facebook.com/easterntoday
@easterntoday
For business, mail at: md.easterntoday@gmail.com
cmyk
cmyk
www.eastern-today.com
ASSENG/2015/64205
PAGE 10
Vol. II
SAMSUNG'S GEAR FIT2 IS A HYBRID BETWEEN A FITNESS TRACKER AND A SMARTWATCH
Forces almost ready to retake IS capital: US Washington, Oct 27: US Defence Secretary Ash Carter announced that it will be only a matter of weeks before Washington and its allies are ready to drive the Islamic State (IS) terror group from Raqqa, its self-proclaimed capital in Syria. Carter told reporters at a NATO meeting in Brussels on Wednesday that getting troops in place for the siege of Raqqa would be undertaken within weeks but declined to offer more specifics, CNN reported.
P8
Cabinet discussion on NAD proposal likely New Delhi, Oct 27: The Union Cabinet is likely to discuss soon a proposal for establishing a National Academic Depository (NAD) which is aimed at preserving records and curbing educational fraud to help employers verify job applicants' qualifications.
P10
Issue 101
Dibrugarh, Friday, October 28, 2016
PLAYING ON GEOPOLITICAL CHESSBOARDS
P11
Price -
5.00
Pages- 12
PAGE 12
HOW TO UNDERSTAND MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
P9
P6
Dalai Lama visit to Arunachal Engineer caught red-handed in Dibrugarh while taking Rs 10 lakh bribe Pradesh may upset China PTI New Delhi, 27 Oct
KEY HIGHLIGHTS Dalai Lama was extended an nvitation by Arunachal CM.
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama is scheduled to visit Arunachal Pradesh early next year, a move which may raise the hackles in the official establishment in China that claims the state to be a part of southern Tibet. Dalai Lama will travel to Arunachal at the invitation of state's Chief Minister Pema Khandu and the visit is understood to have been cleared by the Centre. The spiritual leader is likely to visit Tawang, the seat of a Buddhist monastry. Last week, China has reacted strongly to American envoy Richard Verma's October 22 tour to Tawang, saying the Ambassador visited a "disputed region". Centre today has cleared the Dalai Lama visit to Arunachal Pradesh in March next year. The Modi government issued a statement, "There is no bar on Dalai Lama visiting any place in India hence Arunachal
The visit is slated for 2nd week of March in 2017. China raised objections to US ambassador Richard Verma's visit to Tawang. visit in March next year is technically not a problem." When asked about the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said he is a "guest of India" and is free to travel across the country.
"It is a fact that he has a sizeable following among the Buddhists in Arunachal Pradesh who like to seek his blessings. He has visited the state in the past as well and we see nothing unusual if he visits again," Swarup said.
"Dalai Lama is a revered spiritual figure and an honoured guest of India. He is absolutely free to travel to any part of the country.
Arunachal government sources said the state was looking forward to the Dalai Lama's visit. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern
Tibet and routinely protests visits by Indian leaders, foreign officials as well as the Dalai Lama to the area. In the wake of the US envoy's visit, China had gone to the extent of warning the US that any interference by it in the Sino-India boundary dispute will make it "more complicated" and "disturb" the hard-won peace at the border. Sources said the Dalai Lama's visit is slated for 2nd week of March in 2017.
A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Oct 27
An assistant engineer of the Town and Country Planning department, Dibrugarh was today arrested by Dibrugarh police, caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh from a job aspirant. The accused Nabakanta Patir was caught red handed from his rented house located at the Circuit House road here while accepting the amount from one Anshumita Gogoi, a private dental surgeon from Amguri town in Sivasagar district. Police said that the victim had recently appeared for the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) dental surgeon recruitment examination-2016 which was held for filling up 60 posts in the Health and Family Welfare department. The accused originally belongs to Majuli and his wife is employed as a nurse at the Assam Medical College and Hospital. A case has been registered against the accused at the Dibrugarh police station. Anshumita Gogoi told The
An assistant engineer of the Town and Country Planning department, Dibrugarh Nabakanta Patir was caught red handed by the police on Thursday while accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh from a job aspirant. Photo by manoj pandey Eastern Today that before the Viva Voice which was held on October 24, the person Nabakanta Patir called her and told to give Rs 15 lakh if she wanted the Job. She said that she have taken a loan of Rs 6 lakh and managed Rs 10 lakh to give him. “Before paying the money to him I have informed
the Dibrugarh police and they caught him red handed while I was offering the money,’’ She said. She said that it was big nexus where many have got jobs in APSC while giving bribe. Contd. on Page 2
Jairampur battalion of Assam Tirap district admin Drug peddler apprehended in Rifles lightens Vijaynagar Valley, Digboi with 2.3 kilograms of bids farewell to the remotest corner of East India outgoing officers opium in possession Denhang Bosai promoted to Deputy Director (IPR), posted to Itanagar from Khonsa and T Rinya, EAC will retire on 31st Oct ET Bureau Khonsa, 27 Oct
Vijaynagar valley, on India’s eastern frontier, part of Changlang district has largely remained inaccessible as the only way to reach is by foot or by air since no roads exist. It
is one of the most under developed region of the country bereft of modern amenities and basic infrastructure and homes are devoid of any electricity.
deployed in the area and keeping up to the Motto of the “Friends of the North East People” the Assam Rifles undertook a Assam Rifles Civic
This problem was noticed by the Assam Rifles battalion
Contd. on Page 3
Baichung Bhutia and young leaders from across Northeast come together in Itanagar CONNECTING YOUNG LEADERS As the DoNER Ministry and NEDFi together announced a Rs 100 crore venture capital for the Northeast youths, the YLC aims to make it more conducive so that business is done in a proper manner
Addressing the media on his arrival today, former Indian football captain and chairperson of this annual initiative, Bhaichung Bhutia said that the basic idea of the conclave is to create ideas together so that it creates a positive impact
Young leaders from all across the Northeast will come together for the 5th Young Leaders Connect conclave to be hosted on October 28 and 29 at Itanagar
Renowned personalities, including Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State Home Affairs, Conrad Sangma MP, Pema Khandu Chief Minister Arunachal Pradesh, Rajiv Pratap Rudy Union Minister of State Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Mhon Kikon Parliamentary Secretary Skills Development & Entrepreneurship, Nagaland will attend the two day conclave, along with Rajeev Chandrasekhar Member of Parliament. A Staff Reporter Itanagar, 27 Oct
cmyk
Members of the non-profit organization, Young Leaders Connect (YLC) have arrived at Itanagar to hold the 5th YLC conclave, with the theme ‘Start-Up North East, StandUp North East’, to inspire and
mentor young entrepreneurs of the state. Young leaders from all across the Northeast will come together for the 5th YLC to be hosted on October 28 and 29 at Itanagar. Addressing the media on his arrival today, former Indian
football captain and chairperson of this annual initiative, Bhaichung Bhutia said that the basic idea of the conclave is to create ideas together so that it creates a positive impact. Contd. on Page 3
The DC said that DIPRO
While appreciating the District Administration for organizing a grand farewell party the outgoing officer retired EAC expressed sadness on his retirement from government service. While appreciating the District Administration for the grand formal farewell function DIPRO Denhang Bosai urged the tribal government employees to be sincere, dedicated stating that work culture won’t find in any text or story books but work culture must be inbuilt under every individual. Contd. on Page 3
One Anil Debnath apprehended by security forces along with 2.5 kg of opium and cash amount of Rs 15000 in Digboi. Laxman Sharma Digboi, Oct 27
Combined Security forces during a joint operation carried out on Wednesday evening at Digboi Mission Para based residence of one Anil Debnath recovered around 2.34 kilograms of opium along with cash amounting to rupees
fifteen thousand . According to sources, the security forces comprising Digboi based Army of Kumaon Regiment, 14 Assam Rifles at Jairampur in assistance with team Digboi Police had carried out the search operation following a tip off received at jairampur and successfully recovered the same from the residence of the Mr Debnath
who was the son of late Prafulla Debnath of Mission Para Area under Digboi Police Station Meanwhile, sources revealed that Mr Debnath had been carrying on the illegal interstate opium trade carrying it from nearby Contd. on Page 3
Come November, Mechukha valley in Arunachal will come alive ET Bureau Itanagar, 27 Oct
Adventure@Mechukha Festival, , the three-day festival is held annually from November 7 to 9 and is organized jointly by the Government of India’s Ministry of Tourism and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh’s Department of Tourism
Come November, the usually sleepy Mechukha valley in Arunachal Pradesh’s West Siang district will come alive for three days to a sea of adventure sports and cultural activities. Located in the shadow of the mighty Himalayas, the snow-capped mountains that surround the valley are not as imposing as they are aweinspiring. Home to the Buddhist Memba and the animist Bokar, Ramo, PaiLibo and Tagin tribes, Mechukha is one of the lesser-explored places of not just India or the Northeast but even within Arunachal Pradesh. Contd. on Page 3
Invoking the elements, the 2016 edition onwards the adventure activities have been tagged as Air (Microlight Aviation, PPG, Parasailing, Para-motoring), Water (Rafting, Water Zorbing, River Crossing, Angling), Earth (Quad Biking, Zorbing, Rappelling, Horse Riding) and Fire (Trap Shooting, Air Rifle, Air Pistol, Archery)
A file photo of an adventure sports in Mechuka Festival last year.
This year’s event will also host the curtain raiser for the North East India Fashion Week2017
cmyk
Pranjal Bhuyan Jairampur, 27 Oct
Tirap District Administration along with Head of Departments organized a grand and impressive farewell party for T. Rinya, Lazu EAC who will be retiring on Superannuation on 31/10/2016 and Denhang Bosai, DIPRO, Khonsa who has been transferred / posted to Naharlagun on promotion to the post of Deputy Director (IPR). While wishing a happy and prosperous retirement life to the outgoing officers, the Deputy Commissioner Ravi Jha IAS termed EAC Rinya as a hardworking, dedicated officer with impressive quality in him adding that it is also nostalgic moments for Tirap District as Tirap DIPRO Denhang Bosai has been transferred on promotion to the post of Dy.Director (IPR) at Naharlagun Directorate office.
Denhang Bosai will be missing a lot by Tirap District Administration in particular and District as a whole but his services for the Tirapians been rendered during his tenure will be remembered in the days to come.
DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28
P2 RTA orders Dibrugarh Journalist assaulted in Tinsukia Road mishap nursing homes to arrange held at parking space in 15 days Doomdooma A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Oct 27: The Regional Transport Authority has ordered all the private nursing homes of Dibrugarh to arrange parking space for the vehicles visiting their nursing homes. In a meeting held on October 20, 2016 in presence of the Dibrugarh Deputy Commissioner and District Transport Officer, Dibrugarh it has been resolved that strict action will be taken if the order is not implemented within next fifteen days. "The road permits of all three wheelers will be converted to route-wise permit for Dibrugarh. All the three wheelers of the district will run only on the specific routes per-
mitted to them from next month’’ an official said. In Dibrugarh, there are many private nursing home but most of them have no parking space though the vehicle are parked in the road side which causes traffic congestion. “They have open nursing homes but they have not arranged any parking slot for parking vehicle. It has been learnt that the private nursing homes are violating the parking norms,’’ alleged Babul Das, a resident of Dibrugarh.
ET Correspondent Tinsukia, Oct 27: Media is known as the 4th pillar of democracy but in Tinsukia
one photo journalist named Arjun Mishra was badly beaten by 6 people at around 9 pm over covering news of
illegal activities going on in Tinsukia. According to reports, the miscreants even tried to kill Arjun Mishra. Mishra have been facing threatening from the miscreants since many days as he was covering some illegal activities which are directly or indirectly linked with them. However, a FIR has been filed in this regards to the Tinsukia police. The incident was condemned by many originations, including AJYCP.
4 additional coaches added to Intercity Express
He added that because of the nursing homes traffic congestion are rapidly growing in the city.
HOROSCOPE Aries
Taurus
Gemini
Cancer
Leo
Virgo
Libra
Scorpio
Sagittarius
Capricorn
Aquarius
Pisces
You're apt to get the feeling that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence today, Aries. Try not to get too hung up on this. Either make the effort to go where the landscape looks richer and more fruitful or stay where you are. The key to true happiness is to make sure that regardless of where you end up, you enjoy the spot where you are. Your mind may wander to a fantasyland full of castles, wizards, and magic dragons today, Taurus. You could find that you're putting yourself in the robes of a beautiful or handsome figure in a tall tower who's waiting for the perfect mate to come along. Observe the fanciful scenario you've created and see how the symbols and characters connect with your real life. Your imagination is trying to tell you something. Get on the fast track and use your powerful words and creative mind to make quick decisions that are mindful yet spontaneous. If you get in a pinch today, Gemini, don't worry about it. Simply relax, take a deep breath, and let your intuition guide you to the right path. Instead of wasting your energy thrashing helplessly in the water, call for help. Start the day with some vigorous yoga and then some meditation to help clear your mind, Cancer. Stretch your body and get the blood flowing through all of your limbs. Once your blood is flowing, your mind will get moving. Before it gets too far into its noisy routine, take the opportunity to maintain a quiet, serene state while you clear out the static and set forth your goals for the day.
Do something for the community today, Leo, and really consider how your talents and skills can best be put to work. Consider volunteering at a school or library. Donate blood or help the elderly. Whatever you do, smile knowing that you're making direct contact with friends who need your assistance. Instead of just complaining about the way things are going, take a proactive role in leading the way toward a more philanthropic world. If you're having trouble tackling a giant problem, Virgo, don't get discouraged or overwhelmed. They key for you is to break things down into smaller chunks, analyze them, and figure out their role within the greater whole. You will find that by taking things one step at a time, any problem you encounter will be infinitely easier to overcome than you may have thought at first. It may seem like everyone around you is happy and getting what they want while you're stuck in the trenches, Libra. Don't compare yourself to other people and make judgments based on outside appearances. The truth of the matter is that they're most likely only looking at the immediate future and experiencing shortterm pleasures. You, however, have your sights set on the long-term and will probably be much better off. Your fairytale imagination of how your romantic life should run is hooking you up with many different opportunities, Scorpio. Whether you realize it or not, the optimal situation you seek is within your grasp. Make sure that you aren't trying to manipulate a certain person into becoming the person you want him or her to be. If you're unhappy in your relationship, perhaps you need to find someone new. Engage more of your rational mind today, Sagittarius. If your mind continues on its track into a fantasy world, you might consider enlisting the help of people who can help you bring some discipline to your situation. For you, the general feeling of the day is likely to be that the mind is willing but the flesh is weak. Let others help you get inspired to get out of lazy mode. Suppose you were someone else for a day, Capricorn. How would it feel to be treated the way you normally treat other people? This is a good time to put yourself in someone else's shoes and experience life through their eyes. By doing this, you're apt to become more conscious of your own actions and the effect of those actions on the people around you. Today your thoughts may turn to fashion and the different ways in which you can improve your wardrobe. Don't be afraid to create a look that reflects your true inner spirit. Deck yourself in external splendor to illustrate the many different colors and layers that you carry on the inside. Don't hesitate to pick up a fashion magazine at the grocery store. The amazing thing about your nature is that, like a good politician, you have just the right tone of voice and catch phrase for every situation. You can put on your smile and charm and talk your way out of just about any pickle you get into. Embrace this incredible gift, but make sure that your overall goals are noble as opposed to selfserving or vengeful.
ET Bureau Dibrugarh, Oct 27: In response to widespread passenger demand in the Guwahati-Naharlagun section, Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has attached four additional coaches to the 15617/
15618 Intercity Express running between Guwahati-Naharlagun to clear the rush of passengers. Two AC 3-tier and two sleeper class coaches have been added to the train and
attachment of these additional coaches will augment the capacity of the Intercity Express by another 544 berths in each trip, said a statement issued by NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Pranav Jyoti Sharma.
ET Correspondent Doomdooma, Oct 27: In a road accident occurred at Doomdooma one Kiranjyoti Gohain (4) died on the spot at Tipuk Tea Estate along the NH-37 which falls under the Doomdooma Police Station.
The accident occurred when a speeding vehicle ran over the child at around 11 am when the child was waiting for a bus with his mother on the roadside. The police have sent the body for post mortem.
CLASSIFIED I smti.Mridula Borah wife of Sri Ramen Chandra Borah,resident of Teok Jahakhat G a o n , P. S . Te o k , D i s t Jorhat,Assam declared through an affidavit vide dated 21/10/2016.That in some documents my name is recorded as MRIDULA BORAH and in some decuments my name is recorded as MIDULA BORAH.but both names represent me and both names is me having a single identity.
Ulfa cadre arrested in extortion demand A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Oct 27: Palash Ranjan Neog, an Ulfa(I) cadre was today arrested from Assam Medical College Tiniali area in Dibrugarh district. Police said that two Ulfa(I) cadre came to collect Rs 5 lakh extortion from an engineer but they managed to nab one other fled away. “We have recovered an Ulfa letter pad from his possession where a demand of Rs 5 lakh was written. Our investigation is on and very soon we will manage to nab the other cadre,’’ Dibrugarh SP Gautam Borah said. Palash Ranjan Neog was a resident of Gurisagar in Sivasagar district. Police said that they have
detained Nizamuddin Ahmed in the connection with this case. He was the owner of Tata Indicia car (AS-04F-3249) and has connection with the insurgent group. Officer in charge of Dibrugarh police station said that he was associated with Ulfa and many time he have collected extortion money with Ulfa cadre.
three members of the United Assamese Youth Power of Assam (UAYPA) or Sanmilita Asomiya Yuva Shakti Asom under various charges including sedition and attempted to wage war against the government of India. On October 23, the youth organisation had openly staged a rally in the heart of the town seeking independence for Assam.
Dibrugarh SP said that they did not disclose the name of the engineer from whom the extortion was demanded. “Extortion related cases are rising in Upper Assam. In some areas the businessmen are giving money to the groups without informing us,’’ SP said. On Tuesday, police arrested
On Tuesday night the police finally managed to nab Mridul Dutta and Himadri Dowerah (both vice presidents of the outfit) and one executive member Mandip Hazarika. Both Mridul and Mandip are residents of Naliapool while Himadri is from Chiring Chapori area of the town.
