Monday, 31 oct,2016

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ASSENG/2015/64205

PAGE 12

Vol. II

THE ELDERLY IN INDIA ARE BEING MADE TO LIVE ON RS 500 A MONTH. BUT THERE'S A BIGGER PROBLEM

Guwahati, 30 Oct: The ban on Chinese fireworks in the city proved to be a boon for Barpeta as manufacturers of local fireworks in the district did brisk business this Diwali.

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India slams Pakistan, says Surjeet Singh is not a spy New Delhi Oct 30: India on Friday dismissed Pakistan’s charges against its expelled diplomat Surjeet Singh as “completely baseless and unsubstantiated” and said the tit-for-tat expulsion confirmed that Pakistan was in denial of its anti-India activities.

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FBI move 'unprecedented', 'deeply troubling': Clinton Washington, Oct 30: Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton on Sunday called "unprecedented" and "deeply troubling" the FBI's decision to re-open its investigation into her use of private email server while secretary of state, with just over a week to go for the presidential election

P8 UP: Stampede at CM Akhilesh Yadav’s Janata Darbar programme, six hurt Etawah Oct 30: Six people including a Zila Panchayat head were on Sunday injured in a stampede at a Janata Durbar programme of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav at his ancestral village of Saifai.

Additional SP Ram Kishan Yadav said a large crowd had gathered outside the PWD Guest House where the CM was holding the programme.

The main gate had to be closed to keep the crowd away.

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Dibrugarh, Monday, October 31, 2016

DICKENS IN TODAY'S AMERICA

ET Bureau Itanagar, 30 Oct

Smti Sonia Gandhi, President, all India Congress Committee (AICC) has approved the candidature of Er. Lapalum Kri, as Congress Candidate for the ensuing ByeElection to the legislative Assembly of Arunachal Pradesh from 45_ HayuliangST Assembly constituency.

Er. Lapalum Kri, Chief Engineer (PHED& WS) has applied for grant of Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) on 5th September, 2016, requesting to the Government

of Arunachal Pradesh to accept his VRS W.e.f 30th Sep, 2016.

And also he had submitted vigilance clearance which is valid for 6 months.

US, Russian, Japanese astronauts return from ISS Astana (Kazakhstan), Oct 30: Three astronauts landed safely in Kazakhstan today following a 115-day mission aboard the the International Space Station, including US astronaut Kate Rubins, the first person to sequence DNA in space.

Russian mission control confirmed the touchdown of NASA's Rubins, Roscosmos' Anatoly Ivanishin and Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency at 0358 GMT.

cmyk

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TOP 10 SECTORS FOR ENGINEERING GRADUATES

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With reference to his petition submitted on 5th September, 2016, another reminder petition was submitted on 3rd Oct, 2016 by Er. Lapulam Kri stating that he have not been intimated for a month which he wanted to able VRS w.e.f 30th September’ 2016, also he had quoted (CCS) rule, Pension rule 48-A(2), that non received of any communication from the concern authority or office.

In this regard it becomes

automatically operative after lapse of one month.

been given equal Justice, lamented AICC.

Uttarakhand etc.

Again on 13th Oct’ 2016 he had submitted a petition for early acceptance of his resignation w.e.f 30th Sept’ 2016, stating that he is going to contest coming bye-election from 45-Hayuliang (ST) Assembly Constituency, which is like to be held shortly.

AICC stated in an official press release said that Narendra Modi is afraid of people mandate, only he wants to purchase readymade legislature on whole sale basis with the help of cooperate tycoon that is why he had sent so many emissaries including Kiren Rijuju and other Union Ministers in Itanagar to suppress the NEDA Govt. not to accept the resignation of Er. L u p a l u m K r i . M o d i thinks in 45-Hayuliang byeelection, if BJP lost than it will impact badly in coming five state elections like U.P,

The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee is requesting to the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh to accept the resignation of Er. Lupalum Kri at the earliest, else, Indian National Congress party will be compelled to take democratic process in State and Nation wide and also will be compelled to knock the door of the election Commission of India and the Chief E l e c t o r a l O ff i c e r f o r postponement of 45Hayuliang Bye-election till justification is given.

Whereas, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh have accepted the resignation of Mrs. Dasanglu Tulang Pul, who was also working in Power Department as Meter reader within short time. The State Government should have

By polls: BJP to face its judgment day amidst Citizenship Amendment Act controversy ET Bureau New Delhi, 30 Oct

Come 19 November, Assam’s BJP government will go one on one against Congress in bypolls elections.

Both the ruling BJP and Congress are earmarking their potential candidates for the upcoming Lakhimpur by polls slated for November 19.

While Congress will look to draw first flood by winning, the BJP will look forward to consolidate their power in the state by further pushing into Assam’s political map.

However, BJP which has come under severe criticisms from

all quarters with the issue of Citizenship Amendment Act will face its first litmus test.

The ruling NDA’s move to pass the amendment has not been taken too warmly in Assam; no wonder the move has faced strong opposition from various groups in Assam.

It appears the entire Assam is hell-bent on opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act. Taking this is in mind, November bypolls would mean two things: victory for BJP will mean acceptance of the Citizenship Amendment Act by the people and defeat will mean a setback for BJP to re-evaluate the Bill.

Many political

commentators believe that BJP’s popularity is nosediving in Assam as a result of the move taken by BJP-led NDA government to grant Hindu Bangladeshis Indian citizenship by a new amendment in the Citizenship Act. It may be noted that Assam has witnessed upheaval of political emergence due to linguistic identity as in the case of Asom Gana Parishad. So any move which can potentially jeopardize the linguistic identity of Assam will not be accepted by the people of Assam.

Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency is left vacant after Sarbananda Sonowal.

CM Sarbananda Sonowal pays tributes to Bomb blast victim of 2008

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Similarly, the Baithalangso assembly constituency is left vacant after its MLA Mansing Rongpi resigned from Congress to join BJP.

people’s hangover of BJP’s resounding victory in Assam echoes still. The Congress is yet to come out with a clear strategy to take on BJP.

Can BJP make a repeat of its victory as Sonowal did in the 2014 general election? Will the voters in Lakhimpur constituency support the BJP the same way this time as it did in 2014 General Election?

Clearly the political setup is interesting poised.

Amidst all these, who is calling the shots? Well, analysts believe that still BJP is better off than Congress in terms of its positioning and political stronghold. Clearly,

The party’s announcement of Hema Hari Prasanna Pegu, a lesser known political leader as its candidate for the Lakhimpur constituency and former minister Rupam Ronghang for the Baithalangso constituency has not gone too well for the party. Clearly, the party’s candidature is weaker than BJP’s. Moreover, with backup from Delhi’s political heavyweights in its campaigning process can turn the game into BJP’s favour.

PM Modi celebrate Diwali with the ITBP_official & Army Jawans at Sumdo, Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh PTI Kinnaur/New Delhi, Oct 30

in Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said Rs 5,500 crore has been paid for implementing the OROP scheme, an issue that has been hanging fire for the last 40 years, even as he lauded the valour and sacrifice of the armed forces amid tension on the border with Pakistan.

Dedicating this Diwali to the armed forces personnel, he said he has "fulfilled the promise" he made to ex-servicemen on the one-rank-one-pension scheme.

Modi said the issue had been pending for "40 years" as certain people in the previous governments "did not know" about OROP, and therefore "only Rs 500 crore was allocated" for the purpose.

He also said many people thought that if the scheme was not implemented a section of "ex-servicemen would turn against the government".

"Spent time with our courageous @ITBP_official & Army Jawans at Sumdo, Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh. Jai Jawan! Jai Hind!," he tweeted.

He made these remarks while celebrating Diwali with army and ITBP men in Sumdo

Earlier, in his monthly "Mann ki Baat" programme on All India Radio, Modi asked the people and the state governments to find ways of forging unity across the country and work to defeat separatist tendencies and mentalities.

He hailed the people including celebrities for sending overwhelming messages to his "Sandesh2Soldiers" campaign.

In the wake of ongoing unrest in Kashmir Valley, he said, "Unity in diversity is our strength. It is the responsibility of every citizen and all governments to forge unity and curb separatist tendencies to save the country."

Contd. on Page 2

Silluk village gets a modern day all community graveyards A Staff Reporter Pasighat, Oct 30

State likely to seek review against Supreme Court's jute mill verdict

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PM dedicates Diwali to the Chief Engineer Lapalum Kri to contest 45 Hayuliang bye-election as Congress candidate armed forces, says Rs 5,500 cr but Khandu Govt yet to accept his resignation paid for implementing OROP

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Agartala, Oct 30: The Tripura Jute Mills Limited, the only medium scale industry that once symbolised state's march towards industrialisation has turned into a burden to the state government and the recent verdict given by the Supreme Court has multiplied it.

Price -

A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Oct 30

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal pays rich tributes to the deceased of the bomb explosion of 2008 at a programme held at the premises of CJM court in Guwahati on October 30, 2016. DSC – 5158, 5175.

Chief Minister Sarbananda

Sonowal pays rich tributes to the deceased of the bomb explosion of 2008 at a programme held at Ganeshguri in Guwahati on October 30, 2016.

DSC5194, 5196,5202,5208,5245,5250.Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal pays rich tributes to the deceased of the bomb explosion of 2008 at a programme held at the

premises of CJM court in Guwahati on October 30, 2016. DSC – 5158, 5175.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal pays rich tributes to the deceased of the bomb explosion of 2008 at a programme held at Ganeshguri in Guwahati on October 30, 2016.

DSC5194, 5196,5202,5208,5245,5250.

Showing an example to other villages across Adi inhabited districts and blocks where community graveyards are mostly kept aloof and neglected, the Silluk village under Mebo Sub-Division has perhaps became first village to get a new modern day graveyard decorated with ornamental plants etc.

While inaugurating the Donyi-Polo Golung (Graveyard), Silluk on last Friday, Tabi Jerang, President, Central Donyi-Polo Yelam Kebang, Pasighat said that, this community graveyard is very unique and looks like a beautiful park. It will be an eye opener for other Adi villages also and should be maintained its properly. While Kaling Borang, chanted rituals to cleanse the land from all evil spirits. He advised every member to equip themselves to be able to attend to any

AJYCP observes strike for autonomy to Assam and other issues ET Correspondent Bajali, Oct 30

Asom Jatiyabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) observed sit in strike on Sunday at Pathsala in front of their office, as per AJYCP resolution to stage two hour sit in strike throughout the state from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016.Their demand is to provide complete autonomy to Assam, dual citizenship and inner line permit for non-indigenous people of the state. They shouted slogan, using play cards. Today was the 304th day of the 366th day resolution.

Led by organising secretary Kamal Das, the hunger strike was observed in Pathsala from 11 am to 1 pm. In the protest, president- Mridul Talukdar, Central leader- Mantu kr Sarma and Diganta Sarma District secretary- Pranjal Das Leader- Bishwajit Kalita, Hirak Talukdar, Satish Roy, Niranjan Malakar and Bhaskar Patgiri along with many other activities were present in the programme.

President- Mridul Talukdar said, "we will continue our protest if our demands are not fulfilled”.

Donyi-Polo Silluk Grave Yard donated by Er. Atop Lego in loving memoryof his parents emergencies for the good of all. While, Ashik Yirang, Gaon Burah of the village expressed his thankfulness to Er. Atop Lego and his wife Ogul Lego for donating such a beautiful graveyard to the village which will be inspiring to other villages. Dr. Dangi Perme,

(Gynae Specialist) General Hospital, Pasighat also attended the programme.

Er. Atop Lego, Chief Engineer, PWD, SI & DP Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh has donated the Graveyard in the name of his father late Apor Lego and mother, late Kiman

Lego. Er. Lego grew as an orphan under the care of his grandmother and uncle after his father late Apor Lego was martyred while on duty as sepoy Assam Rifle when he was only six months old, informed China Borang from Silluk village.

Phungyar NPF demands unconditional release of Honpam Jajo R Lester Makang Ukhrul, 30 Oct The Naga People's Front (NPF) 43-Phungyar AC has demanded immediate release of Honpam Jajo of Kangkum village who has been arrested by Manipur police commandos, while stating that failing which will compel the party to take recourse to intense forms of agitation.

Addressing a press conference at its office in Viewland on Sunday evening, general secretary NPF 43Phungyar AC Khayao Hungyo said Honpam Jajo is innocent and an active worker of the Naga political party and that the state police have foisted baseless charges on him.

Clarifying that Honpam Jajo is a secretary of the NPF 43Phungyar unit and that he has nothing to do with the NSCN-

IM, Hungyo decried the reports in local dailies that Jajo is a cadre of the outfit who was working under the command of one Akhui who is in charge of home (law and order) of the outfit.

Hungyo further said that Jajo left Ukhrul town for his village Kangkum on October 27 to make arrangements for the coming Contd. on Page 2

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Ban on Chinese fireworks proved to be a boon for local manufacturers

Issue 104

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, OCTOBER 31

NEWS

Sivasagar Book AJYCP Margherita Unit pays Fair concludes tribute to Bomb blast victims

P2 BORO BEAUTY

National Book Trust Director Rita Chowdhary Speech At The Programe Of Sivasagar Book Fair Banner Under NG.O, KHOJ. Pic - Firuz Ahmed

ET Correspondent Sivasagar, Oct 30 : Sivasagar Book Fair under NGO, KHOJ concluded today at Sivasagar amidst huge gathering of people thronging to the event. National Book Trust Director Rita Chowdhary was in attendance and she spoke on the occasion and

stressed on the importance of keeping up the literary heritage of various writers. On the occasion, Assam Sahatya Sabha Ex President Imran Shah was awarded Rongpur Gaurav Bata. The invited guests at the literary event later released the magazine of KHOJ.

HOROSCOPE Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

A goal that you've been working on could finally be reached, Aries. A group of friends you might not have seen for a long time could schedule a get-together that you will be all too glad to attend. Expect to have a lot of fun exchanging news and ideas with these people.

You will probably feel particularly happy to see them. You won't want to let so much time go by before you reconnect again.

Today you could meet some interesting new people, Taurus. Among them is at least one person who shares a lot of your interests and could become a close friend. The joy you receive from meeting these people is likely to spill over into the rest of your day. You could be warmer and more congenial with everyone else in your life, too. In the evening, go out and have some fun.

A book or movie about a foreign country could capture your imagination and make that country seem especially appealing, Gemini. You might toy with the idea of taking a trip there soon. If you're serious, it might be a good idea to start making your plans. You're in a particularly practical frame of mind and have the enthusiasm to do it. Have fun browsing through travel brochures and maps.

Someone close who owes you money might suddenly turn up and repay you, Cancer. This might be a surprise, but you will be glad to get it. You may want to blow some of it by taking a friend out to lunch or buying someone a gift. Some beautiful dreams could haunt your sleep tonight, perhaps to the point where you feel frustrated when you wake up. Write them down. They're saying something about you.

Stimulating conversations could take place with partners of all sorts, Virgo, from business to exercise to romantic. Some new and useful information could come your way that you will want to explore further. This is a great day to execute legal papers or enter into any kind of agreement or commitment.

It's a good time to sign up for a class or workshop.

Make good use of the energies of the day.

Libra

Today you should be feeling especially warm and loving toward close friends and children, Libra. You could also especially appreciate the arts.

You might attend a play or concert or decide to try your hand at one of the fine arts yourself. In the evening, go out and enjoy your friends' company.

Celebrate just being together!

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

tribute to those people who were killed in the Serial Bomb blast on 30 October 2008.Kanchan Bora General Secretary of AJYCP Margherita Regional Committee said that on 30 October 2008 at serial Bomb blast several people were killed and many injured but after 8 Years of this Horrific incident the victims have not justice and accused were roaming free under the sky. Again All Tea Tribe Students Associa-

tion Margherita Sub Branch Committee and Central Committee gave tribute to 30 October incident at Margherita Tea Estate Tiniali NH 38.More than 100 local people gathered and lighted candles and earthen lamps to gave tribute to 30 October incident.Bijoy Tanti Treasurer of ATTSA Central Committee and Nuwel Patra Tea Tribe Leader of Margherita were present at the tribute programme.

A Bodo tribal lady of Assam. They represent one of the largest of the 18 ethnic subgroups within the Kachari group (or Bodo-Kachari). Recently, Bodos adopted the Devanagari script and also expert craftsmen in bamboo products.

JNU to have sombre Diwali with sit-in, prayers for Najeeb Diwali crackers: The chemicals and its effects will shock you!

IANS New Delhi Oct 30: Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) on Sunday called for a sit-in at the varsity's Administration Block to pray for the safe return of missing student Najeeb Ahmed, who is missing now for the last 16 days.

A symbolic protest - Light a Ray of Hope for Najeeb - will be organised for the safe return of Ahmed, who was brutally assaulted by an at least 20strong mob of students on the intervening night of October 14-15 at the Mahi-Mandvi hostel.

"Najeeb's mother and his sister will also come at the protest. We will light candles and a torch to remind people of an innocent student who was brutally beaten and then made to disappear," Rama Naga, exgeneral secretary of JNUSU told IANS. The sit-in will commence at 9 pm.

"Every year JNU students celebrate Diwali with a fervour equivalent to the rest of the nation but this year, the festival will be low-key because of this sad incident," Naga added.

The hostel committees at various hostels of JNU prepare for

the celebrations for Diwali and JNUSU hasn't asked the students to refrain from not celebrating it this year.

"JNU students will be celebrating Diwali, but this time there's sadness prevalent in all of us.

We all keep thinking about Najeeb and the kind of state he would be in," Rahul Sonpimple, a member of the Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association (BAPSA), told IANS. "At the sit-in we will discuss the methods which we could adopt to put pressure on police and the university administration in finding Najeeb," he added.

YDM Art and Music school and G.B.C.H.S.School show protest against 30 October 2008 serial bomb blast

Today you should feel especially warm and loving toward everyone close to you, Leo, particularly a love partner. You may want to spend some time with friends or family or schedule a romantic evening with your significant other or both. If you have paperwork to take care of, this is the day to do it. You're particularly practical and feeling good, so the drudgery won't get you down.

Virgo

Scorpio

Mithun Baruah Margherita, 30 Oct: Asom Jatiyotabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad Margherita Regional Committee today paid rich tribute to 30 October incident where several people were killed and many were injured at the serial bomb blast at Guwahati, Barpeta road, Kokrajhar and other places.The Activists of AJYCP by lightning candle and earthen lamps at Ledo College road Tiniali gave to

Today you might decide to buy a plant for every room in your house or plant a garden, Scorpio. If the weather is good, you might visit a nursery or botanical garden. You may not normally be attracted to plants and gardens, but today both beauty and nature seem especially appealing. Make the most of this, however temporary. Your house will look that much more beautiful because of it!

A warm and loving communication could come to you today from someone close. This could be an email, call, or even a gift of some kind. This could make your day, Sagittarius, and you will probably pass whatever good feelings you draw from it to other friends and family members. Take a walk around your neighborhood and say hello to whomever you meet. It will make you feel even better!

A very welcome sum of extra money could come your way today, Capricorn, possibly out of the blue.

You might want to put this money to work for you in some way, perhaps investing it or purchasing supplies or materials for personal projects.

You should feel especially positive where your resources are concerned, and confident in your ability to earn.

Today you may feel especially warm and loving toward just about everybody in your circle, Aquarius, even those you usually find irritating.

You could also be looking especially attractive and feeling more confident than usual. You might even feel like shopping for new clothes. Artistic ideas could flow freely, and you might think of different ways to put them to work for you.

Someone you care about but haven't seen for a long time could suddenly contact you. You'd usually love this, Pisces, but today you could be too caught up in projects of your own to want to put them aside. But you will have a lot of fun with this person, and you might even interest him or her in your project. After finishing your work, go out to dinner.

ET Bureau Guwahati, Oct 30: Diwali (Deepavali) is an Indian festival celebrated by lighting lamps, distributing sweets and bursting crackers. By tradition, homes are lit with clay lamps, candles, fairy lights, and firecrackers light the sky as people rejoice in the festival.

Over the years, the bursting of fire crackers have reached high noise levels and air pollution during Diwali. Let us have a look at the various toxic chemi-

In an apparent reference to tension on the IndoPak border, Modi credited the soldiers for maintenance of peace and security in the country and called upon everyone to remember their gallantry while celebrating Diwali. tober 2008 serial bomb that ripped the city.

A good number of 89 students thronged to the venue, accompanied by their parents, drew paintings and prepared slogan placards. MLA of Tinsukia division, Sanjoy Kishan inaugurated the event

by writing a slogan, which was synchronized by Manjit Kumar Shah, a teacher of YDM Art and Music school who converted his slogan to a beautiful painting .

Mamoranjan sharma also recited a poem to oppose violence.

Cinema Galleria Cinema Dibrugarh Junction Mall Screen-1

Heavy smog hangs low in the air on Diwali night and a few days after that. The levels of sulphur nitrates, magnesium, nitrogen dioxide increase, and these chemicals are injurious to our respiratory passages.

