler theory in effect, there was no place for Cheteshwar Pujara in this line-up, not as a specialist middle-order batsman at least. However, due to injuries sustained by Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan, he is now slated to open the innings with Lokesh Rahul at the SSC. Unless some cruel fate transpires to rob him of this chance as well, this Test will perhaps define the Saurashtra batsman's standing in the squad. Having Pujara as a makeshift opener also allows the 32year-old Naman Ojha to finally make his Test debut, while Karun Nair is likely to warm the bench. On paper, at least, this combination looks like India's best bet to win a Test series away from home. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, seem to be in disarray and it is not entirely due to Sangakkara's retirement after two matches in this series. In a way, it did put a hold on the hosts' plans for the series since they will now be fielding another batsman. But,

New Zealand looked good in reply when they went past 100 for the loss of just Martin Guptill but as they tried to accelerate the scoring midway through the innings, wickets fell at regular intervals. Key batsman Kane Williamson was bowled

by Imran Tahir, while opener Tom Latham ran himself out attempting a tight second run. From there it was a procession.

Proteas all-rounder David Wiese registered career best bowling figures of three for 58, while young speedster Kagiso Rabada was impressive in returning two for 33 in his 10 overs. (Agencies)

Proteas climb to third spot in ODI ranking Durban: AB de Villiers returned to form with a brisk half-century which helped South Africa to complete a 62-run win and a 2-1 series victory over New Zealand. Captain De Villiers blasted 64 from 48 balls to lead the Proteas to 283 for seven in their 50 overs. New

Zealand battled to keep up with the scoring rate but they succumbed under pressure and were 221 all out in the final over of their innings. De Villiers had been on a lean run in the series, but for once came to the crease with a platform laid after openers Hashim Amla and Morne

AB de Villiers’s men have climbed up one spot to the third position in the official ICC ODI ranking following their 2-1 three-match series win against New Zealand in Durban. With the win, South Africa are now

with 110 points. Australia continued to sit atop the rankings with 129 rating points and India at the second spot with 115 points. South Africa are at the number one rank in Tests and number six rank in Twenty20. (ANI)

Champions league Round-Up Rooney runs riot to seal United group stage berth

Brussels: Manchester United ended their one-year Champions League hiatus in emphatic style when Wayne Rooney struck a hat-trick in a 4-0 destruction of Club Bruges that sent the three-times winners through 7-1 on aggregate. Rooney had not scored in almost 900 minutes before United's trip to Belgium but brought his drought to an end when he netted his 30th Champions League goal in the 20th minute. Running on to a neat Memphis Depay pass into the penalty area, the England international clipped the ball over onrushing goalkeeper Sinan Bolat. It was Depay's second assist of the tie and he also netted a double in last week's 3-1 first-leg success. Depay was again involved in the buildup to Rooney's second four minutes after halftime. The Netherlands forward found Ander Herrera in the penalty area, whose first-time pass across goal set up Rooney for a simple tap-in. Herrera's Spanish compatriot Juan Mata provided the assist for Rooney's third eight minutes later, as the club captain completed his first treble in Europe since his debut against Fenerbahce in 2004. Herrera made it 4-0 in the 63rd minute when he collected a Bastian Schweinsteiger pass and slotted home before Javier Hernandez missed from the penalty spot nine minutes from time. "Obviously, I'm delighted to get the goals but it was a massive game for the club," Rooney said. "I understand because of who I am I get publicised a lot more.

But we knew we had to get into the Champions League, it was vital," he added. After failing to qualify for last season's competition for the first time since the 1995-96 season, United are through for the 20th time, equalling the record shared by holders Barcelona, 11-times winners Real Madrid and 2004 champions Porto.

Astana, first Kazakh team to qualify

As the playoffs for Europe's elite club competition reached their climax, Bayer Leverkusen, BATE Borisov, CSKA Moscow and Astana joined United in securing the final places for the lucrative group stage. Astana became the first Kazakh team to qualify when they netted a late equaliser to draw 1-1 at APOEL Nicosia for a 2-1 aggregate success and Leverkusen thumped visiting 10-man Lazio 3-0 on the night to go through 3-1. Serbian midfielder Nemanja Maksimovic grabbed the crucial goal for Astana six minutes from time as Kazakhstan became the 32nd country to be represented in the group stage.

BATE of Belarus lost 2-1 at Partizan Belgrade but advanced on away goals after the tie ended 2-2, while CSKA Moscow eliminated Sporting Lisbon 4-3 on aggregate.

