October 02, 2016, Sunday

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ASSENG/2015/64205

PAGE 12

Vol. II

Issue 79

Dibrugarh, Sunday, October 2, 2016

As India mulls scrapping of Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, China blocks tributary of Brahmaputra in Tibet to build dam

SPECTRUM AUCTION ENTERS THIRD ROUND; MAXIMUM ACTION IN 1800 MHZ BAND

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Miao police apprehends 2 drug CHAKMA-HAJONG ISSUE: “Grant citizenship but peddlers and 2 hardcore NSCN give them ILP too and unequal treatment”, AAPSU (R) cadres in filmy style A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Oct 1

Announcing the dissolution of the executive members of All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU) with the exception of the president and the general secretary, president Kamta Lapung today made a final reiteration on the stand of the state’s apex students’ body vis-a-vis Chakma-Hajong citizenship issue saying, “Even if they are granted Indian citizenship, they cannot be treated at par with the indigenous people.”

ET Bureau Namsai, Oct 1: Namsai Open Grand Prix, the much awaited Men’s Double Badminton (Open Category) tournament of Namsai district begun here on Friday. The tournament organized by Tai Badminton Club in collaboration with Namsai District Badminton Association was inaugurated by ZPC Namsai Chow Kyasing Mounglang. Altogether 21 teams are participating in the tournament.

Speaking after the inauguration, ZPC Namsai Chow Kyasing Mounglang lauded the organizers of the tournament and said participation is most important in sports. He asked the participants to play well with a sportive spirit.

President of the Tai Badminton Club, Chow Seyong Choutang giving outline of the tournament said that the tournament is organized as this sport will help develop and enhance the experiences of our community. It is envisaged, that our society will have positive experiences, through the Men’s Double Badminton tournament, that will eventually build a ‘Sporting Society’ and be a guiding force to help eradicate the social menace of drug abuse.

The tournament we are organizing is to help revive the love of our community for the sports. Our societies have to provide an excellent opportunity, to our youngsters to develop their sports skills, which would equip our youths with the right skills, mindset and values for a world of continuous & dynamic change. It is hoped that this sporting event will help our young friends leave the path of wrongdoings and be a good responsible person in the society, he added.

Earlier, the Parliamentary Secretary (Planning) Chow Zingnu Namchoom inaugurated the indoor badminton Hall at Namsai amidst presence of huge sports lovers and lauded the efforts of the organizers in conducting the tournament.

The inaugural match was played between the duo of Parliamentary Secretary Planning Chow Zingnu Namchoom and former Commissioner Tape Bagra Versus Chow Kyasing Mounglang and ADC Namsai M.K.Deori.

The Day 1 saw 10 teams qualify to pre-quarter final and on second day 6 teams made it to quarters.

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The teams that are participating in the event are members from Tai Badminton Club, Arunachal University of Studies, Chai Mau, and team from Mahadevpur.

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In a press conference held at Arunachal Press Club, Lapung observed that, “the questions of granting citizenship to the Chakmas are the concern of the central government. However, if the central government plans on settling them here in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, the government will have to ensure

that they are not treated at par with indigenous people and that the Chakma-Hajongs falls under the ambit of Inner Line Permit (ILP) holders.”

Adding on this, the AAPSU General Secretary Biru Nasi asserted that the “Chakma and Hajong will have to abide by the 1873 Regulation Act and carry with them an ILP at all times. Moreover, they should not also be allowed to claim ownership of land or any immovable properties, for that matter.”

Later, Lapung while informing of AAPSU team’s recent meeting with the officials at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and union Minister of State (Home) Kiren Rijiju, in New Delhi, said that the MHA officials and the union MoS (Home) have taken serious note of AAPSU’s stand and has assured to formulate laws on the same

“Even if they are granted Indian citizenship, they cannot be treated at par with the indigenous people.”

KAMTA LAPUNG President AAPSU

“Chakma and Hajong will have to abide by the 1873 Regulation Act and carry with them an ILP at all times. Moreover, they should not also be allowed to claim ownership of land or any immovable properties.

BIRU NASI GS- AAPSU

after making a field visit and conducting a meeting with all the stake holders here in the state.

It is to be noted that the executive body of the AAPSU

Executive body of the AAPSU has been dissolved, conferencecumelection from November 20 to 23next.

has been dissolved with the exception of the president and the GS in view of their three years term coming to an end.

Contd. on Page 3

The operation team was led by SDPO Miao John Pada and consisted of N.Ete Dysp, SI T.Tayeng, OC PS KSG, SI R.Rawat, SI J.Aran and other police personnel’s of Miao and Kharsang PS.

Lomhom Tangha Kharsang, Oct 1

Miao Police lead by SDPO Miao John Pada along with N.Ete Dysp, SI T.Tayeng, OC PS KSG, SI R.Rawat, SI J.Aran and other police personnel’s of Miao and Kharsang Police Station apprehended 2

hardcore NSCN (R) cadres and 2 drug peddlers at the same time in a filmy like situation.

On Friday at 8 pm a joint operation against drugs trafficking consisting of local police and Mahila Mandal members of Balinong/ Namphuk villages was conducted at Balinong/ Namphuk village area. During the operation two persons

namely Bomwang Tangha and Samong Khimhun both from Chingsa village, who came by a motor cycle from Bordumsa side, were nabbed possessing 35 grams (approx) of suspected brown sugar.

Contd. on Page 3

Maksam Tayeng Pasighat, Oct 1

A one day motivation cum sensitization programme for HM/HT, PRI, SMC, village Secretaries held sponsored by CRC, Motum which was initiated by Dy. Director of School Education office, Pasighat being coordinated by 39th Mebo

Assam will soon be the sports capital of the country"- Sonowal A Staff Reporter Guwahati, 1 Oct

Educators, PRI and SMC of Mebo Sub-Division of Pasighat to bring educational changes To bring a substantial changes in the education scenario of Mebo SubDivision which has deteriorated from its past good record, a daylong one day motivation cum sensitization programme for Head Masters/ Teachers, PRI leaders, School Management Committee Chairmen and Village Secretaries was held at Govt.

Hr. Sec. School, Mebo auditorium today.

The programme was

Northeast United kicks off ISL by defeating Kerala Blasters in Guwahati

Intellectual Forum (39MIF).

The meeting was chaired by Bodong Yirang, Contd. on Page 3

a 1-0 score. The lone goal was scored by Japanese forward Katsumi Yusa, getting on the end of a vicious ball into the box made by Argentine winger Nicolás Vélez.

Assam will soon be the sports capital of the country, said Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal while delivering his address during the inaugural ceremony of Indian Super League held today at Sarusojai Stadium.

Sonowal lauded the initiative of ISL organizer Nita Ambani for holding the inaugural event in Guwahati and hoped that this will help in many ways to promote sports in Assam. The Chief Minister also said that his government has already drawn up a map for promoting sports in the state.

As part of this effort already CM Cup Football Tournament was successfully held in the Tea Gardens of

The lone goal was scored by Japanese forward Katsumi Yusa.

Assam to identify and encourage talented footballers. This initiative will further be taken to village level, he said.

After a spectacular opening ceremony earlier on in the day, the opening match of the Hero Indian Super League started, and ended with a win for the North East team with

The lone goal was scored by ended in the Indira Gandhi Athletic stadium in Guwahati and it is the home side, North East United that have claimed victory over Kerala Blasters. Both sides looked evenly matched at half-time and the second half started with both goalkeepers being equally busy. Finally it was in the 55th minute that NorthEast United was able to penetrate Kerala’s defence with Japanese forward Katsumi Yusa getting on the end of a vicious ball into the box made by Argentine winger Nicolás Vélez.

Namsai district prepares ADC Miao signs out after 36 Kaziranga National years of illustrious service for special summery Park opens for tourists revision of Electoral roll ET Bureau Namsai, Oct 1

District Level Workshop in connection with special summery revision of electoral roll for all the three constituencies under Namsai District conducted here today at DEO’s office. Office bearers from different political parties, student organizations, and public leaders, PRI members from Chowkham, Namsai and Lekang Assembly constituencies were present in the workshop under the chairmanship of ADC cum ERO Namsai M.K. Deori. All the ERO and AERO of the above three Constituencies attended the programme.

While welcoming the house, Jayanti Pertin, AERO, Namsai appeal to all the office bearers of political parties to encourage to all eligible Indian citizens to enroll name in electoral roll and participate into the democratic process of the country. Dr K. Sarmah, DVO, also district level

master trainer, Namsai District highlighted relevant issues pertaining to electors enrolment process through PPT. M. K. Deori, ADC/ ERO in his speech emphasized on greater participation of youth in election process for stronger democracy.

He further requested for proper campaign of SVEEP programme on 9th and 23rd October as per theme of ECI “NO VOTER TO BE LEFT BEHIND”and to inspire all left out adult members to enroll their name in respective polling station.

Highlighting the importance of Booth Level Agents he requested to appoint BLA by all political parties against all the polling station within the constituencies for proper cooperation and coordination to the election officials specially BLOs during entire revision process which will immensely help to prepare error free electoral rolls.

Office bearers from different political parties took part into the discussion and assured to extend all possible help & cooperation during the revision process.

Bijoy Shankar Handique Jorhat, Oct 1

Felix Anthony Miao, Oct 1

ADC who has spent more than half of his entire life for people of Miao.

Miao Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Mr. Tayong Mara signed out his 36 years of illustrious service in Miao subdivision of Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh on 30 September 2016.

Mr. Apollo James Lungphi and Mrs. Namrata Bhat, the Circle Officers from Miao organized a fitting farewell programme for the ADC at Circuit House, Miao and they made sure that every department head and public leaders attend the event to express their gratitude to the ADC for his selfless service to the people in the easternmost subdivision of Changlang District.

Contd. on Page 3

I will now go home to my village in Likabali in West Siang District and plant cardamom and ginger to spend the rest of my life with my family and children, said the

Kaziranga National Park opened for both foreign and Indian tourists, as Pramila Rani Brahma, Assam Minister for Forest and Environment along with Atul Bora, Assam Minister for Agriculture officially opened the World Heritage National Park this morning at Mihimukh Elephant Safari Tower in Kohora Range while Keshab Mahanta, Assam Minister for Water Resources declared open the Bagori Range for tourist in Bagori under Kaziranga national Park which is to the south. All the three ministers, later along with senior forest officials and invited guests participated in the elephant safari where 11 elephant safari were flagged off before the safari ride.

Two months after a largescale flooding created panic, Kaziranga National Park, the biggest refuge for one-horned

rhinos in the world, opened for tourists a month earlier than scheduled on Saturday.

The decision to open the park on October 1 instead of the usual practice of opening on November 1- after it remains closed for six months every year due to flooding was taken by chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

“There was a demand from local residents and the hospitality sector to bring forward the opening dates and the chief minister also wanted it,” forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma said.

But the sudden move to reschedule hasn’t found many takers as several of the resorts and hotels located near Kaziranga reported a lukewarm response from both domestic and foreign tourists.

According to information available at the tourist information centre of the Kaziranga National Park, three teams from Germany, Japan and Australia is likely to arrive by the last week of October.

Talking to this correspondent of the Eastern Today Pramila Rani Brahma said that she has been strictly monitoring all the parks for last couple of months to reduce rhino poaching. She informed poaching is under control and she said her department is planning to make aware more local people around the national parks and sanctuaries of Assam and she also gave special thank to the Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for taking up the stand to evict illegal settlers in forest land throughout the state.

On the other hand Atul Bora, minister for Agriculture said that action plan is under process for safe guarding Kaziranga national Park and for more development of the internal sites along the roads into the park with more towers will be develop for site seeing and spotting endangered species will be completed during the coming winter season.

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Namsai Open Grand Prix kicks off

5.00

NON VIOLENCE FOR SUSTAINABILITY

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ET CAPSULES

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DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2

CITY

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Dibrugarh, Tinsukia

Springdale High School cleans Jorhat Joint operation by Margherita and public places under Swachch Bharat Digboi Excise circle against illicit liquor Bijoy Shankar Handique Jorhat, Oct 1 : Springdale High School of Jorhat cleaned two public premises, Baghchung Primary Health Center and Baghchung Developmental Block today under the Swachch Bharat Abhiyan.

and a half hour to clean the two public places.

“Both the places are important for the public where hundreds of people throng everyday but both the places were so far kept neglected and were most unhygienic”, said of the teachers, Saidul Islam who has accompanied the students along with her colleagues. It took 4

It is to be mentioned that the school with the members of social productive club performed three plantation drives along the streets of the Gar-Ali and within the school premises with joint venture with Shiv Shankar Charitable Trust (an NGO) that works for green earth.

The program was officially flagged off by the director of Springdale school Jorhat, Any Ahmed and over hundreds of students, teachers, parents and well wishers took part at the cleanliness drive.

The students, teachers of Springdale High School during their Swachch Bharat drive at the Baghchung Primary Health Centre, Jorhat on saturday. Photo by ET

HOROSCOPE Aries

If you own your home or have any kind of investments in real estate, Aries, you might hear some great news today about the value of that investment. It's likely to be increasing, and probably will continue in that direction. This could make a big difference in your life in some way right now. In fact, there might be a number of options opening to you. Consider them all carefully, and go for the gold.

Taurus

Are you technically single but very deeply involved with someone, Taurus? If so, don't be surprised if today you extend or receive a proposal of marriage. Recent events have brought you very close together and greatly intensified the bond between you. Your partner may want to legalize that bond. Do you? If there is even the smallest doubt, give yourself some time to think. Acting on impulse isn't a good idea right now.

