Monday,august 24,2015

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Vol. 1

Attempt to rape Golaghat, Aug 23: A chaotic situation erupted when an old man of 55 allegedly attempted to rape a 13 year old girl in the town area today. As per reports, one Lampit Tabul Hussain of Shantipur region attempted rape but due to a hue and cry raised by the girl, the nearby people turned up at the spot and the alleged perpetrator could not succeed in his attempts. One of the family members of the girl said that the man had tried to rape the girl earlier also. Later on, the local people called the police and Lampit was arrested. However, the old man has denied the charges.

(Correspondent)

ET Correspondent Guwahati, Aug 23

Sonari, Aug 23: Binarani Bhumij, 47 yrs, former Vice President of Tea Cell of BJP, Assam breathed her last at a private nursing home in Dibrugarh at around 3 this afternoon. She was also the founder President of the Mahila Samity of Chah Janagostiya Jatiya Mahasabha and also fought the elections on a party ticket from Sonari LAC unsuccessfully against Congress stalwart and education minister Sarat Borkatoky in 2006.

She joined the party in 2004; however, she resigned from the party this year following distribution of party tickets allegedly to controversial persons during the civic body polls. She leaves behind her husband and a son.

(Correspondent)

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Linde Group to invest in Andhra Pradesh

cmyk

Germany's Linde Group plans to invest $200 million in freezing of sea food and adding value to exports in Andhra Pradesh, which

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ØAfter a long-drawn conflict with chief minister Tarun Gogoi, resigned from all portfolios on 21st July 2014.

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that he will be shortly joining the BJP. In this regard, Sarma along with BJP Assam president Siddhartha Bhattacharjee, and few senior BJP leaders called on BJP national president Amit Shah at his New Delhi residence, and had a meeting which lasted for almost an hour. Later coming out of Shah’s residence,

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Former minister and Congress stalwart Himanta Biswa Sarma’s joining the BJP have come under sharp criticism from one of the main opposition parties of the state - the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).

Reacting on the sensational political development, Punakon Baruah, President of AGP, Dibrugarh district committee said before this correspondent that the former minister joined the BJP only to avoid investigations primarily in the Louis Berger scam.

Baruah also said that the Centre has initiated investigations

ET Correspondent Lakhimpur, Aug 23

Lakhimpur District Youth Congress Committee in association with Lakhimpur town committee today burnt the effigy of Ex Congress minister Himanta Biswa Sarmah after it came to be known that he quit Congress and joined the saffron brigade BJP. ○

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against Sarma and his wife owned news channel in the multi crore Saradha scam by agencies like the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED).

“As the former minister is feeling the heat of the investigations he decided to compromise and joined the BJP which according to many will be a setback for the Congress”, Baruah said. Baruah also termed Sarma as an ‘opportunist’ who can go to any extent for fulfillment of his political ambitions. Meanwhile, around 1500 persons from various communities today joined the AGP during a party rally held at Tengakhat Bihutoli.

Contd. on Page 4

A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Aug 23

Lakhimpur Youth Cong burns effigy of Himanta Biswa Sarmah

Contd. on Page 4 ○

1500 including student leaders of various organizations join AGP

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signed from the Congress, and makes it clear that he will be joining the BJP

been completed,” said Bhattacharjee. Sarma expressed satisfaction after coming out of the meeting, and on being asked how his joining the BJP will help the party, he said that the BJP would have formed the government anyway.

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ØOn August 23, 2015, re-

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Ø Was elected from Jalukbari in 2001 and was re-elected in 2006 and 2011

Bhattacharjee said that they had a healthy discussion, and Sarma will be formally joining the BJP at a function held at Guwahati soon.

“There will be a mega rally at Guwahati in the next few days, and in that Sarma will be formally joining the BJP. All the initial formalities and discussions in this regard have

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with the leaders of the Assam Agitation

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MLA in Assam from the Congress party. ○

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ØWas closely associated

Ø Served three terms as

Leaving Certificate examination from Kamrup Academy School, Guwahati in 1985 and joined Cotton College, Guwahati for further studies

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Law College, Guwahati and obtained Ph.D degree from Gauhati University

High Court from 1996 to 2001.

Ø Passed High School

of Jalukbari constituency

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Ø Did LLB From Govt.

Ø Practiced law at Gauhati

ØPresently, he is the MLA

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term, became the health and education minister

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for Health and Guwahati Development Department in cabinet rank ○

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Ø In 2011, in his third

ØIn 2006, became Minister

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since his school days

1990 and post graduation in 1992 in political science from Cotton College, Guwahati ○

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ØWas actively into politics

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ET Correspondent Guwahati, Aug 23

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A Bamboo Technology Park and State Bamboo Museum is also being planned.

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The APBRDA is contemplating to establish a bamboo shoot market for which a land of 70,000 square meters has already been allotted.

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MoU with NRL is to be signed for exporting three lakh tonnes of bamboo from the state.

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Suspected militants attack village with bombs and guns, one killed A man died and another injured after a group armed miscreants suspected to be cadres of an underground group attacked at a village in

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NATO contractors killed

by Kabul car bomb identified as US citizens

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When India Almost Intervened in Mauritius

Three US civilian contractors were among those killed by a car bomb that targeted their NATO convoy, the US-led coalition in Afghanistan said, mak-

Operation Lal Dora, a shelved 1983 plan by the Indian government to militarily intervene in the

BUSINESS

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EDITORIAL

tops in fisheries production in India. The Linde Group officials, who met chief minister Chandrababu Naidu in Vijayawada recently, said that the company also has a base in Gujarat and is looking for a strong base in Andhra Pradesh.

Manipur's Chandel district by firing guns and exploding bombs in the early hour of Saturday. The incident took place this early morning, around 4am. The deceased villager was identified as Wanunglou Aimol (45) of Ngairong village.

ing the attack that killed 12 people one of the most lethal to target US citizens in recent years. The blast destroyed several vehicles, including a school van and an armoured pick-up truck believed to be used by the contractors which were left twisted and blackened.

small Indian Ocean island state of Mauritius to prevent a coup, is a fascinating piece of Indian Ocean history and sheds light on how New Delhi thinks about the region.

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laws; though there are 177 ZPMs and from this year on the ASM Chairperson has also been included as member to monitor the activities at the grassroots level and suggested that the next Mass General Body meeting should be called for the election or selection of Permanent Committee.

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The 3rd General Body Meeting of the Panchayat Raj Co ordination Committee was held at State Banquet Hall here at Itanagar today. The presence of the participants was very thin. The Orginising Secretary Shri Tana Puna Tara said that due to heavy rain and

be united to work towards development and still they have more than 2 years and they can work for the development of the area and he appealed to all to be sincere and dedicated for the welfare of the area and the state under the leadership of INC. Raju Gyadi, Seppa East Kameng said that due to absence of 2/3 majority they may today only adopt a few bye

Contd. on Page 3

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road blockade in different parts of the state member presence has been thin. The Chairman of the Interim Committee Kenyom Dabi said that they are not against the Government; rather they are very much with the Government under the able leadership of the present Chief Minister Shri Nabam Tuki.

ZPC, East Kameng Mayuk Cheda said that they have to

ET Correspondent Itanagar, Aug 23

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Arunachal Pradesh Panchayat Raj Coordination Committee’s 3rd General Body Meeting cum Conference held

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Contd. on Page 3

Girl’s body recovered in Mathurapur, suspected of rape and murder ET Correspondent Sonari, Aug 23

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Another MoU would be signed with Hindustan Paper Corporation for exporting one lakh tonne of bamboo for paper manufacturing.

It is also being planned to set up small scale bamboo industries in every district where toothpicks, incense sticks, besides other usable items would be produced

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Arunachal soon to ink MoUs NRL and Hindustan Paper Corporation to help potential bamboo growers in the state.

Arunachal Pradesh will soon ink Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) and Hindustan Paper Corporation to help potential bamboo growers in the state.

Arunachal Pradesh Bamboo Resource Development Agency (APBRDA) Vicechairman Yora Tagung informed that the agency on behalf of the state government would sign an MoU with NRL soon for exporting three lakh tonnes of bamboo from the state.

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"The MoU will immensely help both farmers as well as unemployed youths of the state," he said.

He informed that another MoU would also be signed between the state government and the Hindustan Paper Corporation for exporting one lakh tonne of bamboo for paper manufacturing. "This is just a beginning. We are looking for more companies with whom we can sign MoUs for the benefit of bamboo growers and unemployed youths and enrich the state's coffer," Yora said.

BAMBOO BOOST

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Gogoi conducts aerial survey of flood affected Lower Assam districts

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today made an aerial survey of flood affected Lower Assam’s Kokrajhar, Chirang, Bongaigaon, Goalpara and Dhubri districts. Accompanied

by Chief Secretary, VK Pipersenia and other senior officials which included Commissioner and Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management and CEO, Assam State Disaster Management Authority, PK Tiwari, Chief Minister Gogoi made an aerial survey of the worst affected districts of Lower Assam on an Indian Air Force chopper.

Landing at Narengi Army helipad after almost two hours of

aerial survey, Chief Minister Gogoi said the State Government has geared up rescue and relief operations in the flood affected areas. Gogoi praised the NDRF and the SDRF for the all out efforts in rescuing marooned people. The Chief Minister said the ministers and officials have fanned out to the affected areas and monitoring the relief operation. The Chief Minister said the Central Government is yet to release a sizeable chunk of funds sought by the State Government for infrastructure damages caused by floods last year.

It has only released Rs 380 crore so far.

Contd. on Page 4

Sensation prevails in Mathurapur area in Charaideo sub division with the recovery of a young girl’s body from Moniahola area under Mathurapur police station this morning. According to information received, the naked body of the girl was witnessed by local people at around 5 in the morning today lying beside a road in Moniahola basti, which is just 100 metres from the police station. The police later recovered the body and it was identified to be of Sumitra Nayak (24) alias Sumi, daughter of Sobikar Nayak of the same village.

According to preliminary investigations, police suspects that the girl was raped and was later murdered. Family members of Sumitra said that Sumitra who works in a tailor shop in Mathurapur did not return home last evening after the shop was closed.

“We tried to search for her but could not find her”, Contd. on Page 4

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‘Opium earns but harms’ sensitized to dissuade opium farming ET Bureau Wakro, Aug 23

The harmful outcomes of opium, a social evil, have been highlighted under the banner ‘Opium earns but harms’ here yesterday on 22nd August in a seminar cum awareness camp held for the first time in the circle at the

mini indoor stadium. Legal experts, PRI members, women groups, students, Gaonburahs, cultivators, opium addicts and general public joined the movement against the killer ‘Opium’.

This noble crusade was initiated by Cultural & Literary Society of Mishmi Contd. on Page 3

cmyk

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Ø Did his graduation in

ET Bureau Itanagar, Aug 23

Dibrugarh, Aug 23: Union minister of state (independent charge) Sarbananda Sonowal will lay the foundation stone of a 6 crore Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS) at the Dibrugarh Govt. Boys HS School playground on Monday.

Dibrugarh MP Rameswar Teli, Dibrugarh MLA Prasanta Phukon and Dibrugarh Municipal Board Chairperson Anuradha Dey will also be present. (Staff Reporter) ○

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Arunachal Pradesh to sign MoUs for boosting bamboo sector

Foundation stone for indoor stadium

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In a major setback to the Congress in Assam and state politics, former State minister and senior Congress leader Himanta Biswa Sarma resigned from his Congress membership and confirmed ○

Himanta joined BJP to avoid getting trapped in Louis Berger scam: Baruah

of Planning and Development in the year 2002

(GS) of Cotton College Union Society (CCUS) from 1991 to 1992

ET Correspondent Guwahati, Aug 23

Sonari, Aug 23: A lightening which struck at around 10 pm last night had severely disrupted power supply in and around Charaideo sub division. Till this evening, the restoration work was not completed and sources in Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) said that it would take another couple of days to restore power supply in the area. People are facing multiple problems like scarcity of water supply, difficulties in charging mobile and other gadgets etc due to the power failure.

(Correspondent)

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Pages- 12

ØBecame a State Minister

Ø Was General Secretary

Himanta Biswa Sarma resigns Cong membership, confirms joining BJP

Lightening disrupts power supply

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5.00

HIMANTA BISWA SARMA: A PROFILE

Himanta Biswa Sarma has been actively into politics since his school days, and was closely associated with the leaders of the Assam Agitation. He passed his High School Leaving Certificate examination from Kamrup Academy School, Guwahati in 1985 and joined Cotton College, Guwahati for further studies. He was General Secretary (GS) of Cotton College Union Society (CCUS) from 1991 to 1992. He did his graduation in 1990 and post graduation in 1992 in political science from Cotton College, Guwahati. Sarma did LLB From Govt. Law College, Guwahati and obtained Ph.D degree from Gauhati University.

Contd. on Page 4

BJP leader no more

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Price -

Dibrugarh, Monday, August 24, 2015

Assam Cong stalwart Himanta Biswa Sarma joins BJP

ET CAPSULES

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Issue 82

Every Thursday & Sunday

PAGE 2

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, AUGUST 24

Trying to Bring Back Maggi by End of This Year: Nestle India New Delhi,Aug 23: Bolstered by the Bombay High Court order overturning ban on Maggi, Nestle India plans to bring back the popular instant noodles back in the market by end of this year subject to certain clearances.The company, which has taken a hit of Rs. 450 crore, including destroying over 30,000 tonnes of the instant noodles since June when it was A Picture of Inauguration meeting of BANDHAN BANK, Demow Door Step Center in Sivasagar dist. Pic - UB

Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba statue unveiled

banned because of alleged excessive lead content, says it will continue with the existing formula of the product and not change the ingredients."We will try and target something that is better than that. My desire is to do it before that but let's see," Nestle India Managing Director Suresh Narayanan said. He said as per court directives, this quarter it would

go in for testing of Maggi samples at three independent laboratories in Punjab, Hyderabad and Jaipur which are accredited with National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)."By the time we get everything done, it will be middle of September. I can tell you this quarter no, unlikely.

Subsequent quarter, we will try

List Of Phone Numbers Of Nursing Homes Tinsukia City Hospital & Research Centre Category: General Hospital Hospital Address: Gnb Road Near Bujhuri-786125, Assam Pin Code :786125 Phone Number :0374-2333349 Fax :0374-2350026/2339974

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

Pinewood Hospital ET Correspondent Golaghat, Aug 23: At Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar School, a grandiose statue of Bhagwan Sai Baba was unveiled by Dr Pallab Kr Baruah to mark its upcoming silver jubilee ceremony. Earlier flag hoisting was done by Santana Baruah (coordinator Assam Satya Sai Sewa organisation) and Daik Sharma (Convener Sai Trust). The school students presented a welcome traditional song.

Apurba Kr Borgohain in his speech gave emphasis on how the school was established and has been functioning since 1994.

The chief guest Dr Pallab Kr Baruah said, "God is always there with his followers. He emphasised on the importance of moral education and cited school as being the backbone of the process of development of a student."

The donor of the statue Swami Nath Gupta and Dr Upendr Nath Gupta were also present and were felicitated. Hrishikesh Bora with his fellow friends designed the statue; 6.5 feet high, weighing 70 kg of fibre casting valued at INR 1.30 lacs. The teachers, guardians and students were present in large number.

Nagas express optimism after peace accord signing Dimapur, Aug. 23 : The signing of the peace accord between the NDA Government and the NSCN (IM) is being seen as a positive step that would bring in much-needed peace and prosperity in the northeast region. Nagas residing in Nagaland and other north eastern states are extremely happy with the development and are hopeful of having a brighter future.

Around ten thousand Nagas from Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh recently gathered at the Hebron Camp in Dimapur for the 69th Naga Independence Day celebration where they overwhelmingly welcomed the accord. Addressing the event, NSCN (IM) leader Thuingaleng Muivah expressed his gratitude towards the government of India for reaching an understanding and accepting the Naga history. The two sides have reached a framework agreement within which a final solution will now be worked out.

Muivah, who is the General Secretary of the NSCN (IM), said, "We have got to appreciate them (the Government of India). When they respect our rights, let us appreciate them. When they appreciate our rights, let us take a step from our side to come closer to each other. That is the only way to seek solution." Panjam Wangsu, Vice President of the Wancho Students' Union, said, "Recently, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the Naga Peace Accord has been signed. We are very happy."

Representatives from apex Naga civil organizations, including the Naga Hoho, ENPO, Naga Mothers Association, Naga Students' Federation, and United Naga Council have also welcomed the peace accord and expressed hope for development in the future. Dr. Rosemary, Advisor, Naga Mother's Association, said, "We have been a very

strong pressure group in asking to bring a resolution to the Naga peace talks.

The peace deal definitely is a positive signal and as Naga Mothers' we are very positive and looking forward to something inclusive and a sustainable deal." Shikata Chishi, a local resident, said, "I am very happy that the peace accord has been signed."

The signing of the peace accord with the largest insurgent outfit of the Northeast is expected to bring long-pending peace and accelerate the process of development in the region. (ANI)

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

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

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

G M Hospital

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

AMC Road, Jalan Nagar Dibrugarh - 786 005

Archana Trauma & Orthopaedics Hospital

Brahmaputra Diagnostics & Hospital

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

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

Assam Medical College

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

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

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

Sanjivani Diagnostic & Hospital

Dr. Pawan Bajaj's Skin Clinic

Aastha Hospital

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

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

"what has worked for 30 years" must work in future too, although the company would continue to work on innovation and add more variants in future. Acknowledging that the ban has 'dented' the company, Narayanan said the company has to win back consumer confidence and will "spend aggressively" on rebuilding the brand from a "zero" level through customer engagement

activities and advertisements.

When asked if the company would consider seeking damages from food regulators on the back of Bombay High Court judgment, Narayanan remained noncommittal said the company's focus would be to bring back Maggi as soon as possible, look ahead and move on while working together with authorities.

(Agencies)

ASTRO FOR YOU Today, the stars put you on high alert… and not for nothing. You will save yourself from being swindled. Though you will easily manage to stay ahead of others, you may make a few enemies on your way. It’s not a good day if you’re looking to buy a house or vehicle.

You will find yourself at the crossroads and each turn and twist will come with its share of pros and cons. Your sentiments may have an ill-effect on your health. You may spend quality time with family members and friends, hoping to shed the burden thrust upon your soul.

Today, you will decide to become a bit more conscious about your health. You may or may not join a gym or measure your calories, but you will definitely sit up and take notice of your lifestyle and unhealthy food habits. A new job is also likely, which will pen a completely new chapter in your life.

You are likely start the day in the best of spirits today. Your enthusiasm and cheerfulness will be infectious, and you will be able to lift the mood wherever you go. However, your enthusiasm can be short-lived and pummelled under the weight of some bad news, leaving you distraught. Take a break in case you feel stressed out. Things are likely to look up by the time the day ends.