Valencia, fifth Spanish team in Champions League

Balotelli completes loan move to Milan from Liverpool the finals to be held on Saturday. His effort put him at seventh rank among those who have qualified for the final. The 32-year-old United States-based Indian, whose national record

qualification round with a throw of 65.77m, followed

by Polishman Piotr Malachowski (65.59m) and Estonia's Olympic bronze medallist Gerd Kanter (64.78m). (Agencies)

Milan: Striker Mario Balotelli has completed his season-long loan move to AC Milan from Liverpool, both clubs confirmed on Thursday. The controversial striker failed to make an impact at Anfield last

season and scored just one goal in 16 Premier League appearances as Liverpool finished sixth in the table.

The 25-year-old Italian joined Liverpool last season for a reported fee of 16 million pounds from Milan but

was repeatedly criticised for his poor work rate during his time in England.

Balotelli, who also played for Manchester City, had a relatively successful and uneventful spell in Milan, scoring 18 goals in 41 Serie

A appearances in one-anda-half seasons. He will have a good behaviour clause inserted into his contract with Milan, banning extravagant haircuts and clothing and committing him to a healthy lifestyle. (Agencies)

Spain are the first country to have five clubs in the group stage in one season after Valencia progressed past Monaco 43 on aggregate despite a 2-1 defeat at the Ligue 1 side in their playoff second leg. Valencia joined Barca, Real, 2014 finalists Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, who qualified as last season's Europa League winners. Malmo, Dinamo Zagreb, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Shakhtar Donetsk also won their playoff ties.

Shastri wants India to display Bayern extend Thiago contract `proper cricket` to seal Lanka series by two years to 2019 Colombo : India's team director Ravi Shastri on Thursday, urged his side to display `proper cricket`, just as they had played in the second Test match at Colombo, if they want to clinch the three-Test series against Sri Lanka. “We play for only one reason …We play to win. So we have got a chance, in a position now, where if you win this test

match you win the series, which is massive. So, there is no point being shy of going for a win. At the same time, it is not the case of being overconfident. You got to have a right balance and go and play proper cricket like we did in the last test match for five days,” Shastri said at a press conference here.

Shastri also said that if his

squad will stick to their disciplined bowling, then their victory is guaranteed.

“I think it is the best bowling I have seen as the unit in about a couple of years.

Especially on day two and parts of the day three (second Test), where they might have not got wickets but the discipline was there. They kept the pressure on the opposition, and

when wickets started falling it made a massive difference. If they can stick to their discipline I think there is a lot of promise,” he added Shastri further lauded batsman K.L Rahul for his impressive century and brilliant catch in the second Test and added that he and skipper Virat Kohli have full faith on him.

(ANI)

Munich: Midfielder Thiago Alcantara has extended his contract with German champions Bayern Munich by two years to 2019, the club said on Thursday. The versatile 24-year-old Spain international, who joined from Barcelona in 2013, suffered a severe knee injury that saw him

sidelined for much of last season before coming back in April. "We are happy that Thiago decided to stay at Bayern for the long term," said club CEO K a r l - H e i n z Rummenigge in a statement. "He is young and an important player for the future of the club."

Thiago, brought to Bayern by former Barca coach Pep Guardiola, has played 41 matches in all competitions for the Bavarians and also took part in both of this season's Bundesliga games so far as the club chases a record fourth straight league title.

(Agencies)

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Page 12

Features

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, AUGUST 28

RNIASSENG00425/TC

TRAVEL & TOURISM Shillong, also known as the Scotland of the east is the capital of Meghalaya, one of the smallest states in India. The ultimate option for the British families that resided in India during the British rule, Shillong is known for its natural beauty dotted with pristine lakes, clean roads and welcoming atmosphere. The Shillong peak, the waterfalls, centers of education, nightlife and above all, comfortable climate all over the year has made Shillong a must visit for tourists visiting India. Shillong has a number of tourist attractions that make up much

of the tourists to do list while in the state of Meghalaya, these are listed below.

Mawjymbuin Cave About 56 kilometers from Shillong are the Khasi hills which receive the heaviest rainfall in the world. The Mawjymbuin Cave is located in the Khasi hills. The stalagmites caused by years of weathering and due to dripping of mineralized solutions and deposition of calcium carbonate are a must see for all tourists that visit the region.

Ward's Lake If you're looking for a refreshing way to start your

morning, a visit to Ward's Lake is a must. The serene lake located in the heart of the city is a nice spot for sightseeing. The Shillong Peak overlooking the lake makes it a perfect location for boating while the cherry blossom trees located adjacent to the lake leaves you craving for more. The shallow waters filled with lotus blossom make the lake a perfect place to hangout.