Gemini

Exciting news could come to you today that could bring a lot of joy into your life, Gemini. Your income may soon skyrocket, and more opportunities to advance yourself professionally should start coming thick and fast. You may even receive some sort of public acknowledgment. This isn't the end of the line, however - this is only the beginning! You will be glad to know you can expect this trend to continue for some time.

Cancer

A powerful bond between you and a romantic partner could have you walking around with your head in the clouds, Cancer. Things between you seem to be improving by leaps and bounds. Right now it all seems just too perfect. Savor every moment of your time together. You will want to remember them when times aren't quite so easy.

We all deserve such halcyon days. You and your beloved should definitely make the most of it.

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Leo, love of all kinds - the love of friends, the affection of family members, romantic love flourishes in the home today as a number of visitors come to your door, perhaps unexpectedly. One of your guests could bring some wonderful news about money. A strong sense of unity among all those present should be very apparent, at least to you.

A large gathering of friends, relatives, and neighbors could take place in your neighborhood today, Virgo. You might run into a few old friends you haven't seen in a long time and enjoy catching up. A former romantic partner could also be present. Are you still interested? If so, pursue it. It might work this time! If you're no longer interested, perhaps you could now be friends. Think about it!

A large gathering of friends, relatives, and neighbors could take place in your neighborhood today, Virgo. You might run into a few old friends you haven't seen in a long time and enjoy catching up. A former romantic partner could also be present. Are you still interested? If so, pursue it. It might work this time! If you're no longer interested, perhaps you could now be friends. Think about it!

Scorpio

An unexpected letter or package might arrive sometime today, Scorpio. This could be a gift from a lover - perhaps a bit more lavish than you would have expected. You could receive other communications as well. At least one could be related to your job in some way. A party invitation could also come, and you will probably want to attend. A significant other will want to accompany you.

Sagittarius

Happiness reigns in the home right now, Sagittarius. Money comes pouring in from bonuses, salary from extra hours, or gifts. You may be considering spending some of this money on either adding to or refurbishing your home. If you're having trouble making a decision, consider consulting a decorator. There is great harmony within your family. You seem to understand each other on an intuitive level.

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Are you single, Capricorn? If so, today you might fall in love at first sight. You may have been frustrated lately by the lack of available, interesting people, but today you could meet someone who seems too perfect for words. And you can rest assured that the attraction is mutual! If you're already involved, you can expect a revival of the fairytale romance between you and a significant other.

A strong attraction to someone could take you by surprise today, Aquarius. This person could be involved in the arts in some way, perhaps film, television, or recording. You might spend considerable time together for the purpose of working on a project, but the energy between you should be strong and apparent to both of you. If you're interested in a new relationship, make sure you look your best!

Are you involved in a creative project that involves modern technology, Pisces? If so, progress could be made by leaps and bounds, starting today. A lucky break might set you off in a new direction that adds depth and dimension to your work.

Relations with colleagues should be warm, congenial, and supportive. There is a sense of unity that pervades the group and adds to the energy and enthusiasm. You will love the results of your efforts.

Mithun Baruah Margherita, Oct 1 : In a major Joint operation today conducted by Margherita and Digboi Excise Circle with the co-operation of Police seized 3500 Litres for Preparing I/D, 848 litres of I/D liquor,DSF 4 sets, Country liquor 10 litres and 1 Case of Beer meant for sale at Arunachal Pradesh. A Total number of 12 cases were detected and 8 persons were arrested in this connection.The joint operation was conducted under the strict direction of Superintendent of Excise Margherita. The places of operation were Bangaon, Ketetong, Dibong and Powai which falls under Margherita Sub division.cA case has been registered US 53(1) A and D of Assam Excise Act.

Bike lifters arrested

Excise Department person destroying the materials meant for making Hooch and other form of illicit items at Margherita Sub division.

Cattle smuggler’s apprehended at Tinsukia

Cattle smuggler's arrested in Tinsukia.

Recovered Bajaj Pulsar Bikes.

ET Correspondent Teok, Oct 1: Police arrested one member of a gang of Bike lifter from kaliapani near Jogduar under Teok police station last night.

A police team of Teok po-

lice station was able to arrest the bike lifter with two stolen Bajaj Pulsar 150 cc and 220 cc bike bearing registered no AS03-P0562 and AS03 L-4396 at the early hours from Bhatiapar gaon near Gaurisagar under Sibsagar

district.

“We have arrested the bike lifter named Samir Karmakar and the two other members of his gang will soon be arrested”, said the police officer investigating this case

Minor girl performing road-side snake show at Doomdooma Manoj Kumar Ojha Doomdooma, Oct1: A minor female child was seen today performing a road side snake-show at RupaiSiding in greater Doomdooma area in Tinsukia district of Upper Assam today.

Sidharth Singh Tinsukia, Oct 1: Tinsukia police on Friday night arrested seven cattle smugglers and seized one truck carrying 19 cows in Balugada at Tinsukia which were bound for Jorhat.

“The cattle’s were being smuggled from Tinsukia to Jorhat. A case under Sections 1108/16 of 376 IPC has been registered against the accused – Mohamad Saukat Hussain, Abijeet Baruah, Mohammad Kamaludin, Hardeb Singh, Maten Bhagwati, Dil Bahadur Chetry and Kamal Bhagat.

On Friday night’s incident, the truck bearing registration no.AS-02-7106 carried 19 cows and the smugglers were supposed to get around Rs 3,000 per animal.

Acting on a tip-off the Bajrang Dal of Tinsukia unit along with journalists of a leading news channels waited near the place were reports of cow smuggling was going on for many days.

When the truck along with the smugglers reached the spot after loading off cattle’s the member of the organisation caught the truck and called police for further actions.

After a proper search police found out 19 unlicenced cattle’s in the truck.

The modus operandi of the smugglers is that they buy cattle from Tinsukia at cheap prices and smuggle them out for slaughter. This is done through a wide network of operators, who stuff animals in trucks.

While cow smuggling and lack of action against those selling substandard beef have been a political hot potato in the state, animal activists say that there has been a rise in incidents of cow smuggling.

SPORTS

Jorhat Press Club beat Jorhat Police in a friendly football match

It is noteworthy that awareness programmes are being done in the district on child right and child protection which is sponsored by UNICEF. Moreover performing road side show with animals has been banned and is punishable by law.

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Friendship match between Jorhat press club & Jorhat police in occasion of Assam police day. Pic - Nakib Ahmed

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ET Correspondent Jorhat, Oct 1: In the occasion of "Assam Police Divas", a friendly match was played between Jorhat Press Club and Jorhat Police at Jorhat Stadium today. The match was played to generate unity and to tighten the bond between both police and media persons.

Both the teams toiled hard in the first half but could not score goal. Diponjit Changmai of Jorhat Press Club scored the first goal for his team in the 51st minute. Changmai collected a pass from the right flank and found the back of the net. Jorhat Press Club

scored their second goal through Changmai again in the 63rd minute. Jorhat Police tried to bounce back and scored their lone goal at 71st minute of the match.

Jorhat Press club scored their third and final goal through Pranjal Powgam and sealed the victory to 31

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2

Pobitora Sanctuary opened for tourists Dalim Phukan Morigaon, Oct 1 : Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, the only sanctuary of Morigaon district which is the dense habitat of one horned rhinos was formally opened for both domestic and foreign tourists in the early morning today. The Sanctuary was formally opened for the visitors in current season by Piyush Hazarika, MLA, Jagiroad amidst huge gathering . It may be mentioned here that the Pobitora Wildlife Santuary was completely inundated by the Brahmaputra's flood this year damaging the 70 percent of infrastructures.

However, several link roads to and from Pobitora were repaired . The forest department expected more revenue that may be earned in coming days from the tourists. The local people also demanded the eviction of the encroachment near the sanctuary for the development of Pobitora.

It may be mentioned Thongchi started his literary pursuit since his school days. Although his mother tongue is a dialect called Sherdukpen spoken by few families in Arunachal, Thongchi started practicing his writings in Assamese language as it was the medium of in-

A Staff Reporter Guwahati, 1 Oct: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal urged the students of the state to strive for becoming good citizens with human values along with excelling in studies.

Speaking today at the function held for felicitating the rank holders in HSLC and HSSLC of the St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School in the city, Chief Minster advised the students to consider this period of their lives as golden period and use it for building character and imbibing humane values.

Recalling his own school days, Chief Minister Sonowal said his days at Don Bosco School, Dibrugarh have a profound impact in shaping his personality and character. Urging the students

struction in NEFA schools those days.

Born on 13 June 1952 in West Kameng of Arunachal Pradesh, Thongchi was appointed as Arunachal Pradesh Civil Service Officer and later inducted to Indian Administrative Service in 1992. Recipient of Sahitya Akademi, Bhasha Bharati, Phulchand Khandelwal Sanghati, Basudev Jalan award etc, Thongchi is immensely popular with Assamese readers through his literary works like Mauna Oath Mukhar Hriday, Sonam, Bih Konyar Deshat, Shaw Kota Manuh, Moi Akou Janam lom, Papor Pukhuri, Banh Foolar Gondha etc.

ADC Miao signs out after 36 years of illustrious service Contd. from Page 1

The Staff and Administration of Miao subdivision paid a glowing tribute with presents, songs, well wishes and prayers for the ADC who has been a great public servant to all sections of the people here. “No public servant has been given so many presents on his farewell day like today”, said Mr. Gunjanong Singpho, Changlang District BJP Secretary. “This is an expression of people’s love and affection towards our ADC”, added Mr. Singpho, who belted out a couple of melodious numbers to pay tribute to the most loved ADC of Miao.

Mr. Rakesh Kumar Rai, Circle Officer (CO) in Kharsang, who worked under the ADC in Miao as CO, expressed his gratitude for his guidance and fatherly advice.

“I have been lucky to have worked under a very honest, dedicated, committed and sincere officer at the outset of my public service”, he said.

The experience of working under you will help me a long way, he added.

In a well-represented farewell gathering, every public leader paid rich tribute to the ADC. Mr. Somlung Mossang, representing the Tangsa Tribal Community in Miao said that the Miao

STATE

subdivision was blessed to have a person like T. Mara who has rendered 36 years of long and a very meaningful service to the community. “Your guidance and advice will be missed. I hope you will continue to inspire us wherever you are”, he said.

Mr. Jowkhong Singpho, Zilla Parishad Chairperson, Changlang District, Mr. T. S. Ronrang, Tibettan Settle Officer, and who-is-who of Miao subdivision was present to bid farewell the ADC. Mr. Sethai Sena, District Congress President of Anjaw too thanked the ADC for leading from the front always.

Your qualities of dedication, honesty, integrity and simplicity have taught us all valuable lesions for life. You may go far away but not from our emotions and our hearts, he said. Mrs. Longri, Kharsang Anchal Samity Chairperson echoed the same thought. We will follow your footsteps and try to emulate your example to do our bits to the society, she said.

Service in a place for as many as 36 years is a not a mean feat. In a multi tribal context like Miao subdivision, T. Mara has achieved what some can only dream about. As he signs out his 36 years of illustrious innings in Miao, he leaves behind a huge legacy.

We hope the new ADC will be able to fit into the big shoes of our beloved ADC T. Mara.

to take Moral Education very seriously to inculcate a clear conscientious thinking ability and build a strong character, Chief Minster said that the young students must aim for becoming good citizens and contribute towards nation building.

Reiterating that the students need to engage in sports and physical activity Chief Minister said that excelling in sports is as important as doing well in studies. Citing the examples of Olympians Dipa Karmakar and Mary Kom from the northeast region, Chief Minister Sonowal said that girl students must aspire for sporting excellence and should not feel inferior to anyone in any field of life.

The government is going to build the state as a

sporting hub of the nation as there is abundance of sporting talent which needs to be exploited to the fullest, Sonowal said.

Saying that the government is committed for women empowerment, Chief Minister urged the girl students to aim for excelling in every field and not to limit their aspirations. He said they must work hard to bring tangible change to the society and impact their surroundings in a positive way.

Lauding the St. Mary’s HS School for maintaining quality in education Chief Minister wished the rank holders in HSLC and HSSLC of the school a great future and urged them to be inspiration for the future generations of students. The school stu-

Miao police apprehends 2 drug peddlers and 2 hardcore NSCN (R) cadres in filmy style Contd. from Page 1 On interrogation on the spot Bomwang revealed that the said drugs were being transported for one SS Corporal Lungphang Jugli alias Babu a hardcore NSCN (R) cadre who was waiting for the said drugs at Lower Injan village. Accordingly, the apprehended person Bomwang Tangha was made to contact Lungphang Jugli over phone and asked for his location.

Lungphang Jugli tild him that he is at new Injan village and asked Shri Bomwang to come there. Accordingly the police team led Bomwang to lower Injan village and laid a trap by coaxing Lungphang to come on the main road. After sometime Lungphang arrived on a bicycle with one Tusum Mossang. When asked to stop by police, they began to flee and while fleeing Shri Lungphang Jugli fired 2 shots upon police, one of which hit Ct. Miriat Pumoh on both the legs. In retaliation police also fired from AK 47 which hit Lungphang on left leg.

Thereafter he was overpowered.

The injured Constable and Lungphang were brought to medical for immediate

treatment and have been evacuated to Civil Hospital Margherita on being referred.

During the apprehension a Chinese made 9 mm pistol, a dao , mobile phones-05 nos., sim cards-09 nos., cash Rs. 3800/-, signed cheques-02 leaf, ATM cards-03 nos., a dry cell torch and knife-04 nos., has been recovered from their possession. Thereafter they have been brought to Police Station Kharsang and registered vide KSG PS CASE NO. 23/16 U/S 384/506/307/ 34 IPC R/WSEC 10/13 UAP ACT/SEC 25(1A)/27 ARMS ACT/SEC. 21 NDPS ACT. On further interrogation the location of one more hardcore NSCN-R cadre Manseng Jugli was also revealed to be at Upper Injan village.