If one were to put an earnest spirit and a frank attitude together, the result would be a Leo; it’s like your hallmark. And with qualities like these in your kitty, don’t be surprised if you happen to reach a milestone or two today. Will it be marital bliss or career success? No matter what the area is, be assured that your societal standing shall get a heady boost today. Just don’t let the success go to your head.

The booster rockets of your ambitions and spirit to work will kick in at the maximum today. Seek recreation after a hard day’s work and look to relax at private parties, social-dos and even weddings.

You never let a favour go unacknowledged, or let a ridicule pass by unanswered. So, it’s time to settle those old accounts that are so important to you.

This will increase chances of interesting developments that will continue to surprise you throughout the day. All in all, a vibrant day is in store.

Your rung in the social ladder just went higher today. But be wary of greeneyed monsters and ill words. Fight tooth and nail – if necessary – to protect our reputation, says Ganesha. But also learn to find your enemies’ Achilles’s heel and target it ferociously.

The day may pan out to be more challenging than you had anticipated. An independent free bird as you Archers are, you may find really it irritating to find your hands tied up in unpleasant money matters. But, then that’s a part of life; put in your best to overcome any situation you come across. Your efforts shall help you gain economic independence. Take other challenges head on too. The secret, lies in diligence, optimism and tonnes of patience.

Duping the wisest with your extraordinary power of convincing may have been your forte, but you may have to prove yourself all over again, for you will be tested today. This apart, you are likely to find answers to questions lingering in your subconscious mind for long. The outburst of creativity in the second half of the day will draw the attention of your peers, and this will also be the best time to seek their support.

For a moment, it seems that you’re swamped with problems. But you are brave enough to deal with any ugly issue that crops up suddenly. A romantic evening, which may just be time together in a jacuzzi, or simply preparing a meal together is in store.

The workaholic in your bursts to the fore with a vengeance, and today will see you tackle pending projects with the zeal of a Holy Templar crusader. Your energy levels will be unflagging, and your enthusiasm to wipe your slate clean admirable. Make the most of it.

PRASAR BHARATI (India's Public Service Broadcaster) ALL INDIA RADIO : DIBRUGARH (M.W.529.1m/KHz567 F.M. 101.30 MHz)

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

(to bring back Maggi)," Narayanan said. He said the company has to test the Maggi samples within six weeks and after that it would start manufacturing and then the noodles would be tested again. Asked whether the recent problems would make the company change ingredients of the instant noodles, Narayanan replied in the negative saying

Paltan Bazar, Opposite Aditya Hospital Dibrugarh

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

Phone No.-03732325456 E-mail -dibrugarh@air.org.in Facebook Page-All India Radio Dibrugarh Programme Highlights 24-8-15 (MONDAY)

5-35 A.M-Bhaktigeeti (Devotional Songs) 6-10 A.M-Swasthya Charcha (Health Programme) 6-15 A.M-Classical Music 7-15 A.M-Aajir Dinto (Morning Information Service) 7-30 A.M-Geetanjali (Assamese Modern Song) 8-35 A.M-Surar Panchoi (Composite Programme of Assamese Film Songs) 9-05 A.M- Antara (Composite Programme of Hindi Film Songs) 12-05 P.M-Ramdhenu (Request Programme of Hindi Fim Songs) 1-10 P.M-Troops Programme 2-30 P.M-Western Music Programme 3-30 P.M-Mishin Geet by Ashok Kr. Doley and Party 3-45 P.M-Programme in Miju Mishmi 4-05 P.M-Programme in Khamti 4-25 P.M-Programme in Wancho 4-45 P.M-News for Arunachal Pradesh 5-00 P.M-Programme in Idu 5-20 P.M-Programme in Tangsa 5-40 P.M-Programme in Nocte 7-15 P.M-Yuvavani (Youth Programme)-"Prerona"(A Live Phone-in Programme on Skill Development).Subject-Juridical Sciences, Expert-Dr. Nazrana Ahmed, Advocate, Dibrugarh 7-45 P.M-Sponsored Programme-"Ei Poth Hoise Bikashor" 8-30 P.M-Talk-"Samajik Suraksha Aachoni Rupayanat Kendriya Sarkaror Shehotiya Padakshep" by Jayanta Saud Sd-/H.O.P

PAGE 3

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, AUGUST 24

Bharatiya Janata Party Arunachal Pradesh starts Maha Prashikshan Abhiyan from Pasighat ET Bureau Pasighat, Aug 23: The Bharatiya Janata Party Arunachal Pradesh 03 (three) days Pundit Deendayal Upadhay Maha Prashikshan Abhiyan scheduled for August 21-23, 2015 at Pasighat, District HQ of East Siang was formally inaugurated with lighting of lamp (DWEEP PRAJWALAN) by the State President, Shri Tai Tagak at Siang Tourist lodge Hall, Pasighat East Siang District Arunachal Pradesh which is part of the Party’s Sangathan Prava year 2015 celebrations across the country. The BJP National Secretary cum Central Prabhari for Arunachal Pradesh, Ramen Deka (MP), BJP National Executive Member and Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju, National Executive Member and former MP, Tapir Gao and Leader of Opposition, Shri Tamiyo Taga; Maha Prashikshan Abhiyan National Team Member, Dr. Mohesh Sharma and Adv. Balasubramanium also graced the occasion and attending the workshop as resource persons from the central office. Host of the Central leaders and state leaders; The Inaugural session of the Prashikshan Abhiyan was addressed by Shri Tai Tagak,president BJP called upon the Prashikshan to get well equipped of the party’s ideology and commitment and ideal to strictly adhere by

the each and every karyakartas of the party. Addressing at the inaugural programme, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju and National Secretary cum Central Prabhari, Ramen Deka (MP) who graced the occasion had hailed the progress made by the party organisation during the recent years in the state of Arunachal Pradesh and congratulated the state leadership for the hard efforts and scarifies in achieving the target set for enrolment of Primary Membership Drive in the state which was not a easy task in view of the topographical and communication problems. They assured their all time support in strengthening the party organization in the state. While exhorting the achievement and performance of Modi

Government in its one year in office they called upon the party cadres and leaders to work and maintain team spirit and reach out to the grass root so the people could take benefit from the various new schemes and programmes launched and more such to uncover in the days to come.

The Leader of Opposition, Shri Tamiyo Taga has called upon the party leaders to work hard and remain vigilant on the activities of the state government and said good time is coming ahead for the BJP in the state and as a part of Political Party we are nor only to fight elections but we should be also in a position to form a government of our own for which we need to work hard and sacrifices.

The State President, Tai Tagak in his presidential ad-

dress has congratulated the party cadres and leaders for successfully making way to reach to Maha Prashikshan Abhiyan after successfully completed Maha Sadasyata Abhiyan and Maha Sampark Abhiyan in the state which is three important programmes during the BJP’s SANGATHAN PARVA 2015 and has become the world’s biggest party. While exhorting the need of Prashikshan for the Party workers in the state the state BJP Chief also said that for the BJP Power is not the big issue, issue before us is to make our motherland best country in the world. Our inspiring and committed Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has started the procress. But it is not a process that can be completed within only 05 (five) years. In the present

Huge crowd of devotees at Athkheliya Naamghar Amit Nagori Golaghat, Aug 23: This is the holy month of Bhado. It is a holy month for the Assamese people as anniversaries of two Vaishnav saints Shankardeva and Madhav deva fall in this month. So an atmosphere of devotion prevails in the state in this

Bhado month. Like the previous years this year also a huge gathering of devotees is being witnessed at the Sri Sri A t h k h e l i y a Bornaamghar of Golaghat. Today is the first Sunday of Bhado.

So thousands of devotees from different parts of the state are visiting

this holy spot and offering 'xorai's and attending 'Naamprasanga'.

The Athkheliya Namghar Managing Committee has taken all necessary measures to accommodate the huge crowd of devotees.

Food, drinking water, accommodation, parking facilities are pro-

vided by the Athkheliya Naamghar Managing Committee with the help of Golaghat district administration. The Atkheliya Namghar Working Committee president Asim Bora is eager to welcome the devotees from various parts of Assam and adjoining states.

situation the BJP is best poised to ensure accelerated development of the state, and said it is the sole party of the country with true and strong internal democracy. While recalling the erstwhile stalwarts of the party the state BJP Chief has called upon the party leaders and cadres to consider ‘what you have given to the party, not whether the party made you MLA/Minister’. urged the party leaders and workers to put the country and state interest before self and work relentlessly to make India the top nation in the comity of the nations while exhorting that the State level Maha Prashikshan was an opportunity to leadrn from each other and sharing ideas and knowledge from each other and central resource persons and have to be utilized during prashikshan Karyashallas and shibirs at District and Mandal levels. The party during the year long Sangathan Parva 2015 is making all out efforts to make the MATDATAS to SADASYATA and SADASYATA to KARYAKARTAS in the country and thereby in the process of making human resource hub too in the democratic process and in the service of the motherland. Earlier the Local MLA, Kaling Moyong (BJP) gave welcome address and later Shri Danial Mibang, District President, East Siang District gave the Vote of Thanks.

ET Correspondent Guwahati, Aug 23: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today felicitated the newly elected members of Tiwa Autonomous Council at his official residence at Khanapara. Congratulating the newly elected members, Chief Minister Gogoi said the victory has proved that the State Government’s popularity is on the upswing and that the people have realised the futility of the BJP-led NDA Government’s tall promises.

“The BJP-led Government at the Centre has made hollow

DHSK Zoology students felicitated

ET Bureau Pasighat, Aug 23: Led by Deputy Commissioner Isha Khosla a mass social service was conducted at Pasighat market and Solung ground areas.

All government departments, PRIs, PMC, police and local

A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Aug 23: 18 meritorious students from the Dept. of Zoology, DHSK College were felicitated during a function held at the department premises on Saturday. The students were felicitated for securing 1st Class position during their degree final year exams and earning reputation for their educational institution. The students were felicitated with trophies and certificates. Dr. Sashi Kanta Saikia, the Principal of the college was the chief guest during the ceremony. Tikendrajit Gogoi,

AACWA for supervising contractors’ work, proper vehicular traffic management in Itanagar, Naharlagun ET Bureau Itanagar, Aug 23: The All Arunachal Contractor’s Welfare Association (AACWA) urged the Executive Engineer (Highway Division) to supervise contractors who are executing works near NIBA hospital Naharlagun and near the petrol pump with a view to ensure quality of works.

AACWA is concerned that due to slow progress of works, traffic movement at Naharlagun areas is in a bad condition

which has directly affected school going children and at times medical patients. According to the association, the quality of ongoing RCC works at Hotel Anne point’s Itanagar is not being done properly especially in between C-sectors and Barapani national highway point. AACWA urged the state government to create superintending of police (traffic) for capital complex to regulate the traffic in the twin capital city and take measures for easy

traffic movement. Due to nonimplementation of traffic rules in the twin capital city traffic movements are taking place in a haphazard way, the AACWA said. The association suggested that capital administration and municipalities should adopt clear cut policies for beatification of the capital regions; capital administration also should carry out drives for checking the age of the various commercial cars, auto and trekkers.

Arunachal Pradesh to sign...

Contd. from Page 1 If properly tapped, bamboo sector could be a money spinner for the state with a varieties of species abundantly available, Yora said adding that the Board was planning to set up small scale bamboo industries in every district where toothpicks, incense sticks, besides other usable items would be produced. The APBRDA is contemplating to establish a bamboo shoot

market for which a land of 70,000 square meters has already been allotted. "We are also planning to set up a Bamboo Technology Park and State Bamboo Museum in the same plot," he said.

The steps taken by the Board would immensely benefit the people by spreading awareness regarding the actual benefit of bamboo plant, he said and added that the proposed MoUs would be a boon for the bamboo growers of the state. It is perti-

nent to mention here that since last couple of years, the APBRDA has been supplying bamboo saplings to the bamboo growers of all districts of the state. Besides, several skill development and awareness programmes were also conducted. "Though we have many bamboo plantations in every district, merely three small industries have been established so far which have failed to cater to the bamboo growers," Yora added.

ET Bureau Pasighat, Aug 23: The Union MoS Home, Kiren Rijiju laid the foundation stone of a Post Graduate Girls' hostel at the College of Horticulture and Forestry, Pasighat here on Friday.

Assam MP Romen Deka, MLAs Kaling Moyong, Kento Rina, Olom Panyang, Tumke Bagra, Vice Chancellor Prof. M Premjit Singh, DC Isha Khosla, ADC Deepak Shinde, SP T Konia, Dean Prof. AK Pandey and former minister Tangor Tapak were present on the occasion.

The Union Minister visited citrus nursery where virus free quality planting material is being produced. He also inspected various locations where technologies are being developed by the scientists/experts for the farmers of NE region. Later in attending “Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav”, an interactive programme with the progressive farmers and scientists in the CHF auditorium, the union minister released CAU farm magazine, published by

promises and the people have realised it. The victory will inspire and motivate us to work for the State’s progress and prosperity in the coming days,” he said. Exuding confidence, a beaming Chief Minister said the State Government will provide adequate funds to the Tiwa Autonomous Council to carry out development activities despite the drastic cut in development funds by the Central Government.

Later talking to mediapersons, Gogoi said the BJP-led Government at the Centre is anti-poor

pressure on public spending and employment schemes and CHF has been consistently making innovative efforts by using science and technology to increase productions, he stated.

“Domestic and international tourists are showing interests to discover the spectacular natural beauties of the region.

It will not only bring benefits to the business community but has vast scope of employment generation. The panoramic perfection of the snow-capped Himalayas, the vibrant culture and joyous festivals, the infinite variety of its flora and fauna are fascinating and challenging but peace and tranquility are prerequisite for tourism development”, Rijiju asserted.

Earlier, local MLA Kaling Moyong said Rijiju’s visit was very meaningful and historic and would go a long way in the path of development. Vice Chancellor Prof. M Premjit Singh presented a detail report of achievements and Dean Prof. AK Pandey also spoke on the occasion.

Das and Rimjhim Dutta were present among others.

and pro-corporate. “The BJPled Government at the Centre is anti-poor and pro-corporate.

It has slashed pro-poor schemes, reduced allocation for anganwadi workers, farmers and weavers. That is not all.

Withdrawal of Special Category State status to Assam and suspension of NEIIPP would boomerang on the Central Government,” he said, adding that acche din is yet to dawn as the people of the State and the country have felt a sense of betrayal by the BJP led Government at the Centre.

Gogoi urged the newly elected members to work unitedly for the growth and development of the areas under Tiwa Autonomous Council. “The people have reposed faith on us and we must work for their welfare. There is no room for complacency,” he said. The meeting was attended, among others, by Ministers Dr. Nazrul Islam and Rakibul Hussain, Parliamentary Secretaries Bibekananda Dalai and Jon Jonali Baruah and MLA Anjan Dutta.

Arunachal Pradesh Panchayat...

Contd. from Page 1

the HOD of the department and lecturers Sudakshina

the Directorate of extension education and Technical bulletin on integrated disease management authored by Dr. RC Shakywar, Dr. AK Pandey and Dr. BP Mishra. Addressing the officers, leaders and farmers Rijiju said center is committed to bringing faster development in agriculture, horticulture and forestry sectors and the people should come forward to avail the optimum benefits to prosper NE region in particular and the nation as a whole.

Agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy and northeastern region has enormous scopes to fulfill the basic need of human beings. There are plain areas, fertile soil, long growing season and wide variation in climatic condition in the region. With advent of modern technologies, cropping pattern is changing and commercial crops and non-traditional are gradually growing more importance in line with domestic demands and export requirements. The rise in agricultural activity will ensure a lower

CM Tarun Gogoi felicitates newly elected TAC members

GA conducts mass social service at Pasighat market

public of the township participated as a part of cleanliness and source reduction of Dengue. DC Khosla informed that administration is determined to conduct such activities every Saturday and would continue up to 2nd October, next.

Rijiju lays foundation stone of girls’ hostel at CHF

ZPM, Kimin, Tai Tayu said in his address that they were there to discuss regarding constitution of Permanent Committee for the APPRCC immediately to carry out further remaining works of the constituency; though the previous committee has been dissolved and the present interim committee is looking after the affairs of the Panchayat, they have

nothing against the previous Committee Chairman and Secretary.

ZPM, Mengio Tarh Phassang, said that they could not run things only though an Interim Committee though due to absence of majority they may take the decision for election or selection and fix a date for the same vide circulation.

Various speakers of all the districts present during the meeting shared their views and suggestions in

the meeting. Later the media was told that a three tier delegation system has been introduced; Gram/Intermediate/District level committee would be participating in the meeting whereas only 1 each from Gram and Intermediate level while all the ZPMs are eligible for voting rights at state level. The last date of submission of delegation list is fixed to be on 20th September and election will be held on 10th October 2015 in Itanagar.

‘Opium earns but harms’ sensitized to dissuade opium farming Contd. from Page 1

(CALSOM) supported by the district administration of Lohit.

The day was termed historic where participants from all age groups and disciplines including local populace turned up in huge number to raise strong voice against opium cultivation and sale. In the marathon daylong awareness camp various speakers expressed their serious concern over the rampant cultivation/consumption of opium especially in the Wakro and Medo areas and suggested immediate alternatives means of livelihood to curb the threat.

Horticulture, agriculture, fishery, textile & handicraft and other allied departments' HoDs

who were present in the meeting suggested diverse sources of generating income in place of opium cultivation. However, some of the members criticised the alleged manipulation and politicization of the schemes depriving the poor villagers and condemned the government's irresponsibility and negligence regarding right implementation of the various schemes in their true spirit in the interest of the local people.

“If alternative crops with proper departmental guidance were made available to the local people gradually we could replace opium.

Also we should not limit ourselves to organising rallies, processions, camps, pamphlet distribution but should change our approach; Mishmi existence is under threat

as students and youth are habituated to opium consumption and it is the need of the hour to pledge ourselves to root out the menace”, suggested Somodang Tawsik, convener CALSOM Wakro unit. It was also alleged that outsiders are cultivating opium in the reserve forest area at Medo and openly selling at weekly markets which prompted law enforcing agencies to initiate stringent action against the perpetrators.

Sanjay Singh, member from Narcotic Control Bureau Guwahati, also highlighted various schemes of the GoI to replace opium, apart from formation of committees at State and District levels to generate awareness against opium. “Our last resort is to destroy the standing crop or arrest the cultivator under the

Narcotic Acts. We have several options to dissuade cultivation but it is only an excuse; this kind illegal practice must be shunned at all cost to avoid legal action”, Singh cautioned. Lapalum Kri CE PHED also suggested various govt schemes and plans to reduce opium cultivation. S Minin EAC Mantaw termed the opium cultivation a killer of the society and hoped that the camp would be a turning point towards eliminating the scourge.