ASSAMESE CLASSICAL DANCE
Assam has some of the best tea in the world: Bucknell PTI Dibrugarh, Oct 27: British Deputy High Commissioner Bruce Bucknell today said Assam has some of the "best" tea in the world and he will ask his fellow countrymen to drink higher quality leaf tea and less blended one. "Tea remains one of the main businesses of Assam, but is very competitive and in some way it resembles the Scottish whisky industry with increasing competition from other types of beverages," Bucknell said at an interactive session with members of the Confederation of Indian Industry and UK as partners in Technology
and Innovation. He pointed out that most companies have moved to exclusive niche areas and as such branding and developing of niche products was required. "I will be very willing to tell my fellow Britons that Assam has some of the best tea in the world and that they should drink higher quality leaf tea and less blended teas," the Deputy High Commissioner said. He hoped that more British companies, technology institutions and tourists come to the north-east region. North-east India was closer to new emerging markets its proximity to Myanmar, Thailand and
Bangladesh is a great asset for the region, Bucknell said. The plans to improve interconnectivity and more infrastructures would also be an added premium. "I will also like to hear about the obstacles to the development of the region beyond the geographical location or perhaps it is no longer an obstacle," he said further inquiring about the main technologies needed for the development of Assam and the rest of the north-east region and in which areas Britain could provide the solution.
Dancers performing Assamese classical dance during Special Musical Event programme. Pic- Nakib Ahmed
Engineer caught red-handed in Dibrugarh while taking Rs 10 lakh bribe Contd. from Page 1
Anshumita Gogoi is working at National Health Mission, Sivasagar as a Dental doctor. Surjit Singh Paneswar, Additional SP (Security) said that she came in touch with Patir who claimed that he can arrange the said job in lieu of money. He demanded a bribe of
Rs 15 lakh from her for getting the job done. The job seeker somehow managed to raise an amount of Rs 10 lakh from friends and relatives. Paneswar said that she was supposed to hand over the money to Patir. However, at the last moment she underwent a change of mind and decided to approach the police. On the advice of
the police she fixed the rendezvous and a police team led by Dibrugarh SP Gautam Borah caught the engineer red-handed while accepting the bribe. Dibrugarh SP Gautam Borah told reporter that they have found many evidences from the mobile handset of accused Nabakanta Patir regarding his involvement in bribery for a long time. “We have
found many messages from his handset where many candidates have messaged their names, roll number and optional subject. We have seized his bank account and all mobile date and investigation them. Right now we cannot say anything more because our investigation is at preliminary stage,’’ SP said.
A Chinese made hand grenade recovered by Dibrugarh police at Tinkham Dillibarai Ghahi village. Pic- Manoj Pandey
Sports
Cinema Galleria Cinema Dibrugarh Junction Mall Screen-1
Inter school Football Tournament: VKV & Kachari Pathar High secondary bags success
"AE DIL HAI MUSHKIL " 1ST show at10:50 AM "SHIVAAY" 2ND show at 1:50 PM "AE DIL HAI MUSHKIL " 3RD show at 05:00 PM "SHIVAAY" 4th show at 06:00 PM
Screen-2 "SHIVAAY" 1ST show at 11:00 AM "AE DIL HAI MUSHKIL" 2ND show at 02:15 PM "SHIVAAY" 3RD show at 05:15 PM "AE DIL HAI MUSHKIL" 4TH show at 05:45 PM
Tele booking timings: 9:00AM to 8:00 PM Tele booking No.: 8876565001/ 8876565002 (Terms & conditions apply)
Ticket Rates Rs. 100/ Rs. 150/Rs. 200/Rs.250/ Rs.300 MORNING SHOWS: Rs.80/Rs.130/Rs. 150/Rs.200/Rs.250
Website: www.bookmyshow.com
Sports Reporter Dibrugarh, Oct 27: Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya,Tingrai today defeated Chi Chia Bakuloni M.V school 64 Via tie-breaker in the Mini Sub-junior 5th Greater Duliajan Inter school football tournament organized by Duliajan Football Academy at Nehru Maidan in Duliajan. Altogether, 22 teams participated in the tournament. The regulation time was ended in 3-3 draw. Binoy Gorh of Chia Bakuloni M.V.S opened the account through Binoy Gorh in the 14th minute.
Three minute later Riki Raz Sonowal scored the second goal for Bakuloni. Indrajit Dahal of Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya, Tingrai scored the opening goal in the 24th minute through a header from the left flank. One minute later Riki Raz Sonowal of Bakuloni scored the third salvo for his team collecting a pass from the right flank. In the second half, VKV came into the game with their aggressive technique. Bhaskar Sonowal scored the second goal
for VKV in the 82nd minute. Mrinmoy Sonowal scored the third goal in the 87th minute. In another, Sub-Junior match Kachari Pathar High secondary beat Duliajan Uccha Vidyalaya 2-1. Rohit Tanti of Duliajan Uccha Vidyalaya opened the account in the 5th minute. Mikal Barla of Kachari Pathar H.S scored the equalized the score in the 6th minute. Debaru Mahali scored the second goal in the 25th minute. He collected a pass from the right flank and found back of the net.
DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28
P3
3rd wife of late Pul, Dangsalu Pul joins BJP A Staff Reporter Itanagar, 27 Oct: Dangsalu Pul, the third wife of former Chief Minister late Kalikho Pul was today formally registered as a member of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with the two other wives of late Pul, in a function held at state BJP office. The move came after Dangsalu Pul’s name was announced as the official candidate of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) for the upcoming by-election to fill the vacant seat of 45hayuliang (ST) Assembly Constituency under BJP ticket by state Chief
Minister Pema Khandu on October 26 last. The above mentioned Assembly seat was left vacant after its elected representative and former chief Minister late Kalikho Pul committed suicide on August 9 last. Meanwhile, initiating the formal joining ceremony of the wives of late Pul, the state BJP President Tapir Gao led them in registering for membership through BJP online portal before handing over the approved application form for contesting from BJP party to the candidate GDangsalu Pul. Gao also expressed his
gratitude to Kameng Ringu and Kahfa Bengia, Chairman and President respectively, of the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) for agreeing to project the candidate under BJP ticket. Reciprocating on the same, PPA Chairman Kameng Ringu expressed hope and confidence that the bond of BJP and PPA will remain stronger and also appealed on all to elect Dangsalu Pul without any contest. Later, the newly inducted member of the BJP and also the official candidate of the By-election,
Dangsalu Pul appealed on the electorates and also the members of both BJP and PPA bodies to lend strong support while also assuring to make them all proud. However, when asked about her thoughts on the much delayed investigation reports of late Kalikho Pul’s death and also on the question of family members stand on whether the notes written by late Pul ‘My Thoughts’ should be revealed, a reluctant Dangsalu Pul said that the answer for the same will be given after a “family discussion.”
ZSI discovers new fish specie in Arunachal district PTI Itanagar, Oct 27: A team of scientists from Itanagar regional centre of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), has discovered a new specie of fish from remote Anjaw district recently. The specie belonging to genus Physoschistura has been discovered by the survey team of the ZSI from Lohit River at Walong in the district, an official communique said here on Thursday.
Lakpa Tamang, who along with Bikramjit Sinha led the survey team, described the new specie and designated the name as Physoschistura Walongensis in remembrance of the area Walong. Till date, Tamang has contributed 10 new species from various water bodies of the state. He was also hopeful of the existence of more new species in the remote areas of the state, the communique added.
Baichung Bhutia and young leaders from across Northeast come together in Itanagar Contd. from Page 1
Informing that young achievers in business, sports, politics and other fields from the Northeast will come in to speak during the two-day conclave, Bhutia said, “It is like a festival where people come from different parts of the country, and youths get ideas and inspiration from successful people who are from the same region, and connect better.” “It is a great platform for young entrepreneurs, and hopefully people from the state get inspired and more leaders are born from Arunachal as well”, he added. He also informed of a fundraising football match, which will be held between YLC and Arunachal CM team at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Naharlagun on October 29 from 3 PM onwards. Providing more insight into the conclave, Hekani Jakhalu from YouthNet said that the theme of the conclave, ‘Start-Up North East, Stand-Up North East’ is in line with Prime
Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Startup India, Standup India’ and, ‘Make in India’ campaigns, and will focus on entrepreneurship and skill development. As the DoNER Ministry and NEDFi together announced a Rs 100 crore venture capital for the Northeast youths, the YLC aims to make it more conducive so that business is done in a proper manner. “Many schemes are announced for the Northeast but when it comes to their implementation, it does not always reach the beneficiary, but with this platform we hope that whatever schemes and programmes are laid down for the people is truly implemented,” she said. Participating in the press briefing, CNN News Business Editor Karma Paljor said that the YLC as a group aims to get the voice of the Northeast out and be heard. YLC members from across the region come together, share experiences and try to engage. It is a group with new ideas, fresh
faces to be consistent and go ahead and make a difference with ideas. “Our main focus is to help the youth achieve better and make them realize their potentials. We have the talent, but do not receive the right opportunities and right exposure. What we aim to do is inspire the next generation to achieve more”, he said. Also representing the state government were MLAs Mohesh Chai, Mutchu Mithi and Zignu Namchoom. Mithi in his brief address highlighted that “no economy can survive without entrepreneurship and we are far behind in it, but with their initiative I think the ideas can trickle down to the local youths and be encouraged with the commitment of the YLC.” The conclave will have panel discussions and round table discussions with experts and stakeholders that will go beyond dialogue and towards deliverable goals applicable in a national and regional setting. On the sidelines of the panel discussions, there will be
interface between entrepreneurs, industry, NGOs, government agencies, social enterprises and advisory organizations to share and learn. Renowned personalities, including Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State Home Affairs, Conrad Sangma MP, Pema Khandu Chief Minister Arunachal Pradesh, Rajiv Pratap Rudy Union Minister of State Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Mhon Kikon Parliamentary Secretary Skills Development & Entrepreneurship, Nagaland will attend the two day conclave, along with Rajeev Chandrasekhar Member of Parliament. As part of this conference, a business plan competition was also organized among the young entrepreneurs of the region. The finale round will be hosted on the second day of the event and the winners will be chosen by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, where the winner will be awarded Rs 5 lakhs.
14 Assam Rifles apprehends NSCN(R) cadre at Changlang ET Bureau Changlang, Oct 27: Delivering yet another blow to NSCN(R) the Changlang battalion of 14 Assam Rifles under the aegis of DAO division conducted a successful operation in Changlang town in the wee hours of 27 Oct. The operation resulted in successful apprehension
of an insurgent named SS Sgt Maj Warow Taidong of NSCN(R), a former NSCN (K) cadre. The insurgent was found in possession of a point 22 mm Pistol along with ammunition.
Apprehended NSCN(R) cadre SS Sgt Maj Warow Taidong
Baichung Bhutia wants to see more players from Arunachal Pradesh Staff Reporter Itanagar, 27 Oct: Former Indian football captain and Arjuna awardee, Baichung Bhutia said that he wants to see more players from Arunachal Pradesh in the national and international football arenas. Here to attend the Youth Leaders Connect (YLC) conclave and participate in an exhibition match between the YLC and Chief Minister’s team, Baichung conveyed his disappointment at the lack of participation from Arunachal. Saying that he wants to see more players from Arunachal to play in the national level, he said that the initiative has to be taken by the government and the locals themselves. He informed that the Under17 team of India, which recently played against Brazil in Goa, had around eight players from the Northeast, but none from Arunachal or Nagaland, which he said was a little disappointing. “At the same time, the football association of the state will have to take a stronger resolve to conduct more tournaments, more scouting and provide more platform
to school players and organize more inter-school tournaments”, he stressed. He highlighted how it is essential to scout for talent from interior districts rather than only the capital city of any state in the country merely because it is easier to find players. State organisations all over the country spend a large chunk of money to organize football tournaments, but the state does not send the best players to those tournaments. “When we don’t get to spot the best talents in the country, how will our national team become strong? This is not just with Arunachal, but with every state.” To improve the situation, he stressed that the state football associations need to ask for assistance from the government and build a relationship with the state sports department as well to acquire finances and infrastructure. “I definitely wasn’t to see Arunachal doing well and taking more initiative and we as a federation would definitely come out to support them”, added Baichung.
Contd. from Page 1
Action Project for illuminating the households by distributing Solar Powered Lights and also by providing 200 chairs, LED TV with Dish and Solar Panel Charger with Inverter for under construction Community Hall at Vijaynagar which is also being built by Assam Rifles. The Jairampur battalion of Assam Rifles under the Assam Rifles Civic Action
Project distributed 2000 solar lights, 200 chairs, LED TV with Dish and Solar Panel Charger with Inverter worth Rupees 21 Lacs on 25 and 26 Oct 2016 to the residents of Vijaynagar. The distribution of solar lights comes as a boon for the local people making their lives a little easier during the nights, as there is no electricity. A joyful smile could be seen on the faces of the villagers after receiving the lights. Commandant, 13 Assam
With cascading waterfalls and crystal clear water running on stony riverbeds, Mechukha is quite possibly the last Shangri-La on earth. The undulating grassland slopes surrounding the valley along with the high snow covered peaks almost in touching distance hide within them deep religious and historical significance, one of the key attractions being the Samtem Y o n g c h a m monasterysituated atop a hill overlooking the valley, said to be more than 400 years old. Other sites, including the Siyom River itself that runs through the valley, come together and blend to make Mechukha a place
in perfect sync with nature, spirituality and history. Since 2014, efforts have been on to bring attention to Mechukha and its virgin beauty and all that it has to offer to tourists and travellers alike with the commencement of the Adventure@Mechukha Festival. Spearheaded by Festival Chair Pasang Dorjee Sona, who is also the Parliamentary secretary Tourism, the three-day festival is held annually from November 7 to 9 and is organized jointly by the Government of India’s Ministry of Tourism and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh’s Department of Tourism along with event partnersthe West Siang District Administration, the Mechukha sub-division
Administration and the Centre for Cultural Research & Documentation (CCRD), Naharlagun. Invoking the elements, the 2016 edition onwards the adventure activities have been tagged as Air (Microlight Aviation, PPG, Parasailing, Paramotoring), Water (Rafting, Water Zorbing, River Crossing, Angling), Earth (Quad Biking, Zorbing, Rappelling, Horse Riding) and Fire(Trap Shooting, Air Rifle, Air Pistol, Archery). While the focus of the festival is definitely on adventure, for three days visitors will also be able to indulge their senses in a host of other activities including the Adventure@Mechukha Film Festival showcasing adventure movies, feature
films from Arunachal and films for children and the karaoke arena apart from food stalls serving local delicacies to tempt the taste buds of travellers. Evening performances by celebrated artistes including The Voice-India winner Pawandeep, Indian Idol (Junior) Runner Up Naheed Afrin and internationally acclaimed Tibetan musician-performer Phurbu T. Namgyal will ensure that visitors and locals alike get a chance to experience the best of the arts. Apart from celebrated artistes from across the world descending to the valley for the festival, resident artistes who have represented Arunachal Pradesh nationally and regionally like Nangbia
Chanda, Tanning and Lobsang, Soul of Phoenix, K4Keko will also be part of this year’s festival talent. An additional treat for visitors and residents will be performances of traditional folk dances and songs by the indigenous tribes of the valley. To add versatility to the fare available to the tourist, the festival has taken on the theme adventure@mechukha 4x4 and has created a blend of adventure, fashion, food and music, all with a view to promote Mechukha as a chosen destination for tourists. This year’s event will also host the curtain raiser for the North East India Fashion Week2017 (NEIFW 2017), a platform for designers,
weavers and artisans from the region to showcase the unique ethnic designs and handicrafts that the indigenous traditions have to offer. NEIFW is promoted by Yana Ngoba Chakpu, one of Arunachal’s leading designers whose work was shown at last year’s London Fashion Week where she presented her collection in the show “Fashion’s Finest”. The designer will curate presentations from across the northeast region that aims to popularize heritage handlooms, woven fabrics and homemade jewellery and accessories at the festival. The 5th edition o f adventure@mechukha in 2017 will play the perfect complement to the NEIFW.
The operation has tightened the noose around the group and has brought relief to the local population. 14 Assam Rifles once again truly stood by their motto “Friends of the Hill People”.
Shooting in Arunachal Pradesh was uncomfortable says Kangana Ranaut, upsets many locals ET Bureau Itanagar, Oct 27: Kangana Ranaut has opened up a can of worms about her shooting in Arunachal pradesh for her upcoming movie Rangoon. Kangana Ranut in an interview stated that she has to change her costumes and even relive herself behind rocks, stones and boulders as there were no facilities in the shooting locales in Arunachal Pradesh for the movie Rangoon. She said, “For Rangoon, we were taken to remote valleys in Arunachal Pradesh. There were literally no villages, nothing, not even restrooms. I was peeing behind rocks and changing behind rocks. My own people would just cover me. Everyone was – so was Shahid. There was nothing, so what do you do?” Her innocuous statement may have been to show how tough and gritty she is but the truth is that such utterances have made quite a few people upset in the scenic state of Arunachal Pradesh. ‘The state government provided all facilities and infact even the villagers opened up their homes for the stars ‘ says C Bamang , a local who assisted the Rangoon team during the shoot adding that he did not recollect any such incident during the
Jairampur battalion of Assam Rifles lightens Vijaynagar Valley, the remotest corner of East India
Come November, Mechukha valley in Arunachal will come alive Contd. from Page 1
The SF has been carrying out aggressive operations in the South ALP and this apprehension has struck a blow to the extortion
activities being carried out by the underground cadres of the group in the area.
Rifles while speaking on the occasion asked the locals to work together for a common goal towards development of one of the remotest region of the country. The people of these villages expressed their sincere gratitude to Assam Rifles unit in this endeavor which hopes to drive out darkness and bring harmony to the neighborhood. This effort reaches out to the masses and brings the motto “Friends of The Hill People” to the forte.
making of the film. “To suggest that there were no proper facilities in Arunachal Pradesh for the shoot is absolutely wrong” says G Karlo stating that no other stars had any complains and was delighted by the hospitable nature of the Arunachalees. Film critics state these comments from Kangana Ranaut as publicity stunts to remain in the news and also portray to the world how tough and amiable she is. During shooting of movies such as LOC Kargil, Lakshya many such facilities were not there as well but most stars understood that and continued with their work. Rangoon is also a war film based on the Second World War and stars actors like Shahid Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan. When it comes to Northeast and especially Arunachal pradesh which is trying hard to promote tourism statements like these by a popular bollywood actress give a sense that the state and region are backward and have very poor facilities. She may not have tried to do this intentionally but her statements did highlight the condition of the state of Arunachal in poor light says one district official. (With inputs from agencies)
Tirap district admin bids farewell to outgoing officers Contd. from Page 1 The mementos as a token of love were presented to both the outgoing officers by Tirap DC Ravi Jha, IAS. Earlier EAC Techu Aran, highlighted about the outgoing officers been served in Tirap District with utmost sincerity in the interest of public. DDMO P. Duggong, FAO P.P. Deb, DF&CSO M. Miri also spoke on the occasion. The programme concluded with vote of thanks by Gawang Sumpa, UDC on behalf of DC’s establishment followed by light refreshment.