Accordingly the police team went to Upper Injan and apprehended Manseng Jugli from kutcha hut in Upper Injan. 3 mobile phones, simcard-5 nos., cash Rs.620/were recovered from his possession.

The operation team was led

by SDPO Miao John Pada and consisted of N.Ete Dysp, SI T.Tayeng, OC PS KSG, SI R.Rawat, SI J.Aran and other police personnel’s of Miao and Kharsang PS.

CHAKMA-HAJONG ISSUE: “Grant citizenship but give them ILP too and unequal treatment”, AAPSU The Apex students’ body is all set to conduct its conferencecum-election from November 20 to 23next.

Meanwhile, and also in the Press conference, the Coordinator of North East Students Organisation (NESO) Pritam Sonam informed that NESO is working to unite all the MP’s of the North Eastern Region (NER) to collectively oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill from being tabled in the Parliament.

Observing that the bill if passed would be detrimental to the region’s demography in terms of influx of Tibetan and Bangladeshi refugees, Sonam asserted that NESO in coordination with all the apex students’ bodies of the region would oppose tooth and nail

against the citizenship Act amendment proposal.

Further, the NESO Coordinator also informed that the NER students’ body have placed before the central government for initiating a mechanism to install a separate time zone for the NER. He reasoned that the differences in the timeline of sunrise and sunset in the NER and the mainland India robs the people of the NER with four hours of their leisure time officially.

Citing an example, Sonam said that the official working hours from 9 AM to 5 PM means that while the mainland working class have an extra leisure period between the working hours and the sunset at around 7 PM, the NER people are deprived of the same with the sun already set by office closing hours.

Educators, PRI and SMC of Mebo Sub-Division of Pasighat to bring educational changes Contd. from Page 1 Director Elementary Education (Rtrd) cum President, Arunachal Shiksha Vikash Samity cum Secretary General, Adi Baane Kebang (apex). The meeting closely discussed about the four point agenda, i.e. (i) Reintroduction of Pre-Primary classes in all schools, (ii) Reintroduction of External Exam in Class V, (iii) Introduction of Kitchen Gardening in all schools and (iv) Motivation of teachers.

All the participants spoke at length about the urgent need of re-introduction of old models of education so as to bring back the quality education that has been compromised with the coming

PAGE 3

CM felicitates rank holders in Vaccination against Duck HSLC and HSSLC of the St. Mary’s Plague in Morigaon Higher Secondary School

Arunachal writer to be the Guest of the month at Guwahati Press club A Staff Reporter Guwahati, 1 Oct: Prominent Assamese writer of Arunachal Pradesh, Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi will grace the next ‘Guest of the Month’ program of Guwahati Press Club (GPC) on 4 October (Tuesday). The interactive session with the Sahitya Academi award winning author will begin at 12 noon at GPC hall no 2.

AROUND THE

of new system of education like RTE and CCE etc. Jongge Yirang, DDSE, Pasighat, emphasized on revamping the educational scenario of Mebo area by bringing changes in the educational modalities. While, Ponung Ering Angu, Dy. Director, ICDS spoke on how her department’s ‘Anganwadi’ staffs can be used in teaching Pre-Primary classes in schools as after the abolition of this PrePrimary classes, students faces problem in Class I and higher classes. Others like Dr. Buk Lego, DDSE (Rtrd), Litem Perme, BEO Mebo, Oling Ratan, CRCC Motum, Maktil Aum, Gen. Secy. 39MIF, ASM Chairperson Mebo Banggo, Dinesh Mepola, Lining Pertin, SMC Chairman, GSS Kiyit,

Rimo Kadu, ATA (E/Siang) Gen. Secy, Yalem Taga Burang, President, ABKWW, Apak Megu, Principal, GHSS Mebo etc spoke in the meeting and put forwarded their valuable suggestions.

While adopting all the four points to be followed in the schools, the meeting also passed a resolution to form an expert committee led by DDSE Pasighat which will further spearhead the implementation part while submitting reports to the state government.

Meanwhile, taking forward his social responsibilities to newer extent which could become an example for those others retired officers in the

state, Bodong Yirang, Chairman of the meeting declared that, he is taking the mentorship of all the schools under Mebo Sub-Division, from Bodak to Mer and Ayeng to Aohali who will look after all the major issues of the schools concerning its improvements. “I am taking this responsibility of all these schools to bring coherent progress which has lacked these days for many reasons. But I expect that, the 39 Mebo Intellectual Forum, BEOs, BRPS and PRIs, GBs, SMCs etc, besides DDSE, Pasighat will coordinate me in my endevour”, added Yirang who desires to work for the improvement of schools in his area during his post his retirement periods.

dents also presented a colorful cultural performance on the occasion.

Addressing the Freshmen Social Meet at JB Law College, the Chief Minister said that as conscious citizen of the country, law students have a great responsibility in creating a disciplined and systematic society. Stating that law education helps in a great way to solve problems, he said that all law students must take it as a responsibility to sensitize people about their fundamental rights and duties.

While Dr. Jogendra Nath Sharma, Principal of the College delivered the welcome address, Dr. Ramesh Chandra Borpatra Gohain, HoD, Law Studies, Gauhati University attended the programme as guest of honour.

Free vaccination camps were organized against the plague disease of ducks in Morigaon district under the auspices of Veterinary department.Pic - Dalim Phukan Dalim Phukan Morigaon,Oct 1 : A day long vaccination programme on Duck plague was organized by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Morigaon in collaboration with College of veterinary Science Khanapara in flood affected villages of Buraburi Gaon Panchayat. As per report received an animal health camp was organized in the month of august in this area

and after getting reports of huge mortality of ducks in the area with symptoms of duck plague a vaccination camp was planned.

A team from college of veterinary science comprising of Dr Tulan Dutta, Dr Deepak Sharma, Dr Parshajyoti Nath , Dr Konkon Baruah with students of veterinary college and a team of KVK

Morigaon led by Dr Rijusmita Sarma divided themselves into four groups and went to four different locations Burgaon 1 ,Burgaon 2, Palbasti and Boramoripam covering altogether vaccination of more than 600 ducks. President Gaon Panchayat Mrs Urmila Sarkar extended support to the team in facilitating duck farmers of the area.

Govt to make all police stations technologically smart A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Oct 1 :Informing

that the government will make all the police stations in the state smart police stations in a phased manner, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that newer challenges are facing the society in modern times and police force will have to adopt technology to tackle increasing crimes. A smart police force is the order of the day and technology would be able to help the police to efficiently tackle law and order situations, Sonowal said at the Assam Police Day celebrations held at 4th APBN, Kahilipara in the city.

While honoring the 10

police personnel for their outstanding performances with Chief Minister ’s medal, Sonowal said that Assam Police should aim for becoming the best police force in the country. He urged them to set an example before the younger generation to dedicate themselves to the cause of the society To make a corruption and crime free society Assam Police would need to be proactive and must work towards retaining the faith of the people on the police force as protector and guardian of law of the land, Chief Minister said. He said police uniform must instill fear in the hearts of the antisocial elements and

inspire trust and goodwill among the common people of the state. No individual is above the law and police must ensure that unity and order in the society is maintained at all costs, he observed.

Receiving the Guard of Honour, Chief Minister Sonowal said that the government is mindful of the various problems facing the police force and all genuine problems would be resolved in a phased manner so that the police personnel can perform their duties efficiently and without any worries. The government is planning various reform activities for the police force and a memorial honoring the sacrifices of the

police personnel will be constructed soon, Sonowal said.

While releasing two Ebooks about arms and weapons for Assam police Chief Minister Sonowal said that the these E-books would be immensely helpful for the police personnel for obtaining knowledge about usage, maintenance of the various arms through digital medium.

Chief Secretary V.K. Piparsenia, Director General of Police Mukesh Sahay, Press Advisor to Chief Minister Hrishikesh Goswami along with top police officials of the state were present on the occasion.

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2

REST OF

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ARUNACHAL CM Khandu to ask central package CM to beautify for 'forest protection force' Itanagar parks HCM’s meeting with forest department website for state’s Environmental Information System (ENVIS) ENVIS (http:// arpenvis.org.in) that would help state’s environmental issues to be linked with a central database for easy retrieval and integration of information.

ET Bureau Itanagar, Oct 1 : Chief Minister Pema Khandu today chaired a meeting of senior officials from the Department of Environment and Forest (DoEF) along with Parliamentary Secretary for Forest, Chow Tewa Mein here at PCCF office.

Also speaking on the occasion, Mein suggested that forest department could take up various tourism sites and projects, tea-coffee plantation projects; as the department with its adequate resources will be able to manage those projects effectively.

Addressing his first official meeting with the department, the Chief Minister in his opening remarks recalled the department’s ‘golden era’, when it contributed massively to the state’s revenue.

He, however, observed that in due course of time with 1996 Supreme Court’s ban on timber operations, the status of the department has been relegated to service department from being a revenue department once.

The CM, nevertheless, admitted that the Supreme Court’s judgement was “right”. “We have to admit that the judgement might have hurt us in short term but in long term and for future, the decision was absolutely correct and in right vision,” he said.

Also the service provided by the forest department could not be compared with other departments, said the Chief Minister and added, “Their contribution not only benefited the people of

Arunachal, but the entire human race. The effort to preserve Arunachal’s green cover in itself is a great service towards world environment.”

Appreciating the role of Arunachali tribal society in preservation of forest and environment, the Chief Minister said, “We have intricate connection with our natural environment. All our tribal activities, rituals and practices are deeply connected with the forest and its natural surroundings.”

He took pride in the fact that the community’s cultural practices had contributed to preservation of forests due to which the state still has 81% of its land under forest cover.

However, acknowledging that with rapid development, forest encroachment was proving to be a big challenge for the state government, the Chief Minister assured the department that the issue will be taken not only at department level, but at all government levels.

Also to equip the forest department effectively to carry on with their forest protection measures, Khandu suggested that a central package will be sought for raising ‘forest protection force, which will be on similar line to the central aid being received for maintaining ‘tiger protection force’.

has been pending with the department for last 15 years, will be taken up with the Prime Minister in his forthcoming meeting with him in New Delhi.

Also, the PM will be briefed on the need for state’s own separate cadre for Indian Forest Service (IFS) and IAS, which would boost the innovative and administrative capabilities of the department, assured the Chief Minister.

He appreciated the efforts of the two IFS officers posted in Arunachal on probation, who had come up with a ‘field manual on GIS application for egreenwatch’, which was earlier released by him.

He assured that the matter of raising manpower, which

The Chief Minister also inaugurated the release of

Special Summary Revision of photo electoral Roll launches in Pasighat DEO East Siang calls upon youth to enroll as Voters

Terming ‘bamboo’ as the most potential forest resources highly valued than the timber, the Parliamentary Secretary asked the department to engage in research and development to boost its productivity.

He also raised the critical issue of elephant menace in various districts, which has been on rise due to the loss of their natural habitat and termed it as burning problem that needs to be addressed.

Earlier, the meeting began with a ceremonial tree planting by the Chief Minister, who was accompanied

by Chief Secretary-incharge Hage Khoda, Secretary Planning Dr Joram Beda, Principal Secretary (E&F) Omkar Singh and PCCF GN Sinha.

Governor greets the people on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti Actively participate in the Swachh Bharat campaign: Governor to the people Let us join our hands together to make our village, town, city, State and country cleaner and healthier: Governor

ET Bureau Pasighat, Oct.1: DEO East Siang Isha Khosla has called upon the eligible voters and general voters to come forward to enroll themselves and for correction of their existing EPIC during the Special Summary Revision -2017 of Photo Electoral Roll. The DEO was a addressing various stakeholders at a function today to mark the launch of the Special Summary Revision of Electoral Roll in the district here at DC’s Conference Hall, today.

As the theme of this year’s Revision process is “No Voters to be left behind”

with special focus on the youth, who have attained 18 years of age and above as on 1st January 2017, as the qualifying year, the DEO has asked the students who were present on the occasion to share with and inform friends and in their respective institutions for maximum new enrollment.

Further Stressing on updating to color photographs of their EPIC; the DEO has asked to submit colour photographs to the BLOs. ERO,Pasighat, T.Padung, through a Power Point presentation, explained in detail the various procedures for enrollment in terms of filing corrections for errors in EPIC , guidelines for fill-

ing up various applications forms for the new enrollment as Voter, including deletion and transposition.He also informed the single window on-line facility of the ECI national portal www.nvsp.in for online registration as voters. He further requested to visit and take help of the ERO, AERO and BLOs for guidance and filing during the Revision process.

AERO, R.Pertin, has also urged the eligible students to enroll themselves for EPIC and make informed choices.

The Draft Electoral Roll2016 was also published in the function.

ET Bureau Itanagar, Oct 1 : The Governor of Arunachal Pradesh Shri V. Shanmuganathan has conveyed his greetings to the people of the State on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. He expressed his hope that that the occasion inspire all to follow the ideals of Gandhiji, who stood for truth, peace and nonviolence throughout his life.

In his message, the Governor said that the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi continue to remain relevant even today. In fact their relevance only increases each passing day. His vision for the country and his dream for the community as a whole still hold good for India.

Gandhiji got the community to assimilate and reflect true values of humanity. He guided all to participate in the tasks that would promote greater interests of the society.

Calling upon the people of the State towards the Swachh Bharat campaign on the occasion, the Gov-

ernor said that Gandhiji considered cleanliness next to Godliness and called sanitation more important than political freedom.