Dr. S Niyal DRCHO Lohit alleged prevalence of opium in shops and among petty traders.

“Opium socially, economically and customarily must be rooted out from the Mishmi society and it would require a holistic approach, generation of awareness and sensitization camps periodically about its ill ef-

fects and educating/encouraging alternative crops apart from setting up of De-addiction camps,” opined Dr S Tawsik, Pathologist GH Naharlagun.

S Hazarika SDO (Sadar) in-charge DC Lohit as chief guest and Er L Khimhum EE Power as guest of honour also suggested various means of income to substitute opium and committed to liaison with the district administration to find out every possible means to put and end to the menace.

Meanwhile, Patam Rangmang ZPM Wakro, Suraj Tayang GS CALSOM, Dakto Riba EAC Wakro, PRI members, Gaonburas, students, Wakro Women Welfare Society (WWWS) also spoke about the ill effects of opium and its remedies.

PAGE 4

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, AUGUST 24

Self-styled UPLA deputy chairman nabbed Sushanta Roy Diphu, Aug 23: In the ongoing offensive against the active ultra organizations by Indian army and Karbi Anglong police, another self-styled deputy chairman of UPLA (United Peoples Liberation Army), Dilip Phangso was arrested by Bakulia police and army from inaccessible Kluding, Chira bill village of Karbi Anglong district yesterday.

In the predawn raid the security forces recovered one M-16 rifle and 15 rounds of ammunition of the rifle. He was brought to Bakulia police station where he is wanted for a number of pending cases. According to police, Dilip Phangso was a corrupt headmaster of primary school of Bakulia and resigned from service to join the outfit, he had gone under ground for several months and took refuge in a UPLA camp in West Karbi Anglong.

Police have also claimed that soon the self-styled Chairman of UPLA Rin Bey and other dreaded ultras like Bindo Timung who are on the run will be arrested.

AGP Margherita District Committee organises general meeting ET Correspondent Margherita, Aug 23: Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Margherita District Committee today organised a general meeting at Ledo AGP office.

More than 100 AGP members from Margherita constituencies were present. The meeting was presided by Nareswer Hazarika, President of AGP Margherita District Committee. Diganta Saikia, General Secretary of AGP Central Committee was also present. The meeting was anchored by Puran Chetry, General Secretary of AGP, Margherita District Committee.

Nareswer Hazarika in his inaugural

speech said that the Assam's 2016 Assembly Election is approaching and appealed to all the party members to sincerely work for Asom Gana Parishad. While Diganta Saikia, General Secretary of AGP Central Committee in his speech said that Congress and BJP parties are the two sides of the same coin.

Diganta Saikia also said that Ledo AGP office land has been encroached by the some people with vested interests living near the Ledo AGP Office. Diganta Saikia also slammed Narendra Modi led government for silently working on the Naga Peace Accord with NSCN(IM) General Sec-

New road for DHSK College girl’s hostel A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Aug 23: A new road leading to the DHSK College girl’s hostel was inaugurated

by Dr. Sashi Kanta Saikia, the Principal of the college on Saturday evening. The hostel was constructed in 1957 and caters to the need of around 100 girl students.

“When I joined the college as Principal around a couple of months back, I received a complaint from the inmates of the hostel about the problems they have to face, particularly during the rainy season due to non availability of the proper

road. Therefore, the construction of the road was accorded top priority”, the Principal said. The road has been constructed with funds gen-

Assam CM takes direct questions from public on different govt schemes

ET Correspondent Guwahati, Aug 23: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi this evening took direct questions from the public on different schemes of the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Con-

retary, Thunleng Muivah.

Diganta Saikia said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cheated the people of Assam by falsely promising before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Diganta Saikia also warned Pabitra Margherita BJP spokesperson who a few days ago said that AGP is the B-team of the Congress party. "We all the AGP members today condemn it and warn Pabitra Margherita not to repeat such statements or else AGP shall expose Pabitra Margherita backed by some of his exclusive documents," said Diganta Saikia, General Secretary of AGP Central Committee.

sumer Affairs at a live phone-in-programme held at Doordarshan Kendra Guwahati. The 30-minute programme beamed live at 6 PM where several people asked questions relating to schemes of the

Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs. The live phone-in-programme was a part of the state government’s visionary programme of Raijor Padulit Raijor Sarkar.

erated by the college. The students have expressed their gratitude towards the principal and the college authorities for this noble gesture.

Demand for permanent land rights ET Correspondent Golaghat, Aug 23: The issue of giving permanent land patta to the people of Doyang and Tengani in Golaghat is apparently being shunned by the political parties. Both the state as well as the central governments are feigning ignorance with regard to this matter. In this connection, Brihattar Axomiya Yuva Mancha has raised its voice against the govt's ignorant and negligent attitude towards giving permanent land rights to the indigenous people of Doyang and Tengani.

The organisation's Golaghat district committee's secretary Mridul Haza rika in a press release stated that Brihattar Axomiya Yuva Mancha is going to take a protest rally near Doyang College, Merapani demanding immediate action to give permanent land patta to the people of Doyang and Tengani.

Former Sivasagar Commerce College Principal Dipali Chaliha being felicitated for receiving the Best Social Worker Award from CM Tarun Gogoi on 15 August at Guwahati. Pic - Firuz Ahmed

20th Biennial Conference of Digboi Press Club held ET Correspondent Digboi, Aug 23: A day long agenda of the 20th biennial conference of Digboi Press Club, the oldest media organisation of the historic oil city Digboi in Tinsukia district, concluded recently here in the premises of the said club.

The programme kicked off early in the morning with the hoisting of the flag of the organisation followed by offering of floral tributes to eminent former

BOOSTING DOMESTIC ONION SUPPLY

been decided to raise minimum export price (MEP) of onions further to $700 per tonne," said the con-

The government recently hiked the minimum export price of onions sharply by $275 per tonne.

This decision was taken to curb shipments and boost domestic supply to control spiraling retail prices that have touched up to Rs 80 per kg.

The decision to increase onion MEP to $700 per tonne from $425 is taken as prices of onions at both wholesale and retail levels.

To increase availability in domestic market, it has been decided to raise minimum export price (MEP) of onions further to $700 per tonne.

sumer affairs ministry in a statement. The government is keeping a close watch on onion prices and has

floated a tender for import of 10,000 tonnes of onions, which will be opened on August 27, it added. MEP

steer the organisation towards its objectives.

Monoranjan Das was elected as the VP for the new session. Meanwhile, Arup Kalita the former AGS was later re-elected as GS who had anchored the entire proceedings on behalf of the former General Secretary Laxman Sharma, the present exofficio member who was out of station; the entire activities of the organisation of past two years including finance

report was presented before the general body effectively. In addition, Hitendranath Sarmah the senior most journalist of Digboi who was also elected unanimously as the adviser of the organisation reiterated the very purpose and objectives to be realised by an effective social organisation like press club and wished the organisation with a new executive body the very best.

Assam Cong stalwart Himanta Biswa ...

Contd. from Page 1 He practiced law at Gauhati High Court from 1996 to 2001.

Sarma has served three terms as MLA in Assam from the Congress

party. He was elected from Jalukbari in 2001 and was re-elected in 2006 and 2011. He became a State Minister of Planning and Development in the year 2002.

In 2006 he was the Minister for Health and

Guwahati Development Department in cabinet rank. In 2011, in his third term, he became the health and education minister. After a longdrawn conflict with chief minister Tarun Gogoi, he resigned from

all portfolios on 21st July 2014. On August 23, 2015 he resigned from the congress, and made it clear that he will be joining the BJP. Presently he is the MLA of Jalukbari constituency.

Himanta joined BJP to avoid getting...

Contd. from Page 1 Prominent among those who joined the party are Pranjal Raj Khanikar, former Present of All Assam Chutia Student’s Union,

Anup Chetia, former President of Muttock Yuba Chatra Parishad, Tultul Bez, former President of the Dibrugarh district committee of All Tai Ahom Student’s Union and Atul Dutta, former President of

AASU, Moran regional committee. Apart from Atul Bora, President of AGP, Punakon Baruah, President of AGP, Dibrugarh district committee, Anup Phukon, former MLA and VP of AGP, Monoj Bora, sec-

retary, AGP, Sunil Rajkonwar, President, Asom Yuba Parishad, Deba Kurmi, President, Tea Cell, AGP, Biju Khan, President, Minority Cell, AGP were present during the meeting.

Himanta Biswa Sarma resigns Cong...

Contd. from Page 1 “Now I hope I will be able to contribute my bit to the party,” said Sarma.

Sarma also said that he will make everything

clear after formally joining the party in the next few days. Sarma had been unsuccessfully revolting against Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for over a year. Through social network, Sarma

stated, “following massive calls over the past months from people across Assam hailing from all communities, will be formally joining the BJP ( Bharatiya Janata Party) for a

Resurgent Assam and Northeast under the vibrant leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji. Urging all of you here to join hands for a Resurgent Assam and Northeast”.

Girl’s body recovered in Mathurapur...

Contd. from Page 1 a family member said.

Later, a high level police team from Sivasagar ar-

Govt hikes onion maximum export price New Delhi, Aug 23: The government recently hiked the minimum export price of onions sharply by $275 per tonne to curb shipments and boost domestic supply to control spiraling retail prices that have touched up to Rs 80 per kg. The decision to increase onion MEP to $700 per tonne from $425 is taken as prices of onions at both wholesale and retail levels have been rising on lower output due to unseasonal rains earlier.

"To increase availability in domestic market, it has

journalists of Digboi Press Club and lighting ceremonial lights. However, in the general sitting that followed in the evening, a new executive body was formed comprising Binanda Konwar and Arup Kalita as the President and Secretary of the club respectively while Rajesh Upadhaya was unanimously elected as the Assistant General Secretary and Hira Phukon as the treasurer for the new session to

is the rate below which no exports are allowed. The rise in MEP restricts exports and improves domestic supply. Onion prices have risen unabated in the past few weeks. Wholesale onion prices on Saturday touched Rs 57/kg at Lasalgaon in Maharashtra, Asia's biggest edible bulb market, which could further spike retail prices in coming days. The export price was last raised to $425 per tonne from $250 on June 26, it added. (Agencies)

rived at the scene and tried to find clues about the culprit with the help of sniffer dog but failed to find any clue. It might be mentioned that a similar case had taken

place in the same village a few days back. “It is only because of the failure of the police such incidents are taking place that too very near to the police station”, a lo-

cal resident said. Local residents have demanded immediate arrest of the culprit and proper security by the police so that such incidents can be prevented in future.

Gogoi conducts aerial survey....

Contd. from Page 1 “We have submitted memoranda to the Central Government including the Prime Minister and Home Minister, but have not received the funds sought by us for huge infrastructure damage caused by floods last year,” he said.

Gogoi said there are no funds constraints in providing relief to the affected. “We have funds for relief work. What we require from the Central Government is sufficient funds for building up the infrastructure such as roads, bridges, school buildings, health centres, dwelling houses and embankments damaged by floods last year and proper rehabilitation of the flood-hit people,” he said. It may be mentioned that

Chief Minister Gogoi in a memorandum to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Guwahati on October 1 last year sought Rs 2,010 crore for damaged infrastructure, which included roads and bridges, dwelling houses, health centres and school buildings. It also demanded Rs 660 crore for rescue and relief operations. Besides, Rs 6,700 crore was sought as special assistance to the state, which included Rs 3,500 crore for raising and strengthening of embankments and Rs 1,000 crore for mitigating flood problems in Guwahati city.

The Chief Minister said the first priority of the Government is providing relief to the flood-hit people and he has instructed the Deputy Commissioners of the affected districts to leave no

stone unturned to extend all possible help to the affected, especially the children and women. “Restoration of surface communication and repairing of breached embankments have also been accorded priorities,” he said. Gogoi said that the Government would prepare an assessment report highlighting the damages and rebuilding exercise only after the flood waters recede. 18 districts have been reeling under flood, the worst hit being Dhubri, Goalpara, Chirang, Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon districts. 6.16 lakh people have been affected. 1291 villages have been submerged. 260 relief camps have been opened housing 1.79 lakh inmates. The death toll in the current deluge is 13.

3 youths held for keeping ganja in MP Raipur, Aug 23: Three youths were arrested for possessing six kg ganja in Keshwahi area here, police said today. Acting on a tip-

off, a police team intercepted Sunil, Brijbhan and Dilip when they were going on a motorcycle with the contraband yesterday. (Agencies)

AR troops seize cache of ammunitions, explosives

Imphal, Aug 23: Troops of 40 Assam Rifles under IGAR (S) 9 Sector along with Lilong police station personnel in a joint operation at Waithou area, Manipur recovered huge cache of war like stores on Saturday. In a communiquĂŠ PRO IGAR(S) said, upon search the mine detector established an old cement bag hidden underneath the earth in an open field. The combined team later seized warlike stores from the cement bag that include-- 920 numbers of .38 ammunition, 21 numbers of .303 live rounds, one 40mm lathod shell and one I COM radio set along with battery and charger. The recovered arms and ammunition has been handed over to the Lilong Police Station. (Agencies)

'Axing of India-Pakistan talks is government failure'

PAGE 5

REGION

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, AUGUST 24

Suspected militants attack village with bombs and guns, one killed Imphal, Aug 23: A man died and another injured after a group armed miscreants suspected to be cadres of an underground group attacked at a village in Manipur's Chandel district by firing guns and exploding bombs in the early hour of Saturday. The incident took place this early morning, around 4am. The deceased villager was identified as Wanunglou Aimol (45) of Ngairong village.

The dead body has been transferred at JNIMS morgue, Imphal for necessary procedures. Police reports said that around 20 armed miscreants suspected cadres of an underground enjoying cease fire with the government of India came to the Ngairong village and indulged in the terror act.

They dragged out Wanunglou Aimol from his house and killed him near the house of one of his relatives identified as Alianching by shooting with guns. Before leaving the village, the suspects opened fire several rounds of guns towards the house of the Alianchung besides exploding at least two hand grenades. The house of the Alianchung was badly damaged in the attack, police said quoting the villagers. A

villager was also reportedly hurt in the attack. However, his details could not be culled out for the time being. Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the incident.

They were looking if the incident was related with past instance of deceased defying a warning of the underground group killing him or a tension that was surfaced between two neighbouring tribal village.

Wanunglou might have been killed by the underground group for defying its earlier warning. He was allegedly involved actively in the collection of "tax" for a Kuki based underground group and there were instances of giving him warning from a Naga based underground group for the act, a report received by the police said. As the incident took place at a time tension was running high between

two tribal communities of different places over the ownership of a fishing place, police have another reason to suspect interference by armed groups in the dispute. A tension was being prevailing between two villages of different tribes living two neighbouring villages in the outskirt of the Pallel town of the district over ownership of a fishing gorge at the nearby hill. On August 16 last, villagers of

Aimol village who went for fishing were beaten up the villagers of its neighbouring Molnoi village while claiming that the place they were fishing belongs to them. The tension was escalated after two villagers went missing amidst the prevailing tension. The killing and attack to the Ngairong village incident took place at a time the district police were exploring ways and means to calm the tension. There

were reports of police hosting a meeting of the leaders of the two villages to resolve the differences today. However, the proposed meeting was not convened after matter of the venue of the meeting. A 50-year-old tribal was killed and another injured when suspected NSCN (IM) cadres fired indiscriminately at Ngairong in Chandel district of Manipur on Saturday. S Walunglua Aimol alias Manglun (50) was killed and Ringneised Aimol received bullet injury when suspected NSCN (IM) cadres fired in the village early this morning, police officials said. Two grenades were also lobbed at the house of former assistant village chief S Chungosei Aimol (60) at about 4.30 am, but no harm was done to him and his family, they said. On receiving information about the incident a police team along with Assam Rifles rushed to the spot to chase the NSCN(IM) cadres and conducted combing operation in nearby areas. Tension has been brewing in the area for the past few days as Aimol tribals have been refusing to affiliate with the Nagas as they want to keep their independent identity in the state, police officials said. (Agencies)

Bihar Assembly polls: Paswan rules out Bihar accidents his being in race for NDA CM nominee kills seven

Patna, Aug 23: JD-U president Sharad Yadav on Sunday said the cancellation of the NSA-level talks between India and Pakistan reflected the failure of "our foreign policy". It is also a setback for the country's prestige, he told the media here. "Cancellation of the India-Pakistan talks is a re-

IPFT stages ugly show at Agartala Tripura, Aug 23: The regional IPFT party, known for the unruly behavior of his cadres, today staged another ugly show at Agartala. The show in the form of procession moved through the streets of Agartala raising slogans for separate state called 'Twipra land', shouting abuses at Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and vociferously opposing any interaction between tribals and non-tribals . The unruly cadres of IPFT had also assaulted peaceful citizens who needed emergency crossing of the roads. The whole ugly show left a better taste in the minds of the people of Agartala.

(Agencies)

sult of half-cooked homework of the central government," Yadav said. Pakistan on Saturday cancelled the talks between the national security advisers of the two countries after India opposed any meeting between its visiting officials and Kashmiri separatists.

(Agencies)

Patna, Aug 23: In the run up to the crucial Bihar assembly elections, Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan has ruled out his being in the race for NDA's chief ministerial candidate, saying he would like to remain in the national politics.

"I would like thank (BJP MP) Shatrughan Sinhaji. He is our well-wisher from the beginning. We are like brothers. But, I have already said that I will remain in national politics and not go to the state," he told reporters here last evening. He was asked about the comments of actor-turned-BJP MP Sinha that Paswan

would make a better chief ministerial candidate for NDA in Bihar. Paswan said that NDA is unlikely to announce any chief ministerial candidate ahead of elections and that the Chief Minister, in the event of an NDA victory, would be elected only after the polls. He said the issue of seat-sharing among the NDA allies for the Bihar polls should be over by this month-end. "Seat-sharing is not an issue. We will sit.

But, we have not sat so far (for talks on seat-sharing).

We will sit and decide. I feel that it should be done quite early. It should be done within this month," he said.

Maintaining that the special

package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has silenced the ruling JD(U) and its allies, Paswan said NDA would win the elections comfortably. "The programme (Ara rally) of Prime Minister Modiji made it clear that there is no fight. We will win with two-thirds majority. An NDA government will be formed. The NDA alliance is absolutely solid," he said.