Drug peddler apprehended in Digboi with 2.3 kilograms of opium in possession Contd. from Page 1
Arunachal Pradesh and promote his business among the younger generation in and around Digboi. However, the arrest of Mr Debnath who has been an influential member a political party has raised the eye brows of the general people here and it was hard for them to accept that an
active worker resident in a heart of the Oil town could go to the extent of trading on banned objectionable narcotics to earn easy money at the cost of the lives of the younger generation. However, based on an Fir Mr Debnath has been prosecuted here this morning under NDPS Act and produced before the SDJM Margherita.
R.K. Mossang Memorial Society under NERCORMP visit villages ET Bureau Jairampur, Oct 27: To monitor the schemes given by NERCORMP to the NaRM-Gs (Natural Resource Management Group), the staffs of R.K. Mossang Memorial Society
under NERCORMP took an initiative to visit 8 villages under Manmao Block. They visited the following villagesManmao, Walangtoi, Renuk, Sinwang, Sasum-I, SasumII, Hetman, Tengman.
DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28
P4
Illegal Immigrants: Expedite National Assam records highest number of incidents Register of Citizens in Assam, Says SC in environment-related offences ET Bureau Guwahati, Oct 27: The Supreme Court has directed all states, the Income Tax (IT) department and the Election Commission (EC) of India to extend their cooperation in the preparation of the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) to weed out illegal immigrants from Assam. A bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Rohinton F. Nariman warned that the Chief Secretaries of states which do not cooperate with the authorities would be person-
ally summoned to the court seeking explanation. An NGO Assam Public Works, said that of the 3,05,995 NRC applications/ documents sent to 28 states for verification, only 8,223 had been verified so far. The court ordered the chief secretaries of the states concerned to take the matter seriously and send the verified copies to NRC department as early as possible. SC has also directed the Union Finance Ministry to speed up the verification of PAN card details sent by NRC, Assam. Out of 14 lakh PAN no, 6.5 lakh have
been examined so far. The SC instructed the External Affairs Ministry (MEA) to verify the documents which had been sent to different countries through its Missions abroad. Election Commission was also asked to take immediate action regarding verification of 10,83,919 documents sent to the commission by National Register of Citizens. The Supreme Court will take up the matter on December 15 and examine the progress of verification process. (With inputs from agencies)
SSB jawans of Chirang dist apprehends 8 timber smugglers
ET Bureau Guwahati, Oct 27: Assam was recorded with highest number of incidents of environment-related offences among all north-eastern states, and it also figures among the top eight states across the country in this regard. As per latest data from the National Crime records Bureau (NCRB), the State recorded a total of 105 environment-related offences during 2015. Of the total, 31 were cases registered under the Forest Act, 1927, while as many as 74 were under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Across the country, there were altogether 5,156 incidents of environment-related offences during 2015. Assam recorded the eighth highest number of such offences among all the states and Union territories. Rajasthan with 2,074 incidents of environment-related offences was at the top of the table, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 1,779
KEY HIGHLIGHTS 31 were cases registered under the Forest Act, 1927, while as many as 74 were under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Altogether 5,156 incidents of environment-related offences recorded during 2015.
Assam recorded a total of 105 environment-related offences during 2015, records NCRB. Total of 170 persons arrested in Assam for environmentrelated offences during 2015 at Assam. and Jharkhand with 233. There were 211 such incidents in Karnataka, 181 in Andhra Pradesh, 127 in Maharashtra and 113 in Himachal Pradesh. However, except for Assam, the other north-eastern states reported either none or very few such incidents. NCRB data show that the total environment-related offences during 2015 in
Manipur were four, while in Arunachal Pradesh there were three such incidents and in Mizoram only one. Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura did not report any such incidents last year. A total of 170 persons were arrested in Assam for environment-related offences during 2015. Of them, 50 were arrested under the Forest Act and 120 under the
Rajasthan with 2,074, Uttar Pradesh with 1,779, Jharkhand with 233, Karnataka with 211, Andhra Pradesh 181, Maharashtra with 127 and Himachal Pradesh with 113. Wildlife Protection Act. Nationwide, 8,034 were arrested for environment related offence last year. Commenting on the issue, Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, secretary general and CEO of well-known biodiversity conservation NGO Aranyak, told media that the government must give priority on ensuring conviction of offenders.
“Arrest of offenders is only the first step. Conviction is more important. People engaged in environment-related offences must be given exemplary punishment. Only then will it act as a deterrent,” he said. Talukdar said that even though a number of arrests are made in such cases, the conviction rates remain abysmally low. “The government must pursue the cases. They can set a target to increase convictions by enforcement agencies. Besides, the government lawyers must also perform better,” he said. With regard to nexus between environment and wildlife-related offenders and unscrupulous officials, Talukdar said many such incidents have come to light over the years. “So there is a need to instill the fear of law both among criminals as well as corrupt officials. At the same time, officials who perform their duties well must be given incentives,” he said.
District administration urges Police arrests rhino public to void burning cracker poacher at Dhekiajuli
ET Bureau Chirang, Oct 27: Sasastra Seema Bal (SSB) jawans from 16th Battalion of Ranighuli apprehended eight timber smugglers from different places from Dattapur and Bamungaon area in Chirang district. Acting on specific information received about working of timber smugglers, a joint patrolling conducted by the team of battalion (Bn) headquarter company Gurubasha and BOP Dadgiri under the command of AKC Singh, Commandant 16th Bn SSB Ranighuli and Mobi Lourembam, As-
sistant Comandant in the general area of Dattapur and Bamungaon area and seized huge reserve of timber planks from seven different locations under the forest area with trolley and Scotty and apprehended eight timber smugglers. The apprehended were identified as Madhu Sutradhar, Akhol Islary, Gonak Sutradhar, Gopal sutradhar, Jadab Sutradhar, Hosia Islary, Molas Sutradhar & Rajil Sutradhar. Earlier in the month of February this year 16th Bn SSB Ranighuli, based on the in-
telligence input launched the operation against timber smugglers and apprehended four persons along with seizure of forest timber worth Rs 41,35,367/- from the same area i.e Bamungaon area under PS Sidli. Singh, comandant urge for the support of locals people for saving the green forest and requested them not to indulge in felling of trees. He also seek sincere cooperation from others forces and forest department in order to root out timber smuggling form the area. (With inputs from agencies)
AGSU stages protest, demand steps to control dengue ET Bureau Guwahati, Oct 27: Members of the All Guwahati Students’ Union (AGSU) today staged a demonstration in front of the Directorate of Health Services in support of their demand for urgent steps to control dengue, which has taken a toll of several human lives in the city. The AGSU said in a statement here this evening that the Director of Health Services told its agitating members that till yesterday there was no medicine to bring dengue under control. This
ET Correspondent Tezpur, Oct 27: Just ahead of the Diwali and kali Puja the district administration here today urged all concerned including the common cracker vendors and the public to extend their helping hands to celebrate a “Clean and Green cum Swach Diwali” for creating an opinion towards creating a pollution-free environment
thereby avoiding burning of crackers or such type of polluting items. In a press meet held this evening at the DC’s conference hall here, the Deputy Commissioner Manuj Kumar Deka said that the cracker is not only injurious to human but also for animals, birds and insects. Because of crackers the environment also gets polluted.
Describing a post Diwali scene he said that reads are often seen littered with garbage thereby causing various skin diseases. Urging the common citizens to cooperate in this regard he also said after the Diwali celebration a special cleanliness drive will be conducted in and around Tezpur town under the initiative of the public health department.
Mahanta creating confusion about bill, say BJP ET Bureau Guwahati, Oct 27: A day after AGP leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said religious persecution was no longer a problem in Bangladesh, BJP said the former chief minister was 'causing confusion' on the issue of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The Bill, which seeks to grant citizenship to religious minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, is being examined by a parliamentary joint committee. The committee will visit Assam on November 2 and 3 after
chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal requested chairman of the committee Satyapal Singh to take into account the views of various organizations and stakeholders regarding the Bill. The move to amend the Act has been facing stiff opposition from different organizations in Assam on the grounds that the state will have to bear a major share of the burden of migrants from Bangladesh. BJP, on its part, has been trying to allay these fears by saying that the pressure will not be on Assam alone. "What steps did the govern-
ment take to implement the Assam Accord when Mahanta was in power? The people of Assam know that despite being a signatory to the Accord, nothing concrete was done for its implementation during Mahanta's tenure," BJP's minority morcha president Sayed Mominul Awal said at a press meet here. BJP leaders went on to accuse Mahanta of causing confusion among the people by opposing the amendment. Despite AGP being a part of the BJP-led government in the state, Mahanta has been vocal about his opposition
Bahjani artisans to hit the market with their crackers in Diwali
agitated the AGSU members further. However, the Health Director assured them of steps to bring the
ET Bureau Nalbari, Oct 27: As the fireworks and crackers of Bahjani area are in high demand in and around Nalbari and its adjoining districts the local artisans of Bahjani area of Nalbari dengue-related situation district are busy making under control from tomor- their traditional fireworks. row. (With inputs from In Bahjani area, the families have been engaged in agencies)
this profession from generation after generation. After the popularity of the crackers named ‘Laden’, ‘Anamika’ and ‘Modi’ in the last few years, the firework makers of the area have made ‘Special Pakistan Missile 5000’ crackers this year to attract the people.
The light of ‘Missile 5000’ will touch 5000 feet height on the festive evening, Nilima Talukdar, an artisan of the village, claimed. The new crackers will be available in the markets of Kamrup, Goalpara, Rangiya, Mangaldai, Tezpur, among others, they added.
Complaint Monitoring Cell set up Corbett Foundation provides lofor Bye-Election in 14-Lakhimpur gistic support to villagers of KNP HPC & 20-Baithalangshu LAC tance of up to two ET Bureau Guwahati, Oct 27: In view of the ensuing Bye-Election in 14-Lakhimpur HPC and 20Baithalangshu LAC, a Control room and complaint monitoring cell has been constituted with the following Officials of the Election Department, Assam. They are: 1) Abdus Salam, Under Secretary, Election Department, Dispur as Officer-in-charge (2) Rabin Sharma, Inspector of Statistics, Election Department, Dispur as Assisting Officer (3) Pulak Barman, Inspector of Statistics, Election Department, Dispur as
Assisting Officer (4) Karmakar Pathak, Sr. Grade Typist, Election Department, Dispur as Assistant (5) Tapan Kalita, Peon (6) Dinesh Ray, Grade-iv. The cell shall function with the Telephone Number-03612237030 and the following duties shall be performed. (1) Recording of all information relating to the ensuing byeelections in the state, complaint and MCC violation report received through in-coming call.(2)Passing of information, complaints and MCC violation report etc., to the concern authority/DEO as the case
maybe. (3) They shall maintain separate register for the incoming call about election related information, complaint and MCC violation report received through in-coming call and also about the information passed to the authority/DEO concerned.(4) The cell also makes co-ordination with all the control room set up in the districts going for bye-election. They shall also collect the contact number of all Nodal Officers appointed at the districts going for bye-election and also the telephone numbers of the Control Room.
Doctor commits suicide at Barpeta Medical College ET Bureau Barpeta, Oct 27: Triggering sensation, a doctor committed suicide at the residents' quarter in Barpeta Medical College on Thurs-
day. The deceased has been identified as Dr. Dhrubajyoti Das. 35-yr-old Dr. Das was serving as the registrar in anaesthesia de-
partment of the college. He hailed from Dahingri village in Pathsala. The reason of suicide has not yet been confirmed. (With inputs from agencies)
ET Correspondent Tezpur, Oct 27: One rhino poacher was arrested by Barchala police under Dhekiajuli police station last night from Barchala Fatashimalo area. Police said that the accused was identified as Omar Faruk who was in
ET Bureau Guwahati, Oct 27: In a bid to mitigate the man-elephant conflict in the fringe villages of the Kaziranga National Park, the Corbett Foundation, wildlife NGO, has been providing logistic support by constructing Tongi Ghars. The NGO today provided flash torchlight for all the 35 Tongi Ghars erected in the fringe
villages of Gokhanibor, Bosagoan, Bezgoan and Dumjan. Thanking his team members for the fruition of the initiative, Dr Pandey, chief functionary of the Corbett Foundation at Kaziranga said they had been working in those fringe villages since the last six months. These rechargeable torchlights can illuminate a straight dis-
kilometres. The torches will help villagers staying overnight in the Tongi Ghars recharge their mobile phones. The Corbett Foundation had also distributed solar light systems along with three bulbs to nearly 26 households. The families were also provided solar lanterns to guard their paddy crops at night. Dr Mayur Bowri, a wildlife biologist associated with the NGO, said that once a fringe village gets illuminated with solar lights, wild elephants will hesitate to visit the paddy fields adjacent to the village, thus reducing the man-elephant conflict. Meanwhile, the villagers of the fringe villages of the Kaziranga National Park have stated that the current initiative on the part of the NGO will reduce elephant depredations in the near future. (With inputs from agencies)
to the amendment bill. On Tuesday, Mahanta said the Indian government has not officially informed the Bangladesh government about the infiltration problem. The AGP founderpresident was in Dhaka to attend the 20th triennial conference of Bangladesh's ruling Awami League. The saffron party had earlier blamed protests in Assam against the bill on 'Congress-Communist' intellectuals and activists who are attempting to create divisions within the 'greater Assamese society'. (With inputs from agencies)
most wanted list of the police and forest department. The poacher who was involved in many poaching in Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park and smuggling case had been absconding almost 17 months.
Two dies in fire mishap ET Bureau Guwahati, Oct 27: At least two persons were killed after a fire broke out in the workshop of a two-wheeler dealer in Chandan Nagar in the Sixmile area on Wednesday. The deceased Bhulu Karmakar (55) and Motlib Ali (20) - had been employed at the workshop for the past two years. Police said, "The fire broke out in one of the rooms of the workshop. There were various inflammable chemicals there which exploded, killing the two workers instantly." A couple of other employees escaped with injuries. A forensic team will investigate the incident.
Boy stabs girl to death in Assam ET Bureau Nagaon, Oct 27: In an apparent case of jilted lover, a student of Nagaon Girls College was stabbed to death and her sister was injured from a student of a nearby college at Nagaon in central Assam today. Reports from Nagaon said, Shilpa Dey and her sister Shanti were attacked with a knife by one Rongbong Saikia. Shilpa died on the
spot while Shanti was admitted to a local hospital in a serious condition. The sisters, students of Nagaon Girls College, were returning from college when they were attacked. The alleged attacker, who is a student of Nagaon Commerce College, was arrested by the locals and handed over to police. Police have started investigation into the case. (With inputs from agencies)
4 poachers held at Karbi Anglong ET Bureau Guwahati, Oct 27: In an anti-poaching operation conducted by the Special task Force (STF) of the forest department, four poachers have been arrested at Karbi Pahar in Karbi Anglong on Thursday.
The apprehended poachers have been identified as Mahummad Jalu, Aafman Majhi, Muru Murah, Mumtaj Ali. However, five others poachers fled the scene during the operation. ( Wi t h i n p u t s f r o m agencies)
DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28
REST OF
P5
NORTHEAST
North East Festival in Delhi from Nov 4 Mizo CM appeals for continuing PTI Imphal, Oct 27: The North East Festival, which has become a permanent fixture in the national capital's events map, promises to be bigger in its fourth edition this year with a rock music contest among colleges and bands of Delhi one of the new additions. To be held at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts here from November 4-6, the three-day festival aims to promote the resplendent culture all the Northeastern states including food, fashion, handicrafts, music, dance, tourism, creative performances and much more. There will also be discussion sessions with all stake-
holders on key issues affecting the region besides an exhibition of products from the Northeast called 'Make in North East Exhibition' by around 100 entrepreneurs from the region. The theme of this edition is 'Connecting People, Celebrating Life'. The rock competition titled 'North East Festival Rock Battle', however, will be organised on October 28 and 29 at Dilli Haat wherein 60 bands will perform. The winning band stands a chance of winning a trip to Dubai, with the second and third placed getting a trip to a domestic destination. Musicians like Bollywood singers from Assam Papon and Zubeen Garg, rapper
Borkung Hrangkhal and DJ Zaeden and rock bands Traffic Jam, Fourth Element, Mo & The Shooting Stars, Reverse Tragedy and many more will perform. Ras Leela of Manipur, around 20 folk dance forms, along with the famous Ram Vijay Ankia Bhaona of Assam will be presented by Sangeet Natak Akademi. Fashion shows comprising the best Northeast handlooms will be showcased by around 20 young designers and models of the region. For gastronomes, an exotic collection of delectable cuisines from the eight states with around 30 food stalls will be on offer. Besides displaying tradi-
Cong, HSPDP now in KHADC opposition Agencies Shillong, Oct 27: The Congress and the HSPDP will now join as members of the opposition in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council after the resignation of five MDCs from the posts of executive members, chairman and deputy chairman. Council Chairman Manstudy Nongrem and his deputy, Donevan Kharwanlang, submitted their resignations to KHADC Secretary A. Shangpliang on Wednesday and reiterated that their actions were as per the directions of the MPCC. The five Congress MDCs – PT Sawkmie, Jansing Tynsong, Lamphrang Blah, Nongrem and Kharwanlang – recently withdrew their support to the PDF coalition led by PN Syiem. Nongrem told reporters on Wednesday, “We had a discussion with the president and the working president of the MPCC to withdraw support to the coalition and the decision was taken shortly after Syiem’s sus-
pension was announced. However, we did not want to disturb the session and we went on.” EC to be blamed for financial mess With the KHADC mired by allegations of embezzlement and Syiem’s suspension from the Congress that prompted five MDCs to resign, Nongrem said it was not prudent to continue working with the suspended leader of the Executive Committee, which he blamed for the financial mess that the Council is in. “The misappropriation of funds has been taken up in the House and the EC has constituted an independent inquiry in this case. However, members of the inquiry committee are officers appointed by the District Council. We sensed a hidden agenda in this matter.” Asserting that the committee should comprise members who are outside the jurisdiction of the District Council, Nongrem said, “We want the inquiry to be conducted in a fair manner.”
According to him, with the inquiry committee currently on the job to uncover the truth, he said the EM in charge of Finance, Antonio War, should have surrendered his portfolio while the inquiry is on to ensure fair probe and that the EM in charge should take the responsibility for the misuse of money. When asked whether he was ready to take on the role of the leader of the opposition in the KHADC, he said, “As yet I am not a leader of the opposition but the Parliamentary Party leader of the Congress. I may take the role or I may not as it all depends on the majority.” Replying to a query on filling the vacant seat of the Chairman, he said, “As per the AD rules, the secretary of the KHADC has to send the resignation letter to the Governor through the District Council Affairs (DCA) department. The Governor can appoint a pro tem Chairman till the date is fixed to convene a special session.”