Diwali can be potentially fatal to asthamatics.

The various chemicals in fireworks and their effects –

Sulfur dioxide: Causes wheezing and shortness of breath.

Cadmium: Can cause anemia and damage to kidney and also affect the nervous system.

Copper: Irritates respiratory tract Lead: Affects the nervous system Magnesium: Can cause metal fume fever Nitrate: Can cause mental impairment Nitrite: Can cause skin problems, eye irritation, and respiratory problems in children.

PM dedicates Diwali to the armed forces, says Rs 5,500 cr paid for implementing OROP Contd. from Page 1

ET Correspondent Tinsukia, 30 Oct: YDM Art and Music school, Makum and G.B.C.H.S.School organised slogan writing and painting program at Tinsukia Thana Charali against violence in order to raise their voice against the fatal 30 Oc-

cals, increasing levels of pollution and the methods to celebrate eco-friendly Diwali.

"In the wake of recent events, our soldiers have been sacrificing their everything for the safety and security of the country. Their dedication and labour has overwhelmed me completely. Let us dedicate this Diwali to our armed forces.

"I had invited everyone to participate in the Sandesh2Soldiers campaign and I have been humbled by the response. From students, villagers and traders to political leaders and sportspersons, everyone has sent a Diwali message for our soldiers," he said while referring to the jawans who are stationed in deserts and on the icy heights of the Himalayas and security personnel who are guarding our industries and airports.

In a veiled reference to the unrest in Kashmir Valley, the Prime Minister also called for forces of unity to be strengthened and those

of separatism to be defeated.

"Unity in diversity is the strength of our country.

Every citizen and every government must work to find ways of forging unity and defeating separatist mindset and tendencies," he said as he remembered Sardar Patel who strived hard to forge unity in the country and bind it together.

The Prime Minister, while on his way back from Sumdo, met civilians at Himachal's Chango village, close to the Sino-Indian border.

He exchanged greetings, interacted with the people there, and offered sweets to children.

Phungyar NPF demands unconditional release of Honpam Jajo

"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

Contd. from Page 1

"SHIVAAY"

Christmas celebration as he has been appointed the program convenor.

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

"We demand immediate and unconditional release of Honpam Jajo," said Hungyo while warning the party would initiate intense agitation if the demand is not heeded.

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In the same vein, president NPF Ukhrul district Wungnaoshang A Shimray has said that the party strongly condemned the arrest of Honpam Jajo and wilful framing of unfounded charges

against the party worker.

Stating that the media reports about recovering one Chinese made hand grenade from Jajo's possession were all unfounded, he said that it was nothing but a manoeuvre to frame innocent persons a skill which the Manipur police commandos are known for.

He also raised serious concerns about the current trend of random frisking and arresting of innocent tribals by the brute state police commandos in Imphal valley.

Unless the Congress led government immediately rectify the sorry state of affairs, this could have severe ramifications on the hill-valley relationship, cautioned Shimray.

The state government has a knack of unleashing a reign of terror and violating human rights in the state, he said adding that this wilful victimization of tribals, especially Ukhrul denizens in the aftermath of October 24 violence is a clear case of bypassing laws of the land by the state government itself.

NEWS

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, OCTOBER 31

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Ban on Chinese fireworks proved to Government plans to combat poaching; be a boon for local manufacturers Vows to spend 10cr to procure arms.

ET Bureau Guwahati, 30 Oct: The ban on Chinese fireworks in the city proved to be a boon for Barpeta as manufacturers of local fireworks in the district did brisk business this Diwali.

The All Guwahati Traders' Association (AGTA) said even though most firecrackers sold in the city were manufactured in Tamil Nadu's Sivakasi, the absence of Chinese crackers had helped local fireworks makers immensely.

Locally made flowerpots one of the most important articles in anyone's Diwali arsenal - were most in demand as their Sivakasi counterparts were costlier. Some of the long-lasting firecrackers made by manufacturers in

Barpeta gave even their southern counterparts a run for their money.

"Crackers manufactured in Barpeta are known for their quality and durability. The prices of flowerpots made in Barpeta and Sivakasi are almost the same. In case of some high-performance fireworks, the price of the Barpeta-made articles is higher," Sourav Das, a firecracker-seller in Uzan Bazar, said on Saturday.

Trying to boost their presence in the highly competitive cracker market, local manufacturers also experimented with design. But it was the traditional earthen pots used in Barpeta that made the local fireworks stand out.

"We appeal to the people of

Guwahati to buy locally made products this Diwali and help improve the state's economy. The state government should extend the slogan 'Make in Assam' to the fireworks industry. It has huge potential to compete with rivals elsewhere. Manufacturers in Barpeta need financial and material support to grow," said general secretary of AGTA Prantosh Roy. With the government keeping a lookout for vendors selling China-made crackers, the number of firecracker shops decreased considerably in many parts of the city. Sale of large varieties of Chinese firecrackers and lights were banned in Greater Guwahati by the Kamrup (Metro) administration. (With inputs from Agencies)

ASDMA observes International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) ET Bureau Guwahati, 30 Oct: Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) observed International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) in collaboration with Unicef, Assam, here."It

is a day to celebrate how people and communities are reducing disaster risks and raising awareness. It's also a day to encourage every citizen and government to take part in building more disaster resilient communi-

ties and nations," said a statement of ASDMA.The theme of IDDR for the year 2016 is 'Live to Tell Campaign: Raising Awarenesss, Reducing Mortality'. (With inputs from Agencies)

ET Bureau Guwahati, 30 Oct: Environment and forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma has said the state government has mobilized Rs 10 crore to procure sophisticated firearms for forest guards and to fund relocation plan for villagers from Dibru-Saikhowa National Park in Dibrugarh.

Speaking at a programme here on Sat-

urday, Brahma said her department needed to do more in addressing the infrastructure constraints and manpower shortage to deal with frequent incidents of rhino poaching in the state.Assam has almost two-third of global population of onehorned rhinoceros, with Kaziranga National Park alone having more than 2000 pachyderms.She said there is also a need

Rising price takes a hit on revellers ET Bureau Guwahati, 30 Oct: Twinkling lights and earthen lamps enveloped the city in a festive glow as it celebrated Kali Puja on Saturday.

Long and colourful strands of light were hung from tall buildings in the city and banana plants were seen outside gates of houses. But the skyrocketing prices of commodities cast a shadow on the festivities.

From food items to firecrackers, everything burnt a hole in pockets.

Nagen Das, who works as a security guard, found it hard to buy crackers for his children.

He had to exhaust three

months' savings to cater to his family's needs."A packet of crackers costs more than Rs 50.

Besides, Diwali means special food for the children. With the prices of lentils hitting the roof, is there any other option left for a man like me?" Das wondered.

At the other end was Prashanta Sarma, an affluent businessman. But he, too, was unhappy with the rising prices of daily items and firecrackers."My two children have been pestering me to purchase crackers worth over Rs 1,000. Yesterday, I had to shell out Rs 2,000," he complained.(With inputs from Agencies)

to motivate a section of forest officials, as well as frontline staff, to take on poachers effectively.

"Our fight against poachers is on. We are trying to address the problem of shortage of manpower shortage and firearms," said Brahma.

She said the forest department has no dearth of dedicated officers but a section of staff needed to

be motivated to strengthen forest protection measures in the state.

The minister added that the government has increased the pay of casual staff to Rs 7,000 from Rs 5,000 as part of motivational exercises taken up by her department. She said cooperation from people living in the adjoining areas of parks and sanctuaries is essen-

tial to stop poaching.

Brahma added that poachers' presence near fifth and sixth additions of Kaziranga has increased and the department is putting in efforts to root out the menace.

She said the forest department is going to launch more eviction drives to free forest land from encroachers across the state. (With inputs from Agencies)

IED blast dampens festive spirit in Imphal Imphal, Oct 30: A powerful IED explosion in the heart of Imphal city on Saturday morning dampened the festive spirit here.

Police suspect the involvement of underground outfits that have been extorting money from business houses in Thangal Bazar, dominated by non-local traders.

No one was injured in

the blast that occurred at the crowded MG Avenue in Thangal Bazar around 7.30am. The walls of a shop were damaged by splinters.Police rushed to the spot and carried out a search operation around the area. No arrest has been made so far.

The blast site is located 200 metres away from the city police station.Following the

blast, security has been tightened in and around the city in view of Diwali and Ningol Chak-kouba festivals.Besides blocking entry of vehicles at some points of the city, the cops also regulated the flow of shoppers.While Diwali is on Sunday, Ningol Chakkouba, the biggest festival of Manipuri women, will be celebrated on Tuesday.(Agencies)

Ajmal ups the ante against move Manipur activists to seek pardon to grant citizenship to religious for woman on death row minorities from Bangladesh ET Bureau Guwahati, 30 Oct: Lok Sabha MP and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal on Saturday said the move to grant citizenship to religious minorities from Bangladesh would hurt the demography of Assam and threaten the identity and existence of the Assamese people.

Reacting to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which, if passed, would grant citizenship to religious minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Ajmal accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of doing a U-turn on his promise to rid the state of Bangladeshi immigrants.

"The Assam Accord

mentions March 25, 1971, as the cut-off date for the detection and deportation of foreigners. The Accord should be implemented in letter and spirit," Ajmal said on the sidelines of an event.

"Unfortunately, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal is silent on the threat posed to the ex-

istence of the Assamese people because of the Centre's move even though he is known as Jatiya Nayak (for initiating a legal battle in the Supreme Court that led to the scrapping of the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act)," the billionaire perfume baron-turnedpolitician said. (With inputs from Agencies)

Festive rush brings happiness to Shillong Shoillong, Oct 30: Kali Puja and Diwali festivities have drawn numerous tourists from across the country, especially Assam and West Bengal, to Shillong.

"Like Durga Puja, Diwali, too, has seen a huge rush of people to Meghalaya.

Almost all hotels, inns and guest houses in the city are fully occupied. Tourists from far and near have come here to spend their Diwali vacation," said the manager of a new guest house in the Lachumiere locality of the city.

Taxi owners and drivers, too, have something to

cheer about as they ferry tourists to the various attractions in Shillong and its neighbourhood.

"People are making a beeline for Mawlynnong village which is reputed to be Asia's cleanest village and is also known for the living root bridges," said Daniel Kharpran, a local cabbie.

"The India-Bangla border town of Dawki in the Jaintia Hills has also become very popular with tourists. They enjoy boat rides on the crystal clear Umngot river there," said Ranjit, another taxi driver.

He added that with the retreat of the monsoon, fewer tourists have been visiting Cherrapunjee.

Besides checking out all that Shillong has to offer in terms of scenic beauty, tourists are happy joining locals in pandal-hopping.

"Every year, we decorate our pandal based on a chosen theme. This is a major factor that attracts crowds," said Biraj Das, secretary of one of the Kali Puja committees in the Polo Hills area of the city.

"We shall be distributing

khichdi prasad in the wee hours of Sunday after the actual puja of goddess Kali is completed," added a member of the Survey of India Sarbajanin Puja Committee in Barik. Cultural programmes are also being held at various puja pandals. "Security arrangements have been made to ensure peaceful celebrations," said a police officer.

Governor V Shanmuganathan and chief minister Mukul Sangma also extended greetings to the people of the state.(Agencies)

Meghalaya deputy Cases register against CM bats for disaster fireworks’ traders risk reduction Shillong, Oct 30: Meghalaya deputy chief minister and in-charge of revenue and disaster management RC Laloo on Saturday urged students to encourage their peers to promote risk awareness and natural disaster reduction for building more disasterresilient communities.

Laloo was speaking at the closing ceremony of National Disaster Risk Reduction Day organized by State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) at Yojana Bhavan here.

"Various activities conducted across the state by disaster management authorities will help educate students and also create awareness on disaster risk reduction," said Laloo.

Various events such as

mock drills, drawing, painting, quiz and banner competitions were conducted across the state to mark the day and prizes were handed over to the winners.

In the state logo competition, the first prize was bagged by Soreisem Laikham of KL Bajoria College, Shillon. The second prize went to Mark Adon Nongphud of Laitumkhrah Presbyterian Higher Secondary School.

In the placard competition for school-level category, BSF Senior Secondary School, Shillong bagged the first prize. The second prize went to St Margaret's Higher Secondary School, Shillong. The third prize was won by the Rilbong PNC Higher Secondary School.(Agencies)

ET Bureau Jorhat, 30 Oct: : The Jorhat administration on Saturday cracked down on traders for violating the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, by selling fireworks that did not have the maximum retail price printed on the packets.

An official of the administration said, "Six cases were registered against traders selling fireworks which did not have the MRP printed on the packets.

The crackers had been brought from Tamil Nadu and West Bengal." "There is a demand from different quarters to also ban Chinese products in the state. So, we also launched a drive to prevent the sale of China-made products in the run-up to Diwali," he added. As part of the drive against imported products, the district administration booked five traders for selling Chinesemade electronic products in

the town. The traders were charged with violating provisions of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, and the Legal Metrology Package Commodity Rules, 2011, and will be tried by the chief judicial magistrate, Jorhat.Nripen Goswami, assistant controller of Legal Metrology (Jorhat), led the drive in association with inspector Pranjal Pratim Gogoi and Indrajit Bayan."We have registered cases against five traders plying their wares in Gar Ali, AT Road, Old Balibat and New Balibat areas. We seized China-made electronic products from them," Goswami said. He added, "The seized products had been imported from China.

The address of the importer was missing. The maximum retail prices, too, were not mentioned on the products.

This is against the rules. We caught the traders selling these products." (With inputs from Agencies)

Imphal, Oct 30: The Malaysian high court's verdict of death penalty for a Manipuri woman held for trafficking drugs has left many in the state shocked.

The state women's commission is looking ways of obtaining clemency for Sangeeta Sharma Brahmacharimayum, 41, owner of a beauty parlour in New Delhi who was found guilty of trafficking over 1.6 kg of drugs (methamphetamine) at Penang International Airport on October 7, 2013.

The court charged her un-

der the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1952, that carries a mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

"We are shocked to hear this dreadful news. We are trying to find out how we can save her from death," chairperson of Manipur state women's commission K Sobita Devi told TOI. "So far, we haven't got any official information on the matter. We chanced upon it through media reports.

After going through the articles, we sent people to find her house in Imphal

valley and finally located it," she added.

"Today or tomorrow, we will visit her residence and take stock of the situation.

After doing a verification study, we will consult legal experts and find ways to save her life," she said.

The Imphal-based Women Action for Development (WAD) also expressed its anguish. "The news has stunned us. We respect the law of that country but we do not support capital punishment. Many countries and prominent rights bodies are against death pen-

alty," said WAD secretary Sobita Mangsatabam.

"We will discuss the matter and appeal for clemency for Sangeeta," said Mangsatabam, who is also the convener of the women's committee of United NGO Mission Manipur TOI visited Sangeeta's residence in Imphal but none of her family members was present. The state government is yet to react on the matter though some MLAs and officials expressed their sadness at the development. .( Agencies)

'Murder charge against vehicles running people over in Tripura' Agartala, Oct 30: In a bid to curb the increasing rate of road accidents in the state, Tripura Police have decided to deal with all cases of vehicles running over people as murder cases.

SP, West Tripura, Abhijit Saptarshi announced this after the death of a Tripura State Rifles (TSR) head constable on Tuesday at the Ashram Chowmuhani area here. Police found TSR 1st battalion head constable Pabitra Mohan Roy in a critical condition after a motorcyclist dashed into him at his duty post at midnight on October 24.

Saptarshi said, "Henceforth, all such incidents will be treated as murder and dealt with as such. In most such cases in Tripura, it has been found that high speed and careless driving are behind the accidents.

These cases need to be handled under Section 302 of the IPC." The bike's owner Arindam Das and the driver Nayan Sarkar were seriously injured in the accident. All accident victims were shifted to Agartala Government Medical College, where Roy died on Tuesday.

Preliminary investigation revealed this was not a case of road accident. It was clearly an attempt of murder but the motive is not known yet, Saptarshi said.

A number of civil society organizations, however, have criticized police for its failure to ensure road safety. The manner in which the decision to consider cases of running over as murder cases was taken has also not been appreciated.

The organizations have blamed poor traffic management and an unprofessional attitude as be-

ing responsible for the increase in road accidents.

"Take paddle rickshaws, for instance. While we think paddle rickshaws and battery-operated rickshaws are good as non-polluting modes of transport, the conversion of paddle rickshaws to motor rickshaws is a problem. They do not follow any traffic rules. Police have not taken any action against them for years. It has now become a terror for city-dwellers," leading social activist KK Roy said.(Agencies)

Modi takes up killing of Indianorigin bus driver with Aus PM New Delhi, 30 Oct: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday raised with his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull India’s concern over the brutal killing of a 29-year-old Indian-origin bus driver. The driver, Manmeet Alisher, was burned to death when a man poured some flammable liquid on him in Brisbane.

Prime Minister Modi telephoned Turnbull to

wish him Diwali greetings and also conveyed a “sense of concern being felt in India over the recent brutal killing of Mr. Manmeet Alisher, a person of Indian origin, in Australia,” a Prime Minister’s Office statement here said.

man who threw an “incendiary device” at him which sparked a fire.

Alisher, a well-known singer in the Punjabi community, was driving a Brisbane City Council bus on Friday when he was targeted by the

Turnbull expressed shock at the killing and conveyed to Modi that the matter is being investigated.

Alisher died on the spot while several passengers on board the bus at the time managed to escape through the rear door.

Prime Minister Modi reiterated his invitation to Premier Turnbull for a visit to India in 2017, the statement said.

Police had earlier said that there was “no apparent motive” including terror or race related in the killing of the Indian-origin man.

A 48-year-old man had been taken into custody over the incident.

(Agencies)

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Does PM's foreign trip details disclosure India slams Pakistan, says compromise security? CIC to decide Surjeet Singh is not a spy PTI New Delhi Oct 30: Does disclosure of expenditure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s frequent foreign visits and procedure of chartering flights compromise India’s security and sovereignty?

The Central Information Commission, the final appellate authority for Right to Information Act, will address this question next month and decide if expenditure on PM’s visits, process of clearing bills and chartering flights should be put in the pub-

lic domain.

CIC has summoned the files from the Prime Minister’s Office to see if these contain any securityrelated information.

Armed forces veteran Lokesh Batra has been seeking details of PM’s foreign visits, details of expenses incurred on air travel, laid down instructions and procedure involved in chartering flights, filing flight returns and raising bills on completion of visits.

Batra had filed an application under RTI Act in

August 2015. While providing details of bills rose for Air India flights, the PMO and external affairs minister took refuge in exemption clauses of Section 8 of RTI Act. PMO invoked Section * (1) (a) saying the disclosure of information would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India and security interests of the state.

The only information Batra received was, “The aircraft for travel of PM is requisitioned from Air In-

dia or Indian Air Force keeping in consideration various logistical and security issues. After the completion of the visit, the bills received are forwarded to PMO for settlement.”

Batra has approached CIC to intervene and has argued that travel bills and the process of settlement of bills do not contain security details. He has said the case involves substantive public interest as bailout amount being given to Air India is the taxpayers’

money.

Chief Information Commissioner RK Mathur ruled after a hearing on October 25, “The commission observed that without perusal of the file it cannot be decided whether the sought for information contains security related information.”

CIC has directed the PMO to produce one representative file for its perusal on November 18 so that the commission can decide whether disclosure would have security repercussions.

Fadnavis Govt in 3rd year, civic polls big challenge PTI Mumbai, Oct 30: As the BJP-led Government in Maharashtra sails into third year in office, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's clean image is widely seen as its single most positive aspect despite many internal and external challenges it faces, including frequent taunts by ally Shiv Sena and the campaign by Maratha community for reservation.

Most political observers preferred to rate the performance of the Government in the last two years as "mixed". Despite his good intentions and development thrust, Fadnavis's

efforts have not yielded desired results for want of proper support and push from his team.

Fadnavis (46) was sworn in on October 31, 2014 with the BJP emerging as the single largest party, though short of absolute majority, in Assembly polls. The BJP and Sena had parted ways on the eve of polls and the Ministry was offered outside support by Sharad Pawar-led NCP. Sena, however, returned to the alliance a few months later.

Unlike some of his ministerial colleagues, Fadnavis has remained untouched by allegations of misconduct. Virtual No 2 in the

Cabinet, Eknath Khadse, had to quit after coming under the cloud of allegations earlier this year.

Opposition Congress and NCP, however, declined to set great store by Fadnavis's personal charisma and unsullied reputation, alleging he has been shielding some of his colleagues facing allegations.

Observers point out that another plus point of Fadnavis is he enjoys the trust and confidence of the BJP's central leadership, as was demonstrated by the Khadse episode.