The development package announced by the Prime Minister had a very good impact and the announcement has silenced Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the JD(U)?s allies, Paswan said. "It had very good im-

Mudslide cut off Nagaland-Manipur road Dimapur, Aug 23: National Highway 29 leading to Manipur has been totally cut off after a major landslide from the hill top on August 20 in Phesema village on Saturday, around 10km away from the state capital Kohima. A private blue hill bus and an excavator belonging to BRO stuck in the mudslide gradually went down in the mudslide and only small parts could be seen. Southern Angami Youth Organization (SAYO) general secretary Neiba Bio in an appeal, informed this Correspondent that heavy vehicles have been asked not to ply along Chakhabama to Kidima village road till further notice as the life line for Southern Angami areas was not in good condition in some places. The youth organization also expressed grati-

tude to DC Kohima, chief engineer, police officials, SDO (C) Jakhama block for inspecting the landslide area Phesama and helping Phesama village council and youth organization to clear

the road at the earliest.

SAYO also extended gratitude to New Reserve Youth Organization, St. Joseph's college commerce students for helping the travelers by carrying their luggage from

pact. People of Bihar did not have such expectation.

Even Nitish Kumar did not know. Nitish Kumar was seeking Rs 50,000 crore.

But the Prime Minister hit a six. He announced Rs 1,25,000 crore at once.

Now, they are silenced.

They are not able to say anything, not able to give an answer," he said. The erstwhile UPA government did not make any concrete help in the form of a package for Bihar though Nitish Kumar had sought it, Paswan alleged. "When Chidambaram was Finance Minister, Nitish Kumar used to do his 'chamcha giri'. He even

went to drop him (Chidambaram) in Congress office. He announced Rs 10,000 crore.

That was also not given.

Without asking (for it), the Prime Minister announces Rs 1,25,000 crore. "Nitish Kumar did not go for that meeting at Ara (where the package was announced).

Good that he did not go there. Otherwise, he would say that we asked for it and then only it was given.

That's why, there is limitless happiness among people of Bihar. We thank the Prime Minister on behalf of Lok Janshakti Party and NDA," he said. (Agencies)

TMC MPs to visit FTII to show solidarity with students

Kolkata, Aug 23: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be sending three party MPs to FTII Pune to express solidarity with students protesting for nearly three months against Gajendra Chauhan's appointment as the institute's chairman, the Trinamool Congress said on Saturday. Trinamool Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien said the delegation comprising Lok Sabha members Abhishek Banerjee and Phesama via Kisama. Fur- Satabdi Roy and himself ther, SAYO also expressed would visit the Film and gratitude to the Border Television Institute of Roads Organization (BRO) for their tireless effort to India (FTII), Pune on clear the road at the earli- Monday to show solidarity with the students. est. (Agencies)

Lending her support to the agitating students, Banerjee, also the Trinamool supremo, on Friday had urged the Narendra Modi-led central government to resolve the impase. "The central government must resolve the prevailing unrest situation at FTII, Pune.

They must take students and teachers into confidence. Political purpose should not stand in the way, institutions are above everything. "Since I was associated with student movements in the past, I respect student movement.

I support their genuine cause always," Banerjee had said on a social networking site. (Agencies)

Patna, Aug 23: Seven people were killed and two others seriously injured when a speeding truck hit their auto-rickshaw in Bihar's Arwal district, police said on Sunday. The accident took place near Arwal town, about 75 km from here. The victims were returning to Hasanpur village on Saturday after police freed them in connection with a criminal case. (Agencies)

State university bill: State govt to take assent from Guv Tripura, Aug 23: Recently passed the state university bill in the Monsoon session of Tripura legislative assembly will get the assent of Governor within one week and will be published through gazette notification, said Higher Education Minister Tapan Chakraborty.

Chakraborty added that as per the HRD ministry guidelines, which colleges of the state government wanted to de-affiliate from the Tripura Central University would be decided soon , and accordingly, the state can affiliate them through requirement. This step of de-affiliation can be done as it is noted in the central provision. (Agencies)

Youth in the northeast motivated to join armed forces Agartala/Guwahati, Aug.23 (ANI): In order to encourage youth of the north east to join the armed forces and increase their presence, recruitment rallies and awareness programmes are frequently being organized in the region. Recently, a large number of youth eagerly participated in the 'Know Your Army' recruitment rallies in Tripura and Assam, where they got a chance to learn about the working of the armed forces

and their technological strength. These young boys and girls said they were keen to take part in the recruitment drives organised jointly by the army and the Assam Rifles in Agartala.

Students and NCC cadets came out in large numbers to witness the demonstrations on the usage of different weapons and equipments by the security personnel.

Besides highlighting the defense capabilities of the army, the event also aimed

at educating the youngsters about the prospects of joining security forces in order to channelize their potential in the right direction. A musical drill was also performed during the exhibition to entertain the children.

Susmita Kar, an NCC Cadet, said "This is a great opportunity for the youths to know about the army. It will not only motivate them but also convince their parents to know what are the advantages of joining the army and

will help in joining the Indian Army." Aditya, a student, "I really felt good to see so many new things. Till now, I had only used such arms in video games but now I have got the feeling of the real arms. Now I want to join the army and serve my motherland." A similar arms exhibition rally organized at the Jorhat stadium in Assam was also attended by a large number of students and locals. The fair exhibited various infantry weapons, ma-

chine guns, long range mortars, equipments and state-ofthe-art communication equipments used by the Special Forces. The youngsters were excited to learn about the various weapons and equipments used by the army.

They expressed an interest to join the armed forces. Ronip Das, a student, "This is quite an exciting exhibition. There are many kinds of artilleries, arms and ammunitions. Here we can see the power of the Indian Army which protects

our borders from different infiltrates and terrorists." Ritesh Borah, another student, "After seeing this, I think that after growing up I will join the Indian Army and protect the nation. All the stuff here is really cool and the youngsters should come and see because they are all very interesting." Besides making people aware about the capabilities of the security forces, such events help in encouraging youngsters to join the armed forces.

Pak deviated from Ufa agenda, says Rajnath

NCP says India's strategy to be blamed for NSA talk's cancellation New Delhi, Aug. 23: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today said that the Indian Government's foreign policy strategy had to be blamed for the cancellation of the NSA-level talks that were scheduled to be held in New Delhi today and tomorrow.NCP leader

Lucknow, Aug. 23: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today blamed Pakistan for backing out of the NSA-level talks between both the nations, saying they deviated from the Ufa agenda." Pakistan deviated from the agenda signed by the Prime Ministers of both the countries in Ufa, which said the talks would be fo-

cused on terror between the NSAs of both the countries," Singh told media."It is unfortunate that Pak has called off talks, India wanted to have talks," he added.He pointed out that it was decided in Ufa that the dialogues will take place bilaterally and won't involve a third party (ANI)

Tariq Anwar told media here, "Pakistan did not want this talk to happen. There is there is some failure from our foreign ministry as well.

The agenda must have been decided before the talks. I think this is failure of the strategy of our foreign ministry."Anwar added,

New Delhi, Aug. 23: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj left on a two nation tour of Egypt and Germany today."Renewing a civilizational connect.

EAM @SushmaSwaraj departs on her first visit to Egypt followed by Germany," tweeted MEA official spokesperson Vikas

The supporters of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the leader of the hard line faction of the Hurriyat, today staged a protest outside his residence against his detention on the protesters, which left four of the supporters injured.A heavy contingent of police was seen camping outside the 84-year-old separatist leader's Hyderpora residence after he was once again put under house arrest earlier to-

Swarup. Both countries are expected to review bilateral relationship with a particular focus on enhancing economic engagement during the External Affairs Minister's visit.India and Egypt, two of the world's oldest civilizations, have enjoyed a history of close contact from ancient times.

day shortly.He was attempting to leave his residence to address a seminar in Srinagar.The Centre has spent the past week detaining Kashmiri separatist leaders after the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi invited them to attend a re-

ception that was to be held in honour of Pakistan's National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz today evening .The house arrest of Geelani comes a day after Pakistan cancelled the NSA-level talks, following an exchange of verbal volleys with the Indian Government over what would constitute the agenda for the talks.Pakistan insisted that the Kashmir issue must be taken up at the meeting that was scheduled for August 23 and 24, while India insisted that the discussions must remain focused on the issue of terror and violence as agreed upon by the prime ministers of the two countries during their meeting on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Ufa, Russia.

(ANI)

Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood leader sentenced to life in prison Johannesburg, Aug 23: Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie and 16 others have been sentenced to life in jail over charges of killing five people in Egypt in an attack in 2013, according to reports.According to meNorth, South Korea to hold second round of talks to reduce tensions London, Aug 23 : North and South Korea are expected to hold a second round of talks today to reduce the growing tensions .According to the media, the announcement came following hours of negotiations on Saturday. Senior aides to the two countries' leaders met at the Panmunjom truce village on the border.

North Korea had threatened South Korea with "strong military action" if the latter did not stop border loudspeaker broadcasts that had provoked a "semi-state of war" .The two countries agreed to meet on Sunday to reduce differences following 10 hours of negotiations. (ANI)

dia, Badie and senior Brotherhood members Mohammed el-Beltagy and Safwat Hegazy were accused of inciting other Brotherhood members to attack a police station in the Mediterranean city of Port Said, and kill its

officers and soldiers.

Badie has already been sentenced to death and to life in prison in other trials.The court sentenced 76 others in absentia to the same punishment. Badie has already been sentenced to

death and to life in prison in other trials.The case is one of a series of mass trials involving supporters of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood since they were toppled from power in 2013. (ANI)

British Hostage Rescued in Yemen Operation: Foreign Office London, Aug 23: A British hostage has been freed in Yemen following an operation by United Arab Emirates forces, the Foreign Office in London announced today."I'm pleased to confirm that a British hostage held in Yemen has been extracted by UAE forces in a military intelligence operation," Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said in a statement. Hammond added that the freed hostage was "safe and well" and that Britain was "very grateful for the assistance of the

"People were looking forward to it as high level talks were about to take place.So people expected that there will be an effective outcome from it, so even America must have hopes. But I think the foreign ministry of both the nations did not pay proper heed to these

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today said that the Indian Government's foreign policy strategy had to be blamed for the cancellation of the NSA-level talks that were scheduled to be held in New Delhi today and tomorrow.

Sushma Swaraj leaves on two nation tour of Egypt and Germany

Supporters protest outside Geelani's house against his detention

Srinagar, Aug 23: The supporters of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the leader of the hard line faction of the Hurriyat, today staged a protest outside his residence against his detention here today. Police had to use water cannon and tear gas

PAGE 6

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, AUGUST 24

UAE". The statement did not identify the person or give any further details of the operation to free them.

Yemen has been wracked

by conflict since March, when a Saudi-led coalition launched air strikes against Iranian-backed Huthi rebels. Yemeni loyalists are backed by countries including Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The war has killed nearly 4,500 people, many of them civilians, according to the United Nations. Last year, British teacher Mike Harvey was released after being held for five months in Yemen following negotiations by the government in Sanaa.

(Agencies)

Since the 1980s, there have been four Prime Ministerial visits from India toEgypt: Rajiv Gandhi (1985); P. V. Narasimha Rao (1995); I. K. Gujral (1997); and Dr. Manmohan Singh (2009).Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh participated in the XV NAM Summit held in Sharm EI Sheikh

in July 2009.India and Germany have a 'strategic partnership' since 2001, which has been further strengthened with two rounds of Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) in New Delhi in May 2011, as well as in Berlin in April 2013.The next IGC is scheduled to take place in India in October 2015. (ANI)

Pak running factory of terrorism, can't dictate terms on India: Sanjay Raut New Delhi, Aug. 23: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut today welcomed the tough response of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) ahead of the NSA-level talks and said that Pakistan, which is running a factory of terrorism, cannot dictate terms on India. Taking a jibe at Pakistan over the latest developments, Raut said the neighbouring nation goes into the same mode whenever talks are scheduled to take place."Earlier also, the situation was the same during the Secretarylevel talks and now it's the same as far as the

NSA-level talks are concerned. Pakistan is running a factory of terrorism. If you talk on the same (terrorism) then they will be exposed. We all are aware of it. So, Pakistan has run away out of fear," Raut told media here."I

welcome that the talks are not taking place. I welcome the move of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. The role of our External Affairs Ministry has been very strong. In the similar manner, Pakistan should be given a befitting reply," he added.

Pakistan called off the NSA-level talks with India late on Saturday night .A statement issued by the Pakistan Foreign Office said the proposed talks will not serve any purpose if conducted on the basis of what it called 'preconditions' laid down

by India. (ANI)

issues."Pakistan called off the NSA-level talks with India late on Saturday night.A statement issued by Pakistan Foreign Office said the proposed talks will not serve any purpose if conducted on the basis of what it called "preconditions" laid down

by India. (ANI)

Gas cylinder blast claims three lives in Andhra Pradesh Mahabubnagar (Andhra Pradesh), Aug 23: At least three people have died and two injured were injured after a gas cylinder exploded in Andhra Pradesh's Mahabubnagar District today. Police said that one of the two persons injured in the mishap is in critical condition. They said that the explosion took place inside a house in the area. (ANI)

Builder shot dead in South Delhi, five detained New Delhi, Aug.23: A builder operating his business in the national capital was shot dead today morning. Police said that they have detained at least five people for questioning in connection with the murder of Raju, a small time builder. They said Raju had died on the spot after being shot while travelling on a motorcycle on Saturday night. He was shot by some unknown men who were driving in an SUV, said the police. They said that the incident had taken place in a prominent locality of South Delhi. (ANI)

In 2014, Madhya Pradesh Registered 13 Rapes Every Day. Highest in India Bhopal, Aug 23: For the third consecutive year in a row, Madhya Pradesh has been ranked number 1 by the National Crime Records Bureau for the maximum number of rape cases. In 2014, the state recorded 5,076 rape cases, which is an average of 13 rapes every day. Half of the women who were raped were minors. In Bhopal, the media met with the family of a 17 year old girl who was repeatedly raped and blackmailed a year ago, allegedly by a neighbour. When the

parents found out, they registered a complaint but the neighbour was out on bail within a week. The family of the teen says they are still receiving threats and for the safety of their daughter they put her in a correction home where she is dealing with the trauma on her own. "My daughter is at a children correction home in a way suffering and the accused is out on bail. I cannot bring my daughter home fearing that he may harm her," said the rape survivor's mother.Madhya Pradesh

also tops the list when it comes to sexual offence, with 15,170 cases registered last year. Activists say the state has a host of welfare scheme for girls and women but lacks vision to ensure their safety."Chief Minister's Vision 2018 does not have much focus on crime against women in it.

It talks about domestic violence, that too about their welfare scheme, but there is no mention of steps they will take to bring down crime against women," Prarthana Mishra, an activ-

ist from NGO Sangini told media. The state government has formed an allwomen Nirbhaya team to patrol and check crime against women and set up a women's helpline. But there is a lack of dedicated personnel for such projects.

The BJP government, embarrassed, is now evading the media over the issue.When we approached Home Minister Babulal Gaur on the issue he chose to evade the question and walked away briskly.

(Agencies)

Malaysia Finds More Graves and Human Remains near Thai Border Kualalumpur, Aug 23: Malaysian police said today they had found 24 human skeletons - all believed to be victims of trafficking - in newly discovered graves along the Thai border in the northern Malaysian state of Perlis .The latest gruesome discovery comes after police found 39 graves and 28 abandoned "detention" camps capable of housing hundreds of people

in May, laying bare the grim extent of the region's migrant crisis. The new graves were found on Saturday near the peak of a hill surrounded by jungle terrain and along the Thai border, not too far from the graves unearthed in May, Perlis police chief Shafie Ismail was quoted as saying

by Bernama, the country's official news agency."It is believed that heavy rain had

eroded the graves," he said.

After May's unearthing, the remains of 106 people were exhumed, mostly believed to be Muslim Rohingya fleeing persecution in Myanmar, as well as Bangladeshis seeking better opportunities abroad.Mass graves were also discovered on the Thai side of the border. The Rohingya, a Muslim minority from Myanmar, have for

years sought to escape what they say is worsening persecution by the country's Buddhist majority. Fleeing abroad by the thousands each year, they typically put their lives in the hands of often brutal smugglers and traffickers who arrange a perilous passage by sea and land, usually destined for Muslimmajority Malaysia. (Agencies)

Typhoon Goni Ravages Philippines, Heads towards Japan Manila, Aug 23: A weakened Typhoon Goni was headed towards Japan today, after battering the northern Philippines leaving at least 10 dead, and causing thousands of people to be evacuated off Taiwan's east coast.Today morning, Goni, packing gusts of 170 kilometres (106 miles) per hour, was located 360 kilometres (224 miles) from the Philippines' northernmost Batanes islands, moving northeast at 17 kilometres per hour, the Philippines government weather station said.

The Philippines was hit hardest by the storm, which triggered landslides and floods, killing at least ten people and leaving 17 missing in the north of the main island of Luzon."Pre-emptive evacuations have been conducted in most of the area but sad to note, some of the areas did not do a pre-emptive (evacuation) and some did real-time evacuation when the event was already starting to happen," said Alexander Pama, the country's civil defence chief.The 17 people missing were from a small mining

community that was buried by landslides, police in the area said.Although the Philippine weather station said most of the danger had now passed, 40 evacuation centres are still operational with over 4,000 people housed inside, said Tess Briones, disaster response chief at the social welfare department. In the northern province of Ilocos Norte, an island town in the middle of a river had its bridge destroyed, leaving about 730 families stranded, officials said. The storm is the ninth out of an average of 20 that hit the Philippines

each year. Moving northwards the storm weakened as it moved northwards off Taiwan's east coast, but the authorities warned of heavy rainfall with particular concern for areas left damaged and waterlogged by Typhoon Soudelor earlier this month."There will be regional downpours in eastern Yilan and mountainous areas in the north. Residents should heighten their vigilance against sudden heavy rains, with possible flooding in low-lying areas," Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau said in a statement today. Thou-

sands have been evacuated as a precaution, including 1,500 from the hot spring area of Wulai, just outside the capital Taipei, which was left devastated by Soudelor. Wulai residents have piled large sandbags along the river to prevent flooding, with the area already receiving 130 millimetres (five inches) of rainfall in the last two days as Goni approached.Ahead of the typhoon, 1,700 tourists were evacuated from outlying tourist destinations, bringing the total number of evacuees to almost 4,000.Authorities have warned people not to

visit coastal areas where towering waves have been crashing since Saturday.Typhoon Goni was 290 kilometres (167.4 miles) northeast of Taiwan's southern tip at 8:30 am Sunday (0030 GMT), according to the weather bureau.