Maxi cabs left to rot in parking lot Agencies Shillong, Oct 27: Scores of Maxi taxis, which were sanctioned by the Centre, have gone kaput owing to lack of maintenance. A visit to the parking lot near Ward’s Lake shows several such cabs in irreparable condition with missing tyres, seats and headlights. Official at the Shillong Municipal Board said out of around 217 vehicles, more than 60 are lying idle at the parking lot. The officials said they had written to the district transport officer (DTO) asking whether these vehicles could be operated again after repair. The Maxi cabs started plying on city roads in 2011-12 and the new mode of public
transport was a welcoming change for the citizens. The taxis, awarded to the State government under the 13th Finance Commission, were outsourced to selfhelp groups. It was, however, not known how much revenue was generated from the vehicles, whose poor maintenance was apparent and commuters would often complain about the unclean taxis. When asked about this, Urban Affairs Minister Ronnie V. Lyngdoh said he was keen to revive the Maxi cabs as well as the SPTS buses. “Once the agreement with these operators lapses, we will look to revive the services with proper agreement that will address the concerns of the
NGT, Environment Min urged to punish ‘JH fish killers’ Agencies Shillong, Oct 27: The Dorbar Ki Daloi Ka Ri Jaintia has petitioned the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) alleging that the authorised agent of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) in Jowai has illegally killed thousands of aquatic animals. In a petition submitted to the Ministry and the NGT, the group of traditional heads said the JHADC Executive Committee illegally issued per-
mission and licence for mass killing of fish in various water bodies of Jaintia Hills. According to the group, several metric tonnes of fish in one of the rivers were killed on Monday by the authorised agents of the Council’s Executive Committee. “The matter is a serious criminal offence and it goes against the spirit of the Protection of Wildlife and Animal Act,” the petition said and asked the Ministry and the NGT to take suo motu cognizance of the matter and ensure arrest of all involved in the crime.
public,” the minister added. Lyngdoh said the idea behind the service is to provide cheap and efficient public transport and that the department is keen to ensure that the service continues. The department is planning to introduce the Maxi cabs and buses on those routes where private operators are not functioning. The condition of the SPTS buses is equally pathetic. Though new buses have been sanctioned to the State, the tendering and selection of operator for those buses have not been completed till now and thus the buses are still lying idle in different parking lots of the town.
BB Lyngdoh remembered Agencies Shillong, Oct 27: Meghalaya’s third Chief Minister B.B. Lyngdoh’s 13th death anniversary was observed at Pynursla on Wednesday by his family members along with the BB Lyngdoh Memorial Committee. Known as the architect of coalition government and the MLA scheme, Bah Bring as he was fondly called, was remembered for his efforts to bring development in the state. Members of UDP were also present on the occasion. On the occasion, UDP leader Titosstarwell Chyne promised a contribution of Rs 4 lakh for the construction of a memorial hall named after BB Lyngdoh besides erecting a bust of the late leader.
tional sports of the Northeast, the festival will also have live art, a photography exhibition showcasing the vivid wildlife and natural beauty of the region, an art workshop with 20 young artistes of Northeast and plenty of interactive games. According to Shyamkanu Mahanta, chief organiser of the festival, one of the core objectives will be to promote tourism in the region with plenty of tour operators and tourists slated to attend it. Besides, it will also be a platform to promote business for Northeast entrepreneurs, apart from building bridges with Delhi, he said. "This year we will be holding a seminar on flood and
erosion that affect the region. Experts from IITs across the country will discuss about the Brahmaputra to find a permanent solution to these issues along with stakeholders of NER," Mahanta said. "The seminar will be presented by Water Resources Department, government of Assam and will see participation from various multilaterals and the central government. Assam Tourism will be presenting a seminar on 'Awesome Assam' with tour operators across the country. There will be discussion on sports, B2B meets on tourism and many more," Mahanta added.
Shillong to host Thai princess next month Agencies Shillong, Oct 27: Shillong will host Thai princess, Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, when she arrives in the city on a three-day visit next month. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will arrive here on November 23 and will conclude her tour on November 25. The princess is keen to visit Mawlynnong and Sohra but details are being worked out. As part of the preparation for her visit, an advanced team comprising of nine people led by the Ambassador of Thailand arrived here on Wednesday. The delegation is here to
finalise the itinerary of the princess’ visit. The details of her visit are likely to be finalised shortly. Former minister AL Hek hosted a dinner for the delegation on Wednesday. The team is set to visit the Cathedral and meet its representatives. The team will also visit the Don Bosco museum at Mawlai to be followed by a visit to NEHU for a scheduled meeting with the Vice-Chancellor. The delegation will also meet the chief minister. On the last day of their tour, the team will visit Sohra and then proceed to New Delhi.
Outgoing FKJGP prez to contest from North Shillong Agencies Shillong, Oct 27: Outgoing FKJGP president Joe Marwein is all set to take a plunge into the political arena as he gears up to contest the 2018 assembly election from North Shillong Constituency. At a function organised to bid him farewell at the Jaiaw Shyiap Lumpyllon Community Hall here on Wednesday, the pressure group leader said as a politician his foremost task would be to decongest the Harijan Colony which has over the years added to the woes in the roads leading to Iewduh. “We have been talking about the problems associated with Harijan
Colony since 1978 but no action was taken in this regard. My goal is to streamline the colony in a peaceful manner with an aim to decongest the traditional market,” Marwein said. Meanwhile, Wellbirth Rani, who was elected the new president of the FKJGP, stressed on the need to maintain unity among “fellow NGOs” so as to have positive impact on the State. Dundee Khongsit was elected the new general secretary of the federation on the occasion. Among others who spoke were KSU president Daniel Khyriem and HNYF president GH Kharshanlor.
Govt to fill inspectors’ vacancies at district level Agencies Shillong, Oct 27: Concerned over the lack of proper inspection in schools that hampers its functioning, the State government has decided to fill the vacant posts of inspectors and other officials. Recently, several media reports had exposed lack of facilities in various schools. An official source said as the departmental promotion has been cleared all vacancies in the district level will be filled.
“Since the vacant posts will be filled up, the manpower problem in the department will be addressed, which will lead to education officials, especially the inspectors carrying out constant checking to correct the anomalies in the functioning of the school,” the source added. When contacted, School Education and Literacy Minister Deborah Marak said all the vacancies at the district level will be filled as the vacancies have been lying for long.
AI flights from Lengpui
arrangements to connect even smaller towns. He said that air link was extremely important for states like Mizoram, which has difficult terrain, denying it with good connectivity with its neighbouring states.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla PTI Aizawl, Oct 27: Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla has appealed to the Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju to continue Air India flights between Mizoram's Lengpui airport and Imphal in Manipur.
Air India had earlier announced its decision to discontinue flights between Lengpui and Imphal from October. Lal Thanhawla, in his letter to Raju on Wednesday, termed the decision of Air India as unfortunate while the centre has been making
"The people of Mizoram and Manipur have close affinity with relatives on both the sides, making it necessary to have good connectivity," he said. He added that students of Mizoram's Regional Institute of Para Medical and Nursing Science (RIPANS) and College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, under the Central Agriculture University, Imphal, would be facing serious problems if the flights are discontinued.
Cops raid GNLA faction hideout; 1 rebel killed Agencies Shillong, Oct 27: One rebel of a GNLA faction was killed in an hour-long gun battle with police in the remote Nangalbibra region of South Garo Hills on Wednesday. Garo Hills police raided the main camp of one of the splinter groups on Wednesday morning after several near-miss encounters against two breakaway factions of the outfit. They found a huge cache of weapons, including a mortar launcher, a German made Heckler and Koch submachine gun and automatic rifles. The police had intelligence inputs about the faction led by former GNLA area commander Salman. Police commandoes led by Special Force-10 subsequently launched a combing operation in the forest and spotted the hideout around 10am on Wednesday. A gun battle followed that killed one rebel. The others man-
aged to flee deep into the forest. “It is a major success for the police to recover such a large number of weapons from the militants. The exact identification of the weapons will be made after physical verification,” said a senior police official adding that the rebels left most of their arms behind while escaping. Police said almost all the weapons belonged to GNLA which were taken away by Salman and his followers after they split ranks last month. Salman was a close confidant of GNLA chief Sohan and at the time of his desertion, he was the area commander. He was attached to the command of deputy commander-in-chief Rupanto Marak alias Toding but on a September night, he and 12 more rebels walked away with all the weapons leaving their second in command with just a pistol.
The deputy chief soon after contacted police and surrendered before the East Garo Hills police chief on October 7 along with the one cadre who stayed with him. GNLA has seen a vertical split in the last one and a half months with two units breaking away to form their own groups. Besides Salman’s splinter group, another batch of rebels under the command of Baichung Momin in Chokpot also deserted the organisation to form their own outfit. However, the first split of the rebel group took place more than a year ago when its senior commander Reding T Sangma rebelled against the leadership and went on to form ASAK. Several of the GNLA senior leaders, including its finance secretary Rakkam D Shira, surrendered. Rakkam was subsequently killed by a GNLA squad deputed by Sohan Shira last week.
Closure of ‘defence routes’ continues to annoy residents Agencies Shillong, Oct 27: The defence authorities’ decision to forbid civilians from using several routes in the city following the Pathankot terror attack in January is inconveniencing commuters. Among the barred routes are the short cut to Police Bazar from Civil Hospital point (Pine Walk area), the footpath from Anjalee Complex to Butcher Road and the footpath from Pine Walk area to Butcher Road (near Bawri Netralaya). Adding to the woes, the internal road from General’s Point to the one leading to Civil Hospital, which otherwise eased the traffic snarl to an extent, has also been closed by the army au-
thorities. This decision of the army has irked many citizens who are patiently waiting for a favourable response from the defence authorities before they knock on the door of the higher-ups.
forced on all army establishments as directed by the defence authorities. However, the district administration did not make clear the measures it would take to ensure that the routes are opened to public again. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, during the Assembly Session earlier this year, had said the army has debarred entry of pedestrians into defence areas in the city.
These routes were made inaccessible to civilians earlier this year “for security reasons” following the terrorist attack on Pathankot Air Force Station on January 2 and months later the call to Earlier this year, the Air reopen the paths is only Force authority at Laitkor getting louder. Station had closed down the gates preventing East Khasi Hills Deputy people from entering the Commissioner PS Dkhar Shillong Peak after a high said he had taken up the alert was sounded in all issue with the army but key installations in the added that strict security country following the measures have been en- Pathankot attack.
Traditional heads upset over govt silence on exit, entry points Agencies Shillong, Oct 27: The Dorbar Hima of Nongpoh Sirdarship Elaka and the office of the Dorbar Raid Nongkylla have expressed concern over the State government’s decision to keep the traditional heads out of the loop while setting up the proposed entry and exit
points at 19 Mer under Raid Nongkylla of Nongpoh Sirdarship Elaka in Ri Bhoi district. Phrangsngi Syngkli, Lyngdoh Raid of Nongkylla and SR Syngkli, Secretary of Nongpoh Sirdarship Elaka, said the State government should have sought the consent of the traditional heads,
which include the Dorbar Shnong, the Dorbar Raid and the Dorbar Hima before taking any decision on the entry and exit points. “The State government bypassing the traditional heads clearly indicates that this present government does not respect the traditional customary
laws,” the leaders said in a press communiqué and added that so far they have received no information from the State government on the move. This, they said, was a “serious breach of the Customary Land Laws of the ‘Elaka Nongpoh Sirdarship-Revise 2012’
approved by the KHADC”. Meanwhile, the traditional heads of Raid Nongkylla and Nongpoh Sirdarship Elaka, along with the Dorbar Hima, sought immediate intervention of the Ri Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF), to take up this matter with the government.
EDITORIAL
DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28
Hindutva at the hustings
Today's quote
“
"A room without books is like a body without a soul." Marcus Tullius Cicero
In refusing to revisit Justice J.S. Verma's judgments in the 'Hindutva cases', the Supreme Court is missing an opportunity to strengthen integrity in India's political process Suhrith Parthasarathy
Running to stand still As proof of its commitment to economic renewal,
the Narendra Modi government had set itself the target of breaking into the top 50 in the World Bank's annual ranking of countries on ease of starting and operating a for-profit enterprise. That the Bank in its Doing Business 2017 report now ranks India 130 among 190 countries, just one notch higher than last year, is therefore likely to be taken as a signal of the snail's pace of economic reform. This too when competition is hitting up. Seventy-five per cent of the 283 reforms reported this year were carried out by the developing economies, and the world's ten best improvers include Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Kenya and Indonesia. The report notes that the BJP-led government was elected in 2014 "on a platform of increasing job creation, mostly through encouraging investment in the manufacturing sector." While it has left out labour regulations from this year's index, the Bank acknowledges India's gains in simplifying tax payments, trade procedures and contract enforcement (though it still ranks a low 172 on this front). Most heartening is that India is now the 26th easiest place to get an electricity connection, up 25 places from last year. The average time taken to get a connection has come down from 138 days in 2013-14 to 45 days in 2015-16. Besides, transformative changes such as the proposed Goods and Services Tax and insolvency and bankruptcy norms, if implemented by June next year, could propel India higher in the Bank's next report. For its part, the government has argued that the Bank only focuses on two big cities while reforms are happening across States. But that, in fact, frames a larger problem because with an eye on the index officials had focused on simpler procedures in Mumbai and Delhi. By May this year, an e-biz platform allowed investors to apply for 20 Central government services online, along with two services in Delhi and 14 each in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. In Maharashtra, a $5-billion investment announced by Foxconn remains on paper. Other BJP-run States had, in fact, not signed up. Certainly, investment (and job creation) is not driven by rankings alone. In his first year in office, the Prime Minister had assured investors that the government had no business being in business, retrospective taxes would be relegated to history and land acquisition norms simplified. There is little movement on the first, and the third has become history. Old retrospective tax demands linger, while new instances (pertaining to bonus payments and mining royalties) are being battled in the courts. Losing its credibility with global capital should be a far bigger worry for the government than a World Bank endorsement.
Terror returns to Quetta T
he attack on a police academy in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, is the second major terrorist strike in the city in recent months. In August, 73 people were killed in a suicide attack at a hospital. This time, the attack was carried out in a more sophisticated manner. At least three militants entered the academy and started firing indiscriminately before two of them blew themselves up. These recurring attacks, particularly in the west and north-west, threaten to pull Pakistan back to another cycle of violence after a brief lull. After the 2014 Peshawar school massacre in which 148 people, mostly children, were killed by Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, the army had launched a largescale operation against the militant groups operating in the north-west. After the months-long military and financial crackdown, there was a sharp fall in the number of attacks last year. But as the attacks in Quetta and Lahore this year would suggest, the post-Peshawar operation never defeated the militant groups. They may have retreated in the wake of the military campaign and are now regrouping themselves. This resurgence of terror has new security dimensions. First, the site of the violence this time is Quetta. In recent years, Balochistan has been the focus of Pakistan's counter-terror operations as the province is expected to play a major role in the $46- billion economic corridor China is building, connecting Gwadar to Xinjiang. Second, if the only major terror group the Pakistan army had been fighting till a few years ago was the TTP, an increasing number of groups and offshoots have made the fight more complex. This week's Quetta attack, for instance, has been claimed by three groups - a faction of the TTP; Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a sectarian militant group, and the Islamic State. The Lashkar claims it cooperated with the IS to carry out the assault. If true, this opens the possibility for the IS to operate in Pakistan, where it does not have a strong organisational presence, through coordination with other terror groups. Responsibility for the August attack in Quetta was claimed by the Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, a breakaway Taliban faction, and the IS. This means that the Pakistan establishment has to fight a many-headed monster if it wants to return order and security to its cities. Unfortunately, the country has a record of hobnobbing with terrorists for geopolitical leverage, providing cover to some terrorists to bleed India and gain influence in Afghanistan. In the absence of a full-fledged fight against all terrorists, violent groups looking for recruits will find easy pickings in parts of Pakistan.