Even now, it is high time that we become conscious of our responsibilities and put in concerted effort to make our houses, colonies, towns and cities clean, hygienic and sanitized. In this direction, the Union Government has launched the Swachh Bharat Mission on 2nd October 2014 commemorating the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation. I appeal to the people of the State to actively participate in this nationwide cleanliness campaign.

On this special occasion, let us join our hands together to make our village, town, city, State and country cleaner and healthier.

Let us also pledge to follow the path of truth and nonviolence and dedicate ourselves towards promoting goodwill, tolerance and harmony, the Governor exhorted in his message.

Theravada Buddhist across the state celebrates Satang mao-pi Chow Bilaseng Namchoom ITANAGAR, Oct 1: The Theravada Buddhist across state celebrated the auspicious occasion of Satang Mao-pi with traditional enthusiasm and solemn devotion at their respective Kyong (Viharas) today.

Satang Mao-pi is a Buddhist day of observance and a day for practicing the Buddha’s teachings and meditation, which is being observed by both the lay people and ordained members of the Sangha together.

The Buddha has taught that these Satang days are for cleansing of the defiled mind resulting in inner calm and joy. During the day, the

the attention on the practice of the Dhamma.

lay followers make a conscious effort to keep the Five Precepts or the Eight Precepts. On this day, both lay and ordained members of their Sangha intensify

their practice, deepen their knowledge and express communal commitment through millennia-old acts of lay-monastic reciprocity.

Celebrating the occasion at

Theravada Buddhist Vihara Itanagar, the Abbott Venerable Ratnadeepa in his sermon dwelt in length about the precepts meant to discipline the mind and focus

Later, the members of the Theravada Buddhist Society Itanagar also took part in the impressive award presentation ceremony during the celebration of National Voluntary Blood Donation Day organized by Arunachal Vivekananda Yuva Shakti (AVYS) at Banquet Hall Itanagar. The Theravada Buddhist Society Itanagar was also felicitated along with others by the AVYS for rendering support in organizing blood donations camp during celebrations of Buddha Jayanti and for donating blood by its active members.

ET Bureau Itanagar, Oct 1 : With the aim to develop and to give a face-lift to various parks in the state capital, Chief Minister Pema Khandu today rolled out several measures to boost tourist attraction to these sites.

about the number of animals found that included nearly 200 animals and six big cats.

The Chief Minister visited the ‘Itanagar Biological Park’, accompanied by Parliamentary Secretary for Forest CT Mein and senior officials from the forest department.

The CM moved round the Zoo and inspected the facilities and the road condition. Talking to Zoo officials, he advised them to take good care of the animals and to provide them with proper diet. The CM assured all timely release of funds for maintenance of Zoo and for foods for the animal.

The Chief Minister took stock of the living condition of the animals kept in the Zoo. He also got update

For proper maintenance of Gekar Sinyi or the Ganga Lake, the Chief Minister during his interaction with

Arunachal CM greets Gandhi jayanti ET Bureau Itanagar, 1 Oct: Chief Minister Pema Khandu has conveyed his best wishes on occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, which is also celebrated as the International Day of Non Violence.

Remembering Gandhiji on his birth anniversary, Khandu said Ganhiji’s whole life is a lesson for everybody to emulate.

“Gandhiji, our Father of Nation, is the epitome of human existence that ever was. His teachings, if followed, will make a world worth living without fear, greed, dishonesty and peace. Every stage of his life is a lesson for us,” he said in a message here this evening.

The Chief Minister appealed all to participate voluntarily in the ‘Clean Arunachal Green Arunachal’ campaign in the state as part of the countrywide campaign of ‘Swatch Bharat’ being organized to commemorate Gandhi Jayanti.

“Let us all join hands in the Clean Arunachal Green Arunachal campaign to clean our neighbourhood as cleanliness is the only way to a healthy and serene life,” he said.

Citing Gandhiji’s famous quote “You must be the change you wish to see in the world”, Khandu pointed that every good deed should begin at home.

“Let us clean our homes and our surroundings first for a cleaner and healthier world. Let us change ourselves before we set on to change the world,” he added.

department officials decided to handover all components of the lake to forest department. He opined that management of the lake by forest department, which has adequate resources and through a single department would be more efficient.

On Indira Gandhi Park, the Chief Minister asked the forest department to depute expert agencies for beatification of the park. He asked them to depute good architect for landscaping, for construction of jogging trail along the park boundary, stressing on the need for providing citizens with a decent place for outdoor and sports activities.

Home Minister Kumar Waii makes surprise check on all Police Check posts A Staff Reporter NAHARLAGUN, Oct 1: Home Minister Kumar Waii made a surprise check of all Police Nakas (check posts) and picketing points from Kankar Nallah Model Village to Holongi Check Gate on the night of September 30 last, to assess the performance of security personnel engaged in night duties.

He also assessed security measures undertaken by the Police Department and acknowledged the problems and shortages being faced by the department.

Waii personally viewed the performance of the policemen on duties at Kankar Nallah and Ganga BOP and found

their performance to be satisfactory, for which the Home Minister also announced cash reward of Rs 5, 000 each for both areas of duty.

At the same time, the Home Minister took serious note of the negligence of duty police personnel at Yupia Tri Junction and Ziro Point Tinali. In this connection, he directed the Superintendent of Police (City) to initiate disciplinary action against the defaulting policemen.

It was also informed that such unannounced surprise checks to monitor the performance of policemen on night duties by the Home Minister will continue in the future as well.

Moyong Launches Swachhta Pakhwadain East Siang ET Bureau Pasighat, 1 Oct: Local MLA, Kaling Moyong, today launched the Swachhta Pakhwada(fortnight) in East Siang towards the mission of a clean, green and plastic free Pasighat and East Siang here at DC’s Conference Hall. To create awareness at all levels and to tap the Social Media, Moyong on the occasion also launched a Whatsapp group (SBM Urban Pasighat) and also inducted the newly selected Swacchta Senani( Cleanliness Volunteers) from various Schools and college students of DHQ and JNC. MLA Kaling Moyong addressing on the occasion appealed all stakeholders ranging from the ULBs, DA, PRIs and student community and all sections of the society of Pasighat and East Siang to contribute and work together with team spirit towards the goal for nomination of Pasighat as Smart City. We must all work towards a clean and hygienic pasighat and East Siang as a whole. He particularly stressed on the cleanliness of the Pasighat Market area adding that as the Market is the face of Pasighat,its cleanliness

should be our first priority .

Terming SBM as one of the pet projects of the PM, he said that its our collective responsibility to take forward the Mission of a Clean Pasighat towards the goal of a Clean India. We must also strive to build reputation on the line of the cleanest Village of Asia, Mawlynnong, in Meghalaya, where the clean and green surroundings of the village draw so many tourists and visitors. Proper waste disposal and no littering will go a long way for a clean and hygienic Pasighat and East Siang, he added. He also appreciated the efforts of the DMO, under whose pro active guidance , various measures have help reduce the Dengue and Malaria cases this year and also DD UD for the initiative on creating the Whatsapp group.

Earlier,DC East Siang, Isha Khosla, also urged all stakeholders to pledge to make Pasighat the cleanest city of India by adopting and practicing no littering, through proper disposal and Open Defecation free . The DC said that the mission is possible with everyone support. The DC also said that social media ,Facebook ,will be also be utilized and called

upon citizens to share Photos of anyone littering and also those who are doing good work in maintain cleanliness.

Stressing on Open Defecation free villages & townsand use of Sanitary Toilets, the DC urged the PRIs & ULBs to make their villages and towns open defecation free. Pointing out the vital role of students in the Mission, she asked them to contribute for construction of sanitary toilets in every household through pledge and campaigns. Demonstrations on low cost toilets will also be conducted in selected villages and urban areas as part of the campaign by the PHED and UD. A Series of programmes are lined up as part of the observation of Swachhta Pakhwada, inlcluding, distribution of dustbins, Social service at Komlighat Park, market area and District Hospital, , Tagline and Painting completion on Swachh Bharat Mission, Mass Plantation, Award ceremony of Best painting and IEC tagline

by Pasighat MLA. SP Pranav Tayal, ZPC Kaling Dai, Chief Councilor PMC and students and various other stakeholders attended the launching ceremony.

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2

BUSINESS

PAGE 5

Oil rises in New York, India, US to add advance manufacturing buoyed by OPEC cheer in their Science and Technology Dialogue New York, Oct 1: Oil prices had finished higher in New York yesterday, two days after producing countries reached the consensus needed for a production cut.

However, prices edged lower in London, failing to break the threshold of $50 a barrel.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, a barrel of West Texas Intermediate for November delivery gained 41 cents to close at $48.24.

In London, North Sea Brent fell 18 cents to settle at $49.06 on the Intercontinental Exchange.

After weeks of trading driven by speculation, the Organization of the Oil Producing Countries had on Wednesday reached a surprise agreement to boost prices by cutting daily production by about 750,000 barrels to be-

Agriculture science and ocean wave modeling have also been added to the India-US collaboration in the field of science

Pic for representation purpose. tween 32.5 million and 33 million barrels.

It came as welcome news to markets that had fretted all summer about the seemingly gloomy prospects of emerging from a global supply glut. Prices spiked more than five per cent on the news.

Bob Yawger of Mizuho

Securities had said Friday's WTI gains were a continuation of bullish sentiment from the OPEC meeting.

"It's just a follow through from a positive month, positive week," he said.

"With the OPEC event we are kind of gathering momentum." (PTI)

RBI takes Fed route on monetary policy Mumbai, Oct1: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will now walk the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) way of deliberating onmonetary policy for two days before delivering their verdict.

And so, the six-member monetary policy committee (MPC) will be meeting on October 3 and 4, before letting the markets know about their collective decision on policy rates at 2.30 pm on the second day, just an hour before the equity markets close, but well before the closure of the bond and currency markets at 5 pm. So far, the central bank conveyed its decision at 11 am on the policy day.

Aided by RBI's research team and advised (nonbinding) by a committee of experts on monetary policy, the governor had the last say on policy.

The resolution of the MPC will be placed on RBI's website at 2.30 pm on October 4. This would be followed by a press conference at 2.45 pm, RBI said on its website. The three external members of the MPC are Chetan Ghate, professor, India Statistical Institute; Pami Dua, director, Delhi School of Economics; and Ravindra H Dholakia, professor, Indian Institute of Management (Ahmedabad). They will hold office for a period of four years, or until further orders.

But with the monetary policy in place, the central bank governor will be just one of the six members, albeit with a casting vote in case of a tie in member votes. This is exactly what theFOMC does in case of US Federal Reserve meetings, but the key difference is that the FOMCmeets once in a quarter and the RBI's practice is to meet twice in a quarter. The frequency of the meeting changed several times under different governors, and it won't be surprising if the central bank goes back to the old practice of holding policy meetings once a quarter, say economists.

"It remains to be seen if with a two-day deliberation in place, if the frequency of the monetary policyis sustained as it is," said SBI chief economist Soumya Kanti Ghosh.

Ghosh also pointed towards an interesting paper on committee-led monetary policy by American economist Alan Blinder where he proved that even in a committee approach, the governor always prevails.

In his paper, Blinder had

this to say on the FOMC meetings: "The distinction between individual and group decision making, while clean in theory, can be fuzzy in practice. Many central bank policy boards do not reach decisions by literal majority vote. Committees have chairmen, who may dominate the proceedings," the paper 'Monetary Policy by Committee: Why and How' says.

"On paper, the FOMC was always a pure committee that reached decisions by majority vote. In practice, each member other than Alan Greenspan had only one real choice when the roll was called: whether to go on record as supporting or opposing the chairman's recommendation, which was certain to prevail. It therefore was (and still is) quite possible for the Fed to adopt one policy even though the (unweighted) majority favoured another," Blinder said.

Since this is the first time such a meeting is happening, there is a huge interest about the proceedings and every sentence of the policy will be dissected by the analyst community. It is not yet clear if the minutes of the meetings will be made public with the opinions of individual members in it, or the minutes will be heavily edited and the member names would be omitted like the current practice for the technical advisory committee meetings.

"There will be element of curiosity as this is the first such policy. If you get the minutes, you get the point of view of individual members and the meetings become more institutionalised. Overtime, you extrapolate the views and come into a reasonable conclusion," said Harihar Krishnamurthy, head of treasury at First Rand Bank.

"In any case, the meetings will be data dependent.

Even as not all data points can be traced to a uniform outcome, the inclusion of six independent members make the process more transparent and the outcome less surprising, which is good for the markets," Krishnamurthy said.

According to Yogesh Radke, head of quantitative research at Edelweiss Securities, the timing of the policy will not be a problem. "Typically, news gets impacted immediately so it won't impact much if the announcement is made at 11 am or 2.30 pm. Any news flow during the market

hours gets absorbed with less impact. If any significant announcement is during non-market hours, we see gap-up or gap-down opening," said Radke.

"We have witnessed good long rollovers in PSU banks and Bank Nifty in the Oct Expiry. Traders are largely positioned on the long side in anticipation of a rate cut.

We expect the RBI to cut rates and come with a dovish statement," Radke said.

SHARPER DELIBERATIONS Since it is a two day meetings, the quality of deliberations can be expected to improve. The committee members, for sure, will delve deeply on the trajectory of CPI inflation as they are committed to keep the inflation within a central point of 4 per cent. Issues like inflows from foreign investors, and the impact of that flow following global central banks' stand on monetary policies will be discussed in greater depth.

While European Central Bank and Bank of England and Bank of Japan have explicitly committed on easy money policy, the US Federal Reserve is expected to hike rates.

Global commodity prices and the impact of oil production cut by OPEC will find its place in the discussion because 70 per cent of India's import is oil. Domestic liquidity, impact on inflation due to vegetable and pulse prices, monsoon and the prospect of kharif and rabi crops will be discussed and so will be the spike in rural consumer demand due to better monsoon.