The agency has issued high wave and strong wind warnings for the islands, part of Okinawa prefecture, calling on residents to exercise caution in case of possible landslides and flooding.The storm is expected to move toward Japan's main islands in the coming days, the agency added.(Agencies)

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, AUGUST 24

NEIGHBOURS

NATO contractors killed by Kabul car bomb identified as US citizens Washington, Aug 23: Three US civilian contractors were among those killed by a car bomb that targeted their NATO convoy, the US-led coalition in Afghanistan said, making the attack that killed 12 people one of the most lethal to target US citizens in recent years. The blast destroyed several vehicles, including a school van and an armoured pick-up truck believed to be used by the contractors which were left twisted and blackened."One Resolute Support U.S. contractor was killed and two Resolute Support US contractors died of wounds," the NATO coalition known as Resolute Support said in a statement yesterday .Most of the dead were Afghan civilians and scores more were injured in the suicide attack outside a hospital on

3 killed, 8 missing in landslide in China Beijing, Aug 23: Three persons have been killed and eight others went missing in a landslide in China's southwestern Yunnan Province.

Three bodies were dug out from the debris of the landslide which took place yesterday at Funing County.

Eight persons are still unaccounted for after government workers visited households in several villages.

Witnesses said they saw people passing by the road when the disaster occurred.

Over 200 rescuers, along with 11 excavators and four sniffer dogs, are searching for the missing people in the debris. (Agencies)

Pak minister says responsibility for NSA talks cancellation rests with India Karachi, Aug 23: Pakistan's Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid has said that the responsibility for the cancellation of NSA-level talks rests with India. According to the media; Rashid's statement came in response to India's External Affairs Ministry for the meeting between the two countries' security advisers. He said Pakistan had been steadfast about its stance from day one and accused India of changing its position 'by the hour' .He said that it was important to discuss and resolve issues which are the root causes of terrorism in the region .Pakistan called off the NSAlevel talks with India late on Saturday night. A statement issued by Pakistan Foreign Office said the proposed talks will not serve any purpose if conducted on the basis of what it called "preconditions" laid down by India.

(ANI)

a busy residential street, heightening the anger felt in Kabul after a string of deadly blasts that killed dozens this month. The Taliban, who are fighting to

re-establish hard-line Islamist rule more than 13 years after the U.S.-led military intervention that toppled their regime, denied it was behind the attack. No group

has claimed responsibility.

The U.S. embassy in Kabul condemned the bombing."The United States remains committed to assisting our Afghan part-

ners in their efforts to ensure a peaceful future," it said in a statement. The violence has strained Afghanistan`s ties with neighbor Pakistan, with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani accusing the Pakistan government of not doing enough to stop militants planning attacks from training camps he says lie across the border. The official anger has spilled on to the streets, with protests against Pakistan`s alleged involvement in the recent bloodshed, including people burning the Pakistani flag and a campaign to boycott Pakistani products.

Saturday`s blast blew glass blown out of the windows of the Shinozada hospital and a six-storey building opposite. On its website, the Shinozada is described as Afghanistan`s first private hospital. (Agencies)

Thai Police Urge Patience as Lack of Equipment Hampers Bomb Probe

Bangkok, Aug 23: Authorities today urged patience in their hunt for the Bangkok shrine bomber, as the police chief admitted Thailand lacks some of the "modern equipment" to find the prime suspect captured on security cameras. Anxiety is mounting six days after the attack, which killed 20 people in the capital's commercial heart, with the bomber still on the run. The hunt has so far focused on a suspect in a yellow T-shirt seen on CCTV placing a rucksack under a bench at

the Erawan shrine minutes before the blast. A sketch of the man has been widely circulated. He is described on his arrest warrant as "foreign" but police have since said he could in fact be Thai or of mixed race. Unverified footage, time-stamped just a few minutes after Monday's blast, shows a second man in a blue T-shirt kicking a package into water near a bridge in the same spot where a device exploded on Tuesday without injuries. But police have not publicly linked the two

blasts despite pressure to reveal more."The slowness of the investigation is not because the police lack capacity," national police chief Somyot Poompanmoungyot told reporters."But it's because we don't have the modern equipment that supports the work."He did not reveal the equipment the police need but it is likely to be facial recognition technology or programmes to enhance security camera footage. Earlier in the week junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha bristled

at suggestions his government should seek overseas help in a complicated inquiry, with both the United Kingdom and Australia offering their expertise. Despite their technological limitations, Thai police say the investigation is progressing."We cannot give details of that progress let the police work," police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri said. "We are working around the clock but this kind of a case is not easy." The shrine bomb killed mostly ethnic Chinese tourists from across Asia.

More than 50 people remain in hospital. With no-one claiming responsibility, rumours and speculation have swirled in Thailand over the country's worst single mass-casualty attack in living memory. The potential perpetrators named by police and experts alike include international jihadists, members of Thailand's southern MalayMuslim insurgency, militants on both sides of Thailand's festering political divide or even someone with a personal grudge.

(Agencies)

3 RAB officials sued over BCL leader Arju killing Dhaka, Aug 23: A case has been filed against four people including three RAB officials on charge of abduction and killing of Chhatra League's Hazaribagh unit president Arju Mia.Victim's brother Md Masud Rana filed the petition case with Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Shahriar Mahmud Adnan's court on Sunday afternoon.The accused are RAB 2 Command-

ing Officer Col Masud Rana, DAD Shahinur Rahman, Inspector Md Wahid and RAB source Ratan. Several unnamed people were also made accused in the case. The court recorded the statement of the petitioner. It will pass the order later in the day. Arju Mia, the Hazaribagh unit president of pro-government Chhatra League, was killed in a so-called crossfire with the Rapid Action Battalion per-

sonnel on August 18, hours after being sued as a prime accused for beating a teenager to death in the area.RAB had arrested Arju on Monday night following a complaint lodged by the victim's sister.

The gunfight occurred when the RAB team headed towards Baroikhal area to arrest his associates."Some miscreants attacked the RAB patrol team to

snatch Arju around 3:30am. Arju was hit by bullets as he tried to flee," RAB Assistant Director Maj Maksud claimed adding that doctors at Dhaka Medical College Hospital declared Arju dead.Hazaribagh police registered the case of Raja's sister Reshma Akhter Shabana on August 18 against 14 people with Arju named the prime accused. (Agencies)

US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal to arrive in Sri Lanka on Tuesday Colombo, Aug 23: The United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal will arrive in Sri Lanka Tuesday. The top official is expected to hold talks with the key government officials including the Foreign Minister and Prime Minister Ranil

PAGE 7

Wickremesinghe on Tuesday morning and later expected to call on the President Maithripala Sirisena.

Biswal, accompanied by several other top officials will be in Sri Lanka to discuss the report of the UN-mandated investigation into the alleged war crimes.The report is to be made public at the

UN Human Rights Council's 29th session in Geneva next month.

The UNHRC deferred the release of the report by six months to September to allow Sri Lanka's new government of Maithripala Sirisena more time to conduct a domestic probe. (Agencies)

Jail for corrupt ministers, Sri Lanka policymaker says Colombo, Aug 23: Sri Lanka's newly elected government will complete major reforms to make the economy more competitive within the first six months in office and put behind bars any Cabinet minister who becomes corrupt, a top policy maker said.

Harsha de Silva, a former Deputy Minister of Policy Planning and Economic Affairs, said the island's competitiveness had fallen in recent years but the new government aims to make it the most competitive economy in the region. "Amending legislation will happen at the speed of 'greased lightning'," he told the annual general meeting of the Spices and Allied Products Producers and Traders Association.

"The main reforms required will be done in the first six months, although some will be difficult to swallow."Previous administrations of the United National Party of which he is a member had done reforms within similar time frames of getting elected, de Silva said, referring to UNP governments in the late 1970s and 1990s."We will cut through all red tape for investors," de Silva said. "Let me give you the assurance that we are not going to stop until we put policies in place to increase

exports not 10-15 percent but by several fold." De Silva advocated tough action against politicians who become corrupt after being appointed as Cabinet ministers, noting how corruption in the ousted Rajapaksa regime had deterred foreign investors.A proposed investment by German car manufacturer Volkswagen, now the world's biggest automaker, never came through under the Rajapaksa regime as the "transaction cost was so high, the investment was not worth it," de Silva said, alluding to bribes."The first minister who gets caught cheating in the new government should be put in jail," he declared.

The new government has launched several probes into allegations of corruption under former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, who has denied any wrongdoing.

Politicians in the proposed new national government between the UNP and the main opposition Sri Lanka Freedom Party will share responsibilities, not just through ministries but by involvement in parliamentary oversight committees, de Silva also said."Most elected members will have some responsibility.

It will be different from the traditional government versus opposition (pattern). It will be something we have not seen before." (Agencies)

9 Injured in East China Chemical Plant Blast

Beijing, Aug 23: An explosion at a chemical plant in east China late Saturday injured nine people with 150 firefighters battling the resulting blaze.The blast comes after 121 people were killed in massive explosions last week at a hazardous goods storage facility in the northern port city of Tianjin.The incident Saturday occurred at a plant in Huantai county near the city of Zibo in Shangdong province. The

plant is a subsidiary of Shangdong's Runxing Group and produces chemicals including adiponitrile, a combustible chemical mainly used in the production of nylon, it said. Firefighters from neighboring cities were heading to help tackle the blaze.No deaths have been reported.In Tianjin, 54 people are still missing after the explosions which sparked fears of toxic pol-

Latif Siddique to resign as Member of Parliament

Dhaka, Aug 23: Sacked minister Abdul Latif Siddique has declared to resign from his parliamentary post.He made the announcement after attending the hearing of Election Commission (EC) over the legitimacy of his parliament membership today morning."I will resign from my post as my leader [Sheikh Hasina] wants so and there is no controversy over the matter. There is no necessary to hold hearing on this," Latif said.He said he would send the resignation letter to the speaker.Awami League lawyers said as Latif Siddique was expelled from his party, the lawyers sent a letter to the speaker about Latif's termination.After Latif Siddique's decision to step down, the Election Commission adjourned its hearing for two weeks.Election Commissioner Md Shah Newaz said the commissioner would announce its final decision on the matter in the hearing after two weeks. Earlier in the day, the High Court order that rejected Latif's petition challenging EC's jurisdiction to carry out the hearing was upheld in the Supreme Court. The four-member bench headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha passed "no order" on Latif's petition today morning. The sacked minister filed the petition on August 20, after the High Court rejected Latif's petition allowing the Election Commission to hear the dispute. The EC on August 9 fixed August 23 to hear the matter. It sent a notice to the former minister and Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam to be present during the hearing at its Agargaon office. In September last year, Siddique allegedly made derogatory remarks on Hajj while speaking at a programme in New York.Following the incident, dozens of cases were filed against him in different courts across Bangladesh. Later, he was sacked from from the cabinet on October 12 last year.

He also lost his Awami League membership following the remarks. (Agencies)

lutants contaminating the air and water of the city, which has a population of around 15 million people.Thousands of tonnes of hazardous chemicals were stored at the site, officials have said, including about 700 tonnes of highly poisonous sodium cyanide, a white powder or crystal which can give off lethal hydrogen cyanide gas.

(Agencies)

Nepal police arrest 30 in protest against new constitution Kathmandu, Aug 23: Nepalese police arrested 30 demonstrators in the capital today for trying to enforce a nationwide strike, the latest in a string of protests against the new constitution."We have arrested 30 demonstrators in Kathmandu for trying to block roads, vandalize vehicles and close shops," police spokesman Kamal Singh Bam told media.The protesters were from Nepal's federation of indigenous nationalities, which called a nationwide strike against the borders of new provinces proposed in the draft constitution.Nepal's bickering parties struck a breakthrough deal earlier this month to carve the country into six provinces in a new constitution, since modified to include a seventh province.But hundreds of demonstrators have campaigned against the proposed internal borders, saying they fail to ensure political representation for marginalized communities, including the Madhesis and Tharus.The demonstrations have sparked clashes with police who have shot dead three people in Nepal's midwest and south over the last two weeks.Lawmakers from the Sadbhawana party, which represents Madhesis from southern Nepal, walked out of the constituent assembly on Tuesday saying they had been "reduced to helpless witnesses" in the political process.Following the unrest Nepal's political leaders revised the six-province model, adding a seventh province in the new draft, but the changes have failed to appease marginalized communities. Political agreement on the borders was struck four months after April's devastating earthquake helped bring a halt to the seemingly endless bickering between rival parties.Uncertainty from the political wrangling had left the impoverished Himalayan nation in limbo. (Agencies)

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DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, AUGUST 24

Mawsynram records highest rainfall Wettest place by far By average annual rainfall, the wettest place is Mawsynram, Meghalaya, India, with 11,873 mm (467 in) of rain per annum. Meghalaya means 'land of the clouds'. Most of the rain occurs during the monsoon season, between June and September. The second rainiest place is Cherrapunji, also in Meghalaya, with an average annual rainfall of 11,430 mm (450 in) per year, which can actually suffer drought outside the monsoon season.

Perched on the edge of a ridge in the southern slopes of Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district, the tiny town of Mawsynram has received record highest rainfall in a single day with a little over 745 mm or nearly 30 inches of rainfall this month.

With over 745 mm of rains in a single day, the town has received over 1500 mm of rainfall within the last three days. Shops, business establishments remained closed and few cars plied on the road in view of the incessant rains. As per reports Mawsynram received 745.2 mm of rainfall on August 19 and this could be the highest rainfall received by the town and its nearby areas till date. The officials said that the record is almost twice as that of what Sohra (erstwhile Cherrapunji) received on the same day. According to the meteorology office concerned, Sohra received 471.7 mm of rainfall that day, the highest in the last 10 years while in August 2005, it received 407.7 mm of rainfall. Both Mawsynram and Sohra towns have received bountiful rainfall this year breaking their own records for several years.

In June, Mawsynram received 4781.2 mm while Sohra received 4355.5 mm of rainfall, both record breaking since 1995. The onslaught of heavy rainfall in Meghalaya, Assam and the foothills of Himalayas is due to the Monsoon trough. The IMD has also warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in both these states prompting the state machinery to put in place flood and landslides warnings till August 23-24.

Mawsynram and Sohra - the two towns already in record books as the rainiest places on earth - receive maximum condensation through the funnel-shaped catchment opening to the south on either side of where they are located. The precipitation occurs at around 4500 feet where both towns are located. The record rainfall in these two neighbouring towns in the same district had many people wondering where all the water goes to. Water quickly flows down the narrow streets into the streams and to nearby big rivers that flow directly to Bangladesh.

When India Almost Intervened in Mauritius Operation Lal Dora, a 1983 Indian plan to invade Mauritius, sheds light on New Delhi's thinking about the Indian Ocean.

Ankit Panda

Operation Lal Dora, a shelved 1983 plan by the Indian government to militarily intervene in the small Indian Ocean island state of Mauritius to prevent a coup, is a fascinating piece of Indian Ocean history and sheds light on how New Delhi thinks about the region. A 2013 paper authored by David Brewster and Ranjit Rai highlights a range of interesting developments in Indian military planning and strategic thinking around the operation, long seen as a perfunctory footnote in India's Cold War history. Contrary to received wisdom about India's inability to extricate itself from "non-aligned" thinking during the Cold War, Indira Gandhi's government was quite ready to apply the levers of hard power against to protect Indian interests. Finally, the episode highlights the embarrassing degree to which the different branches of the Indian armed forces were stove-piped at the time; the Indian Army had no idea what the Navy was up in the planning phase of the operation and vice versa.

Although we live in the 21st century, child labour still remains a serious problem in many parts of the world. Many of the children living in underdeveloped countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia still suffer and face problems emanating from child labour.

Their living conditions are crude and their chances of receiving education minimal. The income they bring in is, however, necessary for the survival of their families. In other cases, children are bonded, working to pay off an initial cash advance from the employer with escalating interest which leaves them effectively slaves. Some of the legal and programmatic initiatives undertaken in India over the last decade or so to address the problem of child labour are yet to accomplish their mission. These programmes remain committed to the full eradication of all forms of child labor wherever it might exist in India, beginning with the most exploitative and hazardous forms - which is the foremost goal adopted as part of national policy.

Both the Indian courts and the National Human Rights Commission have been paying increasing attention to the issue. India has also been participating in the International Programme on Elimination of Child Labor (IPEC) of the ILO. But the problem remains vast, and finding resources for rehabilitation schemes, given the magnitude of the problem, is a persistent challenge.

India is sadly the home to the largest number of child labourers in the world. The census found an increase in the number of child labourers from 11.28 million in 1991 to 12.59 million in 2001. M.V. Foundation in Andhra Pradesh found nearly 400,000 children, mostly girls between seven and 14 years of age, toiling for 14-16 hours a day in cottonseed production across the country of which 90% are employed in Andhra Pradesh. 40% of the labour in a precious stone cutting sector is children.

According to HAQ: Centre for child rights, child labour is highest among scheduled tribes, Muslims, scheduled castes and OBC children. The persistence of child labour is due to the inefficiency of the law, administrative system and because it benefits employers who can reduce general wage levels. In 2000 the ILO estimated 5.5 million children had been forced into labour in Asia, while the Bonded Labour Liberation Front placed 10 million bonded children in India alone. In 1998 the government of India labeled bonded child labour as a marginal problem with only 3000 or so cases. A survey in Tamil Nadu in 1995 found 125,000 bonded child labourers in the state alone. Child bonded labour in India is prevalent mostly in the agricultural sector but has in recent times been moving into other sectors as well such as beedi-rolling, brick kilns, carpet weaving, commercial sexual exploitation, construction, fireworks and matches factories, hotels, hybrid cottonseed production, leather, mines, quarries, silk, synthetic gems, etc.

To stop the crime happening against the future generations of our country, we all must join hands and try to put a full stop to this crime.

Mauricien party managed to defeat the long-standing India-backed Mauritian Labour Party government led by Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, was initially welcomed by the Indian government. Ultimately, frictions between Jugnauth

and Berenger led the former to approach India for support. Berenger, in addition to being seen as favoring policies that would have been deleterious for Mauritian Hindus, "called for close ties with Libya, the Soviet Union, and socialist-leaning African states." This in itself

conversion of Mauritian Hindus to Islam." Ultimately, Berenger and his supporters came to represent a coup risk, leaving Jugnauth cornered and New Delhi anxious about possibly losing an important client state in the Indian Ocean.

By mid-1983, when

the rift between Jugnauth and Berenger had manifested more clearly and fears of a coup were real, top Indian military planners were readying the country for military intervention. Here I recommend referring to Brewster and Rai's paper, where they detail the tremendous military planning and bureaucratic hurdles that ultimately left Operation Lal Dora, the name for India's planned intervention in Mauritius, dead-on-arrival. The Indian Army and Navy exhibited a tremendous lack of coordination; their most senior leaders saw each other as adversaries. If India's modest naval and amphibious warfare capabilities at the time made successful intervention unlikely, a stumbling leadership and strategic disagreements at the top levels of political and military planning sealed the operation's fate.