P6
On Tuesday, a seven-judge Bench of the Supreme Court, which is currently hearing oral arguments in two cases Abhiram Singh v. C.D. Commachen and Narayan Singh v. Sunderlal Patwa - declined an opportunity to reconsider the correctness of a series of judgments rendered by Justice J.S. Verma in December 1995. There, in what are collectively called the "Hindutva cases", the court delivered rulings that caused great mischief on the idea of India as a pluralistic, secular state. It held that pleas made by appealing to the terms "Hindutva" or "Hinduism" during an election campaign did not necessarily constitute a corrupt practice in violation of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RPA) since the terms ordinarily refer not to religion but only to "a way of life". The judgments, however, overlooked the RPA's true objective. As is plainly evident from the legislation's language, it intends to instil in India's elections an atmosphere of secular integrity. Now, the seven-judge Bench, presided by Chief Justice T.S. Thakur, has expressed its unwillingness to test the legitimacy of Justice Verma's view, on the ground that the issue finds no mention in the orders referring the cases to it. The upshot is the continued perpetuation of judgments that are not merely deeply flawed, but also eminently dangerous in their purport. Religion and electoral politics Secularism can mean many different things, and, in India, the term is often imbued with a significance that goes well beyond its popular meaning. But what's clear from the debates of both the Constituent Assembly and Parliament, in various iterations, is that one of the key features of secularism, as it's understood in India, is an endeavour to separate religion altogether from electoral politics. B.R. Ambedkar, who played a sterling role in the RPA's drafting, was particu-
larly keen on ensuring that the statute conformed to secular principles. "I think that elections ought to be conducted on issues which have nothing to do with‌ religion or culture," he said during a crucial stage of the debate in the lead-up to the law's enactment by what was then a provisional parliament. "A political party should not be permitted to appeal to any emotion which is aroused by reason of something which has nothing to do with the daily affairs of the people." Ultimately, it was with this sentiment in mind that the RPA, through Section 123(3), outlawed, as a corrupt practice, the appeal for votes by any candidate contesting in an election, on grounds, among others, of religion. In the celebrated S.R. Bommai v. Union of India case, the Supreme Court recognised the value in this provision. To fight elections on a plank of religion, Justice B.P. Jeevan Reddy wrote, was tantamount to eroding the country's secular fabric. But, barely a year later, the court subverted India's secular credentials when it ruled on the Hindutva cases. The 'Hindutva cases' A Bench comprising Justices Verma, N.P. Singh and K. Venkataswami heard appeals by 12 different members belonging to the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including Bal Thackeray and the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Manohar Joshi. These persons, some of whom had won in the State's elections held in 1987, had been found guilty by the Bombay High Court of violating Section 123 of the RPA. They had, in the court's view, invoked either or both Hindutva and Hinduism to influence the outcome of the elections. The Supreme Court's chief opinion in these cases was rendered in the case of Dr. R.Y. Prabhoo v. P.K. Kunte. Here, the court heard appeals over a verdict which had found the mayor of Bombay, Prabhoo, and Bal Thackeray, who had campaigned for him, guilty of
corrupt practice. The court ultimately dismissed both appeals. Indeed, it would have been difficult for it to rule in any other manner - Thackeray in his campaign speeches had not only appealed to the idea of Hindutva, but had also claimed that "[The Muslims] should bear in mind that this country is of Hindus, the same shall remain of Hindus... if Shiv Sena comes to power and if the morchas come - first of all (we) shall make them come. Everybody will have to take diksha (initiation) into Hindu religion." But in arriving at its conclusion, the court made several inexplicable findings that ultimately helped foster a culture of electoral perversion. "The term 'Hindutva' is related more to the way of life of the people in the subcontinent," wrote Justice Verma. "It is difficult to appreciate how‌ the term 'Hindutva' or 'Hinduism' per se, in the abstract, can be assumed to mean and be equated with narrow fundamentalist Hindu religious bigotry, or be construed to fall within the prohibition in [the RPA]." It's of course true that the mere mention of the word Hindutva or Hinduism can barely be seen as offensive in and of themselves. But Justice Verma's attempts at defining these terms only gave a fillip to those from
the far-right. A fillip to the far-right Quite opposed to analysing the real roots of Hindutva - which V.D. Savarkar had defined to include "all the departments of thought and activity of the whole Being of our Hindu race" - the court, in Prabhoo, instead referred to Maulana Wahiduddin Khan's work, Muslims: The Need for a Positive Outlook. In so doing, Justice Verma concluded that the word 'Hindutva' "is used and understood as a synonym of 'Indianisation', i.e. development of uniform culture by obliterating the differences between all the cultures coexisting in the country." As A.G. Noorani, most notably, has since pointed out, the court's elisions lie not only in failing to refer to Savarkar's works, but also in the misquoting of the Maulana, who hardly saw Hindutva as a redeeming movement. The judgment in Prabhoo makes for even poorer reading when seen in conjunction with the verdict in CM Joshi's case, where the court found that the statement, the "first Hindu State will be established in Maharashtra", was not tantamount to invoking religion in soliciting votes, but was rather merely "the expression, at best, of such a hope". As a result of these opinions, today, a candidate who de-
clares himself to believe in Hindutva or in a Hindu Indian state would not be indulging in a corrupt practice. For he may simply be referring to India's cultural ethos as a whole. In its immediate aftermath, Justice Verma's judgments secured widespread approval from Hindu nationalist groups. "The Supreme Court has put its seal of judicial imprimatur on the Sangh ideology of Hindutva by stating that it is a way of life or state of mind and that it is not to be equated with religious fundamentalism," said an editorial in the Organiser, a publication of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. To the BJP, the judgments acquired a near-cultist status; the party routinely sought protection from the rulings to justify remarks made along starkly communal lines, by trumpeting an idea that Hindutva is after all only a way of life. An opportunity missed However, in truth, these celebratory actions, aimed at creating an impression that the Hindutva judgments are entrenched as law, ignore vital facts. Only a few months after Justice Verma gave his rulings, the Supreme Court, through a different Bench, found itself in disagreement with his views. And it referred the case, an appeal filed by the BJP's Abhiram Singh, for the consideration of a larger Bench. Eventually, in 2014, this reference (now heard by a five-judge bench) came to be tagged with another BJP leader's case, which had, in turn, been referred to a seven-judge Bench; in that order of reference, in Sunderlal Patwa's case - ambiguous as it is doubts appear to have been raised over whether an appeal by a candidate to a religion other than that which he practises amounts to a corrupt practice under the RPA. No doubt, between the two orders making reference to a seven-judge Bench there is no specific question concerning a reconsideration of Justice Verma's judgments. But to use this as a ground to abstain from reviewing those opin-
ions overlooks the fact that for more than 20 years, the verdicts in the Hindutva cases have stood, despite being questioned by a Bench of the Supreme Court's own judges. Needless to say, on the relative merits of Mr. Singh and Mr. Patwa's cases, the court would have to consider, on facts, whether they indulged in any corrupt practice under the RPA or not. But to decline altogether the opportunity to review Justice Verma's judgments is an exercise which is, at best, pedantic, and, at worst, an abdication of a critical responsibility. For it once again places at the peril of the unique deferrals of India's judicial system a group of decisions that have proved most damaging to the country's secular fabric. Liberal theory, in certain forms, may demand unconstrained speech, even in the course of electoral campaigning. But, in India, the right to free speech is subject to reasonable restrictions on grounds, among others, of morality and decency. To hold that secularism is a part of the Constitution's basic structure while simultaneously condoning a politics of hate that is propagated in the name of religion - in this case, Hindutva and Hinduism - is simply incongruous. As Chief Justice P.B. Gajendragadkar observed in his 1964 opinion in Kultar Singh v. Mukhtiar Singh, to allow any sway in election campaigns for appeals made on the basis of religion, race or caste "would vitiate the secular atmosphere of democratic life". The Supreme Court's seven-judge Bench would have done well to defer to Chief Justice Gajendragadkar's views. A reexamination of Justice Verma's judgments, far from being "pseudo-secular" as some critics might have us believe, is imperative in the interests of restoring an element of integrity in India's political process. It is time we placed precepts of democratic morality and decency at the vanguard of our republic.
Playing on geopolitical chessboards Changes, if any, to redefine Indian foreign policy must not take place in an episodic manner, or as a series of isolated steps M. K. Narayanan The BRICS-BIMSTEC meeting in Goa this month that immediately followed the annual India-Russia Summit (also in Goa), capped months of hectic diplomatic activity, during which India pursued a robust, even aggressive, foreign policy. By and large, such activism has served India well the most evident being the furthering of relations between India and the United States. Given the several changes in direction - and departures from past policies and practices taking place, there is perhaps scope to debate whether this amounts to a redefining of India's foreign policy. International diplomacy is hardly a 'zero-sum game'. It has become even more complicated with the passage of time. Hence, giving a new direction to the country's foreign policy demands careful consideration and assessment of all relevant aspects. Systemic, national and decision-making factors must determine foreign policy choices. Maintaining coherence and balance is also a vital aspect. It would seem, however, that this kind of exercise has yet to be undertaken, even as shifts in policy have been effected. Among the acronyms One indication of this would seem to be India's current approach towards different multilateral organisations and plurilateral groupings. Many are better known by their acronyms such as NAM,
SAARC, BRICS, BIMSTEC, etc. Multilateral fora have today become indispensable to the conduct of international diplomacy, and how a nation deals with, or adjusts to, the alphabetic soup of organisations that exist is important. This is so even if a case exists that some of the older ones have lost much of their relevance. Since Independence, India has played a leading role in multilateral fora. It was a founder member of NAM (Non Aligned Movement), SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation), BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), and BCIM (Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar). India has sought membership of the NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group) and the Wassenaar Arrangement (on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-use Goods and Technologies) and also full membership of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation), etc, recognising the potential of being inside rather than outside such bodies. Even granting that the world is increasingly tilting towards the post-modern phenomenon of transactional politics, and that older institutions such as NAM are increasingly out of sync with this, a proper study of the utility of participation in such fora prior to treating many of them
as of little consequence - would have been useful. To optimise its many advantages, India clearly needs to play on as many geopolitical chessboards as possible. NAM may be a pale shadow of what it was during an earlier period when towering personalities such as Nehru, Tito, Nasser and Castro dominated its proceedings. With nonalignment giving way to strategic alignment, organisations such as NAM may seem anachronistic, but it should not be lost sight of that it still resonates with many Third World countries. It also offers an alternative platform for putting forward a different viewpoint. It would, hence, be premature to pronounce the death of NAM. The Indian Prime Minister's decision to skip the NAM Summit in Venezuela may well hasten its end, but does not take away from the fact that NAM still has some relevance and India could still utilise NAM - perhaps less ideological but more purposive than in the past - to counter newer challenges such as China's not so 'peaceful rise'. SAARC is still relevant India's stakes in SAARC are, if anything, higher. It is the most important country in South Asia, and India was the progenitor of the idea of a primarily economic grouping of countries of South Asia. Admittedly, SAARC has been on 'life-support' for much of the period, but had begun to display a new vigour and dynamism of late. India had also shown a willingness to adopt
Going the extra mile I was 20 and had just finished my first degree when I aksed my father's advice on how to approach the world of work. He had a long and distinguished career in the Indian Army and rose to become commander-in-chief of a million men. He was a soldier's soldier and his men adored him. His manner was strict and firm, but he was very friendly. He appreciated and trusted people and gave then freedom. "Come and see me in my office if you
want to talk to me about work" he said. So I made an appointment with his ADC and went to see him. He had a huge office and I felt very small. "You are starting out and you will be given a lot of tasks to fulfil" he said. "The first thing is always to do something to the best of your ability. Then the second time you do it, give it that little bit extra". What he was saying was: "Take the initiative; be innovative; be creative. Always go the extra mile." Source: Karan Bilimoria, founder and chief executive of Cobra Beer, speaking to Sheridan Winn for "Business Life".
an asymmetrical and non-reciprocal approach towards other SAARC members which had gone down well with these countries. To undermine SAARC due to the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan may well be an instance of 'throwing the baby out with the bathwater'. Propping up bodies such as BIMSTEC and BCIM in place of SAARC is hardly the answer, and could even prove counterproductive. The China factor is all too predominant here, with almost every country (other than India) under China's thrall, having been assiduously wooed with financial and other inducements. China is hoping to further consolidate its position through its One Belt, One Road initiative which has been warmly welcomed by all these countries, the sole exception again being India. In the case of BRICS, the weakening of the so-called strategic triangle between Russia, China and India does affect its image. The diminishing economic fortunes of Russia, Brazil and South Africa, of late, have also dented its image as a flag-bearer of newly emerging economies. Still, the idea of BRICS remains valid though it will require hard work and skilful diplomacy to reproduce the previous elan, and avert a pincer move against India by Russia and China as they move closer strategically and economically. Changing ties Undoubtedly, India's foreign policy has to evolve in keep-
ing with the changes and shifts taking place across the globe. Permanence in relations, and consistency in alignments, is not a signal virtue in the world of the 21st century. Not all relationships can or should be regarded as cast in stone, and impervious to change. This applies equally to ideologies. Nevertheless changes, if any, must not take place in an episodic manner, or as a series of isolated steps. For instance, India-U.S. relations today are at an all-time high. This was hardly the case a decade and a half ago. On the other hand, the 'all weather' India-Russia relationship is today nowhere at the same level as it was even a few years back. Notwithstanding the rhetoric from Goa, Russia can hardly be viewed as a strategic ally as of now. Russia may have been restored to the position of 'the most favoured defence supplier', but this is a far cry from being a strategic ally. India may be only partly to blame for this, as Russia has been looking at diversifying its options for some time. It had moved closer to China and has achieved a degree of strategic congruence to counter U.S. moves in Asia. The China, Russia and India triangle thus heralds a situation where two sides, China and Russia, have grown much closer to each other, with India in danger of losing out in this process. The China-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination, as also the recent Russia-Pakistan military exercises, even
though on a limited scale and a subtext of this, only demonstrate the growing strategic ambiguity in our neighbourhood and in Asia as a whole. On the sidelines of the March It is China that will demand India's wholehearted attention. Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent reference to a 'new Long March' is not without significance. China's 'not so peaceful rise', alongside its growing economic and military muscle, its growing strategic congruence with Russia, and a further tightening of its links with Pakistan pose a pre-eminent challenge for India in the competition of influence in the region and beyond. It may have other graver implications as well. The One Belt, One Road initiative and the new Maritime Silk Route/Road also have the potential to bottle up India and Indian initiatives in Asia. As India aspires to become a leading power, these are real matters for contemplation and action. It would be a mistake if India were to fritter away its energies by viewing regional and world developments through a very narrow prism, viz., terrorism. There are far bigger and larger issues at stake that demand attention. Most important would be highlighting India's capabilities to accelerate economic growth during a period which marks the demise of globalisation. India could also bring to the attention of the rest of the world its tremendous 'human assets' that can power the country as the world transits to an incredible future, viz., the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Dilapidated drainage system in Diyun Bazzar Dear Sir, I would like to draw your kind attention to the authorities of the Diyun Bazaar Committee towards the poor maintenance of the drainage system in the market place. There were very good drainage systems in Diyun Bazaar where the water followed properly in last five years. But the drains had been blocked. During the rainy season the public, the Shopkeepers as well the residence faced severe problems in the area. Once the drains used to be well maintained and followed the water instantly. The bazaar committee is the responsible for the neglected condition of the drains. This makes the places dirty and storage of water in everywhere. They become pools of dirty water during the rainy reason. The mosquitoes breed on them and spread malaria. I hope the concerned authorities will intervene to check the degeneration of the drains and attempt to bring back the lost maintain of it. Indrajit Changma Diyun, Arunachal Pradesh
DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28
BUSSINESS P7 Don't buy gold jewellery this Sensex falls 104 pts on festive season. Here's why F&O expiry, Asian cues
New Delhi, Oct 27: Indians love to invest in real estate and gold. While real estate has been going through tough phase for last few years, gold has risen around 20 per cent after giving negative returns for the last three years. With downside looking limited experts say it is the right time to add gold to your portfolio. But do you know apart from jewelers there are several other cost-efficient ways of investing in gold. Here are a few tips for you on how to invest in gold this festive season. Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) The government has recently issued the sixth tranche of SGB. Unlike previous issuances, this time the government has launched it at discount of Rs50 at Rs, 2957, which is it the lowest subscription price for 2016-2017. But at the same time the government has reduced the interest rate from 2.75% to 2.5% on these bonds. So if you have been planning to invest in gold this festive season buy SGB before the closing date of No-
The government has recently issued the sixth tranche of SGB. Unlike previous issuances, this time the government has launched it at discount of Rs50 at Rs, 2957, which is it the lowest subscription price for 2016-2017.
vember 2. The tenure will be the same for eight years with exit option being given from the fifth year. The minimum investment in these bonds in one gram with maximum buying limit of 500 grams. By investing in these bonds you can cash in on the upside movement in gold prices as well as earns 2.5% interest at the time of exit. It comes in the paperless form so you are saved from the hassle of keeping it safe inside lockers. The bonds are sold through banks and desig-
nated post offices. You can also convert it into demit form. Taxation: Interest earned on gold will be added to your income and is taxable as per tax slab. There is no tax at the time of maturity. If you redeem it before maturity, you will have to pay capital gains tax on it. If the bonds are sold before three years, the short term capital gain is taxable as per one's tax bracket. If sold after three years, then gains would be treated as long term capital gain wherein a tax rate of 20
Tata stocks plunge on concerns over Mistry letter
Indian Hotels and Tata Tele were down more than 7 per cent each. Mumbai, Oct 27: Shares of various Tatagroup stocks, including Tata Power and Tata Motors, plunged sharply this morning amid concerns about purported disclosure made by ousted group chairman Cyrus Mistryabout huge write-down risks at some firms.
Tata Motors and Tata Power were down nearly three percent each while Tata Steel was trading nearly 2 per cent down in early morning trade at BSE. Indian Hotels and Tata Tele were down more than 7 per cent each.
Tata Chemicals, Tata Coffee, Tata Global Beverages, Tata Investment Corp, Tata Steel and TCS were also trading with losses.Stock exchanges late last night sought clarifications from select Tata companies on reports about Mistry listing out possible write-down risk to the tune of USD 18 billion while the group stocks have been losing value for three days now amid concerns over sudden ouster of Mistry as chairman of Tata Sons, the main holding firm for the group companies. Regulator Sebi and stock exchanges are keeping a close tab on share movement and trading volumes of all listed companies of the group. (PTI)
ITC net rises 10.5% on tobacco biz growth New Delhi, Oct 27: Beating Street estimates, ITC posted a 10.5 per cent increase in its net profit at Rs 2,500 crore for the quarter ended September 30, on the back of higher profitability from its cigarette business and a narrowed-down from the non-cigarettes fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) business. In the corresponding quarter of FY16, the company had a net profit of Rs 2,262.5 crore on a standalone basis. For the period under review, ITC's revenue from operations surged 7.8 per cent to Rs 13,491 crore against an earlier earning of Rs 12,512 crore. Analysts had expected a rise of 5-7 per cent in top line; while the bottom line was thought to get impacted due to sluggish cigarette sales. Revenue from cigarettes rose 7.1 per cent to Rs 8,528 crore, while the gross profit increased 8.3 per cent to Rs 3,217 crore. The company said the operating environment for the cigarette sector became challenging in the wake of the 10 per cent rise in excise duty announced in the Budget 2016 and introduction of graphic health warnings on packages. "ITC's strategy of calibrated price hike has expanded margins by 44 basis points, with decent volumes," said Abneesh Roy, senior vice-president (institutional equities) at Edelweiss Securities: "With per capita consumption 1/18th China's, the cigarette opportunity in India remains attractive." The net revenue from 'others FMCG' comprises dairy & beverages, edibles and
per cent with indexation will be applicable. Exchange traded funds (ETFs) Another way to buy gold in electronic form is through demit account. Several mutual funds offer you this option by listing them just like stocks on exchanges and they are linked to international prices. One of the main advantages is you can invest in ETF whenever you want. Unlike, SGB they are not open for a short span of time. If you have a demit account you can invest according to your convenience. On the flip side there is an expense ratio of around one per cent on ETFs. It makes it costly compared with sovereign gold bonds. Taxation: They are taxed just like debt funds. Capital gain tax has to be paid when you sell them off. If you hold them for more than three years long term capital gain is levied at the rate of 20 per cent with indexation. In case of less than three years short term capital gain is levied as per your income tax slab.