Economists also expect the academicians to deliberate on minimum support prices on agri products and the procurement part. Tepid economy and the prospect of lower credit growth due to lack of capex demand would be discussed. The central point could still be how the RBI will manage the banking sector liquidity after the rupee equivalent of $26 FCNR deposit related outflows will be critically examined.

The central bank has already purchased Rs 1 lakh crore of bonds from the secondary market and the market expects it to buy another Rs 1 lakh crore in the coming months to tide over the possible liquidity deficit. The members will surely deliberate whether a rate cut would be warranted before negotiating the impending liquidity related crisis in the system. As any rate cut at this point will go waste if the liquidity remains tight.(PTI)

Washington, Oct 1: In a move aimed at furthering the 'Make in India' initiative, India and the US have agreed to add "advance manufacturing" in their Science and TechnologyDialogue.

Agriculture science and ocean wave modelling have also been added to the India-US collaboration in the field ofscience and technology.

A decision in this regard was taken during the India-USS&T Joint Commission Meeting held at the White House.

The meeting was cochaired by the Union Science andTechnology Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and John Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science & Technology.

The two leaders, who reviewed the progress under five Joint Working Groups for S&T cooperation between two countries, decided that technoentrepreneurship and innovation will be the cen-

tre piece of future collaboration.

Vardhan was in Washington to attend the Arctic Ministerial on September 28 which was attended by top officials from about 20 countries.

In his address the Minister emphasised the significance of environment and climate change in the Arctic region and its impact on Indian Monsoon.

He expressed India's readiness to enhance cooperation on Arctic science and research.

On the sidelines of Arctic Science Ministerial, the minister had a meeting with Jo Johnson, Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, United Kingdom and discussed the bilateral programs.

He also had a meeting with Roe Isaksen, Norwegian Minister for Education and Research and discussed the collaborations in areas of Arctic and Antarctic science and climate

The IIGP 2.0 will support "Make in India" and "Start-up India" initiatives with focus on social and technological innovations. change.

Vardhan also visited Lockheed Martin Global Vision Centre (GVC), a centre for research and innovation, and had meetings with Rodney A Makoske, senior Vice President and exchanged Letters to extend the India Innovation Growth Program (IIGP) involving

DST, Lockheed Martin and TATA Trusts.

The IIGP 2.0 will support "Make in India" and "Startup India" initiatives with focus on social and technological innovations.

During the visit to the National Institute of Health, Vardhan was apprised on the activities of National Institute of Allergy and

Infectious Diseases (NIAID) by eminent scientist DrAnthony Fauci, Director, NIAID. Advancement of vaccines for TB, Dengue, RSV and Chickungunya under bilateral Vaccine Development Programme were discussed.

He had a tour of Vaccine Research Centre and Clinical Research Centre.

Vardhan also had interactions with science and technology diaspora, organised by Indo-US Brain Trust.

In his interaction with eminent scientists, engineers, innovators and academicians, he exchanged views on how to strengthen the scientific cooperation between the two countries.

He reiterated that deep rooted S&T cooperation between scientific community and research institutions of two countries is a pillar of vibrant India-US relationship. (PTI)

Rajeev Sharma takes Spectrum auction enters third round; over as CMD of PFC maximum action in 1800 Mhz band Sharma succeeds M K Goel who retired on September 30, 2016 on attaining the age of superannuation.

A pic for representation purpose.

Mumbai, Oct 1: Rajeev Sharma has taken over as the Chairman and Managing Director of state-run Power Finance Corporation (PFC) with effect from today. Sharma succeeds M K Goel who retired on September 30, 2016 on attaining the age of superannuation. Prior to joining PFC, Sharma was the CMD of Rural Electrification Corporation (REC). Under his leadership, REC scaled greater heights in excellence by doubling the revenue and profits in the last five years. He is considered the

architect of Government's flagship schemes like Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), the company said in a statement.

Sharma holds B Tech (Electrical) and Masters Degree in engineering from IIT Roorkee and also an MBA degree from FMS, Delhi University. He has more than 30 years of experience and has served in various positions in Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Power Grid Corporation & PFC (as Director, Projects). (PTI)

SBI chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya gets oneyear extension

Arundhati Bhattacharya Mumbai, Oct 1: The government today granted a one-year extension toArundhati Bhattacharya as chairman of State Bank of India, for first time in the history of country's largest lender.

Her current three-year term was to end on October 06, 2016. She will get one-year term till October 06, 2017, senior SBI executive said.

The speculation over the government giving her six month to one-year term was making rounds for over

many months.

Managing a challenging task of integrating five associatebanks in current financial year and stabilizing asset quality seems to weighed in favour maintaining continuity of leadership, said another SBI official.

State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Travancore, State Bank of Hyderabad andState Bank of Patiala and Bharatiya Mahila Bank are to merge with SBI in FY17. (PTI)

New Delhi, Oct 1: The spectrum auction has entered the third round, with activity in 2100 MHz, 2300Mhz and 2500 Mhz bands and most of the action is seen in 1800 Mhz band.

There is no activity yet in the premium 700 Mhz band, according to industry sources. Maximum activity is taking place in 1800 MHz band, especially for the Mumbai circle, they said, adding that 10 bids have been received in the 2100 MHz band for all the 10 slots on the offer.

As much as 2,354.55 Mhz of frequencies are being put up for auction in seven bands - 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz. The radiowaves can be used for 2G, 3G and highspeed 4G mobile services.

Reliance Jio, Vodafone, Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular, Tata Teleservices, Reliance Communications and Aircel are in the fray for the spectrum auction, which started earlier on Saturday.

There is no end limit set by the government for the auction, but the bidding will be between 9 am to 7 pm every day.

The department of telecom will release results of daily bidding at the end of each day.

Telecom Secretary JS Deepak had told media on Friday that after this auction the "problem of spectrum

Pic for Representation purpose. scarcity affecting quality of service will be history."

He had also advised operators to "tank up" the radiowaves to bridge shortfall in their holdings as the next such sale may not happen for "quite some time".

While Reliance Jio, Airtel and RCom have pan-India 4G spectrum, Vodafone and Idea Cellular have an opportunity to bid for airwaves in the auction to expand their 4G service footprint for competitive advantage in the market.

Idea has 4G spectrum in 10 out of 22 telecom circles in the country. Vodafone, which has just brought in Rs 47,700 crore equity investment from its parent firm, has spectrum for 4G services in 9 telecom circles.

The premium 700 MHz band is to be auctioned at a reserve price of Rs 11,485 crore per Mhz. The cost of delivering mobile services in this band is estimated to be around 70 per cent lower than 2100 MHz band used for providing 3G services.

The 700 Mhz band alone has the potential to fetch bids worth over Rs 4 lakh crore.

Jio is the only company in this auction which is eligible to bid for pan-India spectrum in 700 MHz band.

Leading telecom operators have deposited Rs 14,653 crore as earnest money for the spectrum auction with Reliance Jio alone submitting Rs 6,500 crore as earnest money deposit. (PTI)

More than Rs 65,250 cr disclosed in IDS: Jaitley New Delhi, Oct 1: The direct tax department has received disclosures worth Rs 65,250 crore in the fourmonth long domesticblack money Income Declaration Scheme, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Saturday.

Speaking at a press conference to mark the end of the schemes, Jaitley cautioned that this was a tentative amount and will be revised upwards since not all of the manual and online declarations had yet been verified.

"Under this scheme, which I have repeatedly said is not an amnesty scheme, there have been some 64,275 declarants who have declared Rs 65,250 crore worth of previously undisclosed income," Jaitley said.

Business Standard was the only publication to earlier report that the government had received disclosures of more than Rs 65,000 crore.

Jaitley said that the final combined tax and penalty

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. amount on the declarations was still being calculated.

However, on the basis that the scheme attracts a tax and penalty of 45 per cent, the tax proceeds are at least close to Rs 30,000 crore, a huge revenue generated in a year when the government is faced with increasing expenditure due to pay commission burden as well

as capital spending and rural welfare commitments.

The income declaration scheme gives a chance to domestic tax payers to declare undisclosed income or assets by September 30 and avail immunity from prosecution under the IncomeTax Act, Wealth Tax Act and Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act.

EDITORIAL

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2

“

Today's quote

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear –– Nelson Mandela

Taking the road less dusty he likelihood of at least 600,000 deaths being caused annually in India by fine particulate matter pollution in the air is cause for worry, even if the data released by the World Health Organisation are only a modeled estimate. The conclusion that so many deaths could be attributed to particulate matter 2.5 micrometers or less in size is, of course, coveted, since comprehensive measurement of PM2.5 is not yet being done and the linkages between pollution, disease and deaths need further study. What is not in doubt is that residents in many urban areas are forced to breathe unhealthy levels of particulates and the smallest of these - PM10 and less - can penetrate and get lodged deep in the lungs.

The WHO Global Burden of Disease study has been working to estimate pollution-linked health impacts, such as stroke and ischemic heart disease, acute lower respiratory infection and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Data on fine particulates in India show that in several locations the pollutants come from burning of biomass, such as coal, fuel wood, farm litter and cow dung cakes. In highly built-up areas, construction debris, road dust and vehicular exhaust add to the problem. The Prime Minister launched an Air Quality Index last year aimed at improving pollution control. The new data, which the WHO says provide the best evidence available on the terrible toll taken by particulates, should lead to intensified action.

A neglected aspect of urban air pollution control is the virtual discarding of the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, notified to sustainably manage debris that is dumped in the cities, creating severe particulate pollution. The Environment Ministry has highlighted the role that debris can play as a resource. Municipal and government contracts are, under the rules, required to utilize up to 20 per cent materials made from construction and demolition waste, and local authorities must place containers to hold debris. This must be implemented without delay. Providing cleaner fuels and scientifically designed cook stoves to those who have no option but to burn biomass, would have a big impact on reducing particulate matter in the northern and eastern States, which are the worst-hit during winter, when biomass is also used for heating. Greening the cities could be made a mission, involving civil society, with a focus on landscaping open spaces and paving all public areas to reduce dust. These measures can result in lower PM10 and PM2.5 levels. Comprehensive measurement of these particulates is currently absent in many cities, a lacuna that needs to be addressed.

T

The return of Hekmatyar agreement reached between the Af T heghanpeace government of President Ashraf Ghani and warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar speaks volumes about the current situation in the country. Hekmatyar is not the type of leader a legitimate government may like to make peace with. The "butcher of Kabul" faces charges of killing thousands of Afghans during the U.S.-backed anti-Soviet jihad in the 1980s and the civil war in the early 1990s. He fell out with his American patrons during the civil war involving different mujahedeen groups, and turned against the U.S.-led coalition troops after their 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. But even after being declared a "global terrorist" by the U.S. in 2003, and his militia, the Hezb-i-Islami, being placed on the UN list of foreign terrorist organizations, Hekmatyar, now believed to be living in Pakistan, continued to fight the Afghan government and the coalition troops. Over the years his influence has dwindled, but he still commands a sizeable group of rebel soldiers who can continue to irritate Kabul. But why should the Afghan government negotiate a peace deal with a weakened warlord who faces charges of war crimes? Under the agreement, Hekmatyar will be made part of all government decisions and actions. Besides, the Hezb-i-Islami fighters will be integrated into the Afghan armed forces and Mr. Ghani will request the UN to remove the terrorist tag.

One plausible explanation is that the Afghan government is desperate to find a breakthrough in the 15-year-old civil war. Mr. Ghani's previous attempts to reach out to the Taliban have come to nothing.

Despite the recent setbacks to their leadership, the Taliban now control more territories than ever since they were ousted from power in 2001. They have demonstrated the capability to strike any location they choose to. By reaching a peace deal with Hekmatyar, Mr. Ghani is sending the message to the Taliban that peace between warlords and the government is not impossible, provided the former are ready to shun violence and work within the Afghan Constitution.

The President may also be hoping that if Hekmatyar rallies the various political and militant factions of the Hezb-i-Islami behind the government, it would strengthen the regime's position in the long term. But it is a gambit. The accord is unlikely to have any immediate impact on security as the Taliban are still at war. The deal could be counterproductive politically as well because of Hekmatyar's record - having him associated with the government could dent its legitimacy. But for Mr. Ghani, presiding over a regime grappling with infighting, incompetence, lack of resources and massive security challenges, there are not too many easy choices that are without risk.

PAGE 6

Non violence for Sustainability Ranjan K Baruah Most of the countries in the world have witnessed violence in different forms. There have been many struggles around the world. Some of the struggles are violent and some struggle or protest are non violent. As long as there is injustice and inequality, there would be struggles and movements by people. There has been movement for freedom. India had to fight a long way against British to get freedom. Many people had to fight against the colonial powers to get freedom and justice. One of the unique and most powerful ways which has been showed to the world

by Mahatma Gandhi is power of non violence. Today, entire world has been praising the way Mahatma Gandhi fought

against mighty British without violence.

The principle of non-violence - also known as non-violent resistance - rejects the use of physical violence in order to achieve social or political change. Often described as "the politics of ordinary people", this form of social struggle has been adopted by mass populations all over the world in campaigns for social justice.

Professor Gene Sharp, a leading scholar on non-violent resistance, uses the following definition in his publication, The Politics of Nonviolent Action "Nonviolent action is a technique by which people who reject passivity and submission, and who see struggle as essential, can wage their conflict without violence.

Nonviolent action is not an attempt to avoid or ignore conflict. It is one response to the

problem of how to act effectively in politics, especially how to wield powers effectively."

Some of the categories of non-violence action includes protest and persuasion, including marches and vigils; noncooperation; non-violent intervention, such as blockades, etc.