Indira Gandhi ultimately shelved the operation. In the end, there was no coup, suggesting that rumors of an Indian mobilization adequately conveyed New Delhi's resolve in supporting

erations in the country.

The Mi-35M attack helicopter, the export version of the Mi-24 gunship, was developed by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and has been produced in Russia since 2005. Next to serving in the Russian military, the aircraft has been exported to Azerbaijan, Brazil, Iraq, and Venezuela.

The company website of Russian Helicopters notes that the Mi35 is particularly suited for mountainous terrain and can be deployed "round the clock" in adverse weather conditions.

The website notes that the helicopter offers "combat use of guided and unguided weapons in regular and challenging climate conditions" and

wouldn't have bothered New Delhi, which had signed a treaty of friendship with the Soviet Union in 1971, but the MMM and Berenger's sympathy for Muammar Gaddafi's Libya in particular drew scorn: "Libya was financing the

Jugnauth at the time. From 1983 onward, India's influence in Mauritus has persisted.

While the episode represented an interesting moment of strategic convergence between the United States and India at the height of the Cold War, it did not lead to any real sustained cooperation in the Indian Ocean. Today, New Delhi and Washington publicly acknowledge their convergent interests in the Indian Ocean region.

It's hard to imagine New Delhi using instruments from the toolkit of hard power today in the Indian Ocean to reign in states that are drifting out of India's orbit (the Maldives comes to mind here). Still, India today continues to see the Indian Ocean as its rightful backyard. In terms of geopolitical competition, matters are simpler today for India than they were in the 1980s.

Where New Delhi had to decide between its alignment with the Soviet Union and its interests in the Indian Ocean, the contemporary challenge posed by China's attempts to build strategic ties in the region present no such conflict.

Pakistan Is Buying New Attack Helicopters From Russia Islamabad and Moscow signed an agreement for the purchase of four MI-35 Hind gunships.

Perilous child labour The future generation at stake

Mauritius, with a large Hindu community and geographic proximity to India, is a close partner for New Delhi. The country has long been seen from New Delhi as a "little India" in the Indian Ocean-when Narendra Modi, the current Indian prime minister, visited Port Louis in March as part of a broader Indian Ocean tour, he called it "Chhota Bharat" (Little India), hearkening back to the term that was made popular by Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the first Indian prime minister to officially visit Mauritius in 1970.

In the early 1980s, though, New Delhi sensed that its special relationship with Mauritius could be threatened by the emergence of a new government that could subvert the interests of the island's Hindu population in favor of minorities. As Brewster and Rai note, there was concern that policies favored by Paul Berenger, a firebrand proSoviet leftist cabinet official in the government of Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth could "favor the Creole and Muslim minorities and potential provoke a refugee exodus by Hindus."

Jugnauth, whose opposition Mouvement Militant

Franz-Stefan Gady

In a move possibly inspired by the deepening of U.S.-India defense cooperation, Russia decided to approve the sale of four Mi-35M attack helicopters to Pakistan The Express Tribune reports.

"An agreement was signed between Pakistan and Russian authorities in Rawalpindi for the purchase of four Mi-35 helicopters," according to a senior Pakistani military official quoted in The Express Tribune.

The military official did not offer details on the planned delivery date of the aircraft or the helicopters' technical configura-

tion. The deal was likely concluded during Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif's visit to Russia in June of this year.

Initial talks over the purchase of the helicopters were already held last June. "We are currently holding consultations. We are talking about Mi-35 helicopters, we plan to supply them at the request of the Pakistani anti-drug trafficking agency," a Russian official said back then. Pakistan plans to officially use the helicopters to fight drug trafficking.

"Following the results of the talks held earlier on helicopters, which Pakistan would like to get from Russia, a draft contract on the delivery of

four Mi-35M gunships has been sent to the Pakistani side. Pakistan is now studying the document," a source within Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport told The Express Tribune.

Last June, Russia lifted a self-imposed arms embargo against Pakistan, in place since the Soviet-Afghan War, although Moscow, according to Pakistan's foreign ministry, never fully adhered to it.

The Mi-35M gunships will in all likelihood replace part of the Pakistani military's fleet of obsolete U.S. made AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters, which are primarily used for counterinsurgency op-

is "operational for attack flights at altitudes of 10-25 m daytime and 50 m at night over land or water."

The helicopter can be deployed for a host of different missions, including transporting up to eight paratroopers and carrying military supplies weighing up to 1,500 kg internally and 2,400 kg externally.

Scam In Agriculture Department Sir, Nilamoni Sen Deka's tenure as Agriculture minister was a notoriously chequered one. Right from the beginning, Mr. Sen Deka was very much in the news. First, it was for the 'a square meal for just two and a half rupees' suggestion. Then, by degrees, it transpired that he had amassed fabulous amount of property using different names, not excluding his cook. It seemed the power he enjoyed turned his head. Not only did the minister keep amassing wealth, he also allowed his subordinate officers for making it 'Free for all'. The end results have started coming now. The plea for anticipatory bail by 117 officers in 'Lime-stone-scam' is a case in point. The entire department is a cause for shame, like most other departments in the state. Nilamoni Sen Deka must not go scotfree.

Yours etc.

Ashok Bordoloi Dibrugarh Louis Berger Scam Sir, While Government of Goa registered much headway in unearthing the untold part of the Louis Berger scam and it was also instrumental in putting an erstwhile cabinet minister behind bars, the Government of Assam has cut a sorry figure. The mudslinging game is still on between the Chief-minister and the then Guwahati Development minister. The Chief-minister could cut the erstwhile Cabinet minister to size, but he (the CM) cannot absolve him-

self of some joint venture involving scams during their heyday. The CM's reluctance to handover the said case to CBI manifests that our CM might be under the grip of a fear psychosis. CBI might unveil many startling facts from which the CM might not be able to exonerate himself. The people of Assam have started smelling a rat at the way the state government is handling the case. The oft-repeated allegation of corruption by the ruling dispensation of the state is not without any basis. The way, the state government is trying to cover up a big scam projects the government in poor light.

Yours etc.

Ashok Bordoloi Dibrugarh

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

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

Op

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, AUGUST 24

As fresh violence erupted between two groups over the issue of Inner Line Permit (ILP) on 18th August, in Chandel district of Manipur and protests mounted across the state, life has come to a standstill except in the old secretariat road in Imphal where the 'more important' government offices are located.

For past few months Manipur has been wrangling with popular protests for implementing the Inner Line Permit system which is presently operative in three north-eastern states: Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. Earlier this week, on 17 August five students on indefinite hunger strike demanding ILP in the state were arrested, and admitted into the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal. On July 8, a similar mass protest-which was a materialization of the dormant anxieties of the native populace regarding the unabated influx of 'outsiders' to the state-witnessed the death of a XI standard student Sapam Robinhood which subsequently triggered civil unrest across the state.

In sum, much vitriol has been spilled in recent

For 36 years, a lone Mishing man has been planting saplings to grow a forest in Assam. Amrita Madhukalya talks to Jadav Payeng about his 1,350 acre patch of green His achievement and indomitable spirit may be reason to celebrate, but the life and times of Jadav Payeng should make us hang our heads in shame.

In 1979, when he was 16, Payeng was employed by Assam's Golaghat district forest department for a fiveyear afforestation project in Aruna Sapori, a tiny island on the Brahmaputra in northern Assam. Within three years, workers and officials decamped, leaving a dedicated Payeng to his own devices.

"One day, in the month of May, I saw several snakes withering and struggling in the hot sand. I saw other animals jump into the water

times over this issue; the atmosphere is complex and vitiated, and indications suggest that there is still more to come, rendering civil life into an impasse.

The 2011 Census stated that there were 7.5 lakh Meiteis, 6.7 lakh Tribals, and 7.4 lakh nonManipuris in the state.

When Scheduled Castes were excluded, it was found that there are 13,000 more nonManipuris than Meiteis.

Therefore, it is quite natural that the public discourse in Manipur has been dominated by this sole issue despite a devastating flood in the recent memory, and the indigenous communities' fear of becoming a 'minority' both demographically and culturally is allpervasive, of course with valid reasons. As public pressure mounted, the Congress-led Manipur government promised to draft an Inner Line Permit Bill within one month though Congress is officially opposed to it. Native communities in the state, irrespective of whether in the valley or in the hills, are anxiously awaiting the result with the hope that the bill will serve its interests.

The Manipur Assembly

ed

As Manipur Protests Entry Of 'Outsiders', Locals Suffer Without Basic Amenities Bikash K Bhattacharya had introduced the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill earlier this year aiming to regulate the entry of visitors and migrant workers but it was withdrawn on July 15 because the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS), which is spearheading the movement demanding implementation of the ILP, accused that it protected immigrants more than native Manipuris.

The foremost argument against the ILPS within the state is that it is an attempt by the state's dominant community, the Meiteis, to retain their pre-eminence in the power hierarchy. However this is not convincing. The idea of the Meiteis themselves being threatened and marginalised is very real as exhibited by the cen-

Jungle Lore: Meet the man who created 1,350 acre forest all by himself Amrita Madhukalya too due to the heat," he says over the phone line. "My heart wept for them. I couldn't help thinking that we were responsible for this state of affairs."

So Payeng decided to set things right. In the 36 years since, He has, with his own hands, planted thousands of saplings and plants to grow a forest of his own.

Today, his forest, known as Mulai Kathoni, is spread

PAGE 9

over 1,350 acres, and has its own ecosystem. Elephants, rhinos and tigers inhabit the woods.

With no help from officials and no funds to aid him, the Mishing man, known globally as the Forest Man, carried out the mission by himself. It was only when a local environmental journalist, Jitu Kalita, bumped into Payeng at the edge of Mulai Kathoni while working on a

sus data.

What is at stake?

There seems to be a sense of suspicion among the hill tribes that the government of Manipur is trying to avert the implementation of the Sixth Schedule by prioritising the demand for ILPS. It is notable that the valley populace has been largely silent on, if not opposed to, the issue of implementing Sixth Schedule in the hills, and this has created an atmosphere of distrust. Any constructive dialogue between the hills leaders and valley leaders was not visible in recent past.

What has worsened the situation is that some members of the intelligentsia are suspicious that the demand for ILPS has the twin objective of lending more strength and legitimacy to the Meiteis' demand for

story, did the world come to know of Payeng.

"Assam is a comparatively greener state, and yet, last year, around 2,000 people died here because of a drought. As we inch closer to what we think is development, we are fast losing the true riches nature has given us," he says.

Payeng says that Assam's forest department does not provide help for the protection of the rhinos in the forest, making them easy game for poachers. "In 1972, Jawarharlal Nehru decided to celebrate the environment with Jan Mahotsav," he says. "They still host functions every year, spending crores of rupees. But where are the trees? I don't see any."

"For 35 years, I did what I do as a citizen of the world.

But the way things are going, by 2020, we'll need three earths to accommodate us all."

Scheduled Tribe status.

Another unresolved question that has created confusion is whether the Kukis are natives of Manipur.

Hence trust is presently at stake among the Manipuris. Moreover, while the aim of the mass movement spearheaded

by JCILPS is to ensure an effective law for regulating or controlling migration to the state, the shibboleth accompanying it is Inner Line Permit (ILP). This shows a somewhat lack of clarity about the objective of the movement. It must not be forgotten that what has come to be known as ILP owes its origin to a colonial law, the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, 1873, and ILP cannot easily dissociate itself of the colonial spatial and cultural imageries, and the savagery/ civilization distinction that

was at play in its history.

Lack of clarity in terms of objective in the movement on a sensitive issue like migration could under-gird a xenophobic attitude among the natives.

Who are the sufferers?

"I am the sole breadearner of my family. This is for the third day I haven't been able to do business. No one is in the street", S Maibam, a vegetable vendor in Imphal says bleakly on Thursday, alluding to the woes suffered by the commoners like him as the new trend of 'flash-bandhs' is setting in, across the valley.

The recent flood and subsequent landslides have still kept parts of Chandel and Thoubal districts inaccessible from the valley. A youth from Laimatol hills area, of Chandel district, informs this scribe over phone that they are still trying to cope with the damages done by the flood. Now the protests and strikes in valley have added to their woes by cutting access to medical facilities and access to livelihoods, since most of the community members work as daily wage labourers in the valley.

With recent reports of 17

more volunteers from Thangmei-band United Club coming forward to carry on the stir, it seems lives of civilians, most of who are already ravished by flood and deprived of basic amenities, will be caught in a quagmire of 'street politics' for an indefinite period.

Ironically, denial of the right to livelihoods is itself a stain on democracy. All stakeholders to the ILPS issue, including the governments must understand this, and settle scores only after ensuring this.

How Moral Policing Isn't A Fight For Culture, It's A Fight Against Women's Empowerment I was just catching up on news one recent Sunday morning when I came across an article onBuzzfeed which talked about the public indecency suffered by women every day. This was on the heels of a spate of articles on the Mumbai police raid on hotels, fishing out

don't take action against public flashers. And I realized that it was not limited to the police and that it was a thinking that had seeped deep into the very fabric of our society, from the top

couples spending some well-deserved private time in a crowded city, thereby preserving our so-called moral traditions. Soon after, there was an article about a random guy in Delhi who tried toforcibly kiss a girl and almost got away with it.

This got me thinking about the dichotomous attitude of police, where on one hand they try toarrest couples who kiss in public and don't arrest a guy who is forcing a kiss with an unwilling girl, where they criticize women for wearing short clothes, but

most leaders of the country to the common man.

So, I started doing research for quotes which highlighted this two-faced responses and within a couple of minutes, I had filled whole pages with just quotes. Let me share some of the starkly divergent viewpoints on such topics. Even something as clear-cut as rape, is viewed with this lens of ambiguity. On one hand, it is excused as just a mistake or as just boys being naughty by senior political leaders. On the other hand, when it is actually considered as a crime, it is attributed to the victim, demonstrated by quotes

Nitin K V

such as "The victim is as guilty as her rapists . . ." or statements from people like the Chair of the Chhattisgarh State Women Commission "Women are 'equally responsible' for crimes committed against them" and from the Director General of Police - "If women dress pro-

fortunately, our leadership looks the other way for nonconsensual sex but comes down hard on consensual cases, which seems highly counter intuitive to you, me or any other rational person.

Especially, since the basic underlying act is the same.

This clearly tells us that the problem Indian authorities and esteemed leaders have

Beyond Strained History: Why Middle East Needs To Accept Iran's Nuclear Deal The Iran nuclear deal, a negotiation between Iran and the Permanent members of the UN Security Council- United States, France, China, Russia and United Kingdom along with Germany (P5+1 countries), has been grabbing headlines everywhere for the past one month.

According to the deal, Iran has agreed for a longterm limitation on all uranium enrichment related (nuclear) activities. Restrictive sanctions, earlier imposed on Iran because of its nuclear policy will also be removed, making it possible for Iran to enter the global market and considerably boost the growth of its economy.

If the Iran deal is passed by the US Congress in September, it will be a big step forward in nuclear co-operation and eventual disarmament. Iran's youth is ecstatic about the deal, but Iran's Middle East neighbours are apprehensive because of Iran's past reputation of being a terrorist state.

Saudi Arabia has shared a strained history with Iran, because of the Sunni-Shia conflict in both countries. Saudi Arabia believes that this deal will improve Iran's

Ankita Mukhopadhyay

economic standing, making it possible for it to invest and buy more ammunition for the proxy armies it funds around the Middle East (Hezbollah & Shia militias of Iraq).

For Israel, a major concern is that the deal will make Iran a nuclear threshold state, capable of developing a bomb at short notice. Israel has always been wary of Iran, because a nuclear Iran will endanger Israel's nuclear program, as it is currently the only country in the Middle East that possesses nuclear weapons. Bahrain is also skeptical of the deal, because

its Sunni ruling family believes it will help Iran increase its influence among the Shia majority in their country.

However, in Iran, young Iranians have welcomed the deal. The deal finally marks Iran's exit from isolation and the opening up of its 78.5 million consumer market to international interest. The scaling back of sanctions will help Iran keep bright students at home, who earlier left to look for better job opportunities abroad.

According to estimates, from 2009 to 2013 more than 300,000 Iranians left the country in search of

better opportunities abroad. Currently, an estimated 2.5 million to 3.0 million working-age adults in Iran are unemployed and looking for a job. The deal will help create jobs for Iran's large and relatively educated labour force. Iran's oil economy will also benefit from the deal, with its entry into the international market lowering crude oil prices by $5-$15 per barrel.

Iran's decision to participate in a deal that will help in nuclear co-operation throughout the Middle East region, and open up its economy, is a historic step forward for the country, especially for its youth, that can carry forward the values of nuclear co-operation and contribute to the global economy.

However, those opposing the deal are opposed because of their historical perception of Iran and the need to protect their own nuclear interests, rather than looking at the current political scenario. While Iran is well aware of the consequences of breaking the deal, the world economy is in need of Iran's participation.

Whether the deal will be accepted by the majority or not, only time will tell.

vocatively, then rapes are not in the control of the police".

We as a society, condemn sex, affection, relationships and everything related to them as dirty, dishonorable.

What makes it even worse is the sense of right and wrong and the judgment of people in authority regarding these topics.

Let us try to break it down: Consider the act of sex in two scenarios: one where the woman has given consent and in the other where she hasn't.

Which do you think should be ignored and excused away and which should be punished? Un-

is not with the act itself, but the one trait thing that distinguishes the two scenarios. Consent. From women. Because taking it away is okay, but trusting them with it is not.

It is something we all know, we all have read.

But, put together, it identifies the problem at its core, where women being empowered with choice and consent is considered as more threatening than the acts of violence against them.

At the end of the day, moral policing is not a fight for our culture or tradition, it's a fight against women's empowerment.

PAGE 10

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, AUGUST 24

Linde Group to invest Five IPOs to hit market this month in Andhra Pradesh Hyderabad, Aug 23: Germany's Linde Group plans to invest $200 million in freezing of sea food and adding value to exports in Andhra Pradesh, which tops in fisheries production in India. The Linde Group officials, who met chief minister Chandrababu Naidu in Vijayawada recently, said that the company also has a base in Gujarat and is looking for a strong base in Andhra Pradesh. "Andhra Pradesh has a long coast and has strong production of sea food. We want to support you in freezing of sea food and add value to exports.