ready-to-eat meals rose 13.3 per cent to Rs 2,672 per cent from Rs 2,358 crore amid weak demand. The company posted a double-digit growth in this segment after four quarters of single-digit growth. The firm credited the improvement in sales to enhanced scale and enriched mix offsetting the impact of a significant increase in input cost, continuing investment in brand building, and consumer & trade promotion activities. Roy, however, credited the growth to new product launches and a favorable base in noodles. In the quarter under review, the dairy & beverages vertical scaled up sales of B Natural range of juices and also launched two blends of gourmet coffee under the Sunbean brand, currently sold through select ITC Hotels. It also expanded the footprint of Fabelle Chocolate Boutiques to ITC Sonar, Kolkata; ITCMaurya, New Delhi; and ITC Grand Chola, Chennai, in addition to the one at ITC Gardenia, Bengaluru, launched earlier. "Plans are on the anvil to
extend the luxury chocolate boutiques to select ITC Hotels in the ensuing months," ITC stated. The business continued to be under stress in its profitability as the company posted a netloss of Rs 3.26 crore against Rs 11.10 crore losses in the year-ago period. The hotels business has turned around with a revenue gain of 2.5 per cent at Rs 297.34 crore in the quarter under review compared to the earning of Rs 290.05 crore in the July-September period of 2015, and profit of Rs 65 lakh against Rs 5.54 crore losses. In the agri-business vertical, which provides strategic sourcing support to the company's cigarette business and leverages its rural linkages to source raw materials for the foods and packaged goods business, the firm posted a flattish top line and bottom line at 1.9 per cent and 1.03 per cent, respectively. ITC stock closed at Rs 238.90 a share on the BSE on Wednesday, up 0.15 per cent from the previous close. (Agencies)
Pic for repesntation purpose. Mumbai, Oct 27 : The stock market stayed weak for the third straight session as the benchmark Sensex fell nearly 104 points and the NSE Nifty broke below the 8600-mark today, with participants liquidating bets in view of October derivatives expiry. Besides, weak Asian cues following a slide in oil prices weighed on sentiment, brokers said. The 30-share index was trading lower by 103.69 points, or 0.37 per cent, to 27,732.82. The gauge had
lost 342.57 points in the previous two sessions. Sectoral indices led by IT, power, auto, technology and metal trading in the red, falling by up to 0.62 per cent. The NSE Nifty fell 32.15 points, or 0.37 per cent, to 8,583.10 in early trade. Offloading of positions by participants with today being the last trading session of October series contracts in the derivatives segment and a weak trend in global markets dampened sentiment here. Shares of FMCG major
Hindustan Unilever fell by 0.87 per cent to Rs 835.50 even as the company yesterday posted an 11.54 per cent rise in its standalone net profit at Rs 1,095.6 crore for the September quarter. Shares of two-wheeler market leader Hero MotoCorp were trading 0.78 per cent lower at Rs 3,395 despite the company yesterday reported a 27.74 per cent increase in net profit at Rs 1,004.22 crore for the second quarter ended September. Major losers were Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Asian Paints, Wipro, SBI, Lupin, TCS, Axis Bank, L&T and Power Grid, falling by up to 3.02 per cent.Among other Asian markets,Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 1.33 per cent while Japan's Nikkei was down by 0.29 per cent in early trade today. The Shanghai Composite Index too inched lower by 0.24 per cent. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.17 per cent higher yesterday. (PTI)
Tata Motors couldn't shut down Rupee adds to losses, Nano due to emotional reasons: falls 10 paise to 66.93 Takeaways from Mistry's letter
Sustained demand for the American currency from importers was also at work Mumbai, Oct 27: The rupee lay low for the second session as it weakened 10 paise to 66.93 against the dollar as the latter rose overseas amid a lower opening in domestic stocks. Sustained demand for the American currency from importers was also at work. Dealers said the dollar's renewed strength against other currencies overseas came after a preliminary survey showed key US services expanded in
October, which reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will lift rates before the end of the year. This mainly pushed down the rupee. Yesterday, the rupee had ended almost flat at 66.83, a marginal 1 paisa drop against the American currency, amid month-end dollar demand from importers. Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex fell 103.69 points, or 0.37 per cent, to 27,732.82 in early trade. (PTI)
Indian Hume Pipe gains on 1:1 bonus issue; strong Q2 results Mumbai, Oct 27: Indian Hume Pipe was up 3% at Rs 872 on the BSE after the company announced that the board has recommended issue of bonus shares in the proportion of 1:1 i.e. one bonus share of Rs 2 each for every one equity share held by the members. The company engaged in cement and cement products business reported three-fold jump in net profit at Rs 21.76 crore for the quarter ended September 30, 2016
Pic for representation purpose.
Gold Coins If you are not convinced and still want to invest in physical form, go for gold coins from MMTC. Gold coins are available in denominations of 5 and 10 grams and bar or bullion of 20 grams through MMTC outlets. The 10 gramme coin of 24 karat purity and 999 fineness is available at Rs32, 757 (excluding VAT and other taxes). Banks also sell coins but they can be bit costly as they charge you premium of around 10 to 15 per cent. The flip side is MMTC and banks are not allowed to buy gold back from their customers. The local jeweller may sell you at lower cost but then you have to be sure of their quality. Taxation: For physical gold the taxation is same as ETFs. Gold prices are expected to rise in prices over long periods. One can add it to the portfolio as a hedge against inflation. The thumb rule is it should not be more than 10 to 15 percent of your portfolio. (Agencies)
(Q2FY17), on back of strong operational income. It had profit of Rs 7.05 crore in a year ago quarter. Total income from operations nearly doubled to Rs 451 crore against Rs 230 crore in the corresponding quarter of previous fiscal. The stock hit a record high of Rs 908 in intra-day trade. Since October 18, it rallied 36% after the company announced the bonus issue plan. (Agencies)
Retail, SME sectors could be next bubble: Axis Bank MD & CEO Shikha Sharma
Axis Bank MD & CEO Shikha Sharma New Delhi, Oct 27: The retail and medium-sized enterprises sectors have been showing credit demand but the banking industry is worried that they could be the next bubble, said Axis Bank Manging Director & CEO Shikha Sharma while speaking at a program. Sharma also pointed out that credit growth to the corporate sector has been relatively weak and that working capital demand has also been depressed. Stressing further on the point, she said that corporate India has not seen any new projects
coming up in the past 18 months and working capital demand had also been depressed. Sharma said that the reason for the slow growth was that there was a base effect issue as large project funding had taken place three years back. On a brighter note, she said that there was a lot of headroom for growth in retail credit and that Axis Bank continued to be optimistic in that regard. She added that corporate credit would also come back, along with investments. (PTI)
New Delhi , Oct 27 : Tata Motors has been unable to shut down the loss making small car Nano due to "emotional reasons" and doing so would also stop the supply of "gliders" to an entity that makes electric cars in which Ratan Tata has a stake, Tata Sons' ousted Chairman Cyrus Mistryhas alleged. In clear indications that not all was well between him and Tata, Mistry in his letter to Tata Sons board members said for the group's automotive venture Tata Motors to make a turn around the company needed to shut down the Nano -- a pet project of his predecessor. Here are the takeaways from the letter: 1. Not shutting down Nano was an emotional reason The Nano product development required concept called for a car below Rs 1 lakh but the cost were always above this. This product has consistently lost money, peaking at Rs 1,000 crore," Mistry said in his letter written a day after he was ousted as the Chairman of India's largest conglomerate. He further said: "As there is no line of profitability for the Nano, any turnaround strategy for the company (Tata Motors) requires to shut it down. Emotional reasons alone have kept us away from this crucial decision." Moreover, raising issues of conflict of interest, Mistry said: "Another challenge in shutting down Nano is that it would stop the supply of the Nano gliders to an entity that makes electric cars and in which Mr Tata has a stake. 2. Mistry says was pushed to a position of 'lame duck' Cyrus Mistry said he was pushed in to a position of "lame duck" chairman and changes in decision making process created alternate power centres in Tata Group. He accused them of replacing him as Chairman of India's largest conglomerate without so much as a word of explanation and without affording him an opportunity of defending himself "in a summary manner" that must be unique in the annals of corporate history. 3. No free hand Mistry said he was promised a free hand when he was ap-
In this file photo of Cyrus Mistry whom Tata Sons on Monday removed as its Chairman, nearly 4 years after he took over the reins of the group. pointed Chairman in December 2012 but Articles of Association were modified, changing the rules of engagement between the Tata family Trusts and the Board of Tata Sons. 4. Tata Sons face potential combined write downs of close to $18 billion due to poor investments Mistry said Indian Hotels Co, the passenger vehicle operations of Tata Motors, the lossmaking European steel operations of Tata Steel, a telecoms venture and an Indian plant of Tata Power were "legacy hotspots". "A realistic assessment of the fair value (of) these businesses could potentially result in a writedown over time of about Rs118,000 crores ($18 billion)," he said in the emailed letter. 5. Ratan Tata forced the group to foray into aviation, Mistry had no role in that Mistry alleged that it was Tata who forced the Group to foray into the aviation sector by making him a 'fait accompli' to joining hands with Air Asia and Singapore Airlines and making capital infusion higher than initial commitment. 6. Sudden move will damage Tata reputation He said the suddenness of his removal, and the lack of explanation has led to all manner of speculation and has done immeasurable harm to his reputation as well as that of Tata Group. 7. Acquisition strategy resulted in a massive debt burden Mistry was also critical of the group's foreign acquisition strategy, saying it resulted in
a massive debt burden, especially the buyout of its European steel business which faced "potential impairments in excess of $10 billion." Many foreign properties of IHCL and holdings in Orient Hotels have been sold at a loss. The onerous terms of the lease for Pierre in New York are such that it would make it a challenge to exit," he said. Tata Chemicals still needs tough decisions about its UK and Kenya operations, he added. Mistry also hit hard on the group's hospitality arm IHCL, saying beyond flawed international strategy, it had acquired the Searock property at a highly inflated price and housed in an off-balance sheet structure. "In the process of unraveling this legacy, IHCL has had to write down nearly its entire net worth over the past three years. This impairs its ability to pay dividends," he said. 8. Telecom biz was bleeding the most Highlighting the problems faced by the group's telecom business, Mistry said, "Of all the companies in the portfolio, the telecom business has been continuously hemorrhaging. If we were to exit this business, via fire sale or shut down, the cost would be $4-5 billion. This is in addition to any payout to Docomo of at least a billion plus dollars." He also lashed out at the original structure of the Docomo transaction, saying it "raises several questions about its appropriateness from a commercial or prudential perspective within the then prevailing Indian legal framework".
Dr Reddys Lab hits three-month high Mumbai, Oct 27: Dr Reddy's Laboratories have moved higher to three-months high of Rs 3,307, up 2% on the BSE in on otherwise weak market, after the company announced new strategic deal with Gland Pharma in the US market. The pharmaceutical company said on Wednesday after market hours that it has entered into a strategic collaboration with Hyderabad-based Gland Pharma to market and distributes a diverse portfolio of eight injectable Abbreviated
New Drug Applications (ANDAs), or alternatively called as generic drug approvals. "The portfolio is a mix of filed ANDAs and pending approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and ANDAs that will be filed imminently, and comprised of generic injectables administered in hospitals and clinics in the US, according to a statement issued by the company," Dr Reddys Lab said in a press
release. The combined sale of branded and generic versions of the products in the US is approximately $1 billion for the most recent twelve months ending in August, 2016, it said citing the IMS Health data, it added. In past three-trading sessions, post July-September (Q2FY17) results, the stock outperformed the market by gaining 7% as compared to 1.62% decline in the S&P BSE Sensex. (Agencies)
DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28
EDUCATION
Best Chartered Accountant Colleges In India
What is Accounting? Accounting or accountancy is the measurement, processing and communication of financial information about economic entities such as businesses and corporations. The modern field was established by the Italian mathematician Luca Pacioli in 1494. Accounting, which has been called the "language of business", measures the results of an organization's economic activities and conveys this information to a variety of users, including investors, creditors, management, and regulators. Practitioners of accounting are known as accountants. The terms 'accounting' and 'financial reporting' are often used as synonyms. Accounting can be divided into several fields including financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, and tax accounting. Accounting information systems are designed to support accounting functions and related activities. Financial accounting focuses on the reporting of an organization's financial information, including the preparation of financial statements, to external users of the information, such as investors, regulators and suppliers; and management accounting focuses on the
measurement, analysis and reporting of information for internal use by management. The recording of financial transactions, so that summaries of the financials may be presented in financial reports, is known as bookkeeping, of which double-entry bookkeeping is the most common system. Accounting is facilitated by accounting organizations such as standard-setters, accounting firms and professional bodies. Financial statements are usually audited by accounting firms, and are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). GAAP is set by various standard-setting organizations such as the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) in the United States and the Financial Reporting Council in the United Kingdom. As of 2012, "all major economies" have plans to converge towards or adopt the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Advantages of Accounting Some of the advantages of accounting are as follows: 1. Complete and Systematic Record: Accounting is based on generally accepted principles and a scientific way of presentation of business
transactions in books of accounts. As such, accounting is a complete and systematic recording of all business transactions. The limitations of humans, that they can not keep all transactions in mind, is overcome by accounting because each and every business transaction can be recorded and analyzed through same. 2. Determination of Selling Price: The main function of the management is decision making. Accounting helps and guides the management to take decisions in respect of determining selling price, deduction of cost, increase in sales etc. 3. Valuation of the Business: In case of sale of business or conversion of one business into another, true and fair value of the business is calculated. Through accounting, the correct picture can be depicted in Balance Sheet and as such the purchase price can be determined. Balance Sheet shows the value of assets & liabilities of the business which can be used to calculate its net worth. 4. Helps in Raising Loan: For further expansion, business must have sufficient funds. Sometimes, due to paucity of funds business
cannot do well. In those cases further funds can be raised by taking loan from some financial institutions like banks, IDBI, ICICI etc. These financial institutions lend money on the basis of profitability and soundness of the business enterprise. The profitability and soundness can be measured by the Trading and Profit & Loss Account and Balance Sheet, the final results of books of accounts. 5. Evidence in Court of Law: The business transactions are recorded in the books of accounts supported by authenticated documents viz. vouchers etc. Thus, the accounts can be used as an evidence in the court of law. 6. In Compliance of Law: Every business has to deal with various government departments like income tax, sales tax, custom and excise etc. Various periodic returns are to be filed with these departments. Accounting helps in preparation and filing of such returns. 7. Inter-Firm or Intra-Firm Comparison: Trading and Profit & Loss Account shows net profit earned or net loss sustained by the business. If the accounts are maintained properly, records relating to various expenses, sales, gross
P9
profit and net profit etc. can be compared. As such, accounting helps in inter- firm and intra-firm comparison. Comparison of accounts of two different enterprises for the same year is known as inter-firm comparison and comparison of two different periods for the same business enterprise is known as intra-firm comparison. The performance of the business enterprise is then compared with the predetermined goals and shortcomings, if any, can be rectified accordingly. 8. Facilitates Audit: Depending upon the size, nature and type of business, certification of books of accounts, known as audit, is mandatory. Audit certificate issued by the auditor on the accounts is a clean chit to organization which proves that there are no irregularities in the organization. 9. Effective Management: Accounting facilitates proper feed back to the management. As such, it helps the management in planning as well as control of different activities of the business enterprise. It also helps the management to evaluate the performance of the business enterprise and takes timely action to remove the shortcomings in the management.
Deshbhakt Ratnappa Kumbhar College of Commerce
Jain Coaching Centre
How to Understand Medical Terminology
If you're a student of the medical or health sciences field, you'll be introduced to the world of medical language. At first glance, the jargon that medical professionals use to describe body parts and organs, procedures, and conditions can seem a bit daunting and intimidating, but is easy to pick up and master over time. See Step 1 to learn the basics of linguistics and understand medical terminology. Obtain and use a medical dictionary This step is optional, but highly recommended for breaking down medical jargon that many people are initially unfamiliar of. These dictionaries give the meanings to the word parts and can translate medical-language-to-English and vice versa. Get to know the basic word parts The first part of deciphering a medical term is to know the different components of a term. · Root: the essential meaning of the word. · Combining form: a root with a vowel attached to it, most commonly the letter O. This vowel is known as the combining vowel because it combines the root with the rest of the term. When writing the combining form itself, a slash ( / ) is used to separate the root and combining vowel. As long as the combining vowel links the parts together, a word can have multiple roots. · Suffix: the end of the term that gives part of the word's meaning. · Prefix: appears at
the beginning of some words to modify its meaning. · Example 1: CARDIOLOGY means study of the heart. cardi/o is the combining form (cardi + o), and -logy is the suffix. · Example 2: POLYNEUROPATHY means disease of many nerves. poly- is the prefix, neur/o is the combining form (neur + o), and -pathy is the suffix.
Understand the rules that govern the use of combining vowels · If a suffix starts with a vowel, drop the combining vowel. · Example 1: NEURAL means pertaining to the nerves. neur/o is the combining form and -al is the suffix. Because the suffix starts with a vowel, the combining vowel is dropped. · When using multiple roots, keep the combining vowels even if the second root begins with a vowel. · Example 2: GASTROENTEROLOGIST means a doctor specializing in the stomach and in-
testines. gastr/o is the first combining form, enter/o is the second, and -logist is the suffix. Note that both combining vowels are present. To get the meaning of a word, read it from the suffix to the beginning and then across In other words, read the suffix first, then the prefix if there is one, and finally the root.
· Example 1: HEMATOLOGY, -logy (study of) + hemat/o (blood) = study of the blood · Example 2: HEPATITIS, -itis (inflammation of) + hepat/o (liver) = inflammation of the liver · Example 3: INTRAVENOUS, -ous (pertaining to) + intra- (within) + ven/o (vein) = pertaining to within a vein · Example 4: TACHYCARDIA, -ia (condition of) + tachy- (fast) + cardi/ o (heart) = condition of a fast heartbeat To make a word, infer the meanings of various word parts and combine them to make a term · Example 1: Re-
moval of the uterus = HYSTERECTOMY, ectomy (removal, excision) + hyster/o (uterus) · Example 2: Pertaining to within a muscle = INTRAMUSCULAR, ar (pertaining to) + intra(within) + muscul/o (muscle) · Example 3: Cancerous tumour = CARCINOMA, -oma (tumour) + carcin/o(cancerous) · Example 4: Condition of an overactive thyroid gland = HYPERTHYROIDISM, ism(condition, process) + thyroid/o (thyroid gland) + hyper- (higher-thannormal) Practice proper pronunciation In the medical world, correct pronunciation is not only important for maintaining your professionalism, but it also helps to prevent misinterpretation and confusion caused by differing pronunciations. There are many words that have unique pronunciations. You may find that how you read a word in your
mind isn't how it's supposed to sound like. The following is a brief list of words and their intended pronunciations; boldface
capitals indicates the syllable that is stressed: · arthroscopy: arTHROS-ko-pe · atrophy: AT-ro-fe · biopsy: BI-op-se · electroencephalogram: e-lek-tro-en-SEFah-lo-gram · erythrocyte: ehRITH-ro-site · hematoma: hemah-TOH-mah · hypertrophy: hiPER-tro-fe · laryngeal: lah-RINje-al or lah-rin-JE-al · metastasis: mehTAS-ta-sis · oophorectomy: oh-of-oh-REK-to-me or oh-oh-for-EK-to-me · relapse: reh-LAPS · tachypnea: taKIP-ne-ah Don't get confused over similar word parts and terms Some word parts and terms are similar in both spelling and pronunciation but opposite in meaning. It's important to differentiate between these to avoid a misleading, possibly harmful diagnosis or treatment plan in your career. Examples of these are: · hyper- (higherthan-normal) and hypo(lower-than-normal) · sarc/o (flesh) and sacr/o (sacrum) · -tomy (incision, cutting into), -ectomy (excision, removal of), and -stomy(opening) · -plasia (formation), -phagia (eating or swallowing), and -phasia (speech) · hematuria (blood in the urine) and uremia (high levels of urea in the blood) · menorrhea (normal menstrual flow) and menorrhagia (abnormally heavy menstruation)
ETEN CA
Coimbatore Branch of S.I.R.C. of I.C.A.I.