Though some of his BJP colleagues in the Ministry like Vinod Tawde and

Pankaja Munde nurse Chief Ministerial ambitions, they are no real threat to Fadnavis, they added.

"BJP calls itself a party with difference, but it has not been able to show that its first ever government in Maharashtra is a Government with a difference. They also said Fadnavis should not have given clean chit to Ministers facing allegations," they said.

One major issue over which the BJP and Shiv Sena had frequent faceoff was the Vidarbha statehood demand. While the BJP favours smaller states, the Sena is op-

posed to bifurcation of Maharashtra to create a separate Vidarbha state and often took sharp dig at Fadnavis, who hails from that region.

In a veiled reference to the Vidarbha issue, Sena MP Sanjay Raut told PTI that the Government should implement the agenda for united Maharashtra and not the party's (BJP) political programme.

Another front that Government had to face attack from the farm sector distress, caused mainly by the grim drought faced by Marathwada and other parts of the state in the previous years.

Meghalaya:Shocking -Man rapes Delhi Police head condaughters for months together, stable commits suicide pardoned by clan members Shillong, Oct 30:In a shameful incident which shatters the Myth that women are respected within the state of Meghalaya , it has come to light that a man had been molesting his daughter for months together and the family members as well as the Mahari’s (clan members) tried to brush the incident under the carpet.Mithunjoy Marak, 40 has been arrested for allegedly raping two minors – a six-year-old and thirteen-year-old both are his daughters.

The incident had taken place in Kharkutta in

North Garo hills,Meghalaya.

It is believed that the mother endured the rape of her 13 year old daughter for months together but finally gave up when she found out that Marak was also now raping his 6 year old daughter.

It is believed that the clan members had attempted to compromise the incident and even earlier had pardoned Marak for raping his 13 year old daughter .

The accused is under police custody .Meghalaya

which has the third highest rape cases reported in Northeast after Assam and Tripura has been often termed by many as a society which empowers and respects women but these growing incidents show that this may be an exaggeration .

Many people state that most of these incidents are brushed under the carpet by traditional leaders and societies and the women have to live with the humiliation that the perpetrator is moving around free from any guilt or conviction.(Agencies)

Delhi hospitals gear up for burn victims on Diwali

IANS New Delhi Oct 30: Delhi hospitals are set to treat victims of burn injuries during Diwali, an official said on Sunday.

Safdarjung Hospital, which has a reputed burn injury ward, has added 24 extra beds and deployed six more medical specialists.

"We have increased the number of beds and specialists and will keep medicines ready for any emergency," AK Rai, the Medical Superintendent in the hospital, told IANS. "We have Asia's largest burn injury ward and our doctors are very well trained to treat

such patients," he said.

The Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in central Delhi too will have an emergency OPD to handle burn cases on Diwali night and will deploy more doctors as well.

"It has been observed that the number of burn injury victims spike on Diwali night," VK Sinha, public relation officer (PRO) at the hospital, told IANS. Most cases of burns on Diwali arise from accidents attributed to firecrackers and are reported from late in the night to 6 in the morning.

Many need only prelimi-

nary treatment.

"Around 125-150 such cases come on Diwali. We have enough beds to cater to even more. But if the number exceeds, we send them to Safdarjung or other hospitals," Sinha added.

The CATS (Centralised Accident and Trauma Services) has also put all its 150 plus ambulances on high alert. They will act in coordination with the police.

"The burn cases usually come late at night. Sometimes we also get calls from people suffering from asthma," LS Raina, the Administration Officer (Operations), CATS, told IANS.

Representative Image IANS New Delhi Oct 30: A 39year-old Delhi Police head constable on Sunday committed suicide here by shooting himself, the police said.

The head constable, identified as Gyanendra Rathi, was a resident of northeast Delhi's Brahmpuri area, a police official said.

According to police, a PCR call was received at 1.04 a.m., that Rathi had

committed suicide by shooting himself with his service revolver.

He was posted with Special Cell of the Delhi Police here.

A senior police officer told IANS that at the time of the incident, Rathi was with his wife at his residence. His family was away at his native place in western Uttar Pradesh.

What prompted Rathi to shoot himself to death is not yet clear.

Hiding Peter’s involvement led to Maria’s ouster: CM ET Bureau Mumbai Oct 30: M responds to a question on what led to the police chief's exit while he was probing the Sheena Bora murder.

Senior IPS officer Rakesh Maria lost his job as the police chief of Mumbai because he misled Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the role of former media honcho Peter Mukerjea in the Sheena Bora case.

Responding to a question on Maria's abrupt transfer, the chief minister on Saturday told the media that the top cop initially kept telling him that the police didn't see any involvement of Peter in the murder case of 2012, which was cracked in August 2015.

However, after the CBI took over the case, the CM said, the agency claimed that Peter was a part of the conspiracy. "Questions were then raised as to why this was not established when Mumbai police handled the case," said Fadnavis.

The CBI, which recently filed a charge sheet against Peter, also recorded the statements of Maria and two other senior IPS officers on Thursday. It is trying to ascertain if there was an attempt to protect Peter at any stage of the probe before the investigation was transferred to the agency.

About Maria being questioned, Fadnavis said that he had only heard about it from

CBI sources and media. He has not been officially told about it.

Peter Mukerjea apart, the CBI charge sheet also shows Sheena's mother and his wife Indrani, their driver Shyamvar Rai, and Indrani's former husband Sanjeev Khanna as accused in the sensational murder case.

"Why was Maria taking interest in the case and why an officer of CP rank had to do this? Normally, an officer of CP rank does not take so much interest," Fadnavis told the media gathering, giving ample hints about his government's decision to punish the top cop.

In September 2015, Maria was shunted out as Mumbai police chief and promoted as director general (DG) of home guards, considered a low-key position. As the second senior most DG in the state, he should have been made the head of the AntiCorruption Bureau.

Sources said Maria, who will retire in January 2017, could have faced the axe long before the Peter Mukerjea episode had the government decided to act after his pictures with ex-IPL czar Lalit Modi appeared in the press. But transferring him in the case would have forced the Centre to act against External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who faced allegations of going soft in the Lalit Modi case.

PTI New Delhi Oct 30: India on Friday dismissed Pakistan’s charges against its expelled diplomat Surjeet Singh as “completely baseless and unsubstantiated” and said the tit-for-tat expulsion confirmed that Pakistan was in denial of its anti-India activities.

Pakistan had on Thursday night declared Singh persona non grata after India detained and expelled Pakistani diplomat Mehmood Akhtar on charges of spying for Inter-Services Intelligence.

“The government notes with regret the government of Pakistan’s decision to declare Surjeet Singh, assistant personnel and welfare officer in the High Commission of India

in Islamabad, persona non grata and expel him and his family members,” the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said, “No justification has been provided by the government of Pakistan except for the completely baseless and unsubstantiated allegation that his activities were not in keeping with diplomatic norms.”

Condemning Pakistan’s step the ministry said, “It is obvious that the step is an afterthought following yesterday’s apprehension of Pakistan High Commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar in Delhi while indulging in anti-India activities. Pakistan’s action further confirms that it continues to be in denial of its anti-India activities,

including cross-border terrorism.”

Akhtar was intercepted by Delhi Police in the forenoon of Wednesday, following intelligence inputs for the past six months relating to espionage on vital installations of army and paramilitary forces, while he was receiving sensitive documents pertaining to India’s national security from two persons.

Akhtar reportedly stated that he had joined the Baloch Regiment of the Pakistan Army in 1997 and came on deputation to ISI (Inter Service Intelligence) in 2013. He was posted in September 2013 to Pakistan High Commission where he was working as an assistant to Farukh Habib, counsellor (trade).

Thevar believed farmers are the foundation of India, Stalin says ET Bureau Chennai Oct 30: DMK treasurer and leader of the opposition M K Stalin on Sunday visited the memorial of Muthuramalinga Thevar at Pasumpon in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu and paid homage to the late leader on his 109th

birth anniversary.

Former minister I Periasamy accompanied Stalin. In the morning, Stalin garlanded the statues of Thevar and Marudhu Brothers at Goripalayam in Madurai.

In a statement, Stalin said: "At a time when

Tamil Nadu is being denied water by neighbouring states, I would like to recall the words of Thevar ayya that farmers are the foundation of India."

"There is no doubt that the life and teachings of Thevar ayya will show the way for the youth in the county," Stalin said.

Manipur: Trader shot dead in border town of Moreh Imphal, Oct 30: A 41-year-old trader was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Manipur`s border town of Moreh, the state police said.

“At 7.32 pm on Saturday evening, Dhamendra Mabik and his wife Chanda were preparing dinner in their house adjacent to his electronics shop when the assailants barged in

and fired shots at close range.

The husband was hit in the head and chest while the wife was hit in the upper chest. We are exploring possible extortion bid from militants,” the police said in a statement.

Chanda, who was 24 weeks pregnant, is battling for her life in a hospital in Imphal.

Intelligence sources told IANS on Sunday that there was a

possibility of business rivalry.

To protest the gun attack, the Chamber of Commerce of Moreh shut down all shops and business establishments at the town on the border with Myanmar.

Tourists and traders were stranded since they could not go on shopping at Namphalong across the international border.(agencies)

Woman ends life after serving poison to kids ET Bureau Kalyan Oct 30: After dispute with husband, a 28- year old woman committed suicide after serving rat poison to three children in Katkari pada area near Kalyan on Thursday morning. The woman and two of her children died while one is in critical condition.

The victim identified as Laxmi Waghe, 28, her daughter Najuka, 10 and younger son Vansh, 6 died while elder son Vishal is in critical condition.

The police said victim along with her husband Pradeep Waghe ,30 was staying at Katkaripada area in Mohane near Kalyan.

The police have found that Pradeep is unemployed and to run livelihood of his family would used to make fishing.

The police said on Wednesday night, Laxmi asked her husband to go for fishing in nearby

river but he refused to go in night saying he will go in morning after which a dispute started between both.

On Thursday morning, after Pradeep left home, Laxmi first served rat poison to her three kids and then consumed herself.

Gulabrao Gore, senior police inspector of Khadakpada po-

lice station said, "When Pradeep returned home he found his wife and two kids dead while elder son Vishal was in critical condition".

Later Pradeep with help of neighbors rushed Vishal at Rukminibai hospital where from doctor shifted him in to Sion hospital in Mumbai where his treatment is on.

Breach Candy's Rs 100 crore plan to grow vertically ET Bureau Mumbai Oct 30: Breach Candy hospital, one of Mumbai's oldest and most prestigious health institutions, has chalked up an expansion plan which includes creating an additional 35,000 sq ft space by replacing one of the buildings in the complex with a highrise.

The Breach Candy expansion blueprint comes in the wake of three top hospitals Bhatia, Nanavati and Asian Heart - making public their plans to add capacity as the city's overstretched health infrastructure struggles to meet rising demand for quality healthcare.

Breach Candy reports 100 per cent occupancy for most of the year and there is a waiting period of two to three

days for a bed across all specialities.

The state-run JJ Hospital is also adding a 20-storeyed tower to house its super-speciality wing.

Breach Candy's chief executive officer N Santhanam said the old MRI building, a ground-plus-two structure, in the hospital complex will be brought down to make way for the multi-storeyed building.

The redevelopment will cost Rs 100 crore and will be completed in two years. The construction work will not impact the 70-year-old hospital's day-to-day functioning in any substantial way.

Santhanam said the hospital has not yet drawn an estimate

of how many extra beds would the new building hold or whether the extra space will be used to create additional intensive care units and operation theatres. The hospital currently has 212 beds.

Industrialist Harsh Goenka, who is the hospital's chairperson, confirmed that the expansion plans have been approved by the board of directors. "Yes, we are expanding.

We are going vertical," he said.

The hospital's expansion plans will be reviewed by the state coastal management authority on November 2 and are also being processed at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for various clearances.

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A total of 3439 candidates State likely to seek review against to appear in 2nd phase of Supreme Court's jute mill verdict TET examinations Agartala, Oct 30: A total of 3439 aspirants will appear in the next Teachers Eligibility Test (TET), which is scheduled to be held on November 20 for 2115 posts of Graduate and Post-Graduate teachers, run by Teachers Recruitment Board, Tripura (TRBT) under education department of Tripura government.

Sources in the TRBT said that a total of 1605 applicants had applied for the post of Graduate teachers' and1834 more applications were received by TRBT for the post of Post-Graduate teachers. As per the board vacancies , altogether 1294 posts including SC, ST and for General category for class-IX and X would be filled up through ex-

aminations and 821 more posts for PostGraduate teachers.

All the aspirants for both categories of TET examinations will appear in the Agartala centre on November 20 next. The selection Test for Graduate Teachers (STGT) will take place from 9.30 AM to 12 noon and Selection test for Post Graduate teachers (STPGT) will start from 1 PM to 3.30 PM. It may be recalled here that the School Education department from September 29 last had started issuing of letters of appointment for the posts of under graduate and graduate teachers after first phase of TET examinations in Tripura.

As many as 2097 candidates appeared in the TET-I and TET-II conducted by Teachers' Recruitment Board (TRB) while only 517 were found suitable for the post of under graduate and graduate teachers.

In TET-II (graduate teacher), altogether 558 aspirants have sailed into the final list while six successful candidates have opted out of joining teaching job.

Likewise, one successful candidate of the total 11 TET cracked candidates has not applied for job.

After conducting all procedures, TRBT has handed over the list of successful candidates to the Education department on September 28, 2016 last. (Agencies)

UDP slams Govt for shielding 'tainted leaders' Shillong, Oct 30: The UDP on Saturday alleged that the State government is protecting tainted leaders in the party.

Referring to former JHADC chief Madonbai Rymbai and cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, UDP leader Bindo Lanong said the manner in which the government is protecting these leaders "is alarming". He was speaking to reporters after the general council meeting of UDP Shillong City here on Saturday.

While Rymbai faces allegations of withdrawing over Rs 1.18 crore in the name of beneficiaries who had not availed themselves of any benefits, the name of Lyngdoh was mentioned by the CBI probing the education scam. Lanong wanted to know whether the government was still turning a blind eye to the case involving the former JHADC CEM, who has allegedly embezzled crores of rupees.

"We also discussed the education scam. The meeting expressed serious displeasure over the

UDP leaders Paul Lyngdoh and Bindo Lanong during the general council meeting of UDP Shillong City

slow pace of disposing of the pending case affecting the victimised school teachers," Lanong said.

Earlier, ahead of the district council elections in 2014 and the Lok Sabha polls, the UDP had prepared a 'charge-sheet' exposing various shortcomings of the Congress-led MUA-II government highlighting the JHADC and the education scams, among others.

The copies of the 'charge-sheet' were also sent to the President and the Prime Minister. Com-

menting on the matter, UDP Shillong city general secretary Allantry F. Dkhar said there was no response from the Centre to the party's positive effort to expose the misdeeds of the government.

5 surrenders deal body blow to GNLA splinter

Guv yet to take a call on KHADC pro tem chairman

Tura, Oct 30: The breakaway faction of the GNLA led by former commander Salman suffered another blow with five of his cadres surrendering to East Garo Hills police at Williamnagar on Saturday evening. This follows the recent police raid on Salman's hideout and seizure of all his main weapons.

Five militants of the GNLA who joined Salman abandoned the organization and surrendered before district SP Davis Nestell R Marak at Williamnagar on Saturday evening.

They belonged to the 6th batch of GNLA recruits who passed out of training from the mother organization.

With police having seized almost the entire armament of Salman's faction, the surrendered cadres

handed over just one pistol along with 24 rounds of ammunition. However, despite the twin reverses, Salman did not join the surrender group.

The five GNLA cadres of Salman's faction who surrendered to Williamnagar police are Sanjay Marak (27) alias Warak, Aksai Sangma (18) alias Daldro, Jachm Marak (23) alias Lewin, Grikcheng Marak (20), Okgol Momin.

This week, police commandos raided his hideout at Nangalbibra and shot dead one rebel.

Police also seized a powerful mortar with a live projectile, a barrel grenade launcher, a German-made automatic Heckler and Koch sub machine gun along with an INSAS rifle. (Agencies)

The UDP's report sent to Delhi said the Congress government led by Mukul Sangma stands "accused, blacklisted, charge-sheeted, and discredited" (ABCD) and has lost the moral and legal right to continue in office".(Agencies)

Shillong, Oct 30: Governor V Shanmuganathan is yet to take a call on who will be the pro tem chairman of the KHADC. This was informed

by KHADC CEM PN Syiem here on Saturday.

KHADC chairman Manstudy Nongrem and deputy chairman Donevan Wanlang had tendered their resignations on October 26.

Syiem said that it was the prerogative of the Governor to appoint the pro tem chairman of the House as per Rule 12 (1) of the Assam Meghalaya District Council Rules. Syiem accepted the resignations of executive members (Congres MDCs) PT Sawkmie, Jansing Tynsong and Lamphrang Blah on Friday.

During the recent two-day session, all the Congress members supported the CEM only to change their stand later.

The CEM had already ruled out any crisis in the Executive Committee following the resignation of chairman and deputy chairman. However, there is urgency in the appointment of chairman as the House cannot function without him if any special session is convened. Sources added that the Governor may take some time to decide on the appointment of a pro tem chairman as he will have to examine the relevant rules before taking a decision.

(Agencies)

Agartala, Oct 30: The Tripura Jute Mills Limited, the only medium scale industry that once symbolised state's march towards industrialisation has turned into a burden to the state government and the recent verdict given by the Supreme Court has multiplied it.

The division bench comprising Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Abhoy Manohar Supre in their verdict delivered on October 25 instructed the state government to pay the jute mill workers at a rate at par with other public sector undertakings.

It also said to pay all the

arrears from 1996 along with 6 % interest, which in a rough calculation may come to Rs 60 to 70 crores, within four months. It further instructed to pay the arrears to the legal hires of workers who have died during this period. The verdict naturally elated the over 800 jute mill workers who are still in service but caused dismay for the state government. It is learnt that the state government has decided to file a revision petition to the Supreme Court against the verdict.

The Jute Mills Limited started functioning as a

Supreme Court

public sector undertaking in late 1970's with workers strength of over 2000 but never earn any profit.

Rather in early 1990's the state government found

the loss will be less if the mill is closed and the workers are paid from government exchequer without any work.

In 1996 during a pay re-

vision the state government decided to give the jute mill workers a lesser scale compared to other public sector undertakings. The Jute ill Workers Association and the Jute Mill Officers Association challenged the decision in the high court. The single bench high court rejected the case but following an apple the division bench upheld their claim and observed that the jute mill workers are entitled to the pay similar to other 32 PSU's who are also running in loss. The state government challenged the verdict and made an apple to the Supreme Court. (Agencies)

Dr Shyamal Roy to fight con- Major changes in portfolios tempt case in Supreme Court in the administration Agartala, Oct 30: Dr Shyamal Roy who has joined the Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) as Assistant Professor will fight a contempt case against the state government . As per orders of the high court, upheld by the Supreme Court, Dr Roy was recruited as Assistant Professor of AGMC but, as alleged by him, the spirit of the order was violated as he was supposed to be given a higher position than Dr Rajesh Kuamr Debbarma who had been recruited in 2005 as Assistant Professor. But af-

ter the Supreme Court order had been passed on August 26 this year the AGMC authority promoted Rajesh Kumar Debbarma to the post of Associate Professor to skirt the high court and Supreme Court order.

Dr Shyamal Roy had initially moved the high court with a contempt petition against the state government but the state government got the contempt charge stayed in supreme court. 'Now the case will start afresh and I will pursue it in Supreme Court' said Dr Shyamal Roy. (Agencies)

Deputy Speaker resents condition of small tea growers, role of TTDC Agartala, Oct 30: The deputy speaker of state assembly Pabitra Kar has expressed disappointment over the poor condition of the state's small tea growers and the failure of Tripura Tea Development Corporation (TTDC) to come to their rescue. Addressing the third state conference of the small tea growers association in the community hall of Durgabari tea estate in Bamutia area of Sadar (north) Kar said that the condition of small tea growers has not improved up to expectations over the past few years. 'Almost all the small tea growers are forced to sell their produce to larger gardens and private factories but they fail to get proper price for them ; the state government had set up two tea

factories at Brahmakunda in Mohanpur subdivision and Kamalpur but they have also been leased out' Kar said The deputy speaker who is also the president of the small tea growers association said that the Tripura Tea Development Corporation (TTDC), a PSU of the state government, was not playing a satisfactory role in improving the lot of the small tea growers . He expressed the hope that the TTDC would come forward in the near future to help out the small tea growers.The state conference also constituted a 27 member committee of the small tea growers association in which Pabitra Kar was chosen as president and Harishankar Debnath as the general secretary.

(Agencies)

Lanong compares state Cong leaders with Gogoi Shillong, Oct 30: UDP leader Bindo Lanong on Saturday compared the 'wishful thinking' of State Congress leaders, that the party would emerge victorious in the 2018 Assembly polls, to that of former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi's who faced defeat in the last election.