We are looking to invest over $200 million," said Linde Group's CEO Wolfgang Buchele. According to a statement from the chief minister's office, Buchele explained Linde Group's expertise in cryogenic freezing of food, international gases market and engineering expertise in supporting olefin plants, natural gas plants and air

separation plants, as well as hydrogen and synthesis gas plants. Linde's executive board member Sanjiv Lamba said that the group is also interested in petroleum, chemical and petrochemicals investment region (PCPIR) and auto components. Lamba said that the company is also interested to set up an aircirculation plant, a lab and an academy that will train the personnel required for supporting food processing. Explaining

the advantages of Andhra Pradesh, Naidu said that the government is planning to make it the logistics hub of southeast Asia.

He advised the company officials to send their team to study the agriculture and allied activities in the state and identify business opportunities. The chief minister said that the Linde Group can also work on cold storage facilities in 13 food parks that are coming up across the state. (Agencies)

New Delhi, Aug 23: Looking to tap upbeat investor sentiments, five companies including Sadbhav Infrastructure Projects and Navkar Corp will hit the capital markets this month to raise an estimated over Rs 1,500 crore through IPOs. The bidding for shares in initial public offer (IPO) of Navkar will open tomorrow and close on August 26. The public offers of Pennar Engineered Building Systems and Shree Pushkar Chemicals and Fertilisers will begin on August 25 and close on August 27. In addition, Prabhat Dairy's initial share-sale offer will open for public subscription on August 28, while Sadbhav Infrastructure Projects will hit the markets on August 31. Together, the five companies are planning to garner at least Rs 1,551 crore.

The shares of all these companies are proposed to be listed on BSE and NSE.

The funds raised through the issues would be used for business expansion, repayment of loans and working capital requirements.

Power infrastructure services company Power Mech has already launched an IPO this month. Individually, logistics firm Navkar would mobilise up to Rs 510 crore by issuing fresh equity shares and rake in up to Rs 90 crore through sale of existing shares. It has set the price band at Rs 147155 for its public issue.

Building systems solutions provider Pennar Engineered Building's IPO is aiming to garner Rs 156 crore through fresh issue of shares and an offer for sale by private equity investor Zephyr Peacock and others.

It has fixed a price band of Rs 170 to Rs 178 for the IPO. Shree Pushkar Chemicals and Fertilisers plans to raise Rs 70 crore by issuing fresh shares as well as an offer for sale of

20,26,589 shares. Prabhat Dairy, an integrated milk and dairy products company, plans to rake in up to Rs 300 crore by issuing fresh equity shares and offer for sale of up to 1.47 crore equity scrips.

The price band for the issue, which will close on September 1, is fixed at Rs 140-147 a share. The public offer of Sadbhav consists of a fresh issue of equity shares worth

Rs 425 crore and an offer for sale of up to 32.36 lakh equity shares by existing investors. The IPO is scheduled to close on September 2. After a quiet 2014, the IPO market is buzzing again as 10 IPOs have already hit the market this year and many others are in the pipeline, including those of popular brands like IndiGo, Cafe Coffee Day and Matrix.

20% hike in domestic Foreign reserves grows tourism this monsoon by $1.8 billion Mumbai, Aug 23: After two weeks of consecutive falls due to plunging gold prices and international currency devaluations, India's foreign exchange (forex) reserves gained $1.08 billion in the week ended August 14. The reserves for the week under review stood at $354.43 billion after falling by $321.1 million since July 31. For the week ended August 7, the reserves had declined by $113.5 million to $353.34 billion. The data furnished by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in its weekly statistical supplement showed that the foreign currency assets (FCAs) rose by $1.03 billion to $330.83 billion. The FCA which constitutes the largest component of forex

reserves includes nearly 2025 per cent of non-dollar currencies, securities and bonds bought abroad. The major catalyst for the earlier FCA losses was the devaluation of yuan, intended to boost Chinese exports.

China's central bank devalued yuan by two percent on August 11. This was the biggest devaluation in the Chinese currency since 1994.

The currency fell again by another two percent on August 12 panicking the world economy. The move strengthened the dollar value, which has negatively impacted major world currencies including the Indian rupee which has touched new 2-year lows recently.

The yuan has fallen by 4.6 percent till now since August 11. At the same time,

the country's gold reserves were stagnant at $18.25 billion in the week under review. The reserves had plunged by $824.2 million in the week ended July 31.

The plunge in bullion reserve value came about after the international prices steadily declined as a result of dollar gaining strength.

From a peak of $1,900 an ounce in September 2011, the spot gold price slumped to a five-year low of $1,086 an ounce on August 6, 2015.

However, the special drawing rights (SDRs) in the period under review were higher by $35.4 million to $4.05 billion. The country's reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was up by $11.2 million to $1.29 billion. (Agencies)

Lucknow, Aug 23: Due to low tariffs rates and discounts offered by hotels, resorts and airlines, India's domestic tourism has gone up by 23.5 per cent during the monsoon season as compared to 18.5 per cent last year, reveals the Assocham's one of the recently released study papers. The survey conducted

by Assocham also informs that there has been a surge in travel by Indians within the country in the last three years during the monsoon season.

The demand driven by the growing middle class and rising incomes and a discount by hotels, airlines and tour operators for the period, states the survey. While releasing the paper, DS Rawat secretary general Assocham said, "Monsoons are typically considered to be a lean travel period for families. The travel packages offer an opportunity to travel for up to 20-25 per cent lower prices in India".

Assocham carried out the survey in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore,

Chennai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Lucknow and Ahemdabad and interacted with as many as 350 tour operators. The estimates made by the Assocham are based on feedback received from various tour operators. As per the latest paper done by the Assocham Tourism Council, earlier monsoon used to be a lean period for travelling, but that scenario is changing fast.

This year, the domestic tourists are coming out in large numbers during the mon-

soons. There are many states who all are promoting monsoon tourism in a big way with special deals on offer at hotels and resorts, adds the survey. There are offering discounts of between 25 per cent & 35 per cent on holiday packages during the monsoon season. As per the study, Goa, Kerala, Ladakh, Jaipur, Agra and Udaipur are among the most popular places for monsoon travel, says the Assocham paper. Now, the tourism industry is giving

equal importance to domestic tourism because the growth in the domestic leisure sector has been extraordinary over the last couple of years. Destinations like Jaipur, Agra, Bharatpur bird sanctuary, located close to Delhi experience peak tourism traffic during the rainy season, as it attracts most of them from their nearby overcrowded cities, adds the Delhi tour operators. As per the paper, many hoteliers, travel agent have come up with their attractive offers for domestic routes. As per the findings, there is a rising trend seen wherein the Indian travellers are looking for short but multiple holiday experiences in a year. For Indian monsoon getaways Goa, Agra, Jaipur, Ooty, Munnar, Kodaikanal, Odisha, Gangtok, Manali, Darjeeling, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and even Sri Lanka offer attractive opportunities, adds the paper. (Agencies)

500 Bandhan Bank branches to go on steam today Kolkata, Aug 23: In line with the company's plan, Bandhan Financial Services will go on steam in Kolkata.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to inaugurate the commercial banking operations of Bandhan Financial Services (BFS) at the Science City Auditorium.

The Kolkata-based BFS had received a nod from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to start commercial banking operations last year. The inaugural will mark commencement of banking services at 500 BFS branches across the country. The bank

'BANDHAN' ROLL OUT ØArun Jaitley to inaugurate the commercial banking operations of Bandhan Financial Services.

ØThe bank has also set up 250 ATMs in urban areas.

ØThe inaugural will mark commencement of banking services at 500 BFS branches across the country.

has also set up 250 ATMs in urban areas, all sourced from Diebold. Bandhan currently has a staff strength of more than 16,000, of which

3,000 are new recruits for the bank and 400 taken laterally from other banks.

BFS Chairman and Managing Director Chandrasekhar

Maruti hikes prices

by INR 3,000-9,000 Noida, Aug 23: Country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India has hiked prices of all its products by up to Rs 9,000, except that of newly launched premium crossover SCross, citing changes in dealer margin. The average hike in the ex-showroom prices, with effect from August 11, across models ranges from Rs 3,000 to Rs 9,000, a Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) spokesperson said.

The price revision is on account of changes in dealer margin and a minor calibration in prices, the spokesperson added. The company, which has a share of over 45% in the domestic market in the passenger vehicle segment, currently sells a range a vehicles starting

from entry-level car Alto 800 to premium crossover S-Cross, priced between Rs 2.52 lakh to Rs 13.74 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The auto major, however, said that the prices of S-Cross, launched earlier this month, would remain unchanged. MSI in January this year increased prices by up to Rs 31,600 to adjust impact of hike in excise duty. Before that, the company had hiked prices by up to Rs 10,000 in October 2013 mainly due to depreciation of rupee. Rival Hyundai Motor India has already announced a hike across all models, excluding that of sports utility vehicle Creta, by up to Rs 30,000 from this month in view of rising input costs. (Agencies)

ØBFS had received a nod from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to start commercial banking operations last year. ØBandhan Financial Services will go on steam in Kolkata.

Ghosh was quoted as saying that BFS follows a philosophy of respecting each customer and meeting their needs, regardless of their fi-

nancial position. Bandhan Bank had annoucned its plans to have sales executives wtih sophisticated hand-held devices go to doorsteps with the aim to get more customers onboard the country's newest banking entity. Bandhan had said it will unleash 12,000 field workers carrying devises procured at a princely sum of Rs 14,000 a piece, that would pretty much save its customers the trouble of visiting its nearby branches, which on the day of opening would number around 500 spread across 27 states

including Maharastra, Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, chairman and managing director of Bandhan, told dna. "We would be depending upon hand-held devises mostly in the smaller towns and rural areas, and have put into use about 14,000 hand-held devices being tested by our existing micro-finance staff and new recruits for the upcoming bank. We have procured about 14,000 customised large sized hand-held devices each costing Rs 14,000, having multiple functionality like account

opening, fund transfer, withdrawal, giving transaction statements," Ghosh said on the sidelines of the Association of Micro Finance Institution's Summit.

"The branches in the urban areas would be headed by people sourced from other banks while branches in rural areas would be manged by those drawn from our micro-finance business.

When cultural assimilation process is completed, we would try to shift people from urban to rural areas and vice-versa,'' he said.

(Agencies)

IOC share sale floor price at INR 387 New Delhi, Aug 23: Government recently fixed the floor price for selling its 10% stake in Indian Oil Corp (IOC) at Rs 387 a share -- about 2% below last closing -- which is likely to fetch Rs 9,302 crore to the exchequer. The government, which holds 68.6% interest in IOC, will sell 24.28 crore equity shares through an offer for sale (OFC) on Monday. "... the floor price for the sale in terms of the Sebi OFS Circu-

lar shall be Rs 387 per equity share of IOC," the government said in a regulatory filing. The price fixed is 1.8% lower than Friday closing of Rs 394.45 per IOC share on BSE. At the floor price, the government, after considering 5% discount being offered to retail shareholders, will garner about Rs 9,302.21 crore. IOC's share sale will be the fourth disinvestment this fiscal, but the biggest so far in 2015-16.The

earlier three stake sales have raised about Rs 3,300 crore.

The IOC stake sale will, however, dwarf in front of Rs 22,557 crore that the government raised through a stake sale in Coal India Ltd in 2014. The government is targeting to raise Rs 69,500 crore from disinvestment in the current fiscal. IOC is the nation's biggest oil refining and marketing company with 54.2 million tonnes of refining capacity or roughly one-

fourth of India's total refining capacity of 215.1 million tonnes. Besides, it owns and operates 24,405 petrol pumps -- a little less than half of India's 53,419 filling stations. The OFS will open at 0915 hours on Monday and close on the same day at 1530 hours. At least 20% of the offer size has been reserved for retail investors, who will also get a 5% discount to the cut-off price, according to the offer docu-

ment. "No single bidder other than mutual funds and insurance companies shall be allocated more than 25% of the shares being offered," it said. Retail investor has been defined as an individual investor who places bids for shares of total value of not more than Rs 2 lakh aggregate. Five bankers handling the share are CitiGroup, Deutsche Equities, Nomura, JM Financial and Kotak Securities. (Agencies)

Posco-Odisha roil: Ready to give long-term supply linkage for Jagatsinghpur project Bhubaneshwar, Aug 23: Odisha Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallick said recently that the State government wants to know Posco's approach towards the Jagatsinghpur project, adding that the State is ready to provide the South Korean steel com-

pany long-term supply linkage for the project. The much-awaited tripartite meeting on the country's biggest FDI project proposed by Posco is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on August 25, Mallick said.

"The tripartite meeting involving the central govern-

ment, government of Odisha and Posco representatives will be held in New Delhi on Tuesday (August 25)," Mallick told reporters here. The Cabinet Secretary, Secretary of Steel and Mines Ministry and Posco representatives will attend the meeting. Odisha will be

represented by its Chief Secretary and the Steel and Mines Secretary. The meeting follows Union Steel and Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar's clarification that the South Korean steel major will have to participate in open bidding for its raw material linkage as per

the MMDR Act, 2015.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had held a review meeting about Posco proposed greenfield project on August 20. The steel giant has meanwhile announced its plan to put the Odisha project on hold.

(Agencies)

These 10 companies have mobilised about Rs 4,700 crore through IPOs, higher than funds raised in the preceding two years. In comparison, a total of six IPOs had hit the market in 2014 and together garnered just Rs 1,261 crore while in 2013, three companies raked in Rs 1,284 crore through initial share sale plans. (Agencies)

BS-IV emission norms may see pan-India application by April 2017 Mumbai, Aug 23: The central government is planning to roll out Bharat Stage IV emission norms across the country by April 2017.

However, before that, the centre is planning to implement these norms in seven states from October 1 this year, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has said. Currently, the BSIV norms are only applicable in certain Tier I cities, including metro cities.

BS-IV grade fuel was first made available in April 1, 2010 in 14 cities -- NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Kanpur, Pune, Surat, Agra, Lucknow and Sholapur. It was then extended to 20 more cities in October 2014, and up to 30 on April 1, 2015. The October 1 deadline will see Jammu and Kashmir (sans Leh and Kargil districts), Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and certain districts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh added to the list.

Apart from the cities where BS-IV emission norms have already been rolled out, the rest of the country follows BS-III standards.

(Agencies)

Retrospective MAT on foreign investors may be waived Mumbai, Aug 23: The finance ministry is likely to accept a proposal from a special panel to waive retrospective imposition of a controversial minimum alternate tax (MAT) on foreign portfolio investors, domestic media reported, citing government sources. Such a decision could put to rest a controversy sparked after tax authorities started claiming MAT payments from foreign funds late last year. Although MAT has been applied to domestic companies to ensure a minimum tax payment, it had never been imposed on foreign institutional investors (FIIs). The government subsequently said it would no longer impose MAT on foreign investors from April 2015 and set up a special panel in May to advise it how to proceed with retrospective claims already made by tax authorities, which have been challenged in courts. "The committee has recommended giving relief to FIIs on MAT prior to the period of Apr. 1, 2015, and the government is favourably considering it," independent news provider News Rise Financial quoted a government official as telling reporters recently in New Delhi. (Agencies)

"I played great tennis tonight. I was confident and I think that's why I played my best tennis,"

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, AUGUST 24

PAGE 11

Simona Halep

Rahane ton leads the way as India eye series-leveling win Colombo: India are eyeing a series-leveling win in the second Test by reducing Sri Lanka to 72 for two after setting the hosts a daunting victory target of 413, riding on Ajinkya Rahane's sparkling century. The 27year-old Rahane notched up his fourth Test century as India declared their second innings at 325 for eight and then snapped up early wickets to leave the islanders in a shaky position at close on an engrossing fourth day. India will now look to take the remaining eight wickets on a tricky fifth day track to level the three-match series 1-1 and spoil the party for retiring legend

Kumar Sangakkara in his farewell Test match.

Sangakkara, 37, did not have a fairytale ending to his final innings after the one-down batsman departed for just 18 runs.

He was scalped for the fourth time in this series by Ravichandran Ashwin as the home crowd gave an emotional farewell to the lefthanded batsman. After coming on to the ground amid a standing ovation and guard of honour by the visiting Indian team, Sangakkara was done in by an Ashwin turner to be caught at gully by Murali Vijay. The visiting players, including captain Virat Kohli, then shook hands with the

departing Sangakkara as his family looked on from the stands. Dimuth Karunaratne and skipper Angelo Mathews then stood their ground for an unbeaten 39-run stand to fight on. The Lankans will look to score the remaining 341 runs for a series clinching victory though that will a tough task. With two wickets already down, they will try to bat out for a draw on a P Sara oval track, which is expected to deteriorate and assist the spinners. The highlight of the day was Rahane's knock and his 140-run second wicket partnership with Murali Vijay, which put India in a position to take a mam-

moth overall lead. Rohit Sharma chipped in with a useful 34 before India declared the second innings. Dhamikka Prasad and Tharindu Kaushal picked up four wickets apiece but failed to stop the flow of runs. No team has ever scored 413 in the last innings of a Test match on Sri Lankan soil. The highest successful run chase has been achieved by Pakistan only a few months back, when they scored 382 for three against the Lankans in Pallekele.

The highest fourth innings target successfully chased by the hosts has been 352 against South Africa in Colombo in 2006. (Agencies)

Serena Williams to meet Halep; Djokovic, Federer to clash in final

Cincinnati: Serena Williams brushed off some serving troubles before cruising to a 64, 6-3 win over Elina Svitolina and will meet Simona Halep in the Western & Southern Open final. The World No 1 will defend her title against Romanian Halep who routed Jelena Jankovic 6-1, 6-2 in the late semi-final. Halep's semifinal win secured her the second seeding behind Williams at the US Open. The aggres-

sive base-liner converted seven of 10 break-points and was thrilled with her performance. "I played great tennis tonight. I was confident and I think that's why I played my best tennis," she said. "I have my chance tomorrow (against Williams) but I expect a tough match. With her you never know; you can win, maybe, or you can lose fast." Williams's serve was off for a second consecutive match in Cincinnati

and she committed 34 unforced errors but the world number one was never under serious threat from the 14thseeded Ukrainian. The American will bid to complete a calendar grand slam at her home US Open from August 31, a pursuit that kept her early struggles in perspective on Saturday. "I wanted to not worry about this match, but worry about the next few matches and next few weeks

Australia win the 5th Test at The Oval by an innings and 46 runs, but lose urn 3-2 London: Australia have wrapped up the final Test at The Oval with a dominating, all-round effort to exit the Ashes this season with the score-line bridged to 3-2. England resisted longer than they did in the first innings, but a persistent Australian attack, embodied by the sharpness of comeback fast bowler Peter Siddle, got them all out on the afternoon of the fourth day before they could make Australia bat again. Alastair Cook’s defiant 85 was the highlight of the English resis-

tant, but it was not backed up by other performances in either batting or bowling. For Australia, the victory leaves Michael Clarke bowing out on a high, after he enforced the follow-on for the first time in his four-year captaincy career. They began the day needing four wickets to win. Mark Wood, the No. 8, was dismissed by a ball coming into him that struck his pads less than four overs into the morning session. Jos Buttler, who provided able alliance with Cook to bat for

much of the previous day, handed a tame catch to Mitchell Starc at mid-off, after mistiming a cover drive.