Loyola College
Mar Ivanious College
Eastern India Regional Council of ICAI
NATION
DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28
P10
Cabinet discussion on India asks Pakistani spy to leave country NAD proposal likely PTI New Delhi, Oct 27: The Union Cabinet is likely to discuss soon a proposal for establishing a National Academic Depository (NAD) which is aimed at preserving records and curbing educational fraud to help employers verify job applicants' qualifications. The HRD ministry has been working to create a NAD under which academic awards and certificates are verified, authenticated, accessed and retrieved in a digital depository. Under the plan school boards, colleges and universities, etc, would digitise the certificates of
Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar their students which would be preserved. Sometime back Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar had also inaugurated a a National Conference for awareness on NAD last month. It is learnt that delibera-
tions on NAD may take place in a meeting of the Cabinet on Thursday. In addition, a proposal to establish an IISER in Odisha is also expected to come up soon for discussion in the Cabinet, it is understood.
Pak official held for spying, MEA summons Abdul Basit
Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit New Delhi, Oct 27: Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit was on Thursday summoned by the government after a Pakistani official was held by Delhi Police on charges of espionage. According to reports, the accused named Mehmood
Akhtar works at the Pakistan High Commission in the national capital under Basit and had in his possession sensitive defence documents related to the country’s security. The Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested and quizzed the staffer who was
later let off as he enjoys diplomatic immunity. Meanwhile, Basit appeared before the Ministry of External Affairs at around 11.30 am after being summoned by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar. The arrest comes after the Delhi Police received a tipoff from the Intelligence Bureau (IB). The Crime Branch also arrested two people, Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir.-- both residents of Rajasthan, for allegedly passing on sensitive information to the detained staffer. According to police, the arrested duo was working for Pakistan's ISI and was in touch with the staff here at Pakistan High Commission.
Yeddyurappa acquitted in Bellary case New Delhi, Oct 27: In a major relief for former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Court on Wednesday acquitted the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and others accused in the multicrore-rupee mining scam. Following the judgment, the chief of the BJP’s Karnataka unit tweeted: “Justice is done, I stand
vindicated... Thanks to all well wishers, friends & supporters who stood with me in my tough times...”. Yeddyurappa was forced to resign as the state's first BJP chief minister on July 31, 2011 following corruption charges against him and his kin in the multicrore-rupee mining scam and for freeing government-owned lands (de-notification). Yeddyurappa then left the
BJP and formed the regional Karnataka Janata Party (KJP), winning six seats in the May 2013 assembly election which the BJP lost. However, he returned to the BJP in early 2014 after merging KJP with it and was elected to the Lok Sabha in the May 2014 general elections from his home parliamentary constituency of Shivamogga in the state's Malnad region.
New Delhi, Oct 27: The Pakistani official who was on Thursday detained for spying has been declared ‘persona non grata’ and asked to leave the country, officials said. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar conveyed the message to Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit, officials in the Ministry External Affairs (MEA) said. Basit was summoned by the MEA earlier in the day. Vikas Swarup, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, tweeted that Jaishankar summoned Basit "to convey that (a) Pakistan
High Commission staffer has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities". The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police had detained the Pak official, Mehmood Akhtar along with two Rajasthani residents – Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir on Wednesday for passing on sensitive defence information to Pakistan’s ISI. However, as Akhtar enjoys diplomatic immunity, he was let off after questioning. Police said that Akhar worked in the Visa office of
BSF jawan martyred as Pakistan violates ceasefire New Delhi, Oct 27: A Border Security Force (BSF) personnel was martyred and six civilians were injured on Thursday as Pakistan violated ceasefire in Jammu district's R.S.Pura sector of the International Border (IB). According to officials, the BSF jawan, Jitender Kumar died due to splinter injuries as heavy shelling along with fire exchanges between Indian and Pakistani troops that
started late Wednesday night continued on Thursday. "After Pakistan Rangers used 82 mm mortar shells to target civil and Border Security Force (BSF) facilities in R.S.Pura, the BSF retaliated effectively using same calibre weapons," police sources said. "Shelling and firing exchanges took place in Korotana Kurd, Bidipur, Jattan, Abdullian, Chandu Chak, Shamka and Hansu Chak areas."
BSF kills Pak Ranger in retaliatory fire
BSF kills Pak Ranger in retaliatory fire
New Dellhi, Oct 27: iving a befitting reply to the repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan, the Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday shot dead a Pakistan Ranger and injured another in retaliatory fire along the International Border (IB), officials said. “A Pak Ranger has been killed and another injured in retaliatory fire along the IB in RS Pura and Arnia sectors in Jammu,” the BSF said. “Pakistani troops violated ceasefire along LoC in Sunderbani sector of
Rajouri district. Troops guarding the border line retaliated,” an Army officer said. Earlier in the day, a BSF personnel was martyred and six civilians were injured in a ceasefire violation in Jammu’s RS Pura sector. According to officials, the BSF jawan, Jitender Kumar died due to splinter injuries as heavy shelling along with fire exchanges between Indian and Pakistani troops that started late Wednesday night continued on Thursday.
Must be sensitive to CM Nitish labourers' needs: PM Modi to skip SP jubilee Arrested Pak spy Memmood Akhrtar carried event New Delhi, Oct 27: Bihar fake Aadhaar card Chief Minister Nitish
Prime Minister Narendra Modi IANS New Delhi, Oct 27: Expressing concern at the large number of grievances of labourers and Employees Provident Fund beneficiaries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the government must be sensitive to their needs. The Prime Minister's observation came during the the 16th interaction of PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation), which he chaired. The platform is aimed at addressing common man's grievances, and simultaneously monitoring and
reviewing important programmes and projects of the Central as well as state governments. Modi said that in a democracy, the labourers should not have to struggle to receive their legitimate dues. He also called for introduction of a system so that the process of finalisation of retirement benefits for all employees can begin a year in advance before their retirement. In case of an untimely death, he said the papers should be completed within a specified time, and officers should be made accountable for this purpose, he added.
Kumar may not attend the silver jubilee ceremony of Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party on November 5 which marks the eve of one of Bihar's nost popular festivals Chhath Puja. Samajwadi Party's Uttar Pradesh chief Shivpal Yadav had invited both Nitish Kumar and RJD leader Lalu Prasad for the November 5 function, a Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader said on Thursday. Lalu Yadav is, however, expected to attend the celebrations. Political observers point out that the Samajwadi Party had walked out of the grand alliance in Bihar last year, straining relations between Nitish Kumar and Samajwadi chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. Nitish Kumar has vowed to contest the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls early next year though his ally Lalu Yadav has ruled out that his party would enter the fray.
New Delhi, Oct 27: Arrested Pakistani spy Mehmood Akhtar, who was told to leave the country after it was found that he enjoyed diplomatic immunity, tried to pass himself off as an Indian citizen in initial stages of investigation by Delhi crime branch officials. Akhtar produced an Aadhaar card which was issued in the name of Mehboob Rajput, son of Hasan Ali and resident of
Chandni Chowk. According to sources it was only after incriminating documents were recovered that he claimed diplomatic immunity and disclosed his true identity as an official of Pakistan High Commission. Invistigations revealed that Akhtar worked in the visa section and prior to his posting to India he had worked with the Pakistani army and the ISI.
Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and was the kingpin of the racket to
recruit Indians as spies for Pakistan. The module was active for the last one and a
half years. “The Pak official’s job was to target possible recruits from those applying for visa. He looked out for people from economically weaker sections. These spies would then pass on vital information like deployment of army personnel at border areas to the official,” Ravindra Yadav, Joint CP, Delhi Police said. “He (Akhtar) used to meet the spies once a month,” he added. The police said that Akhtar used to be a hawaldar in the Baloch regiment of the Pakistan army.
Scrutiny by collegium stringent these days: CJI PTI New Delhi, Oct 27: Scrutiny in appointments to the higher judiciary is much more stringent these days and it would have been "inconceivable" for a judge like late VR Krishna Iyer, who flaunted his political activism, to be elevated to the apex court, Chief Justice TS Thakur on Wednesday said. "A politician becoming a judge and that too a judge of the Supreme Court is inconceivable in present context. That too a judge who has been prosecuted in 10 criminal cases. A judge who has undergone sentence for 30 days," he said in his speech at Inaugural Lecture series in memory of Justice Iyer here. "A judge who is a political activist, an agitationist becoming a candidate and becoming a judge is inconceivable today," he further said. While calling himself a die hard fan of Justice Iyer, the Chief Justice said in today's time, if we had an Iyer-type candidate, the collegium would have hesitated in recommending him. "We had a meeting of the collegium on Wednesday. One of the objection about two of the candidates were that they had obtained a chamber and the allotment was later cancelled as it was found that the allotment was not valid according to rules. "Allottee has gone to the court to challenge the cancellation. Now one of the objection is that this candidate is in litigation. We have even deferred. Times have changed. Today if we had a Justice Krishna Iyer kind of candidate, we would have been very very hesitant in recommending him for elevation," CJI said.
Beside the CJI, former Supreme Court Judge KSP Radhakrishnan, senior advocates Fali S Nariman and P H Parekh praised Justice Iyer while addressing the first lecture series organised by Sarada-Krishna Satgamaya Foundation, a charitable trust founded by Justice Iyer, to conduct law lectures and to promote other activities connected with legal education and legal literary works. . Senior lawyer Nariman, while delivering the inaugural speech of the lecture series, recalled major judgments pronounced by Justice Iyer like the Ratlam municipality judgment and remembered his toughness in dealing with the issues of social justice keeping away his political affinities. Nariman also hailed Justice Iyer as a jurist who defined bail jurisprudence in favour of undertrials when he laid down that bail, not jail was the rule and was averse to preventive detentions as a general rule. The senior lawyer also referred to Justice Iyer's 1975 conditional stay on Allahabad High Court verdict that unseated Indira Gandhi as MP which led to the events that culminated in the imposition of Emergency. He recalled that once Justice Iyer was denied enrollment in the Kerala Bar Association but he threatened to sue the Kerala Bar Association. "Evidently, it worked," Nariman said while hailing Justice Iyer as "super judge". He also criticised the handling of the recent dengue epidemic in Delhi, as something Justice Iyer would never have done. Endorsing the senior
counsel's words praising former apex court judge, CJI Thakur called late Justice Iyer a legend and compared him with Mount Everest. "If we compare the judicial landscape with the Himalayas, Justice Krishna Iyer was the Mount Everest," he added. He further said the presence of such huge gathering of Bar at this hour, on a working day shows there is a great hunger for knowledge, continuing education, to know about the past legends and their contribution. "Why can't we organise such lectures on a regular basis in memory of various other prominent lawyers and jurists? This can be an opportunity to the younger generation of the bar. "Only way we can relieve the memories of such great people is to remember them through the work that they have done and especially through the words of those who have worked with them," CJI said adding Justice Iyer was unique in many respects. "First of all he was the first person who came from politics to judiciary. We know that judges who have retired have a tendency to meddle in politics," he added. CJI also said Iyer's understanding about the constitutional ethos was unparalleled. "I admire his vocabulary. Krishna Iyer's vocabulary was phenomenal. I believe that he has the distinction of coining new expressions. He has made additions to English language. For an Indian to do that, I think it requires only a man from Kerala eating lots of fish, a brainy fellow, who can do all these," he said.
SC defers plea challenging Sonia's election New Delhi, Oct 27: The Supreme Court Thursday deferred hearing of a plea challenging Sonia Gandhi’s election from Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency in 2014 on the issue of her citizenship and for allegedly playing the communal card to garner Muslim votes. A bench headed by Justice A R Dave said, “Similar issue is being dealt with by a seven-judge Constitution Bench. Let that issue be decided. Then we can take up this matter. We are not passing any orders. If we take a view in this matter, then it will not be appropriate as larger bench is hearing the issue.” The Allahabad High Court had on July 11 dismissed a petition filed under the Representation of People Act, 1951 with costs and held that the election petition lacked material facts and did not constitute a complete cause of action. On the plea that Gandhi committed “corrupt practice” by allegedly seeking Muslim votes, the high court had said it should be shown that the act was done
Sonia Gandhi during the election campaign between the date of her candidature and the poll and she should have committed the act herself or through her agent or any other person with her consent to appeal for votes on ground of her religion. The election petition filed by one Ramesh Singh contended that Sonia Gandhi has dual citizenship, as she is an Italian citizen by birth and the Italian law does not allow dual citizenship. He had also sought that her election from Rae Bareli be set aside as void and as she allegedly had got an appeal
made to Muslim voters through the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid to vote for her and Congress(I) party ahead of elections, which amounted to corrupt practice. The high court had said the allegation of corrupt practice was based on news channel reports which were of no value if it was without proof of what had actually happened. It said that those reports could not be taken into consideration unless accompanied by statement of the reporter who broadcast the report on television.
DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28
P11
Almost 80% Indians have been Samsung's Gear Fit2 is a hybrid between victim of tech support scam a fitness tracker and a smartwatch are not only reaching a larger portion of the population but also targeting new consumers. The survey highlighted those adults older than 55 are no longer the most vulnerable and millennials (between ages 18-34) are outpacing them because of their inherent trust in, and use of, technology.
Eighty percent of people in India have experienced a tech support scam, 32% continued with the scam and 22% of them lost money, a new survey revealed. The survey by Microsoft and marketing consultant Ipsos Public Affairs found that globally, two out of three people surveyed have experienced a tech support scam. "One out of five was tricked into continued engagement with scammers, often leading to victims losing hun-
dreds of dollars to the fraudsters," noted the survey which was conducted as part of Cyber security Awareness Month in 12 countries with nearly 1,000 people from each country. "Traditionally, scammers made unsolicited phone calls to potential victims but today, they are increasingly moving online, using emails, websites and pop-up windows to scare people into engaging," the results highlighted. With new tactics, scammers
"Since millennials are generally less suspicious of technology intrusions, they are more likely to accept and engage in the scam, not realising their mistake until it is too late and the cybercriminals have access to their devices and personal information," the study pointed out. Recently, after a successful year-long pilot, Microsoft India launched a full-scale Cyber security Engagement Centre (CSEC) in India. The centre is India's first and Microsoft's seventh cyber security Centre globally.
Samsung's net profit plunges on Galaxy Note 7 woes
Did you have too much coffee today? Did you climb the stairs instead of taking the elevator? Did you turn up for that yoga session? As we become a planet of self-quantifiers, tracking everything we do, the number of wearables that measure every step and heartbeat is on the
The cool factor
The Fit2 looks trendy because its bright vibrant 3.86 cm (1.5?) Super AMOLED 216 x 432 display, instantly visible when it lights up, wraps around the wrist like some new-age bracelet. Like many wearable gadgets it draws the eye, which is why it had better look good. The display extends into a tough rubber strap which looks very sporty. It really is so, in fact, because its water- and sweatproof features ensure you really
get going with your workout. The display is signature Samsung: very solid black with bright contrasting colours. But it isn't very visible in direct blazing sunlight. The Fit2 is available in two sizes to fit both men and women and is quite comfortable to wear for long. It comes in grey, blue, pink and white. The straps can be changed but you don't get any additional ones in the box.
rise. A particularly cool gadget that remains a companion through the day is Samsung's Gear Fit2. Obviously, it's a bit like the company's original Gear Fit, but its capabilities have been given a boost to the extent that it is now a hybrid between a fitness tracker and a smartwatch.
Taking your measure
All fitness trackers measure your steps and activity and calories. But the Fit2 auto detects what you're doing when you're moving and tracks stair climbing (that's exercise too and as you in-
crease the number of floors, it'll be formally tracked), cycling, Pilates, yoga, and more in a list that also includes all the usual. The auto-detect feature takes away the nuisance of hav-
ing to fiddle with the device, pressing this and that, while you're really ready to move into workout mode. There's now a built-in GPS that tracks your running route, distance and speed in real time.
Watch your progress South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics' net profits in the third quarter dropped by a massive 16.8%, primarily due to the Galaxy Note 7 discontinuation, the company announced on Thursday. Operating profit dropped 29.7% from a year earlier to 5.2 trillion won ($4.6 billion) in the July-September quarter. From three months ago, the profit tumbled 36.2%, Xinhua news agency reported. It marked the lowest in two years, meeting the revised estimate by Samsung which slashed its preliminary forecast by 2.6 trillion won to reflect costs from the discontinuation of its fireprone smartphone. Scores of reports about Note 7 phones heating up and catching fire led Samsung to terminate its latest flagship model. Hundreds of owners of the device here have sued Samsung for inconveniences they experienced in the recall and termination process. The company's revenue de-
clined 7.5% over the year to 47.82 trillion won in the September quarter, the lowest since the first quarter of last year. From the previous quarter, the revenue was down 6.1%. Net income dropped to 4.54 trillion won in the third quarter from 5.46 trillion won a year earlier. From three months ago, the net income plunged 22.4%. However, the Consumer Electronics Division achieved solid earnings growth driven by strong sales of SUHD TVs and premium home appliances. The company estimated that the stronger Korean won against major currencies in the third quarter negatively impacted operating profit by approximately 700 billion won, mostly on the components business side. "Looking ahead to the fourth quarter, the company expects earnings to improve year-on-year driven by strong performance in the components business. The mobile business expects a recovery in its earnings to a similar level with that of the
fourth quarter of 2015, led by solid sales of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge," Samsungsaid in a statement. Looking to 2017, the company will focus on achieving earnings growth through normalisation of the mobile business while improving earnings for the components businesses. "Regarding the mobile business, the company will focus on expanding sales of new flagship products with differentiated design and innovative features, as well as regaining consumers' confidence," the company said. Samsung saw significant growth in the semiconductor business. The semiconductor business posted 13.15 won trillion in consolidated revenue and 3.37 trillion won in operating profit for the quarter. "In particular, demand for memory chips saw a remarkable increase, due mainly to high-density, high-performance mobile and server products, including V-NAND based SSD," the company noted.