"Gogoi had expressed confidence ahead of the last Assembly elections in Assam that the Congress would form the next government, but in vain," Lanong said.

Recently, MPCC president D.D Lapang had said the Congress would emerge as the single largest party in the 2018 Assembly polls downplaying any threat to the party's prospects following the suspension of Congress leader and KHADC CEM P.N. Syiem.

Former chief minister S.C. Marak also said that only people can give the verdict on the performance of the party and the government in 2018.

Lanong, meanwhile, did not find it surprising that the Congress was following in the footsteps of Gogoi who met his waterloo. "People in Meghalaya are aware of the political situation concerning the Congress. Will the people commit the mistake of installing the same government in 2018," Lanong asked. On the pre-poll alliance with like-minded parties, the UDP leader said the goal is to fight together to defeat the Congress and added that the issue of pre-poll understanding among the nonCongress parties will be addressed at the right time. (Agencies)

Agartala, Oct 30: Tripura government has effected major changes in the portfolios held by 9 IAS officers, two TFS officers and one TCS officer. As part of the changes notified, the principal secretary Sushil Kumar has been relieved of the charge of SIPARD and will hold charges of school and higher education and revenue department. Rakesh Sarwal (IAS) has become special secretary to the chief minister Manik Sarkar, replacing M.Nagaraju. Sarwal will also hold the charges of health , family welfare and planning departments.

M.Nagaraju has been relieved of the charges of special secretary to the chief minister as well as general administration (confidential and cabinet) and will now look after finance, industry and com-

merce departments.

Sriram Taranikant, commissioner for tranport and food , will take over additional charges of SIPARD. The secretary for general administration (administrative reforms) Mr Santanu will retain his charges of jail also along with it but has been relieved of the charge of OBC welfare. The special secretary of the sports and youth programme department T.K.Chakma has been allotted the additional charge of director of the departmnts. The department of fire brigade also rests with Chakma.

Mr Samarjit Bhowmik, secretary minority welfare department and special secretary to the governor, has been relieved of the charge of sports and youth programme . Manik Lal Dey, special secretary of the animal resource de-

partment and information and culture , has been allotted additional charge of OBC welfare department.

Mr Mrinal kanti Nath, director of ICA department , has been allotted additional charge of director , school education and state mission director of Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Yojana. In another major change the director of school education Prashant Kumar Goyal is going to Punjab as part of inter-cadre deputation while Dulal Chandra Das is becoming director of minority welfare department.

There are two changes in the TFS as Subrata Das has been posted as additional manager of TFDPC while Sumit Deb has been posted as SDF , Sonamura. The changes have already been notified.

(Agencies)

4-lane project: CPO resolves to back contractors Dimapur, Oct 30: Chakhroma Public Organisation (CPO) on Saturday informed that it has resolved to support the contractors, who got the 4-lane Dimapur-Kohima road project work under its jurisdiction.

In a press release, CPO president, VichĂźtuolie Mere, and publicity & information in-charge, Khrielievi-u Khro, stated that as per the NHIDCL the work of two packages within the CPO jurisdiction was allotted to M/s Ramky and ECI (Joint Venture).

At a meeting, CPO said it has decided that all the village councils, landowners and individuals should cooperate, assist and also extend necessary support to the contractors while they

execute the works, since Dimapur-Kohima road was one of the most important roads for Nagaland.

In this regard, the organisation also appealed to every citizen that no oppositions, obstructions and objections should arise within its territorial domain while carrying out this historic project.

In case of any disturbance or disruption to the smooth functioning on the project by any elements, the CPO cautioned that it would deal with all seriousness within its jurisdiction.

Further, CPO requested the contractors that local/village authority's services should be availed in order to avoid

any misunderstandings with the contractor's labourers and the villagers, since every village has its own territory.

CPO expressed confidence that the two "reputed firms" would complete the works within the stipulated time frame and without compromising the quality of work as per the specification given by the authority.

In case of any inferior quality works or manipulation of items of work, CPO said public would have to raise objection to the concern authority against the contractors. Meanwhile, it wished both M/s Ramky and ECI a grand success on this project.

(Agencies)

Road projects worth Rs 3724 cr to improve connectivity in State Shillong, Oct 30: Road connectivity in the landlocked State may improve if projects worth Rs 3,724 crore are implemented successfully without glitches.

As per the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), there are as many as 11 projects in the State which will cover 812.86km of roads.

Among the important road projects in the pipeline are two-laning of Mawshynrut -Athiabari (Hahim) road for Rs 266 crore, two-laning of

State road from Nongstoin to Wahkaji at a cost of Rs 293 crore, but it has hit a stumbling block after opposition from pressure groups.

Also, the project is yet to receive the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council's approval for land acquisition. This has delayed acquiring land by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department. Besides, the agreement could not be signed due to non-availability of NOC from the KHADC. Another major road project is the 161-km Assam-Meghalaya bor-

der to Dalu via Baghmara under JICA funding and the total project cost is Rs 966 crore. M/s Stanley Consultant Pvt. Ltd is the implementing firm for the project.

Paper work is also underway for the Rs 426-crore two-laning project for Nongstoin-RambraiKyrshai road up to Meghalaya-Assam border.

The West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner started land acquisition after NHIDCL finalised the alignment last year and it is likely to be complete shortly. (Agencies)

EDITORIAL

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, OCTOBER 31

Shy of fighting causes

Today's quote Two things are infinite: the “universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe."

Albert Einstein

Shed that flab I

t is time to revert to the days of "footslogging", the Punjab police have been instructed. No more cycling down their "beat" and relying heavily on electronic surveillance. Every policeman must walk four kilometres a day is the directive from the Director-General's office. Ostensibly the intention is to re-build the police's links with the community, which has traditionally been an effective way of keeping miscreants at bay, and in these terrorism-infested times a vital source of "intelligence" against the presence of trouble-making outsiders. Or, as the directive states, "to win over the hearts and minds of the majority of the population...". It is, however, quite apparent that the first task would be winning hearts and minds within the force.

There is a nagging suspicion that the "walkingorder" is a bid to get the men back into physical "shape": many are grumbling that after a four km walk they would be too tired to do any other work that day. Some point out that even the "morning parades" are poorlyattended, and confess that after graduating from the police academy they have undertaken no physical-conditioning programmes.

They also contend that a long walk would reduce the time available for public interaction -- and what would happen when they had to make additional arrangements during VIP visits?

The "problem" is not that of the Punjab police alone. Cops in most towns are in poor physical condition and often cannot chase down a crook on the run. And few have undertaken any refresher courses -- even in using firearms -- after passing out of training school. This aspect of training/retraining is generally overlooked as most forces are under-staffed and ill-equipped.

Maybe along with the walking-orders issued in Punjab, senior officers across the country are warned that they will be served "marching-orders" if they neglect their duty to ensure that their men, and women, remain fighting-fit. Lethargic, potbellied policemen have no place beyond the movies and comic-books.

Bodos again The All Bodo Students' Union is the first organisation that raised the demand for a separate homeland and has been spearheading the movement since the early 1980s. After being quiet for some years, it revived its agitation soon after the Centre announced the creation of Telangana. Since then, at regular intervals, it hits the streets and has done so even in Delhi. Even after two pacts with the Centre since 1993, the Bodos have not been able to govern themselves.

The February 2003 agreement with Dispur and the Centre for creation of an autonomous council floundered after eight years over the issue of demarcation of boundary and infighting among its leaders. LK Advani, as Deputy Prime Minister in 2003 persuaded Hagrama Mohilary who then headed a rebel group -- the Bodo Liberation Tigers -- to give up violence and accept autonomy under the Sixth Schedule, though it is meant only for tribals in the hills. Mohilary forgot his core demand -- a separate homeland -- and accepted the offer.

Today, after being part of the Tarun Gogoi government, he has allied with the BJP with the hope it will fulfill Bodos' aspirations. He is not happy with autonomy because the funds for it are routed through Dispur.

Last week, Absu supporters disrupted the movement of trains for at least 12 hours. There is no likelihood of the Centre ever agreeing to its demand but it is important to maintain peace for the simple reason that all vital roads and rail links pass through the area. Any dislocation will have a disastrous effect on the economy of all the seven North-eastern states.

The fence There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.

Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the

number of nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told

P6

What good is a declaration wherein BRICS nations pledge to counter international terrorism and yet stand so far apart from each other?

Our foreign policy is entering an age of neologisms. Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar recently introduced a new wrinkle in our strategic posture by reportedly telling members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs that there was a "politico-military" message in the September 29 surgical strikes. It appears that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has amplified that message by comparing the strike with Israel's military exploits which have gained the status of myth, such as the country's bombing of Osirak in 1981 when eight F-16s dropped 16 two-tonne bombs on the nuclear reactor located south-east of Baghdad.

The reactor had been provided by France and was barely three days away from going on stream.

The mission to scuttle Osirak had been planned for over a year - and was cleared by Menachem Begin, the Nobel Peace Prize nestled comfortably in his pocket - when Israel's attempt to destroy the core of the reactor before it left the shores of France succeeded only partially, and after espionage, sabotage, and targeted killings of nearly a dozen nuclear scientists working on the programme failed to stop the construction and development of Osirak.

Israel's single-point agenda was to surgically

destroy Iraq's nuclear capability, thereby preventing it from ever becoming a threat. It was the mother of all surgical strikes, with a deterrent message.

Folklore has it that so precise was the strike that the adjacent nuclear fuel complex was untouched after the attack, and so there was no risk of radiation deaths. And of the 11 dead, there was only one French casualty. So stunned were the Iraqis, at that time embroiled in an intermittent war with Iran, by the strike that not once on the flight back did their radars lock on to the F-16s, let alone fire at them. It was a Sunday, June 7, 1981. Twenty three days later was the election to the Knesset.

No prizes for guessing who won. It was Begin Doctrine at work.

The host and the guest The mention of Israel may have only been a passing reference to an audience of the Bharatiya Janata Party acolytes on whom the significance must have been largely lost. But there is no mistaking the import, aimed at the world at large, coming as it did snapping at the heels of China's panegyric after the BRICS summit in Goa on Pakistan's fight against terrorism. It was the equivalent of a host having to suffer the mortification of being lectured at the dinner table by a privileged guest. The

throwaway nature of the remarks brings into question how much of this is innuendo, how much bluster, and how much doctrine. Will Mr. Modi order a covert operation to take out Jaish-eMohammed's Masood Azhar, make bolder on pulling the Baloch chestnut out of the fire? What about Hafiz Saeed? How do we square this with the orchestrated campaign of the Hurriyat somehow being mollycoddled with government largesse?

Consider the trouble Prime Minister Modi had taken to set the scene even as China refused to budge on naming Azhar as a terrorist at the UN, and remained resolute on its opposition to India's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group. In all his international engagements before the Goa

summit, Mr. Modi had not only raised the flag of Pakistan's role in terrorism but waved it furiously: at ASEAN, during his address to the G20, and at the UN, where India's foreign minister raised it to a fever pitch.

Chinese President Xi Jinping was no doubt taking notes when Mr. Modi spoke of the need to isolate and sanction Pakistan. At the UN, India described Pakistan as being in "the Ivy League of terrorism"; in Goa, Mr. Modi had promoted Pakistan up the evolutionary ladder of terrorism by calling it the "mother ship of terrorism". As a concerned neighbour, should Mr. Modi be allowing Pakistan to evolve further?

At this rate, we might run out of adjectives and copywriter's phrases pretty soon. And what

then? But it was evident when Mr. Xi arrived for the BRICS summit that New Delhi's views on China's all-weather friend had found no purchase with the "bitter neighbour" (Atal Bihari Vajpayee's reference in a letter to U.S. President Bill Clinton) to the north which helped Pakistan become a covert nuclear weapon state and at the hands (cat's paw would be more apt) of which India had suffered three aggressions in 50 years.

Consider, too, Mr. Modi's strident declamations at Goa: "The time for condemning state-sponsored terrorism is long gone. It is time to stand up and act, and act decisively. It is, therefore, imperative for BRICS and BIMSTEC to create a comprehensive response to secure our societies against the perpetrators of terror." Thus when Mr. Modi declared that "those who nurture, shelter and sponsor forces of violence and terror are as much a threat to us as terrorists themselves", was he not killing two birds with one stone? It was as applicable to the Chinese as it was to the Pakistanis. There was not a squeak from New Delhi's erstwhile friend, Russia, when all this was going on. What good is a declaration wherein BRICS nations arrange summit after summit where pledges are made

to "consistently strengthen our co-operation in preventing and countering international terrorism" and yet stand so far apart from each other?

Claim and reality The quality of strategic cooperation and dialogue on international security will be wobbly if key members of a grouping that have come together precisely because they feel that existing international groupings/mechanisms are incapable of addressing new realities are seen to be fighting shy of the very causes they say they are espousing.

There was no doubt that Israelis destroyed the reactor in Baghdad, even though they kept quiet about it for years afterwards. There were pictures, there were casualties that were acknowledged. There was condemnation of the act. It happened. That much is established. Just imagine what would have been the outcome, analysts wonder even today, had Saddam Hussein managed to go nuclear and then marched into Kuwait a decade later and hurled nuclear-tipped projectiles at Israel?

Where our surgical strike is concerned, Pakistan denies it even happened.

Between the claim and the reality falls a heavy shadow. The rest is political fog.

Dickens in today's America It's appropriate that the Booker goes to a writer who puts American values so nakedly on the mat Roughly at the halfway mark, Me, the protagonist of The Sellout, blows hashish smoke into his slave Hominy's face, and as the stress leaves their bodies, he says the blackness too peeled from their hides, "the melanin fizzing and dissipating into nothingness like antacids dissolving in tap water." Paul Beatty's Booker winner this year is chock-full of lines like these, seemingly throwaway lines that ache with the weight of history.

In blackest of black America Every now and then there comes a book like this, which makes your thumbs prick with prophecy. Halfway through this one, my thumbs were bleeding. The Sellout shocks you with its stark, ruthless and relentless satire, set in blackest of black America on the outskirts of whitest Los Angeles. Mr. Beatty is that fiendish stand-up comedian who drags you into his joke and makes you live it, uneasy, half-laughing and half-appalled.

Me's father, a wild social psychologist whose life-

time work was to make his son realise how black and how doomed he was, is shot down by the cops because, well, "just because racism is dead don't mean they still don't shoot niggers on sight." Dickens is the black ghetto they live in, located not far from Foothill Freeway, where Rodney King's life and "in a sense America and its haughty notions of fair play began their downward spiral." Dickens is too ugly and poor to be allowed to survive, and in a biting passage on urban gentrification, the writer describes how the slum is quietly purged out of the map to ensure that it doesn't lower property prices in its affluent neighbourhoods.

Me decides to restore Dickens, but also racial segregation. And slavery.

And this is set, in fantastic irony, in Barack Obama's America, roiled today by an election campaign defined by race, religion, gender and every other degree of divisiveness that can be dredged up. As you get deeper into the book, it

his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said "you have done well, my son, but

look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same.

When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. " You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there.

Make sure you control your temper the next time you are tempted to say something you will regret later.

spins faster and faster away from the centre and normalcy, from pious postures and politically correct responses and every fig leaf of righteous delusion that we share to tell ourselves that everything's all right with the world. Mr. Beatty drags you into the heart of this black vortex, but he does so with a lyricism, tenderness and humour that keeps lighting up the edges.

Even so far away, our lives have resonated with the aftershocks of repeated police violence against African-Americans in the U.S. Not so long ago, 57year-old Sureshbhai Patel was assaulted by the police in Alabama for not responding in English. And closer home, we have had Africans targeted in Bengaluru and elsewhere by local hooligans. And Dalits get battered with the regularity almost of train schedules. The riff of racism plays out for us on a frighteningly intimate note.

And Mr. Beatty is aware of this. In the book, when Me and Hominy work out how to bring back discrimina-

tion to Dickens, they toy with the caste system. "At the bottom," says Hominy, "we'll have the Untouchables… people who have the dirty jobs".

'Unmitigated blackness', the term Mr. Beatty coins, becomes as real in this book as unmitigated brownness or unmitigated Dalitness is real on the streets for us. Mr. Beatty then takes this and stands it on its head and subverts every cultural reference, every constitutional assertion and affirmative action ever taken and shakes them out till they are empty of everything but their own stilted and hollow structures. And so, in a warped recasting of Rosa Parks's stand in Alabama, Me gives Hominy a birthday present in the shape of a bus in Los Angeles that reintroduces segregated seating. And in an equal world where honey-toned women and coffee-dark men have finally been let into drawing rooms and luxury car commercials, Marpessa (Me's scrappy girlfriend) asks why white people are never described

by their skin tones: "Why aren't there any yoghurtcolored, egg-shell-toned, string-cheese-stringed… white protagonists…?"

But, as Mr. Beatty says with savage wit, white can always be whiter than white: "Bel Air white.

Three first names white.

Valet parking white. Laguna Beach volleyball white."

The book bristles with a daunting range of swift, jab-and-hook cross-cultural references - from Barbra Streisand's Jewishness to Madonna's whiteness to Churchill and Godard, Colin Powell, Kafka, Darth Vader and the Lone Ranger - spanning high art and pop art with a playful ease that must have impressed the Booker jury. It mocks politics, cinema and racism, but also black activism, black assumptions and black preoccupations in a dizzying and breathless two-step that often leaves you grasping at nothingness - but, as Mr. Beatty says, "sometimes it's the nihilism that makes life worth living".

The writer's Dickens, and by extension his America, is a dystopia, disarmingly lit up by neon fantasies and inspiring slogans and the pediment in the U.S. Supreme Court that says Equal Justice Under Law, but where, he says with breathtaking acerbity, the rights of "African-Americans were neither Godgiven nor constitutional, but immaterial".

In a controversial year Mr. Beatty has thumbed his nose at this entropic world with an uproarious, irreverent and riotous romp of a book - he has triumphantly "whispered 'Racism' in a post-racial world." And in a controversial year, when the Literature Nobel went to a songwriter, it seems particularly appropriate that the Booker has been awarded for the first time to an American writer who puts America and American values so nakedly on the mat. Looking back, we are likely to be startled that both in its political choices and in its Booker winner, the U.S. was handed such starkly candid mirrors this year.

We are too busy feasting on the good life to care It's official. Our detention of refugees is a deliberate regime of neglect and cruelty amounting to torture under international law. Unfortunately, the personal stories highlighted in various media of the detained children have failed to move our leaders to merciful action. And it seems that half of us are too busy feasting on the good life to give two hoots, while the other half are too preoccupied with their own struggles for economic, social and emotional survival to pay attention. Where is Australia's moral leadership and compassionate heart? Must we wait for the UN Committee Against Torture to take action, or for individual government officials to face prosecution under international law, before innocent souls imprisoned by us in hellish conditions are released?

Khirod Baruah Moran

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, OCTOBER 31

BUSSINESS

Mistry asked Tata firms to stop working with Shapoorji group The move was aimed at addressing issues arising out of conflict of interest charge New Delhi, Oct 30: Former chairman of Tata Sons, Cyrus Mistry had asked all the Tata group CEOs in October 2013 to cease all business relations with his father's Shapoorji Pallonjigroup in order to avoid any conflict of interest charges against him at a later date.

A source close to the development said the SP group, which is one of India's oldest construction companies, lost sizeable business with the Tata group cutting their business relations with them. The SP group is run

by Shapoor Mistry, elder brother of Cyrus.

In his communication to the CEOs, Mistry said the Tata group was always prided itself to adhere to the highest standards of corporate governance in India for over a century. "In adherence to the same philosophy, and to avoid perception of a potential conflict of interest, I believe that as long as I am the Executive Chairman, it would be appropriate that the Tata group of companies no longer engage with the Shapoorji Pallonjigroup for any engineering and con-

AT LOGGERHEADS Cyrus Mistry, who joined the Tata group in December 2012, was unceremoniously asked to leave as the Chairman of Tata Sons on Monday He has been replaced by former chairman, Ratan Tata as interim chairman. The Tata group has said Mistry has been removed for under performance and trust deficit with the Tata Sons board As per a letter written by former chairman of Tata Sons, Cyrus Mistry in October 2013, he asked all the Tata group CEOs to cease all business relations with his father's Shapoorji Pallonji group. The move was aimed at avoiding any conflict of interest charges at a later date In the letter, Mistry stated, "As long as I am the executive chairman, it would be appropriate that the Tata group of companies no longer engage with the Shapoorji Pallonji group for any engineering and construction contracts."

struction contracts," said Mistry.

The current contracts can continue till its expiry, Mistry had said asking his letter to be placed before the respective companies' board and implemented across group companies.