The Elephant Falls The Elephant Falls, a three step waterfall located about 12 kilometers from Shillong is found near Shillong's highest Peak, (Shillong Peak).

Travel to the land of clouds The name Elephant Falls came from a rock which resembled an elephant which was located at the foot of the falls, however, the rock was destroyed by an earthquake in 1897.

The falls is surrounded by a number of souvenir shops and small tea shops.

Steep steps leading to the first fall which is broad and hidden amongst trees.

The second fall is calm and almost negligible in winter when the water levels recede. The third and last waterfall is the tallest amongst the three. The Elephant Falls are known

for its clear water which flows over the jutting rocks without having any particular form.

Don Bosco Center Statues and models found at the Don Bosco Center for Indigenous Cultures promote the Khasi culture. This Don Bosco Museum is located at the hillock of Mawlai, Shillong (Meghalaya) and is Asia's largest Museum of Indigenous Cultures. The Museum is a 7 floor building consisting of many galleries, multi-media, seminars, and courses, workshops which help show-

case and depict the 8 States of North East India under one roof. The Museum consists of artifacts, paintings and fiberglass figures which attracts more than 30,000 tourists from India and abroad annually.

All Saints Church If you are a person of faith, then a visit to All Saints Church is a must.

This Church is one of the oldest churches in Shillong. Constructed during the British rule, the All Saints Church has stood the test of faith and time. The colonial style church is of wooden na-

ture. Mass at this church is celebrated every evening while most prefer to attend the Sunday morning mass. The Church stands opposite to the State Central Library which is a perfect place to spend a peaceful time along with your family.

Lum Khyriem The Lum Khyriem View Point located on top of a hill near the BSF bastion gives you a spectacular view of Shillong. The 180 degree panoramic view of Shillong gives you a sudden feeling of awed delight leaving you wonderstruck. The viewpoint is about a 20 minute walk from the city and is best visited during the evening, as a carpet of city lights awaits you.

Police Bazar The Police Bazar located in the heart of Shillong is one of the main markets of the city. The goods available here range from tradition to modern. All types of goods are available here and are for sale at much cheaper rates than those available at metro cities. Shopping at Police Bazazr is on every tourist to-do list while visiting Shillong.

Butterfly Museum The Butterfly Museum which houses a variety of butterflies that are found in the North East region of India is a private Museum owned and managed

by Wankhar, Riatsamthiah. The Museum is filled with colour and is quite a treat for first time visitors. The museum also takes up various programme's to preserve and conserve various species of butterflies and moths. These Butterflies are cultivated for commercial usage a purpose, ensuring the ecological balance is kept along with the beauty and serenity of Shillong intact.

Cloud 9 If you consider yourself a party animal, you can start your evening with a visit to Cloud 9, the rooftop nightclub at Hotel Centre Point. The club is spread over an area of 5000 sp. feet and has a floating footfall of around 250300. The food and drinks served from the PanAsian cuisine of Skye Asia make Cloud 9 undoubtedly the destination for tourists who want to indulge themselves.

Helicopter services from Guwahati to Shillong are available for those who are up for the thrill and experience of the ride. The ride is about 20 minutes and is considered to be economical and convenient compared to the alternative road services.

The scenery from helicopter is an experience altogether which shouldn't be missed out on your next trip to Shillong.

Biodiversity cum Must-eats in Shillong: Recreation Park, Diphu Authentic Khasi and Jaintia cuisine Karbi Anglong, one of the hilly districts of the state of Assam is an abode of Nature. Everybody is enchanted by the beckons of Nature. Adding to this natural beauty, the Department of Environment and Forest, under the administration of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council established a "Bio-diversity cum Recreation Park" at altitude 177msl amidst an undulating landscape.

It was during the first half of 1998 that a noble idea occurred in the mind of a Forest Range Officer and backed by the inspiration of some seniors of the department, it led to setting up of a Botanical Garden in and around Diphu. Spreading over an undulating topography, the park presently encompasses a land of 40 hectares on the bank of Diphu river with picturesque surrounding. The best suited red loamy and red sandy soils of this place support luxuriant growth of indigenous fruit bearing, flower bearing, medicinal and many other exotic plant species. This park may be regarded as the Hub of Plant's Kingdom of Assam.