People who believe in non violence must promote the non violence way of protest for getting justice. Many people may not agree that non violence is not the solution but we must remember we have no other means apart from this. It might take time but there are ways out to get justice or up hold human rights.

The International Day of Non-Violence is marked on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-

violence. According to General Assembly resolution A/RES/ 61/271 of 15 June 2007, which established the commemoration, the International Day is an occasion to "disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness". The resolution reaffirms "the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence" and the desire "to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence". The resolution was introduced by Anand Sharma, the then Indian's Minister of State on behalf of 140 co - sponsors.

Ban Ki-moon, SecretaryGeneral of United Nations on his message on the occasion has said that "we know that a culture of non-violence begins with respect for others, but it does not end there. To nurture peace, we must respect nature.

I am pleased this year's Inter-

national Day of Non-Violence puts the focus on sustainability and the environment. In all he did, Mahatma Gandhi honoured our obligation to all living things. He reminded us that "Earth provides enough to satisfy everyone's needs, but not everyone's greed." Gandhi also challenged us to "be the change we wish to see in the world".

We have been seeing different movements and struggles in different parts of India.

There have been protest and movements in the north eastern region. Some of the groups are in violent form as they are with arms while many other organisations are fighting for their rights in democratic and non violent ways. 2nd October is being observed as Gandhi Jayanti in India and International Non Violent Day has started since 2007. As the day has become a global celebration different governments and

non governments organisation shall be organizing it around the world. I have seen All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), one of the largest ethnic students unions celebrating the day.

ABSU has been campaigning for illegal arms free society as illegal arms are threat to peace and civil society.

There are other organisations in North East region that are in arms struggle. They must take the path of non violence for solutions as violence is not the key for any social change or development. Every year on the International Day of Non-Violence, let us commit ourselves to the cause of peace, as exemplified by the life of Mahatma Gandhi who was born on this day 147 years ago. Together we can build a civil society and let us adapt to non violence for getting rights and justice. (Feedback may be sent to bkranjan@gmail.com)

Radio brings sustainable movement among farmers in rural Karnataka Amarjyoti Borah It is a much lesser used mode of mass-communication, what with the advancement of Television, powered by 24*7 satellite channels these days in most places, but it is this medium- the Radio which has been playing a pivotal role in changing the lives of thousands of farmers in rural Karnataka.

Realizing that the radio could play an important role in spreading awareness among farmers on areas such as line planting, Non Pesticide Management (NPM) farming, and lesser use of water in agriculture for a healthy and pest free crop, the Karnataka based SAMUHA, an organization working on various sustainable and development related issues, has started an initiative using this medium.

This initiative which has been carried out under the SAMUHA-Hindustan Unilever Foundation (HUF) project, uses the government owned All India Radio (AIR), to air regular programs on these agriculture and related is-

sues.

The experiment was started under the HUF project in the year 201415, and for this a MoU was signed with AIR Raichur for airing the campaign program.

The project officials have said that the duration of the programs are of 1518 minutes and for that AIR charges Rupees fifteen thousand per program.

This project is carried out by a 27 member team and has been going on at the Deodurga Taluk in Karnataka.

This initiative has been a massive success, and it has brought several positive changes in the lives of the farmers, in terms of both health benefits and production.

"Benefit in terms of production of crops also means economic benefits and more savings, and after hearing these success stories, more farmers are listening to the radio program," said SS Ghanti, a senior official of Samuha.

Ghanti also added that farmers make it a point to

The Wise Woman's Stone

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.

"I've been thinking," he said, "I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me something more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone.

listen to the radio programs as it gives them a lot of insight, and also knowledge.

On being asked how the farmers get to know when the program will be aired, Ghanti said that if necessary, word about the timing of airing is sent to the farmers through the master farmer, who is a paid volunteer of SAMUHA. He spreads the word around," said Ghanti.

Gajendra, a young farmer from the Bommanahalli village in H.Siddapura Gram Panchayath is among the happy ones. He has benefitted immensely from the radio motivation program, and now makes it a point to listen to the program whenever aired, and follows the instructions

given.

After listening regularly to the radio program, I started using less water in my agriculture field during cultivation, and got results quickly," he said.

Explaining he said that he retained around 1-2 inches of water in the field unlike before, and as a result, pest and disease attack were controlled and the yield was high.

It was surprising. I was able to save water as earlier I used to retain 6 inches of water in the paddy field and money spent on chemical fertilizers. I was surprised to know that using less water could benefit agriculture," said Gajendra.

My cost of cultivation has gone down, and I am able to control disease and

pests through low water and NPM practices besides reaping a bumper crop. My economic status has improved," he added.

He is not the only one who has benefitted.

Hanumantha, a farmer from the Hemanuru village at Deodurg is another farmer who has immensely benefitted from the radio motivation program.

Listening to the radio programs he has been able to learn about sustainable agriculture methods and these have done wonders for him.

We are nine members in the family, including grandchildren. We lead our life with earnings from the cultivation of our two acres of land. Even after a decade of Narayanapura Canal Project, we couldn't get sufficient water. We were struggling day and night to get the water to irrigate the fields," he said.

He added that the radio awareness programs have been the turning point, and now his production and income from his agricultural fields are higher than before.

On being asked how the motivation campaign using radio became such a hit, Ghanti said that radio

is always a great medium for communication, and for dissemination of information.

Also radio doesn't require electricity or dish or cable connection, and simply a low cost radio set with a set of batteries serves the purpose. Another great thing about radio is that you can do your work and at the same time, listen to the radio," added Ghanti.

Ghanti also said that after hearing the success stories of the farmers, many of their fellow farmers, who were earlier not practicing this sustainable form of agriculture, have also joined in and have started reaping the benefits.

He explained that another majority benefit for the farmers is that even those who are not aware of these sustainable methods, gets to know through radio as the radio signals are 'free' for all.

After hearing about the success stories of the farmers, many other farmers have also stared tuning in to our radio program," he added.

(Amarjyoti Borah is a water fellow)

Rhino-Killing on the Wane Sir, One wonders how corruption engulfed different departments of Assam under the tacit backing of the ministers concerned during congress regime.

We cannot highlight the level of corruption in any particular department, as each department was ahead of others. But the level of corruption in the Forest department knew no bounds. Could this magnitude of corruption be possible without the tacit support of the ministers concerned? Depriving the Government exchequer, plundering of all sorts of forest products took place uninterrupted, enriching DFOs and most other forest officials regardless of their status. Fortunately for us, with the change of guards at Dispur, the present incumbent Pramila Rani Brahma leaves no stone unturned the bridle these bad elements plaguing the department. For certain bold steps taken, the killing of Assam's pride one horned Rhino decreased

remarkably and level on certain other aspects too is on the wane. Meanwhile, the PSO of an ex-minister was nabbed who confessed his involvement in the killing of rhino. Good number of poachers was also arrested from whom it transpired that certain officials supposed to be protectors of rhinos also were nabbed for their involvement in the killing. In-fact, during congress regime it was a free for all exercise. But we are surprised to note that a section of officials still indulges in smuggling of forest products, these officials if caught should be handed out exemplary punishment including confiscation of their properties.

Pakistan : A terrorist country Sir, Pakistan now becomes a shelter for most of the hard core terrorists group. They are running the territories activity in their own soil just like a pocket Internet for last many years against India.

Territories are the creature of man, but its application against human civilization becomes more danger as well as painful.

Now the whole world is under the darkness of terrorism and no human race can survived without peace.

The recent surgical strike carried

out by Indian in Pak occupied Kashmir destroyed 6 terror camps and killed 35 terrorists proved that Pakistan should not learned anything of terror attacked conducted

by Tehrik-i-Taliban ( TTP) on Army School in the north Western Pakistan city of Peshawar on16 December, 2014.

If Pakistan continues aided or influence the territories group, there is no question of further dialogue between these two countries. Pakistan, if really wants peaceful settlement between the two countries, first they come forward for

Yours etc.

Ashok Bordoloi Dibrugarh

talks and start joint venture against territories group with India.

We all want peace and permanent solution of Kashmir dispute through dialogue within a stipulated period of time so that normalcy comes of this region.

At last, I am appealing the entire territories group through your esteemed daily, please allow us to stay like a sister and brother of this beautiful earth under the same blanket.

Yours faithfully, Indrajit Sarma Chiding Chapori, Govind Sarma Path Dibrugarh-786001

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2

REST OF

State to push NEEPCO for early completion of projects Shillong, Oct 1: At a time when the state is being forced to resort to loadshedding to avoid a bigger crisis in the coming months, the Government is engaged in pushing North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) to complete all projects, both hydro and thermal power, assigned to it by Meghalaya.

Speaking to media persons after the Cabinet meeting here on Friday, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said the Government would review the status of all the ongoing power projects in the state next month.

Sangma said while the bigger projects may take some time to complete, he was hopeful that the smaller ones would come up shortly.

According to the Chief Minister, the 450-MW Kynshi Hydro Power Project Stage II is held up as it is awaiting clearance from the Ministry of Atomic Energy and other line ministries in view of the likely submergence of the uranium deposits once

PAGE 7

NORTHEAST

State misleads Apex Court on education scam case CBI probe based on writ petitions, not firs'

Pic for Representation Purpose the project is developed.

He further pointed out that the preliminary Detailed Project Report for the 270-MW Kynshi Project Stage I has been presented and the Government has approved the size and location of the dam.

"The matter has to go to the Central Electricity Authority for further clearance and there can be financial closure," Sangma said, adding that it would then depend on the willingness of the banks to give loans for the projects.

The 270-MW Kynshi Hydel Power Project Stage I is to be imple-

mented by Athena Project Private Limited and the stage II is to be implemented by Jaypee Group.

Earlier, the State Government had directed Jaypee Group, which has been entrusted to execute the 450-MW Kynshi (stage II) Hydro Electric Project on River Kynshi, to shift the project 3 km downstream. The Government issued this directive following the Atomic Mineral Division's request to the State Government for shifting the project to another site "since there is a fear that it would submerge the areas with uranium deposits." (Agencies)

Shillong, Oct 1: : The State Government has misled the Supreme Court by filing an interlocutory application that said the case filed in the High Court of Meghalaya for a CBI probe into the criminal aspect of the education scam and the one that has been pending before the Apex Court are identical.

The State Government through Commissioner and Secretary (Home), EP Kharbhih, on Friday filed an affidavit in the High Court mentioning about the interlocutory application filed before the Supreme Court related to the case.

The interlocutory application filed by Ambrose Marak, Director of School Education and Literacy, states that it was after the FIR was filed in the education scam that the CBI had stepped in to probe the matter. However, records say it was as per the direction of the erstwhile Shillong Bench of the Gauhati High Court after hearing writ petitions of

the affected candidates that the CBI inquiry was ordered.

The CBI had never investigated the FIRs filed by the concerned parties but the probe report was based on the direction of the then single Judge of erstwhile Shillong Bench of the High Court in response to the petitions filed by the aggrieved parties.

In 2010, an FIR was filed before the SP of East Khasi Hills for the alleged manipulation of marks pertaining to the recruitment of assistant teachers in lower primary school, which was not registered in time in spite of providing information to the Chief Secretary and the Meghalaya DGP. Again on July 13, 2011, another FIR was filed by Agnes Kharshiing but this too was not registered and on July 18 of the same year, an affected teacher filed an FIR with the Laitumkhrah police station that was registered as Laitumkhrah PS case No

A file photo.

62(7) 2011. But police investigation was tardy as only initial statements were recorded by the then investigation officer who was later replaced by another.

It was in mid-2010 that some of the candidates who were not selected for the post of assistant teachers sought the intervention of the High Court alleging manipulation of marks in the score sheets. The then single Judge passed an order directing the CBI to conduct the inquiry.

As per the CBI report submitted to the High Court, there was alleged involvement of high profile politicians and officials.

After getting a copy of the CBI report, Kharshiing had filed another FIR in 2012, which, however, was not acted upon prompting the complainant to approach the Court of CJM, Shillong, which passed an order for registration of the case.

Police also made a prayer to the CJM Court to club the FIR of the petitioner with the Laitumkhrah PS

case No 62(7) 2011, as the subject matter of the case was the same.

Hence, it was allowed and more sections were added.

When contacted , the lawyer of the petitioner, Advocate N Syngkon, said the petition filed in the High Court was for CBI probe into the criminal aspect of the education scam whereas the case pending in the Supreme Court is about challenging the earlier High Court order to constitute the HighLevel Scrutiny Committee.

Kharshiing also said that the interlocutory application filed before the Supreme Court is very much misleading for the reason that the application stated that the PS case No 62(7)11 has already been investigated by the CBI in view of the observation of the single Judge.

However, Kharshiing asserted that PS case No 62(7)11 was never investigated by the CBI, nor was it part and parcel of the case brought before the single judge. (Agencies)

Zeliang exhorts 317 recruits from eastern Nagaland at attestation Tripura prods Right to life nullified due to laws Prabhu on like AFSPA; Kaka D Iralu

Dimapur, Oct 1:Nagaland chief minister T.R. Zeliang pointed out that the police department was one of the biggest and most important of all departments in the government, as it was saddled with maintenance of law and order, which became its primary duty ever since the existence of organised societies and governments.

Speaking as chief guest at the 62nd batch attestation parade of recruit havildars and recruit constables at the Police Training School (PTS) Chumukedima Friday, Zeliang congratulated the successful recruits who will become part of the state's police force.

He reminded the recruits that they will be in contact with various people at different levels while performing their duties. The impression thus created by the recruits in the minds of the public, will be the impression that public form about the police, he said. He advised them to be firm while dealing with criminals and friendly and helpful to citizens. In this regard, the chief minister reminded the recruits that their performance and behaviour would be crucial for maintenance of law and order.