The rain expected for the day arrived soon after, prompting the players to take an early lunch. On resumption, after about a three-hour break, Stuart Broad had his off stump toppled by a typically accurate delivery from Siddle. Siddle was playing his first Test in this Ashes series, and indeed, his first since December last year.

(Agencies)

and start playing better for that," Williams said in an oncourt interview. "I got off to a super slow start today but I started going for it and I think that helped me out." Williams was broken early in the opening set, but her opponent could not keep the momentum or capitalize on the American's eight double-faults for the match. Williams laced two straight backhand winners to break Svitolina's serve to move to 3-1 in the second set. The 20-year-old Ukrainian broke back but Williams responded in kind to take control before sealing the match with an ace.

Top seed Novak Djokovic and defending champion Roger Federer advanced to the Western & Southern Open final in contrasting fashion to set up a rematch of their title-deciding Wimbledon clash. Serb Djokovic, who beat Federer in the Wimbledon final for a second consecutive year last month, rallied to beat Ukrainian qualifier Alexandr Dolgopolov 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2 while the Swiss second seed beat third seed Andy Murray 6-4, 7-6(6). Djokovic, who needs a win to become the first player to claim all nine ATP Masters titles, lost the first set but escaped a nervy second-set tiebreak in Cincinnati that took the wind out of his 66thranked opponent's sails. In the tiebreak, Djokovic was two

points from defeat at 4-5 but dug deep and found a way to escape the jam, ultimately taking the set with a cross-court forehand winner. "(Djokovic) just plays more carefully on the big points. You have to beat him and go for the risk," said Dolgopolov. "I really believed I could win and my game was enough to beat him. It was just the situation. You know, those few points decided everything."

Djokovic had squandered a chance to level the match in the ninth game of the second set when he was broken to love before the players each held serve over the next three games to force the tiebreak which the Serb won to ensure a third set.

Djokovic then broke a disheartened Dolgopolov twice en route to ending the match in two hours, 20 minutes and improv-

ing his all-time record versus the Ukrainian to 5-0. Completing the set of ATP Masters titles will be no easy feat for Djokovic with six-time Cincinnati champion Federer standing in his way. The Swiss got off to a fast start against Murray, earning a break in the third game of the match en route to capturing the first set in 38 minutes with a forehand winner down the line. The players rode their serves to a tiebreak in the second set, where Federer went on to convert on his second match point. The victory sets up the latest instalment of the Federer-Djokovic rivalry, knotted at 20 wins apiece. The match will be their fifth meeting in 2015, with Federer winning on the hard courts of Dubai and Djokovic emerging victorious at Indian Wells, Rome and Wimbledon. (Agencies)

21st All Assam Ranking Table Tennis Championship concludes ET Correspondent Dibrugarh, Aug 23: The 21st All Assam Ranking Table Tennis Championship at DDSA indoor stadium played concluded here today. In the final of cadet girls’ category, Swati Raaj (Guwahati) defeated

Akankhyan Deka (Guwahati) 3-0 while in the final of Cadet boys’ category, Ankit Saharia (Guwahati) defeated Nil Akash Dutta (Golaghat) 30. On the other hand, in the final of sub-junior boys’ category, Mohsin Ahmed

(Dibrugarh) defeated Zubayu Arsad Baruah (Guwahati) 3-0. The tournament was organized by Milan Jyoti Sangha in association with Dibrugarh District Sports Association under the aegis of Assam Table Tennis Association.

63rd All Assam Inter District Open Badminton Championship 2015 held in Lakhimpur concludes ET Correspondent Lakhimpur, Aug 23: The 63rd All Assam Inter District and Open Badminton Championship 2015 commenced on August 18 in the Lakhimpur Indoor Stadium concluded today. In the championship Dibrugarh district emerged the best achiever while Guwahati A emerged the runners up.

Sibsagar and Tinsukia district secured the 3rd position in the championship.

The best team was awarded with Sanmati Bakliwal Memorial Award with prize money of Rs 10,000.00 while the runners up team

was given the Dinanath Saikia Memorial Award with prize money of Rs 5000. On the other hand Hirakjyoti Neog of Dibrugarh won the men’s singles final defeating Ranjan Burgohain of Sibsagar while Ashmita Chaliha of Guwahati won the women’s singles title defeating Ankita Rajkhuwa of Guwahati. The results of the open championship held in different categories and events are as follows: Under-10 boys’ singles – winner Animesh Gogoi (Sibsagar); runners up Prasurjya Thakuria

(Guwahati) Under-10 girls’ singles – winner Chilka Gogoi (Lakhimpur); runners up Anushree Mahanta Under-13 boys’ singles – winner Nabyaranjan Das (Sibsagar); runners up Sasanka Gogoi Under-13 girls’ singles – winner Suzen Burhagohain (Guwahati); runners up Debahuti Lahan (Sibsagarh) Under-15 boys’ singles – winner Iman Sonowal (Tinisukia); runners up Angad Barchetia (Dibrugarh) Under-15 girls’ singles –

winner Maini Baruah (Sibsagar); runners up Debahuti Lahan (Sibsagarh) Under-17 boys’ singles – Orijit Chaliha (Guwahati); runners up Rituparna Bora (Guwahati) Under-17 girls’ singles – winner Chimran Kalita (Guwahati); runners up Suzen Burhagohain (Guwahati) Under-19 boys’ singles – winner Orijit Chaliha (Guwahati); runners up Deepjyoti Dutta Guwahati) Under-19 girls’ singles – winner Ashmita Chaliha (Guwahati); runners up

Manali Bora (Golaghat) Under-13 boys’ doubles – winner Ayan Rasid (Guwahati), Tanmoy Bikash Baruah (Nazira); runners up Ayan Borchetia (Dibrugarh) and Nichiraj Bharali (Dibrugarh); 3rd Bishrut Sarma and Bhargab Raj Gogoi (Lakhimpur) Under-15 boys’ doubles – winner Angad Bor Chetia (Dibrugarh), Iman Sonowal, (Tinisukia); runners up Angshuman Gogoi (Lakhimpur) and Hrishav Baruah (Dibrugarh) Under-17 boys’ doubles – winner Saurav Das

(Guwahati) and Joyraj Pegu (Guwahati); runners up Abshek Bora (Digboi) and Bishwajit Bordoloi (Guwahati) Under-19 boys’ doubles – winner Sangram Chutia (Charaideu) and Raj Shekhar Das (Nagaon); runners up Abhisek Bora (Digboi) and Biswajeet Bordoloi (Guwahati) Men’s doubles – winner Anjan Burhagohain and Ranjan Burhagohain (Sivasagar); runners up Hirakjyoti Neog and Dibyajyoti Bora (Dibrugarh)

Heartbreak for Sania and Hingis in semis

Cincinnati: India's campaign came to an end at the Western and Southern Open after Sania Mirza and her Swiss partner Martina Hingis crashed out with a three-set defeat in the women's doubles semifinal, in Cincinnati. The top seeded Indo-Swiss duo went down 4-6, 6-0, 6-10 to the unseeded Chinese Taipei's sister pair of HaoChing Chan and Yung-Jan Chan in an hour and 14 minutes in the $ 2,701,240 Cincinnati Masters. The 28-year-old later poured her heart out on Twitter, "We won 10 points more than our opponents today but still ended up on the wrong side at the end of the match! Brutal." In the opening set, the Chans clinched four breakpoints

against three by Sania and Martina to take an upperhand in the match. But the top-seeded pair came back strongly in the second set as they won six consecutive games to simply run away with the set. Converting all three breakpoint chances that they got, Sania and Martina took the game to the decider. Sania and Martina, however, ran out of steam in the third set, even as the Chinese Taipei team held its nerves to clinch the super tie-break 10-6 to make it to the finals.

With this victory, the Chan sisters have levelled their head-to-head record to 1-1 against the Indo-Swiss combination. They had lost to Sania and Martina in Toronto earlier this year.

(Agencies)

Indians at World Athletics: Inderjeet qualifies for finals

Beijing: Inderjeet Singh became the first Indian shot-putter to enter the final round of World Athletics Championships, in Beijing, on Sunday.

Inderjeet, the reigning Asian champion, began the qualifying round at the Bird's Nest Stadium with a below par 19.15m effort in his first attempt before he fouled his second throw.

But he made his third and final attempt count as he heaved the iron ball to 20.47m to qualify for the final round as one of the 12 best performers in the qualification round.

Inderjeet, who has a personal best of 20.65m, was fourth best in Group A and ranked eighth among the

12 shot-putters who entered in final round after taking into account the performances of Group B competitors in the qualification round. The final round is slated later this evening.

In men's 20km race walk, Baljinder Singh finished 12th out of 51 athletes, who completed the race, with a personal best time of 1:21:44. Two other Indians, Gurmeet Singh (1:25:22) and Chandan Singh (1:26:40) ended 36th and 42nd respectively. European champion Miguel Angel Lopez won the race in a personal best time of 1:19:14 to become Spain's first 20km race walk world champion since 1993.

(Agencies)

Bolt, Gatlin qualify for 100m final, in contrasting styles Beijing: Usain Bolt scrambled into the men's 100 meters final at the IAAF World Athletics Championships, in Beijing. The Jamaican stumbled out of the blocks and had to play catch up, eventually inching through his heat in 9.96 secs. The 100 meters world record (9.58 secs) was set by Bolt in the Berlian edition in 2009. The Jamaican, has been beset by a pelvic injury for much of the season, producing only two sub-10 second 100m performances all

summer. Bolt's biggest challenger, American Justin Gatlin eased into the final, winning his heat with a time of 9.77 secs. The controversial Gatlin, who arrived in Beijing on a 27-race unbeaten run stretching back two years, had underlined his status as gold medal favourite with the fastest time in the first round.

American Tyson Gay (9.96) and Jamaican Asafa Powell (9.97), running in the same heat, also made the cut.

(Agencies)

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ENVIRONMENT aobab is the com mon name for each of the nine species of tree in the genus Adansonia. Of the nine species, six are native to Madagascar, two are native to mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and one is native to Australia. Native to equatorial Africa and

B

India, and most famous for covering much of Madagascar, the distinctive baobob tree is increasingly threatened. This tree is leafless nine months of the year

and stores water in its trunk much like a camel. People make homes in the base, and the tree also produces an edible fruit called the monkey fruit. One of the mainland African species also occurs on Madagascar, but it is not a native of that island. It was introduced in ancient times to south Asia

and during the colonial era to the Caribbean. It is also present in the island of Cape Verde. The ninth species was described in 2012, and is found in up-

The Threatened Baobab Tree

land populations of southern and eastern Africa.

Adansonias reach heights of 5 to 30 m (16 to 98 ft) and have trunk diameters of 7 to 11 m (23 to 36 ft). The

Glencoe baobab, a specimen of A. digitata in Limpopo Province, South Africa, was considered to be the largest living individual, with a maximum circumference of 47 m (154 ft) and a diameter of about 15.9 m (52 ft). The tree has since split into two parts, so the widest individual trunk may now be that of the Sunland baobab, or Platland tree, also in South Africa. The diameter of this tree at ground level is 9.3 m (31 ft) and its circumference at breast height is 34 m (112 ft). Adansonia trees produce faint growth rings, probably annually, but they are not reliable for aging specimens, because they are difficult to count and may fade away as the wood ages.

Radiocarbon dating has provided data on a few individuals. A specimen of A. digitata known as Grootboom was dated and found to be at least 1275 years old, making it one of

Sikkim Red Panda Threatened fficials of the Gangtok chap ter of the Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), India, have raised an alarm over the dwindling and degrading habitat for Red Panda in Sikkim.

Though the population of the state animal of Sikkim and an endangered species categorized in the Schedule-I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, is on a steady rise in the state, habitat degradation and increased tourism activities are creating disturbances in the natural habitats of the animal, especially since a large part of the potential Panda habitat falls outside the Protected Area Network, the officials

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said. Parthosarthi Ghosh, the Associate Landscape Coordinator, WWF, India, said WWF India's initiatives for Red Panda conservation in the Eastern Himalayas began with intensive field research in 2005 to identify potential red panda habitats in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. In Sikkim, a 1341 square km area was identified as potential habitat, of which above 60% fell outside the Protected Area network, making the red panda population vulnerable to various threats. Increase in population of feral dogs and other predatory animals in the vicinity of the red panda habitat is also leading to

predation, especially since a large part of the potential habitat falls outside the Protected Area network and does not receive adequate legal protection, the official said. He said as part of the WWFIndia's Long Term Survival of Red Pandas in Sikkim project, habitat surveys were carried out with support from the Forest department along Pangolakha (2008- 10), Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary (2010- 12), West district and Khangchendzonga National Park and Biosphere Reserve (201415) The surveys revealed that there are around 300-350 Red Pandas in the state. "By

combining our findings at Pangolakha, Barsey and KNP/KBS, we have estimated the population of red pandas in Sikkim to be around 300-350. This is just a rough and conservative estimate and more surveys are needed to come up with the correct number."

"Once we get proper findings, we can regulate human activities in the red panda habitats and involve local communities in conservation measures and motivate and train them to adopt sustainable tourism practices to address the threat of habitat degradation and fragmentation," Ghosh added. WWF-India aims to continue monitoring red panda populations in Sikkim, as well as engage with the local communities through innovative approaches to involve them in threat mitigation measures leading to conservation of this species. "Strong partnerships with the local communities will play a major role in implementing conservation initiative in red panda habitat falling outside the Protected Areas network" Ghosh said.

(Agencies)

the oldest known angiosperm trees.

Habitat and Ecology The Malagasy species are important components of the Madagascar dry deciduous forests. Within that biome, Adansonia madagascariensis and A. rubrostipa occur specifically in the Anjajavy Forest, sometimes growing out of the tsingy limestone itself. A. digitata has been called "a defining icon of African bushland" Baobabs are important as nest sites for birds, in particular the mottled spinetail and four species of weaver.

Water storage Baobabs store water in the trunk (up to 100,000 litres or 26,000 US gallons) to endure the harsh drought conditions particular to each region. All occur in seasonally arid areas, and are deciduous, shedding their leaves during the dry season.

Uses Since 2008, interest has

been increasing for developing baobab seeds or dried fruit powder for consumer products. Some species are also sources of fiber, dye, and fuel. Indigenous Australians used the native species A. gregorii for several products, making string from the root fibers and decorative crafts from the fruits. The fresh fruit is said to taste like sherbet. The leaves of A. digitata are eaten as a leaf vegetable.

The seeds of some species are a source of vegetable oil. The fruit has a velvety shell and is about the size of a coconut, weighing

about 1.5 kilograms (3.3 lb).

It has an acidic, tart flavor, described as "somewhere between grapefruit, pear, and vanilla". The dried fruit powder of A. digitata contains about 12% water and modest levels of various nutrients, including carbohydrates, pectin, riboflavin, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and phytosterols, with low levels of protein and fats. Vitamin C content, described as variable in different samples, was in a range of 74-163 mg per 100 g of dried powder.

Food uses The powdery white interior

may be used as a "thickener in jams and gravies, a sweetener for fruit drinks, or a tangy flavor addition to hot sauces". The fruit pulp and seeds of A. grandidieri and A. za are eaten fresh. In many countries, the dry pulp of A. digitata is added to sugar cane to aid fermentation in beer making. The flavor of limited-release Japanese soda Pepsi Baobab was described as "liberating" by PepsiCo. The dry fruit is usually boiled and the broth is used for juices or as the base for a type of ice cream known as gelado de mucua.

A multipurpose tree that can change the shape of economy

n India, Mango tree is planted once and the fruits are reaped every year. Its tasty fruits are also very much nutritious.

This is the reason, the whole world is looking to import this fruit. During our childhood, in our school lessons, we have learnt that every part of Coconut trees can be used one way or the other. Now there is another tree that next generation kids will learn about is a new tree named, African "Baobab tree" whose every part (fruits, seeds, leaves, bark, timber etc) are much more useful than any other tree. It is Baobab Tree. Baobab is a multipurpose tree and known for its swollen, hollow trunk which is most commonly used for water storage. The hollow trunk is also reported to be used as a tomb in West Africa for griot and the leprous.

This baobab tree's exotic fruit (6 to 8 inches, or 15 cm to 20 cm long) contain

I

the fresh pulp (tangy, subacid flavour) which has twice as much calcium as milk, is high in anti-oxidants, iron and potassium, and has 6 times the vitamin C of an orange. It tastes similar to Jack fruit and so, can be processed into jams, juices and wines. Pulp can also used as a substitute for cream of tartar and moreover to curdle milk. The leaves are rich in Ă&#x; carotene, and contain a significant amount of amino acids and several trace elements. These leaves can be eaten as relish, while the fruit dissolved in milk or water can be used as a drink. The seeds can be eaten fresh, dried or roasted and can also be used as a coffee substitute. The seeds produce edible oil and have a light, golden colour with a nuttyaroma and a long shelf-life. The oil can also be used in cosmetics (including bath oil, lotions and creams) taking advantage of its natural

moisturising effects.

Oil-cake can be used for feeding cattle. The dried bark is used for the manufacturing of packing paper. Strong inner fibre from the bark can also be used in rope making, cordage, harness straps, strings for musical instruments, baskets, nets, snares, fishing lines and cloth. Its timber can be used for making canoes and fishing floats. In fact, all parts of the tree are having medicinal properties.

The Baobab tree averages 25 m in height and 6-10 m in diameter. The root system of a mature tree penetrates the soil to a depth of approximately 2 m. It is drought hardy, fire resistant and prefers areas with a high water table. It grows in arid, semi-arid and sub-humid tropical climates. Most interesting part is that the lifespan of these trees is about 3000 years. The tree is easy and cheap to cultivate and free from

any serious pests and diseases. The tree provides shade, cooling the soil beneath the canopy. Deciduous leaf drop acts as a soil conditioner by providing a humus-rich top layer, improving water moisture content and protecting the soil against erosion. In general, the fruits abscise late in the rainy season, but may persist on the tree for several months. Ripe pods, however, can be stored unopened or uncracked for a number of months in humid climates, without refrigeration. The trees will bear pods after 8-23 years. The tree can be planted for reduction of soil erosion and to provide a habitat for many native animals, birds and reptiles.

So, in order to shape India's economy especially in the rural areas, the Government can take adequate steps towards promoting the cultivation of Baobab tree.

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