Airtel to offer 10GB data for Rs 259 across India India's largest telecom service provider Bharti Airtel has announced a new data plan for all customers purchasing a new 4G mobile handset. The company is offering 10GB 4G/3G data on a recharge of Rs 259 along with any new 4G handset. Of this, 1GB data will be instantly credited to the customer's account and additional 9GB data can be claimed by the customer through MyAirtel App. The data will be valid for 28 days. Users can avail a maximum of three recharges within 90 days, on the offer. The special offer, which was introduced in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh last week, has now been extended across India and is available across all brands of 4G handsets. Airtel 4G is currently available in 18 circles across India. In non-4G circles, 3G data will be available to customers with their 4G devices. Commenting on the offer, Ajai Puri, director, market operations, Bharti Airtel,
To use the Fit2, you connect the device to your phone - any Android from Lollipop onwards and download the Gear Fit app to get the two gadgets to talk to each other. As you move through the day, the Fit2 measures your activity and gives you detailed stats on steps, heartbeat (including maximum and minimum for the day), calories and more. If you want to track your caffeine and water intake, you have to enter the fig-
ure manually, but this is still worth it. You can see daily and weekly progress graphs on the device itself, giving you rich data. Now all you have to figure out is what to do with it. It's difficult to say exactly how accurate trackers are but I did happen to have more than one with me and found that measures such as heart rate were very much in the same range, give or take a couple of beats.
The smartwatch part There are a few other things you can do with the Fit2. Because it's connected to the phone, you'll get notifications on messages and calls. You can decide whether to pull out the phone or dismiss for now. The device has 4GB of storage on board and 512MP RAM. With this, you can put in a certain amount of music, to listen to with earphones, and also add a few other apps. The Fit2 works on Samsung's own Tizen operating system but is able to work with Android apps, including some of the popular fitness ones. Its 200mAh battery lasts about
Here's the list of 6 gadgets you should buy at insane prices on Amazon's Great Indian Sale The great Indian shopping festival on ecommerce platforms is here. With people preparing for the festive season, here's a great chance to earn maxi-
mum discounts. While you shop for your favourite gadget or lifestyle product, make sure you are buying them at a price much lower than you usually get. Now if you are a
regular buyer from any of the ecommerce sites, it's easy for you to understand the pulse of the prices and make the magical deal. But if you are not an online
shopping veteran, fret not, we will make you one. As Amazon has kicked off the sale from today and Flipkart raising the toast starting tomorrow, we have
The newly updated app now provides access to apps such as Ditto TV, Hike Messenger app, Wynk Music, Wynk Movies, Airtel Money and Juggernaut. The telco said that Ditto TV with over 100 live TV channels and popular TV shows is available without any subscription charges. The MyAirtel app also features Airtel Cloud and Airtel Dialer. Airtel Cloud provides 2GB of free cloud storage and backup. Airtel Dialer, on the other hand, offers 50 minutes of free Airtel-to-Airtel calling benefits, in addition to its call management feature.
scanned the former and listed out which 6 products have the hottest deal. On Amazon, these 6 products are the hottest in terms of discounts.
Here are some hacks to crack a better deal on Amazon: Check on app, the prices may be lower. Pay through HDFC Debit Card to get extra discounts. Keep checking for lightening deals.
Moto G Plus (4th Gen) 32 GB
Xbox One Console with Kinect - Halo
Moto G Plus 4th generation 32 GB is being given a discount of Rs 1500. Plus if you use a HDFC debit card to pay, you would get 10% cash back. Moto G Plus is priced at Rs 13,499 on Amazon. said, "We are proud to have pioneered 4G network for users in India. This invitational offer has been designed for our data savvy customers who can now experience high speed broadband on Airtel's 4G networks with their new devices." The company recently relaunched its MyAirtel app with new 'Airtel Apps' section that has a collection of top apps under a single interface, in addition to the existing self-care features. The move could be seen as aimed at countering Reliance Jio, which has its own ecosystem of applications that offer digital content.
three and a half days. The Fit2 costs Rs 13,990. That's expensive if you compare it with vanilla fitness bands but cheap if you compare it with a good smartwatch. Anyone interested in the Gear Fit2 may also like to check out the Gear IconX wireless earphones - truly wireless, in the sense that each side isn't connected to the other either. These earphones are meant primarily for getting audio guidance for workouts. But they are rather expensive at Rs 13,490 and as of now are out of stock on the Samsung site.
JBL Flip 2 Portable wireless speaker
The Master Chief Collection Bundle Yes while the other sellers on internet are selling this above Rs 30,000, you can buy this for Rs 24,990 on Amazon. The MRP of the product is Rs 45,990. The All in One Entertainment Device is an amazing for any gaming aficionados.
Kindle Paperwhite
Sanyo 43-inch full HD LED TV
TCL 55-inch 4K smart LED TV one of the best selling Bluetooth speaker from the stable of JBL
is available for Rs 4,897, after a discount of 39%.
Available at Rs 4,999, all new Kindle is a good gift for anyone who loves to read. If you have a better budget of Rs 9,499, you can go for Kindle Paper white.
Not only would you get a smart TV for Rs 45,990, you would also get a 30% discount on an Airtel DTH connection with 6-month free HD service.
Sanyo's full HD LED TV is priced at Rs 22,990, a flat discount of Rs 11,000! That's incredible.
cmyk
cmyk
DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28
P12 Indian Hockey Colts Lose To Belgium In 4nation Tournament PTI Valencia, Oct 27: India's junior men's hockey team lost 2-4 to Belgium in their second game of the four-nation Invitational hockey tournament. India had earlier defeated Germany 3-1 in their opening game. In last night's game, it was Belgium who broke the deadlock right in the opening minute, winning a penalty corner right off their first attack and Victor Wegnez converting the same to give them the early lead. The game's pace dropped a bit after the goal, with both teams slugging it out in the midfield in their effort to get a foothold in the game. India won a penalty corner in the fourth minute, but the attempt was saved by Loic Van Doren in front of Belgium goal. India earned a second penalty corner in the 11th minute and from the ensuing attempt, Harmanpreet Singh converted to draw level. The teams exchanged several penalty corner opportunities in the rest of the first half, but failed to convert a single one to go into the breather tied at 1-1. After the change of ends, Belgium sounded the board thrice in a span of eight minutes to dismantle the Indians. Fabrice Van Bockrijck (49th), Antoine Kina (56th) and Gregory Stockbroekx (57th) scoring a goal each to put Belgium on top. Thereafter, Belgium were content to sit back and defend, relying mostly on counters to surprise the Indians. Ajay Yadav pulled one back for India in the 60th minute, but despite their constant forays into the rival circle, the Belgians managed to hold on their two goal lead. The Indian colts will face hosts Spain later today, while the eves will be up against Germany in the five-nation tournament.
Milan’s late strike saves Delhi Dynamos’ blushes New Delhi, Oct 27: Delhi Dynamos played out a thrilling 1-1 draw in their 2016 Hero Indian Super League match against FC Pune City at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi on Thursday evening. Jesus Tato opened the scoring for the Stallions with a smart header in first-half stoppage time before young Milan Singh got the equaliser in the 79th minute to make it a fourth draw in six matches for the Lions. Edel Bete was the man who denied Delhi all three points with several saves throughout the encounter. The game got off to a quick start with Delhi dictating terms. End-toend stuff ensued but both teams were unable to get a proper look-in at the goal. Shots from Florent Malouda and David Addy went just wide, while Soram Poirei rushed out to thwart a dangerous situation at the Delhi goal. The game’s first real chance went to Milan whose deflected shot was parried away by Bete to safety. Pune went on the counter but couldn’t do the damage. They had no time to settle as Marcelinho’s runs down the left flank and Malouda’s control in the
File photo of Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni having a light moment together (Getty Images)
middle left the Stallions short of breath. Pune’s defence was left in a state of disarray with only Bete standing tall to keep his team in the game. A stinging left-footer by Souvik Chakraborty was smartly stopped by the Armenian in the 18th minute. The save of the match came three minutes later when Richard Gadze found himself in space inside the box. However, his turn-andshoot effort was palmed away by the diving keeper. The Lions unleashed one attack after another but just couldn’t get the ball past the line. Gadze was denied again, while Emerson Moura’s free
kick went into Bete’s safe hands. Delhi’s frustration soon turned into despair during stoppage time when Tato’s lobbed header went over Poirei to sneak into the goal and gave Pune the lead. Things kicked off in the second half in a similar manner to the first with Delhi having the major share of the ball. Ruben Rocha’s effort was brilliantly saved, with the keeper managing to just get his fingertips to the ball while stretching to his right. A rare blemish by Bete saw Marcelinho facing an empty net but the Brazilian’s shot hit the side-netting as Pune held on to their lead. Delhi head coach Gianluca Zambrotta went for the jugular and
brought on Bruno Pelissari and Chinglesana Singh as Delhi desperately looked for the equaliser. Bete’s luck finally ran out in the 79th minute as Marcelinho smartly passed the ball to Milan, who hit the ball on the run to bring the Lions back into the game. Both teams went for the win with Habas bringing in Anibal Rodriquez as Gadze shot just wide. His effort from near the box failed to trouble the Pune goal. Rahul Bheke’s header off Tato’s corner went straight into Poirei’s hands as Antonio Habas threw one last throw of the dice by bringing on Momar Ndoye in search of the winner. But nothing came of it as the game finished 1-1.
Jose Mourinho: Manchester United boss charged over pre-Liverpool referee comments Agencies London, Oct 27: Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has been charged by the Football Association for claiming it would be "difficult" for referee Anthony Taylor to officiate their game with Liverpool. Mourinho added appointing Taylor for the 17 October match had put "pressure" on the Manchester-based official. Managers are not supposed to speak about referees prior to matches. Mourinho has until 31 October to respond to a charge of improper conduct and bringing the game into disrepute. Taylor issued four yellow cards - all to Manchester United - in the 0-0 draw. Former referees' chief Keith Hackett was among those to question the Professional Game Match Officials Limited's (PGMOL) deci-
Jose Mourinho sion to assign the match to Altrincham season-ticket holder Taylor, claiming it would be "intolerable" if he got a big decision wrong. PGMOL stood down Leicester fan Kevin Friend in April when he was due to
take charge of the Foxes' title rivals Tottenham in their game against Stoke. Mourinho foresaw the potential for the FA to take action against him when he spoke before the game, claiming that he "did not really want to say
too much more on the matter. I have learned a lesson... by being punished so many times for my words about referees". Managers were banned from talking about officials in the run-up to matches in 2009 in an attempt to prevent their comment from influencing decisions. The Portuguese was given a one-match stadium ban and fined £40,000 in November after the FA backed referee Jon Moss' claims that the then-Chelsea manager refused to leave the officials' changing room and verbally abused him and his colleagues at half-time of a defeat at West Ham. Mourinho was also fined £50,000 for claiming that referees were afraid to award penalties against his side last season after the Blues were beaten 3-1 by Southampton in October.
From boxer to cop to boxer again, Jitender revels in rebirth AGENCIES New Delhi, Oct 27: Comebacks are never easy in boxing, more so for someone who left the ring without realising his full potential and ended up trading the gloves for a conventional job he quite likes. But as the old adage goes, one can take a sportsperson out of sport, not the sport out of that sportsperson. Jitender Kumar was all of 20 when he lit up no smaller than the Olympic stage with a couple of lion-hearted performances before nine stitches on his jaw left him severely hampered for what could have been a historic medal-confirming bout. That itself should have been the start of a blazing career given how boxing took off from that point in India but for Jitender, a bronze-winner from 2006 Commonwealth Games, that was the beginning of a series of lows forced by a combination of circumstances. Eight years on, the two-time Asian bronze-medallist, who is a serving as DSP in Haryana Police, is ready to don the gloves again, the only difference being that this time he would be competing in the professional
Jitender Kumar and not the amateur arena. He is set to sign up with Infinity Optimal Solutions (IOS), the promoters who manage reigning WBO Asia Pacific champion Vijender Singh. "It is a rebirth for me, a rebirth inside the boxing ring, is there a better way to put it? I don't know. I am coming back because of lots of pushing by my mentor Akhil Kumar and some nudging by Vijender himself,"
the 28-year-old from that famous cradle of Indian boxing, Bhiwani, told PTI in an interview. Currently deployed in Panchkula, the 28-year-old said he loves his job and devoted himself full-time to understand the nuances of criminal law during his training at Madhuban. But then boxing never quite left him either.
"After Beijing, I competed in the Asian Championships, (2209) got a bronze, then I competed in the World Series of Boxing (the semi-professional league run by AIBA) but after 2011, I could not continue," Jitender recalled. Again it was a deep gash, only that this time it was above his eye, cutting short his WSB stint in 2011. "I kept picking injuries at the wrong time. What could I do? Plus, I had to change my weight category from flyweight to bantamweight which brought me in direct competition with my mentor Akhil," Jitender said referring to the senior boxer, who shaped his career and is also taking the professional plunge now. "I was never comfortable with that scenario and when I wasn't selected for the 2010 Asian Games, I lost interest. I lost hope, there was no avenue I thought. The Haryana Police job saved the day for me so, I decided to give it my all," added the boxer, who is expected to make his pro debut in December. "I began to enjoy the job, regular patrolling, busting gangs of robbers, dealing with tough cases, I liked what I was do-
ing. In between Akhil would keep telling me, try for a comeback, I would just brush it aside. I can now say, each and every time I have not listened to him, I have ended up going backwards in life," Jitender laughed. "Even Vijender would tell me, 'let's train together, it's always easier to train with someone along'. He would tell me how hard it is. I would say 'you are saying it's tough and asking me to come back'. Basically I had lost faith in myself," he quipped. But eventually, Akhil and Vijender managed to convince him that boxing remained his true calling in life no matter how much he enjoyed policing. "I finally understood that boxing remains an integral part of who I am. I am hopeful that Haryana Police will give me permission and I would be back in the ring," said the effervescent boxer known to be a prankster among his peers. "A police job disciplines you, one has to follow protocols. Boxing allows a little more of personal freedom. I love both though," he signed off.
Dhoni Should Stick to Batting at No 4, Feels Sourav Ganguly PTI Kolkata, Oct 27: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly today insisted that Mahendra Singh Dhoni should stick to batting at No 4 and continue to play the finishers' role. "Let him play at number four. He will finish from there. Finisher does not mean he has to bat from the 40th over. Virat (Kohli) bats at three and he is finishing games. It's a wrong concept
that a finisher has to come lower down the order. Dhoni got India over the ropes in the other match batting at four," Ganguly said on the sidelines of Cricket Association of Bengal's tie up with VLCC today. New Zealand defeated India by 19 runs while defending 260 in Ranchi yesterday, in a match India's premier batsman got out for 45.
Ganguly however said India were not becoming too much over-dependent on Kohli, and suggested that New Zealand being a good team can beat India as they did on Wednesday. "He (Virat Kohli) is an excellent player, but I don't think the team is becoming too dependent on him. New Zealand is a good side. They will win some matches also," he said.
Asian Champions Trophy: Indian defender Surender Kumar suspended for 2 matches PTI Kuantan, Oct 27: Indian defender Surender Kumar will not play any role in the ongoing fourth Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament after being suspended for two matches following a deliberate foul during the game against Malaysia. Asian Hockey Federation's Technical Delegate Ramesh Appoo conducted a disciplinary hearing under the Code of Conduct and found Surender guilty of a serious foul, warranting suspension for two matches. The Indian defender, whose good performance in the Champions Trophy earned him a place in the squad for the Olympic Games, will have to sit out of the knockout round, starting with the semifinal on Saturday. "Surender was shown a yellow card by the umpire for an off-the-ball incident in which Surender lifted his stick in an appropriate manner, thereby causing his stick to hit the chin of a Malaysian player," Appoo said in a statement. "Having considered the evidence before me, including the explanation given by Surender, I have im-
Indian defender Surender Kumar posed a two-match suspension," the Technical Delegate said. Surender was sent off in the 49th minute of India's last league match, which they won 2-1 to take the top spot in the round-robin league and now await the last couple of preliminary matches before knowing who they play in the semifinal. After Surender got the yellow card, India had to play the rest of the match with 10 players but managed to ward off Malaysia's rapid attacks.
India managed to get a late match-winner off a penalty corner from Rupinder Pal Singh with just two minutes left. A one-match suspension was also imposed on Malaysian player Ashari Firhan. "Team India handed me a video in which Ashari was seen making a deliberate physical contact by extending his elbow into the body of Indian player Akashdeep Singh in an offthe-ball incident," Appoo said. "I have imposed a onematch suspension on Ashari," he said.
ISL 2016: NorthEast United, ATK eye top spot PTI Guwahati, Oct 27: NorthEast United FC and Atletico de Kolkata will be hungry to make amends and surge to the top of the Hero Indian Super League table. NorthEast were unlucky to lose against defending champions Chennaiyin FC in their last game and Atletico de Kolkata lost their first match of the season when they went down fighting to Mumbai City FC in front of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry at home. The teams now meet in a seventh round clash of the ISL at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati, on Friday, and both teams will have both their eyes transfixed on the top spot. "Our team has potential and quality and we can work and develop on many things. Sometimes you need a little bit of luck. We were not lucky (against Chennaiyin FC) but in 14 games I believe we can be lucky and win in spite of not playing as good as we played against Chennaiyin FC," said
NorthEast United logo NorthEast United coach Nelo Vingada. NorthEast started with a flourish in this edition of the ISL winning both the matches at home but since then they have suffered a dip in form picking up just four points from their last four matches. The return to Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium should boost confidence and although they did not pocket anything from the last game, The Professor should be confident that they can return to the top of a table with a simple win, or even a draw. NorthEast United are cur-
rently placed second with 10 points from six matches but a point or more will take them above Mumbai City FC who are perched at the top with 11 points. Atletico de Kolkata will also have their eyes on the top spot as the race to occupy the top four positions and win qualification to the semi-finals hots up. Atletico de Kolkata have five points from their last four matches but it is the loss in the last clash against Mumbai City FC that will hurt them. It was their first loss in the competition and came despite the hosts having chances to turn the tables. The visitors also suffered the ignominy of seeing chief coach Jose Molina sent to the stands by the referee for repeatedly protesting against referee's decisions. He will not be on the bench for Friday's clash.Atletico de Kolkata, who won the league in 2014, are placed third on the table with nine points from six matches.
Printed, Published and Owned by NIKH KHOPI and Printed at PEE GEE(India) Ltd., C/O Asomiya Khabar Pulibor, Jorhat-785006 and Published from T.C Borah Building, 1st Floor, Next to Sankardeva Hospital, Mancotta Road, Chowkidingee Dibrugarh-786001, Assam. Email: editor.easterntoday@gmail.com. For advertisement: advt.easterntoday@gmail.com
Editor: Prahlad Hammey
cmyk
cmyk
Tele : 0373-2327517