An email sent to the Tata group and the SP group did

Former chairman of Tata Sons, Cyrus Mistry The move resulted in sizeable business loss for the SP group, one of India's oldest construction companies. The SP group is run by Shapoor Mistry, elder brother of Cyrus.

not elicit any response.

Analysts said the letter shows Mistry indeed followed standards of corporate governance so that it should not create any controversies at a later date.

The SP group earns $4 billion in revenues each year and Cyrus's father Pallonji Mistry's wealth is estimated

at $14.5 billion based on his holding in Tata Sons and in his own group.

87-year Pallonji Mistry, who is not keeping good health, has already announced that his wealth will be divided into two equal parts between his two sons.

Mistry, who joined the Tata group in December 2012,

was unceremoniously asked to leave as the Chairman of Tata Sons on Monday and was replaced by former chairman, Ratan Tataas Interim Chairman.

The Tata group had said Mistry was removed for under performance and trust deficit with the Tata Sons board.

But in his letter to the Tata Sons board sent on this Wednesday, Mistry said during his term, the operating cash flows of the group grew at the rate of 31 per cent compounded per annum. The Tata Group valuation from 2013 to 2016 increased by 14.9 per cent per annum in rupee terms as compared to the BSE Sensex's annual increase of 10.4 per cent over the same period. "The Tata Sons net worth has increased from approximately Rs 26,000 crores to Rs 42,000 crores, after considering the impairments.

This has significantly strengthened our balance sheet, enhancing our ability to absorb further shocks from restructuring in the companies," Mistry said.

(Agencies)

New players shake up Delhi's Siemens to modernise UPPTCL liquid milk market New Delhi, Oct 30: For years, the Delhi-NCR region, one of India's largest liquid milk market, was dominated by the two big players - Amul and Mother Dairy - with a presence of a few smaller brands and the neighbourhood milkman from the unorganised sector, commonly called doodhwala.

However, all this is set to change, with the entry of two major players in the past few months, and another player repackaging itself, all in the hope of garnering a share of 5.5-6 million litres a day liquid milk market in Delhi and its adjoining cities.

First it was Namaste India, which entered the market, then Kwality Group's new brand - Kwality Milk - and now Wholly Joy Milk.

Mother Dairy has also started its own cow milk brand. Many other players are also expected to enter the market in the next few months to cash in on the winter demand.

Though, many old-timers said it is not the first time that Delhi has seen entry of new players or old ones with new branding, the difference this time seems to be the rush to capture the pouch milk market.

Mother Dairy managing di-

rector S Nagarajan says Delhi-NCR market has space for everyone and it is good that new players are coming, which will be beneficial for both the consumers and farmers.

Others feel because of the slump in global commodity prices, export of skimmed milkpowder, casein and other products have dropped sharply, forcing manufacturers to look towards this domestic market.

Skimmed milk powder (SMP) prices in the global markets had dropped to Rs 1,400-1,600 per tonne before settling at around Rs 2,200-2,300 per tonne, much lower than the peak rate of Rs 3,800-4,000 per tonne seen a few years back.

The international price of SMP is around Rs 135-140 per kg, while the domestic market is hovering around Rs 170-175 per kg and the cost of production is around Rs 210-220 per kg.

To recover the cost, industry players said many big players are looking at the home market.

Kuldeep Saluja, managing director of Sterling Agro Industries, makers of the Nova Milkbrand, feels the new players are joining the market because its demand is fairly constant, as compared to other milk products

like ice-creams, ghee and it is also growing at the rate of 9-10 per cent.

"Pouch milk is a constant market and its demand usually does not fluctuate much. So, many new and even established players in other milk segments would want to make their presence felt in this segment,"Saluja says.

New players are foraying into this space in Pune and other cities as well. However, he warns those who want to join this market should be ready to face big logistic cost.

R S Khanna, chairman of Kwality Dairy (India ) says the market is among the fastest growing segments in milk and is also a stable area to enter.

Kwality was earlier present in the liquid milk market under the brand name 'Dairy Best'. Khanna says development happening in the international market is separate and is not a big reason for major players showing renewed interest.

Only those players who have a strong direct milk procurement system will be able to survive in this market, as without their own procurement it is difficult to manage the logistics, he adds. (Agencies)

E-commerce brings ice cream to the doorstep

Pic for representation purpose.

Mumbai, Oct 30; As the range of products being sold on e-commerceplatforms grows, ice cream makers are not to be left behind. Mother Dairy, Cream Bell and Havmor have started selling ice cream online in major cities.

Perishables like fresh vegetables have been selling online for a while now, but ice cream was too difficult to handle till it was packed in insulated bags that stop it from melting for 40 minutes.

Big Basket and Grofers are

selling ice cream online and other digital grocers are expected to follow.

Cream Bell, the country's fifth largest ice cream brand, has a facility for ordering over the phone. Although coverage is limited to Gurgaon, Noida and Mohali, the market is growing at 40 per cent a year.

Cream Bell recently tied up with Big Basket to deliver in Bangalore and select areas of Delhi. "We are in talks with Grofers to increase the reach.

The venture has been fruitful," says Nitin Arora, chief executive officer, Cream Bell.

Mother Dairy Fruit and Vegetable is building a supply and delivery chain too.

Subhashis Basu, business head, dairy products, Mother Dairy, says the company sells ice cream through Innerchef and Big Basket. It is tying up with Grofers for Mumbai and Delhi.

"Last-mile delivery was a major issue in doorstep delivery. But with chillers and insulated bags, the problem has been solved," Basu says.

Less than 1 per cent of Mother Dairy's ice cream revenue comes from online sales. "The online channel may grow to 2 per cent of total sales in two years, but what is more important is a new channel has opened up," he adds.

Havmor, the Ahmedabadheadquartered ice cream company, has a microsite spreadgoodness.in to take orders in Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad. (Agencies)

Siemens is delighted to partner with UPPTCL in their initiative to modernize energy management systems, says Sunil Mathur MD and CEO, Siemens Mumbai, Oct 30: Siemens will modernise the energy management systems of Uttar Pradesh's transmission utility UPPTCL. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition/Energy Management System by Siemens will enable UPPTCLto provide uninterrupted, high quality of power while ensuring sustained protection of the environment, the company said in a stock exchange filling.

UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had inaugurated the state load dispatch center (SLDC) of the Uttar Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (UPPTCL) in Lucknow. Si-

emens Ltd Managing Director and CEO Sunil Mathur said: "Siemens is delighted to partner with UPPTCL in their initiative to modernize energy management systems."

It said that as a part of the project, Siemens has stabilised the SLDC in Lucknow and five subSLDCs across different towns of the state for UPPTCL. "The system implemented caters to monitoring of the transmission grid of UP covering over 150 substations, state owned power generation plants, IPPs and caters to about 12000 MW of the energy demand," it added. (Agencies)

Airtel infinity plan: Get unlimited calls, roaming, data SMS -Know full tariff

Image for representation purpose New Delhi, Oct 30: Unlimited calls, data, SMS, roaming -customers are flooded with choice on Airtel's infinity plan.

The plan under Infinity starts at Rs 949 and goes up to Rs 2,999.

Post the launch of Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio, Airtel had reduced the price of its 4G data by up to 80

percent offering 1GB at just Rs 51, though with a catch However, with the infinity plan, customers can choose how much to spend on data, sms, voice calls etc.

Here is the full tariff (as per Delhi circle selection). You can also visit Airtel's website and check out the rate of your city circle.

(Agencies)

This plane allowed passengers to be nude - the most unusual airlines New Delhi, Oct 30: Whether one loves it or not, flying can always be one hell of an experience.

Moreover, with the growing competition, airlines are looking to providing the best of facilities so that passengers can have the best of experience.

However, in all those facilities offered, some can go beyond limits and this

is what happened with German nudist flights in 2008.

According to YouTube channel, The Richest, a German travel agent in 2008 offer flights from the German city of Erfurt to a popular resort in the Baltic Sea. And the special facility offer? The plane allowed the passengers to be completely nude. (Agencies)

P7 Packaging institute's convocation in Mumbai on Nov 1 Mumbai, Oct 30: Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP), an autonomous body under Union Commerce and Industry Ministry, is holding its annual convocation programme here on November 1 where candidates who have successfully completed its courses will be awarded certificates.

About 450 participants would attend the function to receive the honours and diploma certificates at the hands of Chief Guest Y S Chowdhary, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, an IIP release said here.

IIP is regarded as the largest packaging institute in the

world in terms of infrastructural facilities for promotion of education in packaging.

It conducts a host of courses, including a twoyear full time Post Graduate Diploma in Packaging (PGDP) and a three-month full time Certificate Course in Packaging.

Deepak Pathak, Professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering, IIT, Mumbai will attend the function as Guest of Honour, while Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Director General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, will be the Special Guest.

Prof N C Saha, Director,

IIP, said "the institute is involved in two activities ie research and development, training and education in the field of packaging. In 1985, the institute started a twoyear Post Graduate Diploma Course in packaging with 19 students. Since then, it has produced 5,000 packaging professionals who are employed in Indian companies and MNCs." IIP is considered as a hub of packaging education for the global packaging community. It is the second institute in the world, after one in USA, to start a two-year Post Graduate Diploma in Packaging, the release added. (Agencies)

Over 6 lakh State Bank of India customers to get new debit cards soon New Delhi, Oct 30: The State Bank of India has dispatched over 6 lakh debit cards and its customers are likely to get it very soon.

Following the recent incident of over 3 million debit cards falling under security breach, the SBI has moved swiftly to contain the damage and replace them as the earliest possible.

According to The Times of India report, the State Bank has dispatched over 6.29 lakh and will be delivered very soon to its customers.

"A total of 95.5% of the blocked cards were dispatched by October 26. For the rest, we are trying to get their contact details because they failed to update their information with the respective branch," the TOI quoted Manju Agarwal, deputy MD, corporate strategy & new business, SBI, as saying.

"Such customers can also approach the branch to get

Pic for representation purpose. their details updated and get a new card," Agarwal added.

On October 19, SBI said it has blocked over 600,000 debit cards of its customers following a suspected security breach adding that it will issue fresh cards to them.

The malware-related security breach was reportedly detected in the non-SBI

ATM network and the move is intended to ensure that customer`s confidential personal data is not compromised while swiping.

Later it was reported that over 30 lakh debit cards in India were exposed to security risk while the police claim that the number of cards affected or compromised could be as high at 60 lakh.(Agencies)

Sensex witnesses turbulence in festive week; drops 135.67 points

The total turnover during the week on the BSE fell to Rs 16,579.80 crore from last weekend's level of Rs 18,170.07 crore

Mumbai, Oct 30: The stock market witnessed turbulence in the festive week as the benchmark BSE Sensex lost 135.67 points to retreat from the psychological 28,000-mark, while broader Nifty fell by 55.05 points. The auspicious week of 'Diwali' festival was suffused by monthly expiry as well as last trading day of Samvat 2072 on 'Dhanteras' was frustrated by key market-bearing events.

Though the stocks started the week on a bullish note supported by firm global sentiment, the shocking removal of Cyrus Mistry as the chairman of Tata Sons hit Tata group sharesdampening the sentiment. Also, disappointing earnings by key banking financials pushed the stocks into the negative zone.

A value buying by investors, however, helped stocks recover from the 'ouster' shocks. Also the expiry day saw hectic short-covering, while rebound in Q2 results also lifted the market to some extent capping the larger losses during the week.

The 30-share Sensex resumed higher at 28,156.59 and hovered between 28,256.65 and 27,665.60 before ending the week at 27,941.51, showing a loss of 135.67 points or 0.48 percent.

The NSE Nifty also de-

clined 55.05 points or 0.63 percent to close the week at 8,638.00.

Selling was led by IT, teck, capital goods, power, bankex, auto, metal, and consumer durables counters. The second line shares traded mixed with smallcap companies shares gaining slightly while midcap incurring heavy selling pressure.

Buying was seen in PSUs, oil and gas, healthcare, IPOs, FMCG and realty sectors.

Meanwhile, foreign funds sold shares worth Rs 4,296.11 crore during the week, as per the Sebi's record including the provisional figure of October 28.

In the broader market, the BSE mid-cap index lost 194.11 points or 1.43 percent to settle at 13,408.27.

The decline in this index was higher than Sensex's decline in percentage terms. The BSE small-cap index rose 21.82 points or 0.16 percent to settle at 13,454.03, outperforming the Sensex.

Among the sectoral indices, IT dropped 3.45 percent. It was followed by teck 2.89 percent, capital goods 1.50 percent, power 0.93 percent and bankex 0.89 percent, auto fell 0.34 percent, metal by 0.28 percent and consumer durables 0.08 percent.

However oil and gas rose by 0.49 percent, healthcare 0.20 percent, FMCG 0.08

percent and realty saw a rise of 0.06 percent.

In the 30-share Sensex pack, 20 stocks fell, while remaining 10 gained during the week.

Major losers include Axis Bank which was down 7.60 percent. The bank's net profit declined 83.34 percent to Rs 319.08 crore on 14.14 percent growth in total income to Rs 13698.77 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015.

It was followed by Wipro which was down 7.51 percent. The company's consolidated net income fell 8 percent to Rs 2,070 crore on 10 percent increase in gross revenue to Rs 13,770 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015.

Besides, there are Asian Paints (7.24 pct), Tata Steel (7.24 pct), Infosys (3.92 pct), L&T (2.16 pct), Gail (1.67 pc), Tata Motors (1.60 pc) and HUL (1.52 pct).

However, Dr Reddy's Laboratories (DRL) was up 8.08 percent.

The company's consolidated net profit fell 60.12 percent to Rs 308.90 crore on 10.57 percent decline in total income to Rs 3,660.10 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone jumped 7.47 percent.

The company's consolidated net profit rose 60.97 percent to Rs 1,090.81 crore on 23.56 percent increase in total income to Rs 2,416.77 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015.

It was followed by Maruti 3.99 percent, HDFC 3.86 percent, Coal India 3.54 percent, Bharti Artl 2.99 percent and ONGC 2.82 percent.

The total turnover during the week on the BSE fell to Rs 16,579.80 crore from last weekend's level of Rs 18,170.07 crore while NSE rose to Rs 1,10,303.38 crore from Rs 1,06,661.62 crore. (PTI)

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, OCTOBER 31

P8

INTERNATIONAL

FBI move 'unprecedented', 'deeply troubling': Clinton Washington, Oct 30: Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton on Sunday called "unprecedented" and "deeply troubling" the FBI's decision to re-open its investigation into her use of private email server while secretary of state, with just over a week to go for the presidential election Clinton and her campaign pressed America's top cop, FBI Director James Comey, to put out the "full and complete facts" about a renewed probe into a cache of recently discovered emails, as the development emboldened Republican rival Donald Trump to seize on to the reignited controversy "It is pretty strange. It's pretty strange to put something like that out with such little information right before an election. In fact, in fact, it's not just strange It's unprecedented," Clinton told cheering supporters at an election rally in Florida

Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton "And it is deeply troubling because voters deserve get to full and complete facts," she added as she called on Comey "to explain everything right away, put it all out on the table" and accused Trump of already "making up lies" about the development in the final leg of the campaign "He is doing his best to confuse, mislead, and discourage the American people. I think it's time for Donald

Trump to stop fear mongering, to stop disgracing himself, to stop attacking our democracy. We can't let him get away with this, can we?"

Clinton said Trump, at his own rally in Colorado, accused the Justice Department of trying to protect Clinton "You're supposed to give your emails. The process and the legal process has been taking a long time. It's very sad that it's taken so

US, Russian, Japanese astronauts return from ISS Astana (Kazakhstan), Oct 30: Three astronauts landed safely in Kazakhstan today following a 115-day mission aboard the the International Space Station, including US astronaut Kate Rubins, the first person to sequence DNA in space.

Russian mission control confirmed the touchdown of NASA's Rubins, Roscosmos' Anatoly Ivanishin and Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency at 0358 GMT. The trio landed southeast of the Kazakh steppe town of Zhezkazgan in clear but frosty conditions after a flight from the orbital lab.

"Landing has taken place!"

Russian mission control stated, with commentators on NASA TV noting that the Soyuz craft had landed in an upright position.

Molecular biologist Rubins and Onishi were both returning from their first missions in space, while flight commander Ivanishin undertook a five-month mission at the ISS five years ago.

Footage from the landing

site on NASA television showed Rubins smiling after she was hoisted out last from the Soyuz descent module.

"Everybody is feeling wonderful," said Ivanishin, who emerged first from the craft, in comments translated from Russian.

After they are flown to the Kazakh city of Karaganda, Ivanishin will head to Star City just outside Moscow for post-mission work, while Rubins and Onishi will fly to Houston.

Their journey back to Earth marks the first complete mission to and from the orbital lab for a new generation of Soyuz spacecraft with upgraded features.

The trio's arrival at the ISS was delayed by two weeks as Russian space officials carried out further software tests on the modified Soyuz MS-01 vehicle.

Rookie Rubins' participation in the mission generated particular excitement after NASA announced plans for the career scientist to sequence DNA aboard the ISS in a world

Four civilians injured by 'unprovoked' Indian firing: ISPR Karchi, Oct 30: An Intermittent exchange of fire which began Saturday is ongoing at the Working Boundary in Harpar, Chaprar, Pukhlian and Shakargarh sectors.

"Pakistani troops are effectively targeting Indian posts," ISPR said, adding, "The Indian claim of hitting and being able to destroy any Pakistani post at the Line of Control in the Neelum valley on Friday is totally untrue."

More than four people, including an infant, have been killed and 26 residents of villages along the Working Boundary have been injured since last Monday.

For the third time in less than two weeks, the Indian deputy high commissioner was summoned to the Foreign Office where the South Asia and Saarc director general lodged a protest over ceasefire violations by the BSF in the Chaprar and Harpal sectors and along the

Line of Control in the Bhimber sector.

The Indian diplomat was asked to ensure that the incidents were investigated and that the findings shared with Pakistan.

Military sources told Dawn that the Pakistani troops had attacked a number of Indian posts along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary.

As many as five Indian soldiers had been shot dead and four Indian posts in the Bhimber sector had been destroyed in an exchange of fire since Tuesday, they said.

FO Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria claims Inida has committed more than 90 ceasefire violations in 2016.

"During the 2014 provincial assembly elections, India violated ceasefire agreement more than 200 times," Zakaria said. He alleges Pakistan has "never violated the ceasefire agreement."

(Agencies)

first.

In August Rubins successfully sequenced samples of mouse, virus and bacteria DNA using a device called MinION while Earth-based researchers simultaneously sequenced identical samples.

NASA said the biomolecule sequencer investigation could help to identify potentially dangerous microbes aboard the ISS and diagnose illnesses in space.

Rubins was also the first woman aboard the ISS since Italian Samantha Cristoforetti returned to Earth with the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman (199 days) in June last year.

Fellow American Peggy Whitson, 56, will blast off to join an all-male crew at the lab with French astronaut Thomas Pesquet and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy from the Baikonur cosmodrome November 17.

The blast-off was delayed by 48 hours as Russian space officials sought better docking conditions.

(Agencies)

Six Kalashnikovs recovered from PTI leader's car outside Bani Gala Islamabad, Oct 30: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Minister Amin Gandapur's car was stopped at a checkpost and searched. The car was impounded, while Gandapur absconded and his driver was detained by police.

Gandapur rejected police claims, saying he was travelling with two licensed Kalashnikovs, and that there was a license present in the car. Police recovered the license, he claimed, adding that the police let him go.

Police also arrested over 70 Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) protesters trying to reach party chief Imran Khan's Bani Gala residence in Islamabad's Rukhsana Bangash Road area, DawnNews reported.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday urged party workers to reach Bani Gala even if they had to climb mountains to do so. Protesters will then move onto Islamabad on Nov 2 for the party's planned 'lockdown' of the capital, he said.

Police attempted to prevent protesters from trying to reach Bani Gala via lesserknown unpaved routes running through the wilderness by surrounding them on all sides. Protesters began stoning police and setting fires in the wilderness, after which police resorted to tear gas shelling.

A contingent of police led by Senior Superintendent Police Operations Sajid Kiyani used tear gas against protesters who were stoning them.

Police check posts have been erected from Link Road to Bani Gala to monitor the situation. (Agencies)

long. And now it's reported today this morning that the Department of Justice was fighting the FBI and that's because the Department of Justice is trying so hard to protect Hillary," the 70year-old real estate tycoon alleged During a rare press conference on Saturday, Clinton said she is "confident" the new FBI probe will not change its original finding that she should not be prosecuted The Clinton Campaign also questioned the agency's motive behind its decision taken days before the November 8 election "The extraordinary letter that was long on innuendo and short on facts that Director Comey sent on Saturday to eight Republican committee chairs. 24 hours after that letter was sent, we have no real explanation of why Director Comey decided to send that letter to congressional leaders,"

Clinton Campaign chairman John Podesta told reporters Podesta alleged the FBI director, by providing selective information, has allowed partisans to distort and exaggerate in order to inflict maximum political damage In a statement, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) said that by releasing a letter within 60 days of the presidential election, Comey broke with longstanding department tradition that is meant to prevent any influence on the electoral process "The letter did not offer enough detail that would allow Americans a full understanding of the development and whether or not it is even significant, which has led to speculation on the part of the media and irresponsible claims by Republican leaders. The FBI must move quickly to release additional clarifying information," DNC demanded. (PTI)

Parvaiz Rasheed is a scapegoat, nation demands more: Imran Khan Karachi, Oct 30: Talking to reporters as he emerged outside his Bani Gala residence, the PTI leader hit out at the information minister. Invoking a metaphor, Khan said, "The nation wants the sacrifice of a horse, not a mule."