He also asked recruits to

remember that failure of security results in breakdown of the entire government machinery.

The chief minister also pointed out that havildars and constables at the passing out parade Friday, were from a special dispensation for the four districts of Eastern Nagaland including the Sumis of Kiphire district.

He also advised the recruits not to be biased on the basis of caste, creed or religion etc. On rising sophistication of criminals, he said it was due to increasing complexity of modern life where crimes have become more complex and difficult to crack.

He attributed it to criminals resorting to use of sophisticated gadgets and technology.

The chief minister stressed on the need for police to catch up with the changing times by using the latest methods and technologies. He said this called for improving quality of personnel with continuous update of knowledge and skills throughout their service. In this regard, the chief minister said police training schools had an important role to play and for which there was need to post the most suitable officers.

Zeliang also laid great stress on the need for all

ranks to undergo refresher courses as merely having passed recruitment training was not enough especially in a fast changing environment.

The chief minister congratulated the principal, staff and recruits on the occasion.

Earlier, a total of 317 new recruit Havildars and Constables took their oath through a pledge administered by NPTS principal Aboli Metha in the presence of chief minister, T.R. Zeliang, Home minister, Y. Patton, DGP L.L. Doungel along with senior police officers and members of their family and relative at NPTS Parade Ground, Chumukedima Friday.

On the occasion awards were also conferred to meritorious personnel.

The Best in PT was conferred to N. Chinglung Phom, Best in Drill Thappa Konyak, Best in Turn Out- Nyeamtan Phom, Best in Legal Studies- Kirenjungla Sangtam, Best in Firing- Vinoto K.Yepthomi, Best in Weapon Handling -P. Lawang Konyak, Best Women trainee Tsukhumla Yimchunger, Exemplary Conduct Bangmong Konyak. The All Round Best award went to Pumeng M. Khaim.

Nagaland Baptist youth appeal govt for improved road Dimapur, Oct 1: Nagaland Baptist Church Council Youth Department (NBCCYD), the Baptist Youth of Nagaland, has expressed anguish over the deplorable road conditions in Nagaland and appealed to the state government to improve road conditions in the state In an appeal to the Nagaland chief minister, NBCCYD president, K. Hekato Awomi, and NBCC youth secretary, Vikuo Rhi, said during the 32nd Annual Session of the department at

Ahthibung recently, attended by 22 associations from all districts, the Baptist youth empathised with the government that in spite of resourcefulness, in terms of natural and human resources, the state remained underdeveloped.

"With this backdrop the Baptist Youth of Nagaland brings to you their deep-felt anguish over the state of affairs, with special reference to the deplorable conditions of roads in Nagaland," the signatories said in the

appeal to CM. The youth opined that the government must adopt a holistic approach that underscored the need for a road system, which guarantees maintenance, safety, liveability and a sense of community if all round development was be achieved.

With monsoon coming to an end, the Baptist youth said the whole state was left with potholes, mud and water stagnation on the roads making it tough for common motorists to drive. (Agencies)

train to Kol

Agartala, Oct 1: Tripura transport minister Manik Dey has written to railway minister Suresh Prabhu seeking direct train services between Agartala and Kolkata before Durga Puja.

Talking to the media here on Friday, Dey said Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) officials had indicated last week that they would start direct train services between the two state capitals but nothing had been announced so far.

"Once again, I have requested Prabhu for di-

rect train services between Agartala and Kolkata before Durga Puja to fulfil people's aspirations," he said.

"Since the people of Tripura need to travel to Kolkata often, we want the railway minister to start direct railway link immediately," he added.

NFR officials said they had already taken up the issue with the ministry and were ready to start train services between Agartala and Kolkata.

The proposal was under the active consideration of the minister, they added.(Agencies)

Charges framed against Upper Shillong rape accused

Pic for Representation purpose.

Shillong, Oct 1: The charges into the sensational rape and murder case of a 19-year-old girl at 4 1/ 2 Mile in Upper Shillong was framed by the city court on Friday even as the government appointed public prosecutor I.C Jha as the special public prosecutor to conduct the case by replacing W.H.D Syngkon who is unwell.

The girl was allegedly raped and murdered in March this year by one Vicky Syiemlieh.

An official source said on Friday that charges were framed by the court of additional deputy commissioner (Judicial) E. Kharmnuid against the accused under IPC sections 302 (murder), 376 (rape) and 201 (destruction of evidence ).

The source added that the next course is to take evi-

dence which will begin on October 14. As many as 39 witnesses will be examined.

The accused is still in judicial custody and his bail applications were rejected by the court at least four times.

Earlier in June, the police had submitted the chargesheet before the city court.

The girl went missing on March 17 evening from her house in Upper Shillong and the family launched a manhunt. She was later found inside a jungle close to her residence in the wee hours on March 18. She had multiple injuries and was shifted to the Civil Hospital where she was declared brought dead.

Soon after the incident, the mother of the accused handed over her son to the police after he confessed his involvement in the crime to her.(Agencies)

Dimapur, Oct1: Renowned Naga writer Kaka D Iralu on Friday lambasted the enforcement of draconian law AFSPA in Nagaland and said that "the Indian democracy under which we are all living today is one where even our very right to life stands nullified through heinous laws like the Armed Forces Special Power act 1958, The Disturbed Area Act 1955 and The Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 1967."

He was speaking as the resource person at the state level seminar "Nagas in transition: from myth to modernity" hosted by Eastern Christian College (ECC), Padumpukhuri here on Friday.

Iralu stated that for "our" legal rights, even after seven decades of India's so called democratic rule, the lives of over two hundred thousand Nagas who have died to preserve our ways of life remains uncompensated and unaddressed.

As for "our" legal rights pertaining to day-to-day affairs, Iralu rued that many cases were pending in courts lost in a maze of stay orders where justice was denied and kept in suspension and added that in India, till date, there were over six crores of pending cases.

While dwelling on the land ownership system in Nagaland, Iralu lamented that equal land ownership was today replaced by multimillionaires in our midst, who by collaborating with the invaders of our land have made their millions and now own thousands of acres of prime land.

Intellectuals and student in the meeting.

He said this has been done at the expense of poor villagers who have been compelled to sell their lands to maintain their families.

In his concluding remarks, Iralu while acknowledging that one should not remain living a static past of yesteryear in today's "global village", warned of dangerous misadventures in plunging into the modern world without a knowledge of "who we are" and "what we are".

He further asserted the need for Naga seniors and intellectuals to guide the younger generation into the 21st century, while firmly anchored in "our" unique past and ways of life.

Earlier, the inaugural programme was chaired by assistant professor, department of English, Deena, while welcome speech was delivered by principal, ECC, Sivichan T.Joseph.

Vice chairman, managing board, ECC, Ajungla Longkumer pronounced inaugural speech followed

by special number presented by Kipito and friends.

The speakers of the seminar were, assistant professor (HoD) department of political science, ECC (Arts & commerce), D.Athikho, assistant professor, HoD sociology department, C-Edge college, P.Alice Donna, assistant professor (HoD), department of political science, Immanuel college, Sinyhunlo Keppen, assistant professor, department of English ECC, Eneingulou Lasuh, assistant professor, department of English, Baptist college, Kohima, Lhutu Keyho, assistant professor, department of English ECC, Adila Imchen, assistant professor department of English, Baptist college, Kohima, Dr. Sentinaro Tsuren, ICFAI University, Inakali Assumi, M.A (English), assistant professor, HoD department political science, C-Edge college, Aloli H Kinny and assistant professor, department of English ECC, Ratan Chandra Das. (Agencies)

Nagaland girls enter Subroto Cup semi-finals Dimapur, Oct 1: Nagaland junior girls' U17 has entered the semifinal after defeating its rival team Delhi Dynamos by 1-0 in the ongoing Subroto International cup played at Dr.

Ambedkar stadium New Delhi on Friday.

The lone and winning goal was scored by Lito in 72nd minutes. Now the state team would play with NCC North

East on October 8 in the semi-final. The state team is led by football coach RopfĂź Meyase and Bijim PS sponsored by the department of Nagaland youth Resources and sports.

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2

INTERNATIONAL

PAGE 8

US objects to Pakistan's nuclear As India mulls scrapping of Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, China blocks tributary of Brahmaputra in Tibet to build dam threats against India The official who spoke on condition of anonymity, however, would not reveal the level at which the message was conveyed to Pakistan.

Washington, Oct1: The United States has strongly objected to threats of nuclear warfare made by Pakistan against India and has conveyed its displeasure to that country in this regard. "We made that (American objection on nuclear threat) clear to them (Pakistan). Repeatedly," a senior State Department official said.

The official who spoke on condition of anonymity, however, would not reveal the level at which the message was conveyed to Pakistan. "It is very concerning. It is a serious thing," the official said when asked about Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif's assertions, twice in the last 15 days, that his country could use nuclear weapons against India.

"We will destroy India if it dares to impose war on us," Asif had told a Pakistani news channel in his latest interview. "Pakistan army is fully prepared to answer any misadventure of India. We have not made atomic device to display in a showcase. If a such a situation arises we will use it (nuclear weapons) and eliminate India," Asif had said.

The statements regarding the nuclear attack raised eyebrows in the Obama Administration and are seen as "irresponsible" behaviour by top Pakistani leadership.

The statements raised eyebrows in the Obama Administration and is seen as "irresponsible" behaviour by top Pakistani leadership. In a tacit acknowledgement that it has concerns over the safety of nuclear weapons in Pakistan, the official said the US is closely monitoring the safety and security of those weapons of mass destruction.

"The safety of these weapons is always a concern for us. So we are always monitoring it, regardless of what they said on this particular

occasion," said the State Department official.

Meanwhile, Deputy State Department Spokesman Mark Toner told reporters at his daily news conference that nuclear-capable states have "a very clear responsibility to exercise restraint regarding nuclear weapons and missile capabilities".

Earlier, US had condemned the attack on Uri in Kashmir and urged Pakistan and India to diffuse tensions.

Closer home, China has also urged both countries to cool the tensions. (PTI)

Two children drown after Laos bridge collapse Vitnnam, Oct 1: Two children died and three are missing after more than 50 students fell off a collapsed suspension bridge in northern Laos on their way to school, state-run media reported Saturday.

Several ropes supporting the slatted wooden bridge in Luang Prabang province snapped, tipping the children, a teacher and motorcyclist into the Xeng River below, according to media.

"Two children have died, 52 people have been rescued and three children are miss-

ing," the newspaper said.

The accident reportedly took place on Friday morning while the children were making their daily trek across the river to school.

The deputy governor of Viengkham district, Saykham Chanthoumma, told theVientiane Times authorities were searching for the three remaining children by boat.

The official said the cables of the bridge, which was built in 2013, had not been checked for over a year.

Local authorities will cover

the costs of hospital treatment for those injured, he added.

Ruled by an authoritarian one-party government, landlocked Laos is one of Asia's poorest and leastdeveloped countries.

Infrastructure and medical care in the rural nation is threadbare.

Its resource-rich economy has shot up from a low base in recent years following a flood of foreign investment, but the gains have not been evenly distributed.

13 killed, 29 missing in heavy rain, floods in China Beijing, Oct 1: At least 13 people have been killed and 29 others reported missing in heavy rain and floods in China as Typhoon Megi wrecked havoc destroying crops and causing direct economic losses of $829 million.

Three people were killed and another person injured after floods hit a county in southwest China's Yunnan Province, local authorities said.

Rainstorms battered Mouding County on Friday night, and the county saw precipitation levels reach 117.2 mm early today, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The flood has left seven townships in the county affected, damaging roads and farmland.

About 2,306 people have been relocated to safer places, local officials said.

Also 10 people were killed in the devastation caused by Typhoon Megi in China and 29 others were listed missing, the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs announced said.

Five deaths were reported in east China's Zhejiang Province and five were reported in southeast China's Fujian Province, the ministry said in a statement.

About 2.09 million people had been affected as the

impact of the typhoon spread to 16 cities in three provinces, including Zhejiang, Fujian and Jiangxi.

About 656,000 residents have been relocated and nearly 700 are in urgent need of basic living supplies, according to the statement.

Megi, the 17th typhoon this year, made a landfall in Fujian on Wednesday, and brought heavy downpours and landslides in affected areas.

The typhoon has destroyed homes and crops and caused direct economic losses worth 5.53 billion yuan ($829 million), it said. (Agencies)

India's Claim of Surgical Strike False: Pakistan to UN Chief United Nations, Oct 1: Pakistan has told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that India's claim of carrying out a surgical strike across the LoC was false and insisted that the responsibility for the "escalating crisis rests entirely on India".

In her meeting with the UN chief, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Maleeha Lodhi told Ban that Pakistan has exercised maximum restraint but would respond forcefully to any acts of aggression and provocation.

Lodhi said India's "claim" of carrying out a surgical strike across the Line of Control was "false" but added that

India had by its own admission "committed aggression" against Pakistan, according to a statement by the Pakistan mission here.

She added that the responsibility for the "escalating crisis rests entirely on India", the release said.

Briefing him about the escalating situation, Lodhi said "India has, by its declarations and actions, created conditions that pose an imminent threat to regional and international peace and security."

She said India provoked the crisis to divert international attention away from the "Indigenous Kashmiri uprising" and asked the Sec-

retary General to intervene in bringing an end to the alleged grave human rights in Kashmir.

Lodhi further said the Secretary General is "bound by the UN Charter" to "intervene boldly and unequivocally" by calling on India to halt its "aggressive actions and provocations", lest these lead to an even more dangerous situation.