Amrita Madhukalya

There are as many as 700 plants species out of which, some are still to be identified. A number of species preserved here are rare and some are highly endangered. The park provides the shelter habitat to many wild lives. Four squirrel

species including: flying squirrel, mongoose, poisonous and non-poisonous snakes, varieties of tree and other frogs, monitor lizard, varieties of butterflies, spiders and insects are common. More than 20 bird species have been recorded.

A number of unique manmade objects increase the gravity of the park.

Jambili Athon: This symbolic architecture made of concrete is based on an old Jambili Athon of the Karbis found at Terang Gaon of Balipotha. Jambili Athon signifies courage, unity, integrity, peace and harmony of Karbi Society.

Wooden Sculpture: The unbelievable sculpture carved on the trunk of a dead standing tree (Terminalia BalaricaBhomora) at the centre of the Park is unique, portraying the works of a master craftsman of the land, also

depicting the artistic mind set of the Karbi people.

This is a unique projection of unbelievable sculpture reflecting the theme for nature conservation - a phase of struggle for existence.

Hem Tun: This is a replica of a traditional dwelling house of Karbi people made of concrete seems to be an ideal bamboo and wooden construction on the top of a hillock.

Children's Park: The children's park is one of the most attractive objects of this establishment. Apart from a house of children's games, the gigantic model of a hill tortoise, water fountain, the water tank which represents our Earth and an unbelievable wood sculpture/tree sculpture draw every one's keen attention. Another beautiful attraction of the park is the lake for boating. (Agencies)

Shillong, the gorgeous capital of Meghalaya, is usually one of the top destinations in the Indian tourist's bucket list.

Called the Scotland of the East, this quaint town is also a place to home in for authentic Khasi and Jaintia food, beyond the chowmein and momos that many a bungling tourist believes is the beginning and end of local cuisine. Khasi and Jaintia cuisine are similar and usually comprise meat and rice. Like the rest of the northeast, their food, too, keeps spices to a minimum. Steamed and boiled food is preferred, and curries are usually flavoured with onions, ginger, garlic, chillies, mustard oil, sesame and soyabean.

Most preferred are ja doh and ja doh snam, both rice dishes cooked in either chicken or pork stock, with pieces of meat. Ja doh snam, how-

ever, uses either pig or chicken blood. Then there's doh khleh, a dish in which fat from a pig's head is boiled with onions and chillies. A popular side dish is turumbai, a chutney made from fermented soyabean. It is similar to the Naga akhuni in pungency and taste, though not dry.

Doh shiar ngiong and doh ngiong are akin to Indian meat curries, but have black sesame paste, which lends a smoky flavour. Doh shiar ngiong has chicken, while doh ngiong uses pork. There's doh jem, a dish made from pork liver and intestines, while doh kpu has meat balls made of pork or beef keema. Another staple is dai doh, which, simply put, is pork dal.

The cuisines also use a lot of fish. Doh kha sdieh is the Khasi version of Assamese fried fish.

There's also a fish version of ja doh snam, but one can only find it in Khasi hearths, not hotels, as

cooking it is tedious.

Few tourists seek eateries serving local food.

"There are joints serving authentic Khasi food.

These are called ja cha stores, literally meaning rice and tea eateries.

There also jing bamstores, meaning stores that stock things and snacks to eat." Jing bam stores usually sell rice cakes made from steaming rice flour in bamboo, or fried rice malpuas. Local workers eat brown rice, turumbai and boiled eggs in many ja cha stores, all of which also stock boiled veggies.

Shillong's Police Bazaar, the central marketplace, has popular eateries like Eee Cee, Delhi Mistan Bhandar and an unnamed eatery run by a lady near the old Transport Depot.

Eee Cee, a restaurant with a popular bakery, has been an old favourite.

"In the 1980s, mutton keema samosas from here would be sold out within hours. Delhi Mistan

Bhandar is known for its puris and kachoris, and Bamboo Hut, for Chinese and Thai. Police Bazaar always has a variety of produce on offer - plums, strawberries, oranges, custard apple and pineapples, apart from the usual vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage and brinjal. One can buy them straight from the field while travelling towards Shillong Peak.

In nearby Cherrapunji, newer resorts stock up on authentic Khasi food for adventurous tourists.

Though resorts like Orchid and Rikynjah on the way to Shillong in Barapani offer Khasi food, Purabi says she prefers small joints or homecooked food. Writing about Khasi cuisine is incomplete without mention of the bamboo pickle in Nongpoh and adjoining areas on the way to Shillong.

Khasi food does not have bamboo shoot at all. Yet, the pickle travels around the world. (Agencies)

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