Rasheed was asked to step down as the government was forced to launch a probe into Dawn's story "Act against militants or face international isolation, civilians tell military", which reported details of a high level civilmilitary meeting discussing the issue of Pakistan's banned outfits. The military has demanded action as it views the leak from the meeting as a "break of national security".

The development has given Khan, Nawaz Sharif's rival and most vocal critic, another opportunity to take aim at the incumbent government as his party gears up for what they have vowed is a "lockdown" of Islamabad on November 2.

"Rasheed could not speak without a signal from "his masters" to do so. He could not dare to anything on his own. He just obeyed instructions," Khan added.

"People are not ready to accept the sacrifice of an associate," he said. "We want to know who was the one from the 'royal family'

who directed this entire drama."

He also reiterated his ongoing criticism of the government for its actions in the days leading up to his scheduled November 2 protest, and said it has "gone out of its way" to restrain the party from exercising its constitutional right of protest.

He also said the Islamabad police did not spare female protesters of PTI but there was no Section 144, an order which bans public gatherings, for Defa-ePakistan Council.

Khan hits out at judiciary - again Khan said the credibility of judiciary was at stake as, according to him, the government was violating laws and had committed contempt of court.

"I want to tell the judiciary that it is their trial, not mine."

A day earlier, Khan had said the country's institutions for justice are controlled by "a corrupt leader".

"What will people think?

You passed orders but everyone can see what is going on," he said, in an apparent reference to shipping containers that have blocked routes to Islamabad despite an order by the Islamabad High Court to keep the city open. (Agencies)

'Unauthorised Drone' Halts Traffic At Dubai Airport HIGHLIGHTS Air traffic near Dubai airport was haulted for an hour and a half It is forbidden to fly drone within five kilometres of any airport UAE authorities have announced their intention to tighten the rules Air traffic at Dubai airport was haulted for an hour due to the drone Dubai, Oct 30: A drone forced Dubai international airport, one of the world's busiest, to halt air traffic for an hour and a half Saturday evening, the third such incident in less than five months.

Air space around the airport was closed from 7:25 pm to 8:49 pm (1525-1649 GMT) "due to unauthorised drone activity resulting in flight diversions", said operator Dubai Airports.

The General Civil Aviation

Authority said the airport at Sharjah, about 15 kilometres (nine miles) away, was closed for a similar period of time as a precaution because of the same drone.

Dubai Airports stressed in a tweet that safety was its top priority and reminded drone operators that it is forbidden to fly them within five kilometres (three miles) of any airport.

On September 28 the airport was shut for about half an

hour because of an unauthorised drone while on June 12 it was forced to close for more than an hour for the same reason.

UAE authorities have announced their intention to tighten the rules on the purchase and use of drones and the penalties for violating them.

Around 100 airlines fly to more than 260 destinations from Dubai, which is also home to major carrier Emirates.

More than 78 million passengers travelled through the airport last year.

(Agencies)

Philippines, US verifying if Chinese left disputed shoal Manila, Oct 30: The Philippines and the U.S. are verifying if Chinese coast guard ships left a disputed shoal after President Rodrigo Duterte reached out to Beijing, allowing Filipino fishermen back to the rich fishing area that China seized in 2012 as tensions spiked in the South China Sea. Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Philippine coast guard reported that Chinese ships have not been sighted at Scarborough Shoal in the last three days, but he added the report has to be validated.

Lorenzana told The Associated Press that the Philippine air force plans to conduct aerial surveillance of the shoal off the northwestern Philippines as early as Saturday to check the situation.

China took effective control of the tiny, uninhabited shoal in 2012, after a tense standoff with Philippine vessels. Since then, Chinese coast guard ships have been driving Filipino fishermen away from the area, while farther south in the Spratly Islands, China went on to construct seven manmade islands despite protests from other claimants.

Deputy U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told

reporters in Beijing on Saturday that China's withdrawal from Scarborough Shoal, even if it were a product of bilateral talks with Duterte, "would be a positive development" welcomed by Washington.

He said it would be consistent with an international arbitration ruling in July that invalidated Beijing's sweeping territorial claims in the South China Sea. The ruling said that both Filipinos and Chinese can fish at the shoal, but China ignored it and its coast guard continued to block Filipino fishermen.

Blinken said that the U.S. would continue to conduct freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea that challenge Beijing's territorial claims at a time when countries in the region - including those that are not directly involved in the China-Philippine dispute - have signaled "increased demand" for American presence.

Duterte has attempted to repair relations with China, but he has also ruffled feathers with the Philippines' longtime ally by threatening to scale down military ties with the U.S. and hurling insults at President Barack Obama.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the U.S. was still assessing reports that Chinese boats have left Scarborough Shoal and Filipinos have resumed fishing there.

"We hope it is certainly not a temporary measure.

We would like it to be a sign that China and the Philippines are moving toward an agreement on fishing access at Scarborough that would be in accordance with the July 12 arbitral decision," Toner told reporters in Washington.

After visiting Beijing last week, Duterte said without elaborating that Filipino fishermen "may" be able to return to Scarborough after he discussed the territorial rift with Chinese leaders.

He said he insisted in his talks with Chinese leaders that the shoal belonged to the Philippines, but that the Chinese also asserted their claim of ownership.

"If the Chinese ships have left, then it means our fishermen can resume fishing in the area. We welcome this development," Lorenzana said.

"Our fishermen have not been fishing there since 2012. This will return to them their traditional source of livelihood."

(Agencies)

Boatpeople face lifetime ban from Australia Sydney , Oct 30: Australia moved Sunday to bar any refugee or asylum-seeker who arrives in the country illegally by boat from ever being able to apply for a visa, even as tourists or for business.

The lifetime ban will be put to parliament when it next sits, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull saying it was necessary to send an "absolutely, unflinching, unequivocal message" that boatpeople will never be allowed in Australia.

"This is a battle of will between the Australian people, represented by its government, and the criminal gangs of people-smugglers," he said.

"You should not underestimate the scale of the threat.

These people-smugglers are the worst criminals imaginable. They have a multibillion-dollar business.

"We have to be very determined to say no to their criminal plans."

Amendments to the migration act would be backdated to mid-2013, when former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd declared: "As of to-

day, asylum-seekers who come here by boat without a visa will never be settled in Australia."

Canberra currently sends all boatpeople to offshore processing camps on the Pacific islands of Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus.

They are already blocked from being resettled in Australia even if found to be genuine refugees. They can either return home, make a life on Manus or Nauru, or go to a third country.

The new legislation would affect those sent to Nauru and Manus from July 19, 2013, including those who have returned home, and anyone who arrives in the future.

But children will be exempt and the immigration minister would have the power to make exceptions.

The Nauru facility holds just over 400 men, women and children.

Some 800 men are detained on Manus, which Australia in August agreed to close after a Papua New Guinea court ruling that holding people there was unconsti-

Australia-bound Sri Lankan asylum-seekers are seen off western Sumatra, after being intercepted by Indonesian authorities tutional and illegal.

Rights group have alleged there is widespread abuse and self-harm in the camps.

Turnbull said the move would reinforce to refugee advocates still hoping Australia will accept some of those on Nauru or Manus that it will never happen.

"We have one of the most generous humanitarian programs in the world," he said.

"But the only reason we can do it, the only reason it has the public acceptance that it

does, is because we are in command of our borders."

Australia has boosted its annual humanitarian refugee intake in recent years from 13,750 to 18,750, and has also agreed to take 12,000 displaced in Syria and Iraq.

- Grave concerns Refugee advocates said the plan was unacceptable, with Save the Children fearing it will further exacerbate the mental anguish of those held in the Pacific camps.

"We have grave concerns that this kind of announcement will push people over the edge," said the organisation's director of policy and public advocacy in Australia Mat Tinkler.

"The government must act urgently to give hope to these people, not continue to take it away."

Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre lawyer David Manne agreed that the proposal punished genuine refugees.

"This does nothing to address that fundamental question about where they are going to be taken so that they can rebuild their lives in safety and with dignity," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Since the start of "Operation Sovereign Borders" in September 2013, the conservative government has managed to halt the flood of boat arrivals, and dro w n i n g s , that characterised previous Labor administrations.

Labor said Sunday it had yet to decide whether to back the visa ban.

(Agencies)

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, OCTOBER 31

EDUCATION Top 10 sectors for engineering graduates

IT/ software The IT/ software sector currently employs engineering graduates for over 23% of its jobs. This sector has witnessed over 7% rise in the demand for software, hardware, production, manufacturing and maintenance engineers in the last six months. These profiles account for nearly 80% of the total demand across profiles in the IT and software sector.

Manufacturing The manufacturing sector accounts for nearly 18% of the total job share for engineers. The demand in the sector is high for production, manufacturing and maintenance engineers followed by IT/ software engineers. RF (radio frequency) and electrical and electronics specialisations are also in demand in the manufacturing sector.

Hardware The hardware sector accounts for nearly 9% of the total job share of engineers.

Hardware and networking engineers with operating system, routing, firewall and troubleshooting skills are in demand in the industry.

Consulting services Nearly 38% of the demand for engineers in the consulting services sector is for software engineers. Project management and site engineers account for 30% of the total demand for engineers in this sector. Design, mechanical and maintenance

skills are a must for students who wish to make a career in this field.

Software services Nearly 80% of the engineers in this sector are placed at entry level. Professionals with knowledge of the Java, HTML, C, C++ softwares can make a career in this field.

Infrastructure With numerous projects planned across cities, the infrastructure sector is looking for fresh engineering graduates. The sector accounts for 7% of the total job share for engineers. The maximum demand is for civil engineers.

Internet/ dotcom With a 7% job share, the internet/dotcom industry has a strong demand for software engineers with skills in application programming, database administration, graphic design, animation and quality assurance and testing.

Automobiles The automobile sector has a total share of 6% in the demand for engineers. Production, manufacturing and maintenance engineers are sought at the entry level.

Quality, maintenance and manufacturing engineers are also likely to see an increased demand in the near future. The sector also has a good demand for software engineers, especially in the ancillary sector since it is strong in ERP operations and needs system/software support.

Construction With a high demand for civil and site engineers, the construction sector accounts for nearly 5% of the total demand for engineers at entry level. Software and quality control engineers are also in demand in the sector.

Telecom The telecom industry accounts for 4% of the job share for engineers at the entry level. Software engineers with skills in application programming, database administration, network administration and system administration are in demand.

Hardware engineers with knowledge of network planning hardware installation/ maintenance, RF engineering and hardware design are also being hired.

Engineers in demand Hydrological engineering » What it entails: Hydrology engineering focuses on the study of the occurrence, movement, quality and properties of water that is collected from the earth.

Typically, the job of a hydrologist is to apply scientific theories to resolve water-related issues in the country. They are responsible for calculating and auditing water resource systems and analysing the quality of water and where it can be used best. » Skills needed: Students who wish to make a career in hydrology must have a keen interest in science,

must be willing to work for long hours and should have completed a course in engineering. Since this job role is multidisciplinary and technical, professionals must be patient and must have observation skills. A hydrologist must have scientific knowledge along with good problem-solving skills.

Judgement and decisionmaking skills come handy while analysing and testing water bodies. » Work opportunities: “Students who complete a course in hydrology can work with the Central Water Commission, the National Institute of Hydrology, municipal water divisions, state water resources and irrigation departments and other private hydropower companies,” shares DS Arya, head, department of hydrology, IIT, Roorkee. »Remuneration: Rs 25,00050,000 per month for freshers Civil engineering » What it entails: The quality of life of a civilisation is based on the foundation of its infrastructure. The job of a civil engineer is to build a sustainable civil system, high speed safe transport and automated infrastructure using quality material.

Civil engineers are not only required to build sustainable infrastructure, but also maintain, check, demolish and rebuild it. » Skills needed: Civil engineers require a broad skillset. Ajit Sabnis, president, Association of Consulting Civil Engineers, India says, “Professionals in this field must have keen observation skills and an interest in science and geometry. They must be innovative and hard working. A diploma or a degree in civil engineering is a must for those who wish to make a career in the field.”

Apart from this, one must also have management and communication skills, critical thinking skills and a creative bent of mind to execute the projects designated to them. » Work opportunities: Freshers can work with private and public construction firms. Typically, they will either be required to work on site or in the preconstruction phase. They

Future of leadership-based management education

Management schools are now reaching a new stage where they need to strengthen the leadership capabilities of their students. Given that more and more people with work experience are seeking these post graduate programs, the diversity within the student community has increased substantially. This is an excellent learning ground and group work followed by peer feedback can help a truly keen learner to develop significantly in a short period of time.

The challenge is to have the right kind of students joining the program. Leadership potential is difficult to measure and needs a screening tool such as Caliper, which is a world renowned tool used to measure traits in corporate leaders. Using a tool like this and combining it with a rigorous selection interview will help get the

right kind of batch profile to groom for future leadership roles.

During the program the students need 3 kinds of learning interventions beyond the regular management curriculum: industry led learning, international exposure and self leadership. Industry led learning can happen in several ways.

To begin with the classroom syllabus must be designed after discussion with people working in the relevant sectors so that they can share what the real needs are. During the program, a mentor from a field of aspiration is a wonderful way for students to enrich their understanding of themselves and the relevant field. Now several senior managers are happy to step into the classroom as guest faculty or full time faculty and this must be facilitated by the institutes. This may

require time tables to be scheduled differently but that is a small price to pay for the extent of learning and exposure that they bring with them.

International exposure can be ensured by inviting at least one foreign faculty every term. Not only do they bring with them a world view different from that of the students, but they also bring to the classroom a very interactive learning design and pedagogy. Another way of expanding the horizons for all the students is to have an exchange student as part of the program.

This too helps them broaden their thinking and takes the classroom discussions to another level. The best way of course is to increase the proportion of students travelling abroad to attend some classes in foreign universities. This kind of exposure is critical for any student who is aspiring for leadership roles because the markets have expanded and today the world is your customer. It is crucial to

look beyond your comfort zone and understand different mindsets as well.

Finally, it is important that we teach students that the essence of leadership is to lead yourself. The way one leads one's observation and listening helps to perceive both what is apparent and what is implied. The way one leads one's emotions so as to empathize and build trust and enable team work is a crucial aspect. Leading one's analytical capacity to grasp complexity of needs of multiple stakeholders and creative ability to generative the best alternatives to take the right decisions is very important. The capacity to learn from the past through introspection, from the present through reflection and from the future by developing the child like capacity to get into the flowis the foundation.

Ultimately, learning about one's true calling and gifts and the ways to leverage our strengths towards one's vision are critical to develop the ability to inspire one self.

can also work with government agencies to help maintain and check the quality of the infrastructure built.

Alternately, professionals in the field can also pursue forensic civil engineering, a profile that studies the civil accidents and building quality. » Remuneration: Rs Rs 20,000 per month for freshers Petroleum Engineering » What it entails: Petroleum engineering focuses on the detection, production and maintenance of crude oil and natural gas. They work on designing and using equipment to extract oil from reservoirs and wells. » Skills needed: Since the petroleum engineering industry is erratic, professionals in the field must be patient, competitive, and must have a background in science. The job may require professionals to work offshore as well as on shore, they must be willing to work for long hours, away from home. Basic communication skills increase the job prospects of a petroleum engineer. They are also encouraged to keep themselves abreast about new technologies since recovering hydrocarbons from oil shale, tar sands, and offshore oil and gas fields require advanced technological assistance. » Work opportunities: Petroleum engineers can work with reservoirs and stimulator firms, oil and gas companies, government agencies, etc. With experience, they can also set up their private consultation firms. » Remuneration: Rs 60,0001,00,000 per month for freshers Other specialisations Aerospace engineering Agriculture and food engineering Automobile engineering Computer engineering Electrical and electronics engineering Environmental engineering Industrial engineering Mechanical engineering Metallurgical engineering Naval architecture and ocean engineering Textile engineering Skilled for the future This year seems to be par-

ticularly promising for the IT industry in India, with its spending expected to grow to US$ 73.3 billion, up by 9.4% from the US$ 67.1 billion projected for 2014, according to an October 2014 study by Gartner, Inc. As per the information technology research and advisory company’s analysis, among the hottest skills in digital business that chief information officers of companies must look for while hiring or outsourcing talent are mobile integration, user experience design and data sciences. Three years from now, the research predicts, skills in smart machines (including the internet of things), robotics, and automated judgment ethics will shape digital businesses.

Additionally, over the next seven years, specialised roles are likely to grow; integration specialists, digital business architects, regulatory analysts and risk professionals will drive demand in the sector.

With innovations sprouting in different corners of the country, industry needs various skills to keep pace with changes in the market.

Says Sangeeta Gupta, senior vice-president, Nasscom, “Some of the skills required are in the areas of mobile app development, cloud and virtualisation, platform en-

ously drawing attention.

Sourav Chatterjee, working with a front-end team on iOS development at Xenovus Inc, Ranga Reddy (Telangana), says skilled iOS developers, with an understanding of building a product from scratch and having comprehensive training in computer science, could look forward to favourable professional growth in this industry. He adds, “As a software engineer, such professionals are part of teams developing apps for the iPhone environment. But it is much more than just an app requiring involvement of artificial intelligence, machine learning, etc. I currently work on objective-C and swift programming languages for this purpose.”

User Experience Design The growth of digital gadgets correlates to an increased demand for user experience/ interface designers whose job is to make a user’s interaction with a product or service smooth. Abhisek Das, a web/user interface designer working with Thrillophilia, an activity travel curator, in Bangalore, points out that with the number of mobile phone users going up, desktop usage in India is declining.

Thus, every website has to have a mobile interface, which is where people like him come into the picture. “The best part of being a user interface designer is that you can work

gineering, analytics and big data, and user experience design.”

App Development As more Indians root for smartphones, the mobile app development sphere is obvi-

on the design as well as implementation of your wireframes and mock-ups, from formation to the finished product.

When I design a feature for the interface, I walk the user through the feature by mak-

P9 ing a rough sketch of the main components (buttons, lists, and text blocks) on a sheet of paper. I then simulate how the user might interact with the feature, by drawing their input and selections. The challenge has always been to design in such an alluring way that the user can benefit from the functionalities instantly,” says Das. Big Data When it comes to analytics and big data, organisations are reportedly embracing it to become more efficient and innovative. Moreover, the Department of Science And Technology, Government of India, has a Big Data Initiative to “promote and foster big data science, technology and applications in the country and to develop core generic technologies, tools and algorithms for wider applications in government,” among other goals.

“Big data and analytics on the Indian subcontinent is at a nascent stage,” says a 2013 KPMG-CII report, The SMAC Code, focusing on social media, mobility, analytics and cloud computing. “However, sectors like financial services and telecom have started adopting these technologies.

Also, other sectors including e-commerce are among the early adopters of the technology to solve the issues of storing as well as creating business advantage from the everlasting data records.”

Basic research IT industry jobs are not only about work with immediate application. There are some companies which recruit for fundamental science research as well. “When it comes to basic science research, our industry is still conservative. However, there are quite a few openings for basic science research in areas like nano-technology and biotechnology in indust r y, ” s a y s H a r j i n d e r Singh, professor, Centre for Computational Natural Science and B i o i n f o r m a t i c s , I I I T, Hyderabad. These are in IT companies which intend to develop, for example, biomedical or nano-technological products or digitised instruments, he adds.

Careers in Journalism Pen is mightier than the sword. Even today, the younger generation is attracted to journalism. Everyday, there are several events happening across the world - political, cultural, religious, educational, social and natural events, etc. We come to know about these events sitting in our houses. How is that possible? Through mass communication, providing information to a large crowd at the same time. But, for this, someone has to collect the information as well as present it. This is the main aim of journalism. Journalism includes investigating, analysing and reporting local as well as world events, trends, current affairs, and so on.

Qualification Journalism courses are offered at graduation and postgraduation levels. To become a journalism , one can complete a Bachelor's in mass communication/ mass media/journalism after +2. After completion in a related graduation field, one may complete a Master's in journalism or mass communication. A graduate (who has a flair for writing) from any other field can also opt for a postgraduate course in journalism.

Also required is command over language, confidence, enthusiasm, patience and perseverance, ability to differentiate between fact and fiction, ad-

hering to deadlines, team cohesiveness, sensitivity to different views and lifestyles, in-depth knowledge about various fields such as politics, culture, religion, social and current affairs. The most important fact is that people generally feel that journalism is all about writing. It is. However, it is also about reading and most importantly, the ability to express one's thoughts on varied topics.

Journalism is for people who are ready to explore various opportunities 24/7, without the constraints of cultural upbringing, gender, and are also ready to go beyond geographical boundaries.

Job prospects There are different categories in which the media industry can be divided print and electronic. As the name suggests, everything

that is printed comes under print media, which includes newspapers, magazines, journals, tabloids, dailies and books. On the other hand, electronic media includes content on television, radio and the internet. With changes in the society, even this field has undergone a radical change. A journalist has to cover stories/ features on various aspects of life i.e. political, financial, leisure, crime, sports, entertainment, spiritual, educational, infrastructure, technological, medical, and so on. Not to forget, along with the newspapers, there has been an increase in the number of magazines too.

Specialised magazines are available in the field of fashion, beauty, family, for youth, travel, medical, technological, lifestyle, education, sports, etc. They can be in

many languages.

Some of the work opportunities are in the areas of advertising agencies; educational institutes, magazines, news papers, portals/ websites of publications, publishing houses, radio channels as well as television channels. While there are opportunities in this field, it is a competitive field.

Therefore, one has to perform at the highest level and be able to work under difficult situations. However, if one persists with hard work and passion, a career in journalism can be a fulfilling and lucrative option.

Skills required • Inquisitive and investigative mind • Alertness • Adaptive and tolerant of changing and difficult situations • Good communication skills

NATION

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, OCTOBER 31

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UP: Stampede at CM Akhilesh Yadav’s Pakistan violates ceasefire in Janata Darbar programme, six hurt Kathua, Samba and Jammu PTI Etawah Oct 30: Six people including a Zila Panchayat head were on Sunday injured in a stampede at a Janata Durbar programme of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav at his ancestral village of Saifai.

Additional SP Ram Kishan Yadav said a large crowd had gathered outside the PWD Guest House where the CM was holding the programme. The main gate had to be closed to keep the crowd away.

But when it was opened to allow a VIP car, people rushed inside causing the stampede, he said. Six

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav people, including Kannauj Zila Panchayat head Santosh Yadav, were injured in the melee. One

person suffered a head injury.

Eyewitnesses said when the chief minister was

meeting people and exchanging pleasantries with them, the crowd surged towards him and in the stampede-like situation some fell down and got hurt.

Some mediapersons covering the event were also injured, police said. All the injured people were rushed to a hospital in Saifai, they said.

This was Akhilesh Yadav’s first visit to Saifai after the recent Samajwadi Partyfamily feud became public. As news of his arrival spread, thousands of people gathered at the venue to wish him on the festive occasion of Diwali.

Police had a tough time

trying to manage the crowd as the number of people who turned up at the event was far beyond their expectation.

Akhilesh also interacted with people and listened to the their woes before directing officers to take action. Akhilesh had driven down to his ancestral village Saifai to celebrate Diwali with his extended family.

A large number of people greeted the CM along the 200 km route from Lucknow to Safai as he stopped at various places to meet them on the soonto-be-inaugurated stateof-the-art Lucknow-Agra Expressway.

Muslim women feel secure under Sharia law, Surgical strikes has claims All-India Muslim Personal Law Board created environment of patriotism: Meghwal

PTI New Delhi Oct 30: Muslim women from across the country feel secure under the Sharia law and do not want a Uniform Civil Code, All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) claimed on Saturday amid a raging debate on the practice of 'triple talaq'.

"It is not the personal law board or the women in it, who are against the proposed Uniform Civil Code, but Muslim women in general in the country do not want it. They feel safe and secure under the Sharia law," Kamal Faruqui, a member of AIMPLB said.

The practice of triple talaq (immediate divorce) is at present the subject of a Supreme Court case, with the Centre and some Muslim

women organisations seeking a ban on it on the grounds of being discriminatory to women.

The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has, in its opposition to the move, submitted an affidavit to the apex court stating that though triple talaq is "undesirable", it is "permissible" in Islam.

The Board has already started a signature campaign in support of the practice.

"The campaign has already got support from Muslim women in Rajasthan, Gujarat, UP, Bihar, Delhi, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. And, in many cases, where our members are not there, we are getting good support from them, mostly spontaneous," Faruqui claimed.

Executive member of the AIMPLB, Asma Zehra, said

Muslim women from across the country were coming together to demand that the personal law be protected.

"The incidences of divorce in Muslim community are much lower compared to other ones.

Also, women have maintenance rights even after the divorce.

They can also go for remarriage to begin a new life. The women feel much secure under the Sharia law and do not wish to be governed under a Uniform Civil Code," she asserted.

"We are also getting a good response from women in small villages and cities," she said.

Meanwhile, many women activists have slammed the board for its counter-affidavit, saying the Muslim body has "turned a blind eye" to the plight of women suffering due to this practice.

Noorjehan Safia Niaz, cofounder of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), which is one of the petitioners in the Supreme Court against triple talaq, said, "No one can stop the citizen of this country from approaching the court.

That is a right Muslim women also have."

Zehra, however, alleged that the groups opposing the practice were "tools of BJP".

BMMA rejecting the charge said, "AIMPLB has been completely obstinate and there is no point talking to bodies like these."

Kerala: 910 rape cases reported in six months PTI Thiruvanathapuram Oct 30: Despite stringent laws and awareness campaigns, as many as 910 cases of rape have been reported in Kerala in the first six months of this year, giving an indication of continuing atrocities against women in the state. A total of 7,909 cases of crimes against women were reported across the state upto July, according to state police’s crime statistics. Of them, 2332 were cases of molestation, 190 cases of eve teasing and 78 cases of kidnapping of women besides 910 cases of rape, it said. The number of rape cases reported last year was 1263, it said.

Expressing concern over the alarming figures, state Women’s Commission Chairperson K C Rosakkutty said awareness seminars and classes were not enough to tackle the increasing atrocities against women. Absence of fast-track courts and speedy trials are among the major challenges in dealing with rape cases, she said. “In most of the rape cases, we fail in ensuring that the accused gets the right punishment at the right time for the gruesome crime committed.

“The delay in trials and awarding of punishments also contribute to increase in such cases,” Rosakkutty told me-

PTI Bikaner, Oct 30: Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has said the surgical strikes by India in PoK has created an environment of patriotism and the nation stands by the Armed forces which are giving befitting reply to Pakistan.

"Because of the armed forces, the citizens are having peaceful nights," he said addressing IAF personnel and their family members in a Diwali

Milan Samaroh at the Air Force Station here last night.

The Minister of State for Finance said he was feeling proud to be with the IAF personnel on Diwali.

"The government has fulfilled the demands of One-Rank-One Pension and would address the other demands also," he said.

IAF Group Captain Harish Garg said the Air Force is fully capable of meeting any challenge.

Two schools damaged in fire incidents in Kashmir PTI Srinagar Oct 30: Two schools, including a Jawahar Navodya Vidyalaya (JNV), were damaged since yesterday in mysterious fire incidents in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, police said here today.

Fire broke out in Government Higher Secondary School building at Kabamarg in Anantnag district this afternoon, a police official said.

He said fire tenders

were rushed to put out the fire as locals also assisted in the firefighting job.

In another incident during the previous night, fire broke out in the JNV school at Aishmuqam, the official said adding the building suffered partial damage before the blaze was put out.

The cause of the fire in both incidents has not been ascertained yet, he said.

Free wifi facility begins in Daman-Diu

Representational Image. dia. “We have been demanding fast-track courts for years to ensure speedy trial in rape cases. But, it still remains as a demand. The delay in trials gives criminals ample time to escape through the loopholes in law,” she said.

Stating that the Women’s Commission conducts state-wide seminars and awareness classes regularly, she said such drives were not enough to check the atrocities against women. “Despite all these drives, women are still considered and treated as second grade citizens in our society. This attitude should be changed first. Mothers should be given special awareness to nurture their children as good citizens,” she said. Local bodies and community outfits also

have a role to play at the grassroot level to check attacks against women.

According to the statistics, the highest number of crimes against women including rape were reported from the northern district of Malappuram, where as many as 861 cases under various categories were registered during the period.

The total number of rape cases reported from Malappuram was 106, followed by Thiruvananthapuram rural (78) and Ernakulam rural (64), it said. Malappuram also witnessed highest number of cases in terms of molestation (160) and cruelty by husbands and other relatives (266), the statistics added.

PTI Daman Oct 30: Tourists visiting Daman and Diu will get free Wi-Fi facility from today with the administration making the service available as part of the Centre's Digital Indiaprogramme.

Other parts of the Union Territory will also be given access to free WiFi in coming days, Daman and Diu administrator Praful Patel said.

"Free Wi-fi internet service has been made available at many tourist and public places as a step towards Digital India programme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Patel said.

The service has been launched by the Information Technology department of Daman and Diu

along with BSNL, Patel said, adding that with this, a user can use data upto 300 MB on mobile handset at a speed of 2 to 4 Mbps.

To start with, the service has been made available in Daman in areas frequented by tourists such as Fort area, Pargola Garden, Bom Church, Moti Daman and Nani Daman Jetty, Devka Beach, Marwad Hospital, Somnath Temple and Jampore Beach.

In Diu, the facility will be available at Nagoa Beach, Khukri, Bandar Chowk, and Jalandhar Guest House.

"Efforts are on to make the whole Daman and Diu free Wi-fi Zone in times to come," Patel said.

3 killed, 16 injured after vehicle falls into well in Kota PTI Kota Oct 30: Three members of a family were killed and 16 others injured after their vehicle fell into a well in a roadside field in Kota district.

The injured and deceased were members of the same family and were going to Manoharthana town to sell items in the fair.

The deceased were identified as Aas Mohammad (30), Sellha Husain (30), residents of Chapra district

in Biharand Vinod (35), resident of Raiwadi area of Haryana, Rampal Sharma, SHO at Mandana police station.

Around 19 people, most of them from the same family from Chapra district in Bihar, were going to Manoharthana town to sell items in seasonal fair in the town, said Sharma.

Sharma said the driver of the vehicle at Padampura Turn lost balance and broke the boundary wall and fell into

the well.

"The three persons drowned while the 16 others in the jeep somehow managed to climb up the well," he said.

At least 16 persons sustained injuries in the mishap and were rushed to the local hospital and were discharged after primary medical care, the SHO said, adding that the bodies of the three deceased were handed over to the family members after postmortem.

Free wifi facility begins in Daman-Diu

Image for representational purpose PTI Jammu Oct 30: Pakistani rangers pounded BSF posts and civilian areas using small arms and mortars shells in overnight ceasefire violations along the International Border (IB) in Samba, Kathua and Jammu districts.

Pakistan rangers violated ceasefire in Samba, Kathua and Jammu district of Jammu region last night, a senior BSF officer said.

"Firing started from Paki-

stan side at 2115 hours in R S Pura Sector and continued intermittently till 0300 hours," Deputy Inspector General (DIG) BSF Jammu Frontier Dharmendra Pareek said today.

Small arms and mortars shells were fired by the rangers but were not effective.

BSF retaliated appropriately to the firing, Pareek added.

He said at 0200 hours Pakistan started firing in gaps in Hiranagar and Samba sectors which continued till

0600 hours.

"BSF retaliated appropriately wherever required," he said.

The firing stopped at 0820 hours in all parts of the International Border. There was no loss of life or injury, the DIG added.

On Friday, two civilians were killed and as many injured when Pakistan targeted civilian areas and forward India posts along the LoC and IB in Jammu, Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri districts, following which Indian troops retaliated and killed 15 Pakistani soldiers.

BSF said as per the ammunition used in firing and shelling it appeared that Pakistani Army was supporting Pakistani rangers along IB. On October 25, at least 2-3 Pakistani army men were believed to have been killed in retaliatory firing by Indian troops in the Noushera sector of Rajouri district.

Over 60 ceasefire violations have taken place since surgical strikes by Indian Army on terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Northeast monsoon sets in over Tamil Nadu PTI Chennai Oct 30: The much awaited northeast monsoon, normally expected in OctoberNovember, has arrived in Tamil Nadu and is expected to bring good rains in various parts of the state in the coming days, Meteorological department said today.

"Following the rainfall in Southern region during last 24 hours, north-east monsoon has arrived today", Regional Meteoro-

logical Centre, Director, Balachandran told reporters here.

In the last 24 hours beginning from 8.30 am today, Thiruvaiyaru in Thanjavur district received heavy rainfall of seven cms, he said.

Va l a n g a i m a n , Perambalur and Thozhudur received rainfall of six cms respectively, during the last 24 hours, he said.

On the forecast for next 24-48 hours, he said,

light rainfall may occur across Tamil Nadu while in interior districts may receive heavy to very heavy rainfall".

For Chennai and neighbourhood, he said, there may be intermittent rainfall in some places.

Last year, there was heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu in October and December causing heavy floods in Chennai, T i r u v a l l u r , Kancheepuram and Cuddalore districts.

No corruption in steel flyover project, says Siddaramaiah PTI Mangaluru Oct 30: Denying allegations that corruption was done in the Rs 1,761 crore steel flyover projects in Bengaluru, the construction of which was stayed by the Green Tribunal, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today said there was total transparency in the project.

Talking to reporters here, he said opposition BJP was "spreading lies" on the project, "which was initiated during their rule in 2010."

"Many BJP legislators were in support of the project", he claimed.

"BJP did not oppose the project when it was announced in the 2014 budget. The party was raising objections now for reasons best known to them," he said.

The implementation of the project would largely solve traffic problems in the capital city, he said. (Source: File)

The implementation of the project would largely solve traffic problems in the capital city, he said.

The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal in Chennai had on October 28 restrained the Bengaluru Development Authority from proceeding with the flyover project for four weeks.

The tribunal granted interim stay on petitions from Citizen Action Fo-

rum and others. The petitions opposed the project on environmental grounds.

The project was to construct a 6.72km long, sixlane steel flyover between Basaveshwara Circle and Hebbal to decongest traffic.

The project had faced opposition as it allegedly involved felling of over 800 trees. Farmers too had opposed the project.

DMDK announces candidates for three constituencies PTI Chennai Oct 30: Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam led by actor-politician Vijaykant has announced party candidates for polls to Thanjavur, Aravakurichi and Thirupparankundram Assembly constituencies.

The polls to Thanjavur and Aravakurichi and bypoll to Thirupparankumdram will all be held on November 19.

‘Aravai’ M Muthu has been announced as candidate for Aravakurichi, V Abdullah Sait for

Thanjavur and T Thanapandian for Tirupparankundram constituencies respectively, Vijaykant said in a statement here. Polling in Aravakkurichi and Thiruparankundram constituencies were cancelled by the Election Commission following seizure of huge sums of money, irregularities and allegations of bribing voters and distribution of gifts by parties and candidates.

By-poll in Thirupparankundram was necessitated following the death of

AIADMK’s Seenivel who passed away after winning the seat in the May 16 poll. Leading parties including ruling AIADMK and main opposition DMK have already announced the names of their candidtes for the polls.

PMK and BJP have also announced their candidates. DMDK is a constituent of the People Welfare Front comprising Vaiko led-MDMK, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the Left parties. DMDK drew a blank in the May 16 Assembly polls.

p O

d P11 e The Elderly In India Are Being Made To Live On Rs 500 A Month. But There's A Bigger Problem

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, OCTOBER 31

I have been referred to as Colony (the wrong ada saviour on multiple oc- dress) has been able to casions by a number of track her, and is trying to people - friends, and help her update the corstrangers alike. Until re- rect address in the sanccently, I tion form. took a cer- Vidhi Agrawal But it's not tain pride in over - the being able to social welsolve people's problems, fare department exsometimes even anticipat- pressed its inability to ing and resolving those. clear complete arrears.

However, problems like a Pension schemes under missing stapler, or non- social welfare are by no functioning mobile means sufficient to help charger are nowhere an individual even comparable to the griev- achieve a decent standard ances of Suwa Devi, a 50- of living - the absence of year-old widow depen- even that Rs. 500 aggradent on a meagre sum of vates their problems mulRs. 500 per month under tiple times. They have to the Widow Pension borrow money from relaScheme, who has not tives and neighbours for been getting her pension their daily sustenance. If since 11 months. Reason? and when pension comes, The person who filled her it gets used up in repaysanction order form mis- ing the debts, and the spelled her address - Ram cycle continues. AccordRahim Colony became ing to the government staRam Nagar Colony. She tistics, a large section of has no clue about the sta- older people in rural Intus of her pension, claim, dia is illiterate, and unemor receipt. A well-mean- ployed. It is dependent on ing man in the Ram Nagar the family for sustenance.

The pension is expected to give them some semblance of dignity. Instead of an increase in the amount of pension tied to the inflation, what the elderly and/or disabled get are delayed and irregular payments.

Rajasthan also takes a lead in providing maximum coverage under social security pension programs. The widow, single/divorced women, women (55-75) and men (58-75) get Rs. 500 per month. Men and women older than 75 years get Rs. 750 per month. Special persons get Rs. 500, and minors Rs. 250 per month. However, the responsibility of the government does not end at enrolling the people under a scheme. It must also take responsibility or fix responsibility of the people involved in the delivery of these beneficial services to the people.

Generally, we become baffled by problems such

as increased costs of 3G data services, or low bandwidth internet connections. But Kadar Khan, a 60-year-old man who limped along gingerly as we entered the Oriental Bank of Commerce in Pali, had a different problem. We were at the bank to find out how to retrieve his mis-

These 8 Things Give Us Hope That 2016 Will Be Much Better Than 2015. Do You Agree?

While party poopers Transgender Policy and gonna be a poopin', we do West Bengal, its first believe that the beginning transgender principal: of every new Boo ya! Fiyear brings the tide Artika Raj nally, with it the has begun to hope that this turn with first year is going to be differ- dents being made in the bient! Whether it be the reso- nary (and absolutely rilution to finally start eat- diculous) definition of ing healthy, start that Dear 'gender' as only male and Diary or just about any- female. Firebrand activist thing - something about Akkai Padmashali inauguthe change in the calendar rated Kerala's pioneer year marks a triumphant policy that looks at rights beginning for most of us. of trans people, a welcome In that spirit, 2016 looks first, and later called out promising to us especially the central government for because 2015 gave us refusing to decriminalize some pretty big moments homosexuality from that, in their after-effects, YKA's very own platform, should make for an excit- CONVERGE. With the ing 2016.

SC ruling recognizing the 1) The rockstar Supreme rights of trans individuals, Court gave Section 66A of their increasing participathe IT Act the boot: tion and inclusion in the How does sharing your mainstream suggests a step opinion, agreeable or not, forward.

Manabi over a free space like the Bandhopadhyaybecame internet even begin to West Bengal's first count as a criminal offence transgender college princiis beyond most people's pal while Tamil Nadu saw logic. But while the State its first transgender police

saw otherwise, the SC put things right by removing this 'draconian' provision from law books.

2) Indian Air Force to include women fighter pilots: For far too long, just unbelievably far too long, women officers in the IAF were restricted from joining as fighter pilots because they were thought to be 'physically not suited' for flying fighters and the idea of what would happen to them as POW seemed too horrifying. Of course this restriction made no such sympathetic overtures to the men, whose 'honour' needs no 'protection'. Fortunately, the light of day shone upon minds and Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha declared that the IAF will now recruit women as fighter pilots! When the machine doesn't discriminate over who's flying it, then?

3) Kerala got its first

officer in Prithika Yashini.

4) Some good initiatives for the mother and child: While still not completely there, child mortality rates (deaths under the age of 5) saw a significant reductionfrom 12.7 million per year in 1990 to 5.9 million in 2015. This was the first year the figure went below the 6 million mark.

With more state forces slowly working towards achieving this MDG, 2016 should bring much better results. Even for mothers, especially working mothers, the government brought relief by making a 26-week maternity leave the norm across private companies and later also mandated that companies have creches to support them better. Not to be left behind, the SC had earlier in the year made it lawful for unwed mothers to be legal guardians of their children, something that was previously caught in

a mess of complications.

With these steps to take care of the mother and child, at least, the future has a chance at a healthier report card!

5) Indian women AND men say no to taboos: 2015 was a powerful year for women as they decided to take matters in their own hands and fight back the patriarchy that dogs them at each and every step. From a movement like Pinjra Tod that united women, collegegoing and otherwise, against discriminatory hostel timings that seek to lock women up while men have all the freedom, to something like #HappyToBleed, taboos got a major whiplashing in2015. Nikita Azad penned an open letter on Youth Ki Awaaz to the keepers of the Sabrimala temple, taking them to task over saying a 'puritychecking machine' would have to be invented in the

future for women before they are allowed temple entry. But no more.In 2016, women are going to refuse to be tied up in those shackles for sure!

6) The 'Demographic Dividend' or youth of the country aren't just good for the 'economy' but drive the country's moral compass too: The energy of young people in this country is the fire that it is powered on, and anyone who thinks they can tame it for their personal interests is just plain wrong. Student protests in India saw an unprecedented rise in 2015, right from the#Hokokolorb movement in Kolkata, to the Occupy UGC movement in Delhi, to the FTII agitation in Pune. No part of the country remained untouched by students raising their voice against unfair treatment, or the jeopardizing of their careers by

an irresponsible institution.

Young minds that are tomorrow's leaders not just learnt the lessons in their classrooms, but taught quite a few significant ones to the rest of the country - 'Where the mind is without fear‌' 7) 1000 women stand for UP Panchayat elections in a move that had the pillars of patriarchy trembling: Tradition, custom and what 'she cannot do' are the obstacles thrown a woman's way when she steps out of the house.

And in the Uttar Pradesh heartland, these can take an especially ugly turn.

But undeterred by social taboos, threats of violence and even family pressure, around a 1000 women stood up as candidates in the local Panchayat elections, with 400 of them going on to bag seats!

While the Parliament still remains stuck at whether to implement 33.5% reservation for women, guess the message of these women to those in power is clear. Diversity of representation in positions of power is an absolute necessity and these women have shown that inroads are being made into this at every level.

8) People power to the rescue during Chennai floods: In the worst rains to be seen in a 100 years, it was just sheer humanity that saved the lives of hundreds in Chennai towards the end of 2015. As large parts of the city remained submerged for days, people opened their homes to take in others, cooked and distributed meals to the needy round the clock, those on social media put updates about available help from each and every corner while restaurants, malls, and theaters kept their gates open to take in anyone who needed a place to stay.#ChennaiRains became the mantra of rescue and the best of human spirit was on showcase at this time. Faith restored!

While these might just be 8 of the most popular examples from 2015 that show how change is well on its way, equally commendable are the littletalked-about stories of people helping each other on an everyday basis, planting a tree, rescuing a puppy and many such that are worthy of our praise and make us hopeful for an even better 2016.

Courtesy: Youth ki awaaz

placed money. Kadar is dependent on a motley sum of Rs. 500 per month which his wife gets under the Old Age pension scheme of the government. For the past 4 months, she has not been able to claim his pension because the e-Mitra personnel entered wrong bank account number in

her sanction order, which was linked to her Bhamashah card.

The parshad (councillor) from his ward, the eMitra personnel in his area, and the man at the helpdesk at bank - none of them knew what to do.

The logical step is to get the correct account number updated in the system.

However, it sounds easier than it really is. Even as the money continues to be credited to the wrong account number, the eMitra merely issued an acknowledgement slip, the bank clerk clearly tried to evade the issue, not before declaring that the money must be in some suspense account, and they cannot ascertain if arrears can be claimed.

The ward councillor remained elusive as expected.

The point is that everyone in the process declared their helplessness in ensuring that the benefits of the social schemes reached the beneficiary. A solution might be devised in due time; however, at that moment, nobody, including I, knew how to deal with this - a lamentable information gap that compounds the feeling of helplessness multiple times.

What is worse is the lack of will on behalf of the

service staff to solve the people's problems in a genuine manner. Perhaps this is only my perception or illusion, but people entrusted with the implementation responsibility of the schemes at various levels do not even pretend to make attempts to find out how to resolve an issue - their confidence in the human will to strive and survive seems unshakeable!

Pali is no different from Jalor, Rajasmand is as plagued with problems as Ajmer. Not surprisingly, everywhere you go, the system takes the blame.

It's the last resort of blames, and complaints.

To get our answers, we have decided to organise a Jawabdehi Yatra. We aim to take the onus of blame away from the system to the individuals.

Whose responsibility?

Whose accountability?

Where does the solution lie? Courtesy: Youth ki awaaz

Why Is Sexual Violence Against A Woman Seen As An Attack On Her 'Honour' And 'Purity'?

Amreeta Das I received (as did all contributors to this platform) an invitation from Youth Ki Awaaz, to express my views on any topic that has stirred me somehow this year, with a reference to Nikita Azad's letter, that sparked off the #HappyToBleed movement. So, I take my cue from this very reference.

Before going into my subject, I would like to openly salute Nikita.

Her move has emboldened me and many other women like me to rethink our taboos regarding menstruation.

These taboos are some of the innumerable strategies that the society employs to make women feel weak, and uncomfortable about their bodies. I begin my article by commenting upon this psycho-social construction of a woman's body, which is one of the most powerful tools of psychological subordination.

A woman's body is the greatest space of oppression for her, the most potent source of inhibition, fear, weakness and fragility. Her 'honour' depends on whether her body has been 'legally penetrated' by a male, or 'illegally violated' by a stranger. In case the latter takes place, she is 'dishonoured', made 'impure'.

From her childhood, a woman is made to disown her body. It is usurped by the society, and the way she feels about it, in turn too, is programmed by the society. So, in a dark night, if she is grabbed by a man or few men and forcibly made to surrender her body to him/ them, it is no longer a question of private or individual suffering that invites the legitimate sympathy of the society (as it would have happened if she was just beaten up, or maimed or tortured, without being sexually assaulted), it is most powerfully a question of a suffering induced by the society's branding of that 'tortured body' as 'impure'. The sympathy, the numerous sighings of "So sad", "They destroyed her for life, bechaari", "Kill them, they destroyed her

purity, those beasts", "Imagine her trauma!", and a thousand more lamenting cries come with the hidden admittance that those men actually succeeded in destroying her 'honour' and 'purity'.

It is also a cruel reality, that the next time when she steps out of her house, she will be looked at with pity, that she is no longer 'pure'.

Yes, that one incident

pers, the curious glances, and the hushed conversation of her friends. She comes to inhabit a warped, 'violated' environment. She is socially raped a hundred more times.

It is this 'rhetoric', this nightmarish claustrophobia of 'pity' and 'sympathy' that makes the women relive the trauma, again and again. This rhetoric makes her feel 'dirty', 'im-

the real power of boosting somebody, making somebody believe that she was the victim of a heinous crime and that the society stands by her.

But no crime has the possible power of interfering with her 'honour'. Her honour is far greater, far beyond her 'sexual status'.

A woman is not just about the size of her breasts or shape of her

will maim her for life, make her feel guilty about herself. At least five out of her 10 avid 'sympathisers' will have speculated, perhaps secretly, about what exactly she was wearing that night and whether that garment adequately covered her body or when exactly she was attacked. Was it too late in the night? If so, then what on earth could a woman be possibly doing alone at that time of the night, knowing that rapists lurk the streets at that time? Could it be that she herself had (of course unconsciously), made some inviting gesture, and of course, the inevitable thought-how clean is she herself as a woman? Is she of the sort who would easily sleep with guys at night or is she the right sort, who firmly protects her 'virginity' for the 'right man'?

The degree of sympathy is directly proportional to the 'appropriateness of her character'. If she dances in clubs at night, then, of course it is not much of a wonder that she was raped (I mean, big deal, a woman like that is any way used to sleeping with multiple partners, why not few more?) She is painfully aware of the whis-

pure'. We all know that language has the enormous power of creating realities. She is made to inhabit this warped reality, where her 'honour' is measured by her 'sexual purity'.

But I ask, which man/ woman possesses the power to dishonour or disgrace a woman by forcefully having sex with her?

How do we define her 'honour'? Is it so brittle, so weak that any man can sully it, by inappropriately touching her body, by forcing himself on her?

Instead, we make her feel weak and 'impure', by actually ascribing the power of dishonouring and violating her to the rapist.

It is shameful that our pious authorities are (the same people who vociferously demand the death of the rapist or even wishes to lynch him) perversely occupied with her 'sexuality'. They cannot look at her without immediately imagining her 'body' and measuring it in their selfcreated 'purity metre'. Of course, this same society wishes to burn the rapist alive or castrate him. But does it give one moment of constructive thought that it must redefine the way it expresses its collective sympathy for the woman?

Collective sympathy has

buttocks. Her 'purity' (Notwithstanding my grave objections against the usage of this very vague term in any context, I use it in its popular cultural sense) had never anything to do with her sexual status.

The psychological trauma that any victim of sexual assault has to go through has much to do with this deeply patriarchal rhetoric that in powerful ways make the victim feel guilty and the perpetrator powerful. We need to shatter this 'warped' reality that has been killing girls all over the planet, whether raped or not. We need to militate against this linguistic subjugation of the mind. We might torture the rapist to death. But would that change the way a woman is perceived? Would a man begin thinking that it is irrelevant whether his fiancĂŠ is the survivor of some gruesome crime and whether that crime had anything to do with her sexuality?

The way we use words or have been taught to use words reflect the way we have been conditioned to think. The onus is on us and no one else, on how we liberate ourselves from this conditioning.

Courtesy: Youth ki awaaz

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DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, OCTOBER 31

P12 HOCKEY India beat Pakistan 32 to win Asian Champions Trophy

Rani, Deepika star in India's win against Korea

PTI Kuantan (Malaysia), 30 Oct: India win Asian Champions Trophy beating Pakistan 32 in Kuantan, Malaysia.

Earlier, India beat South Korea in the penalty shootout to enter the final of the fourth Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament.

This is India’s third entry into the final of the Asian Champions Trophy, whose inaugural edition it won in 2011 and were runners up to Pakistan in 2012.

Indian hockey tream

Singapore, Oct 30 : An inspired second half performance saw Indian eves outgun Korea 2-1 in an exciting encounter at the 4th Women Asian Champions Trophy hockey on Sunday.

The win puts India on top of the pool standings.

A composed first quarter saw both sides challenge each other in a midfield battle. India were the ones

who were pushed to the back foot early on, conceding a penalty corner, but Rajani's smart save ensured both teams went into the first break locked in a stalemate.

Early in the second quarter, Korea's Eeseul Baek scored in the 28th minute to give her team a 1-0 lead. Though Korea kept up the pressure, Indian defence ensured they

went into halftime down by a single goal.

The Indian eves stormed out of the blocks in the second half, and soon enough striker Rani scored India's first goal by tactfully converting a penalty corner to draw them level. It was a much-needed breakthrough for India which came in the 47th minute of the match.

With the teams level, India were suddenly on the front

foot, crowding the midfield and pushing Korea deep into defence.

The fourth quarter was most exciting, keeping the spectators on the edge of their seats, as both teams pressed hard to take lead.

It was Deepika Thakur's experience and skill that earned India it's second goal in the 54th minute when she eased past the Korean defence, making her way into the their D, finding enough space to swing the ball past the Korean keeper.

From being a goal down in the first half, India had stormed to a goal lead within 10 minutes of the fourth quarter. It was a lead India fought to hold on, playing the final few minutes of the match smartly and cautiously, to earn a well-deserved victory.

Indian eves will next take on Malaysia, who have lost the two matches they have played so far in the tournament, on Tuesday.

England edge ahead chasing 273 Dhaka, Oct 30 : Alastair Cook and Ben Duckett put up exactly 100 runs in their unbroken opening stand as England made a strong start in their chase of 273-run target in the second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Sunday.

In their first positive start of the series, Duckett completed his maiden Test fifty to reach 56 not out at tea on the third day while Cook remained unbeaten on 39 as the visitors came within 173 runs of a clean sweep.

Adil Rashid and Ben Stokes did their part with the ball earlier, sharing seven wickets between them to help the visitors dismiss Bangladesh for

296 runs in the second innings.

Leg-spinner Rashid took a catch off his own bowling to remove last man Kamrul Islam to finish with 4-52 while Stokes also snapped 3-52.

Shuvagata Home was unbeaten on 25 as Bangladesh added 28 runs

with the last three wickets resuming the play at the lunch break with 2687.

England had the chance to dismiss Bangladesh with a cheaper total had they not dropped a series of catches, which allowed Bangladesh to build on their overnight

152-3 Imrul Kayes was the first wicket to fall on Sunday as he departed for 78 but not before being dropped twice in the slips.

Cook dropped Kayes on 66 off Zafar Ansari before Joe Root grassed his catch at 74 off Moeen Ali. Moeen finally trapped Kayes' leg before but England proved unable to grasp their opportunities.

Jonny Bairstow missed a simple stumping chance off Ansari when Shakib Al Hasan was on 16.

Ansari was denied again

by Duckett, who dropped a simple catch at deep midwicket to give Shakib a second lease of life on 23.

Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim

also had his share of luck when he was dropped by Steven Finn off Ansari on six.

Rashid began his haul bowling Shakib for 41 and Rahim fell before another run had been added.

Rahim edged Stokes to Cook at slip for nine before Rashid took his second wicket of the morning trapping Sabbir Rahman leg before for 15.

The visitors heaved a sigh of relief when their key batsman Root returned to the field Sunday after suffering a stomach upset.

The 25-year-old had left the field in the evening session on the second day and it had been uncertain whether he would take any further part in the game.

Leicester City rediscover Premier Legaue-winning spirit to frustrate Tottenham Hotspur London, Oct 30 : Five months after collecting the English Premier League trophy, Claudio Ranieri was ecstatic just to see Leicester collect a point at Tottenham on Saturday.

Celebrating a 1-1 draw – after Leicester forward Ahmed Musa canceled out Vincent Janssen’s penalty – was not demeaning for the Leicester manager. Far from it.

Defending the title won so unexpectedly by the club for the first time last season was always an unlikely proposition as rivals have strengthened.

Ranieri’s early target is the same as last season’s: Stay in the Premier League.

While the Italian was underplaying the strength of Leicester ’s position a year ago to alleviate the pressure on his players, slipping into a relegation dogfight has looked possible this season. Especially with Jamie Vardy, last season’s top scorer on 24 goals, extending his drought to 10 games at White Hart Lane.

But after four successive losses on the road in the league, Leicester has its first point away from King Power Stadium and is up to 11th.

“We won something un-

Musa scored the only goal for Leicester City against Tottenham Hotspur.

believable (last season) – we don’t have pressure,” Ranieri sad. “The pressure is on the other teams. We won the title.

The pressure is to be safe, our pressure.”

Leicester is five points clear of danger after hovering above the relegation zone in the opening two months, but Ranieri is encouraged the team is rediscovering the resolve that inspired one of the biggest-ever sporting shocks.

“I saw the same spirit as last season because until now we did not have the spirit (as a team),” Ranieri said. “Today, we played as a team again and I enjoyed it a lot.”

It doesn’t grate Ranieri

that since slugging it out with Tottenham for the title last season, the teams’ paths have diverged. Tottenham is fourth, chasing its first title since 1961, eight points in front of Leicester and three points behind pacesetters Manchester City and Arsenal.

On the face of it, being held by Leicester is a setback for a Tottenham side on a five-match winless run.

Tottenham has stalled since opening the month with an eye-catching victory over City, as last season’s top scorer, Harry Kane, remains sidelined with a ham-

string injury.

Janssen, signed from AZ Alkmaar preseason as backup to Kane, is being relied on more than expected early in his Tottenham career but Mauricio Pochettino’s team is not being clinical enough in front of goal.

“We need to kill the game and score goals – today and in the last few games we have some problems in that situation,” Pochettino said. “We need to be more determined to score, to be more aggressive. Not to punch! To be more direct, have more belief.”

Although Janssen scored his third goal of the season against Leicester, the Dutch forward is yet to

score from open play. All of his strikes came from the penalty spot.

Janssen converted from the spot against Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel after being brought down by Robert Huth in the 44th minute, but it was canceled out three minutes into the second half.

Leicester was gifted an equalizer, the type of good fortune experienced so often last season.

Tottenham midfielder Victor Wanyama headed the ball back into the path of Vardy, who back-heeled it across to Musa to bundle into the net.

It left Tottenham with a third successive league draw, on top of being knocked out of the League Cup by Liverpool, and being held 0-0 by Bayer Leverkusen.

Tottenham plays Leverkusen again on Wednesday in the Champions League, the competition that Leicester appears to be focusing on this season.

While Tottenham has collected only four points from its opening three European fixtures, Leicester has a perfect nine.

Leicester’s surprise this season is coming on the continent, rather than at home.

Saina Nehwal has been practising in Bangalore after recovering from a knee injury.

India has infrastructure, but not enough coaches: Saina Nehwal Bangalore , Oct 30 : Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal on Sunday said India has adequate infrastructure for badminton but don't have enough coaches and academies. "There is no problem on infrastructure front, but what we don't have enough number of academies and coaches, like the Chinese have," she told PTI. Saina has been practising in Bangalore after recovering from a knee injury which had affected her progress at Rio Olympics.

She had lost her second group match against Ukraine's Maria Ulitina to crash out of the mega event.

"India should at least have 20 to 30 coaches in major cities of the country.

Unfortunately, though we have at the most two to three coaches," said the 26-year-old, who is eyeing a comeback at the China Super Series Premier (November 15-20) and Hong Kong Open Super Series (November 22-27).

"What we don't have enough is the number of

players and academies. If you see China, there are 30,000 to 40,000 players in cities there. They have four to five coaches for every event and that is how they produce champions.

"You can never underestimate China because they can anytime produce champions. It is very easy for them because they have number of players and coaches with them," she added.

Saina said other associations including the Badminton Association of India (BAI) are working on making their sports as big as cricket, which the BCCI did wonderfully well.

"Cricket did not become big in two or three days.

It took lot of time for them also to be here. I salute the Board of Control for Cricket in India because they have made the game so big. Other associations are working on it, I feel," said Saina, who won bronze at London Olympics.

Saina said BAI has been doing a good job by con-

ducting Premier Badminton League, which inspired many to take up badminton.

"I definitely feel BAI has been doing wonderful job by conducting PBL, which has inspired people to take up badminton. Ten years back, we saw only two or three players, now we have many players playing the sport, and hence there is an improvement there. It will happen slowly, though," she said.

Praising the Indian government's initiative to promote sports, Saina hoped such support should be extended for next two to three Olympics.

"As far as badminton is concerned, we are getting very good support from the Government of India. I hope that support continues for another two to three Olympics to get right players and team, besides a good support staff including coaches. It will help a lot players in all sports," she said.

Yuvraj slams double ton as Punjab collect three points New Delhi, Oct 30 : Skipper Yuvraj Singh notched up a fine double century as Punjab surpassed Baroda's huge first-innings total with ease to collect three points from their Group A Ranji Trophymatch on Sunday.

Punjab secured three points, as against Baroda's one, on the basis of taking the first-innings lead at the Feroz Shah Kotla on the fourth and final day of the high-scoring game.

Owing to the out-of-favour India all-rounder Yuvraj's 260, his second century of the season, and opener Manan Vohra's 224, Punjab piled up a mammoth 670 before being bowled out.

Even as the match headed for a draw, Baroda batted a second time and scored 37 for no loss in 14 overs before it was called off.

For Baroda, left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh picked up 4/169 bowling 51 overs, while off-spinner Vishnu Solanki took 3/151, includ-

Yuvraj Singh ing the wicket of Yuvraj.

During their stay in the middle, Yuvraj and Vohra added 343 runs for the third wicket at nearly fours runs an over.

The left-handed Yuvraj then quickly put on 116 runs for the fourth wicket with Gurkeerat Singh (55) to help Punjab go past Baroda's first-innings total of 529 all out and pave the

way for securing three points.

Punjab were overnight 452/ 2 with Vohra and Yuvraj batting on 201 and 179 respectively.

While Yuvraj slammed 26 boundaries and four sixes during his fluent knock that came off 370 balls, Vohra found the fence 20 times and cleared it twice in his 386-ball innings .

Pakistan steady after Gabriel's double strike AFP Sharjah, Oct 30 : Pakistan lost two early wickets but recovered to reach 81-2 at lunch on the opening day of the third and final Test against the West Indies.

Paceman Shannon Gabriel dismissed opener Azhar Ali and number three Asad Shafiq -- both for 0 -- off the second and fourth ball of the match after Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat at Sharjah stadium.

Opener Sami Aslam (37) and Younis Khan (39) were at the crease at the break after add-

ing 80 to start building a recovery.

Pakistan are eyeing a series whitewash after winning the first Test in Dubai by 56 runs and the second in Abu Dhabi by 133.

This is Misbah-ul-Haq's 49th Test as captain, beating Imran Khan's Pakistan record of 48 Tests as skipper.

Misbah started positively by winning the third toss in succession and instantly deciding to bat on a grassless and well rolled pitch.

But Ali, who scored a careerbest 302 not out in the first

Test, edged a lifting delivery from Gabriel after Sami had taken a single off the first ball.

Asad Shafiq also survived just one delivery before being trapped lbw. West Indian captain Jason Holder successfully challenged Australian umpire Paul Reiffel's not out decision.

Gabriel had figures of 2-22 at lunch.

Pakistan brought back pacemen Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz -- rested for the second Test -- in place of Sohail Khan and Rahat Ali.

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