During a briefing, Ban's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric had said that Lodhis meeting with Ban was held at her own request and added that Ban's office does not give readouts of his meetings with Permanent Representatives.

Beijing, Oct 1: China has blocked a tributary of the Brahmaputra river in Tibet as part of theconstruction of its "most expensive" hydro project , which could cause concern in India as it may impact water flows into the lower riparian countries.

The Lalho project on the Xiabuqu river , a tributary of the Yarlung Zangbo (the Tibetan name for Brahmaputra), in Xigaze in Tibet involves an investment of 4.95 billion yuan ($740 million), Zhang Yunbao, head of the project's administration bureau was quoted as saying

by Chinese state-run Xinhua news agency on Saturday.

Xigaze also known as Shigatse is closely located to Sikkim. From Xigaze, the Brahmaputra flows into Arunachal Pradesh.

Terming it as the "most expensive project", the report said the project, whose construction began in June

2014, was scheduled to be completed in 2019.

It is not clear yet what impact the blockade of the river will have on the flow of water from the Brahmaputra into the lower riparian countries like India and Bangladesh as a result, it said.

Last year, China had operationalised the $1.5 billion Zam Hydropower Station, the largest in Tibet, built on the Brahmaputra River, which has raised concerns in India.

But China has been maintaining that it has taken into consideration India's concerns and allays apprehensions of restricting the flow of water, saying its dams are not designed to hold water.

The outline of China's 12th Five Year Plan indicates that three more hydropower projects on the mainstream of the Brahmaputra river in Tibet Autonomous Region have been approved for implementation.

HIGHLIGHTS China has blocked a tributary of the Brahmaputra river in Tibet It is not clear yet what impact the blockade will have on India and Bangladesh

A file photo for representation.

In March, Union minister of state for water resources Sanwar Lal Jat said in a statement that India had expressed its concerns to China about the likely impact of the dams.

While there is no water treaty between the countries, India and China established an Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) on trans-border rivers and in October 2013 the two governments signed a memorandum of understanding on strengthening coopera-

tion on trans-border rivers under which Beijing provides data to India on the water flows.

The blockade of the Brahmaputra river tributary comes at a time when India's reported decision to suspend talks with Pakistan under Indus Water Treaty as part of its efforts to hit back at Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri attack.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang gave a guarded reply when asked on September 27

Pak Panel to Inspect Boat Used By 26/11 Terrorists Next Week Lahore, Oct 1: A judicial commission constituted by a Pakistani anti-terrorism court will travel to the port city of Karachi next week to examine a boat used by 10 LeT terrorists to reach India for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

The commission will travel to Karachi on October 6 to examine the boat, Al-Fouz, and will also record the testimony of a witness who saw the vessel being seized at the Karachi Shipyard.

Headed by an ATC judge, the commission includes officials from Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the defence counsel and court officials.

The commission was constituted during a hearing into the Mumbai terror attacks case by ATCIslamabad, which held the hearing at the Adiala Jail Rawalpindi, last week as the court heard the boat was used by the terrorists in the attacks in which 166 people were killed and around 300

166 people, including many foreigners, were killed in the 2008 Mumbai attack. were injured.

The ATC judge accepted the request by the FIA to send a judicial commission to examine the boat as it was difficult to produce the vessel before the court.

Earlier the Islamabad High Court had set aside the verdict of a trial court of not allowing to send a commission to Karachi terming it "flawed and not in accordance with law" and allowed examination of the boat in the port city.

In May, the prosecution had challenged the trial court's decision to reject its plea to form a commission to examine the boat so that the vessel could be made a "case property".

According to the FIA, the attackers used three boats including Al-Fauz - to reach Mumbai from Karachi.

Al-Fauz is in the custody of Pakistani authorities in Karachi, from where the 10 LeT terrorists armed with

AK-47 assault rifles and hand-grenades had left for India on November 23, 2008, to carry out attacks in Mumbai.

En route to their destination, they hijacked another boat, killing four of its crew members. They forced the vessel's captain to take them close to the Indian shores and killed him when the vessel reached Mumbai's coast.

Mastermind and LeT operations commander Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum are accused of abetment to murder, attempted murder, planning and executing the Mumbai attacks.

Lakhvi is living at an undisclosed location after being released from jail on bail a year ago. The other six suspects are in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi. The case has been underway in the country for more than six years.

China has, however, dismissed apprehensions of restricting the flow of water about India's reported move.

"As a friendly neighbour to both India and Pakistan, China hopes that India and Pakistan can properly address disputes and improve relations through dialogue and consultation, maintain and enhance all-round cooperation and join hands to promote regional peace, stability and development," Shuang told media.

Some of the rivers under the Indus water treaty originate in China. (PTI)

Attack on train kills at least 3 in Republic of Congo Brazzaville ,Oct 1: A police spokesman says armed men have attacked a train carrying security forces in Republic of Congo's Pool region, killing several people.

Auxence Itoua Langa said Friday that individuals opened fire with automatic weapons on a group of gendarmes about 40 kilometers south of the capital, Brazzaville. He said several people died, but did not give a figure.

A police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to speak to media, said the conductor and two gendarmes died.

The army has been deployed in the region since April after attacks by former militiamen known as Ninjas Nsiloulou killed at least 17 people. Amnesty International said the military launched airstrikes then, killing 30.

Police say four soldiers have been killed in the past week.(PTI)

Kerry laments lack of Syria Moderate tremor jolts options in leaked audio parts of Pakistan Washington, Oct 1: Secretary of State John Kerry is frustrated that his diplomatic efforts to end Syria's civil war were not backed up by US military force, according to a recording leaked Friday.

In the audio released by the New York Times, Kerry is heard lamenting to a group of Syrian civilians last week in New York that his call for US action against Bashar alAssad's government fell on deaf ears.

"I think you're looking at three people, four people in the administration who have all argued for use of force, and I lost the argument," he tells the group.

"I've argued for the use of force ... but things evolved into a different process."

State Department spokesman John Kirby did not deny that the recording - made at a private meeting in a diplomatic mission on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly -- is authentic.

"While we will decline to comment on a private conversation, Secretary Kerry was grateful for the chance to meet with this

group of Syrians, to hear their concerns first hand and to express our continued focus on ending this civil war," he said.

It has been widely reported that Kerry pushed President Barack Obama to take a more robust path in Syria, to give teeth to international efforts to force Assad aside and end a civil war now heading into its sixth year.

But Washington's top diplomat has been careful to present a united front with the White House in public, even as he attempts to work with Moscow to rein in Assad's forces and build space for a political dialogue.

In August 2013, after Assad had been accused of firing chemical weapons at civilians, Kerry gave a ferocious speech that was seen as prefiguring a retaliatory US military strike -- only for Obama to back down only hours later.

Kerry refers to the speech incident in Friday's leaked recording, but blames the US Congress for refusing to vote to authorize the US military to take action against Assad.

At last week's meeting,

the Syrians -- sympathizers with the rebellion against Assad -- expressed frustration that US efforts in their country are focused on fighting the Islamic State group and not on Assad or his allies.

Instead, on September 9, Kerry agreed with Assad's ally Moscow that there should be a ceasefire between the regime and the US-backed rebels. The truce came into force on September 12 but fell apart after a week.

Russia and the United States are now blaming each other for the breakdown and Assad's Russian-backed forces have launched an assault on rebel-held eastern Aleppo.

"Look, I get it," Kerry tells the incredulous Syrians.

"A lot of us wish there was an enforcement mechanism right now. A lot of us have been fighting for one, but we don't have one right now and that's set," he warned.

"We're trying to pursue the diplomacy, and I understand it's frustrating.

You have nobody more frustrated than we are."(PTI)

Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) KP said from Peshawar that the intensity of the tremor was 5.5 and its epicenter was the Hindu Kush mountains.

According to US Geological Survey the epicentre of the earthquake was 117 km east of the Swat Valley city of Mingaora, at a depth of 43.4 km.

Iskamabad, Oct 1: A moderate earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5 struck Pakistan today, including its capital, but no loss to life or property has been reported so far.

The quake shook capital Islamabad, parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province in the northwest and some northern area of Punjab.

According to US Geological Survey the epicentre of the earthquake was 117 km east of the Swat Valley city of Mingaora, at a depth

of 43.4 km.

Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) KP said from Peshawar that the intensity of the tremor was 5.5 and its epicenter was the Hindu Kush mountains.

"No loss of life or damage to property has been reported thus far," it said.

Pakistan regularly faces tremors but most of them are not lethal.

However in 2005 a massive quake had killed more than 80,000 people. (PTI)

EDUCATION

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2

Few career options for Commerce Graduates While the BFSI sector is the major employer for commerce graduates, opportunities are growing across key segments such as IT, healthcare, BPO/ITeS, e-commerce and startups. Here are some of the emerging career options commerce graduates can consider:

Financial analysis Financial analysts are sought-after in the IT, manufacturing, banking, consulting, BPO and KPO sectors. The job profile includes managing accounting transactions and system interfaces into the general ledger and providing analytic support to business initiatives.

Skills required: Analytical and problem-solving skills are essential along with knowledge of SAP Average salary: Rs 35 lakh per annum

Financial planning

Financial planners predominantly work in the financial services sectors of banking, insurance, financial and investment consulting services. The job requires preparing financial plans and coordinating with sales teams to understand the client requirements/ goals to create suitable plans.

Additionally, financial planners also need to coordinate with their organisation's research team to understand the market and various products that are offered to their clients.

Skills required: Financial planning, communication and leadership Average salary: Rs 2.5-5 lakh per annum Market research Professionals in this field are required to conduct secondary research, compile, manage and analyse data. Currently, sectors such as IT/ telecom, BFSI, manufacturing and healthcare are offering numerous opportunities in this area.

Skills required: Logical and analytical skills, creativity (in terms of presenting data in a graphical format), proficiency

in MS Excel and PowerPoint Average salary: Rs 35 lakh per annum

Digital media Students interested in pursuing a career in digital media strategy can pursue a short course in the same along with a commerce degree. The job of a digital media strategist includes creating and managing digital content (audio, visual, text). It requires a good mix of communications skills and technical knowledge.

Skills required: Design skills, ability to create and manage digital media promotions and ad campaigns with research and analytical competencies Average salary: Rs 3-6.5 lakh per annum Sales & marketing With business expansion on the cards across key sectors, sales and marketing executives are in huge demand especially in the banking/in-

surance, IT and manufacturing sectors.

lem-solving, analytical and reasoning skills

Profiles in the sales industry typically require creating leads, networking, building and managing database of clients and customers. Within marketing, the focus today is on digital marketing over traditional marketing.

Average salary: Rs 2-5 lakh per annum

Skills required: Aspirants with good communication and interpersonal skills are desired Average salary: Rs 36 lakh per annum (plus incentives)

Data analytics The role of data analysts has become increasingly critical in business sustenance.

Not only IT but non-IT sectors (including BFSI) are also hiring data analysts in large numbers. Data analysts collect and interpret data, analyse results and create reports. Interested graduates can take up a short course or diploma in emerging niche roles.

Skills required: Prob-

PAGE 9

Top 4 Best Commerce Colleges In India 2015 Rank College Name

Shri Ram College of Commerce

Social work The non-profit/ NGO sector is growing at a fast pace in India. Commerce graduates can look for opportunities in fundraising departments and business development teams where they can utilise their accounting, finance and economic skills.

Skills required: Problem-solving, communication and time management Average salary: Rs 1.5-3 lakh per annum

Lady Shri Ram College for Women

Loyola College, Chennai

Besides the above, commerce graduates can prepare and appear for the exams held for the positions of probationary officers (PO) and clerical jobs conducted by nationalised banks.

Lastly, BCom graduates can also opt for higher education - MCom, MBA, CA and CFA courses to increase their career prospects.

Enhancing skills

Christ University, Bangalore

Exam aid

What it takes to clear the IAS Exam AK Mishra

In a competitive corporate world, employers are always on the lookout for candidates who can deliver more than what is expected out of them. In keeping with this trend, students are now pursuing specialised certificate courses alongside their degree programmes to develop specialised skills that will complement their academic qualifications.

Subject covered: Data type, operators, control statements, iterative statements, arrays, strings, structures, pointers, methods, recursion, file handling, classes, objects, inheritance, overloading, virtual function, static function, handling, multithreading, applets, introduction to J2EE, looping, strings, lists , dictioneries, tuples, OOPs, classes, inheritance, etc.

Students who wish to pursue such Eligibility: These courses in the field of courses are available IT can consider the for beginners or profollowing options: fessionals from other fields who wish to learn various programming language.

For Java related courses, one needs to Courses available: have prior knowledge C programming, C++, of C++ or OOPs. Core Java and Python

Programming Courses

Duration: Four to eight weeks

Duration: weeks

knowledge of operatSix ing systems

Web TechSystem Adnology ministration Courses available: ASP.Net with Courses availVB, ASP.Net with C#, able: System adminJ2EE, PHP with istration under linux, MySQL system administration windows server Subject covered: Web server controls, Subject covered: HTML, classes and objects, server obCommands, shell jects, sessions, cook- and AWK programies, ASP objects, man- ming, user adminisaging user sessions tration, file system and applications, data administration, disk interface, C# coding, quota administration, event handling, network administraJDBC, RMI, JSP, da- tion, different servers tabase, beans, basics, like mail server, file PHP-MySQL con- server, installation nectivity, etc. and user administration, MMC, IIS, acEligibility: Candi- tive directory serdates must know ba- vices, etc. sic computer concepts and a programEligibility: Candiming language dates should have

Duration: Four to six weeks Apart from these, students can also opt for courses in software testing and android programming.

Software testing course require candidates to have basic knowledge of C programming and database.

The android programming course enables the learner to create applications using SQLite database. The course covers Java, client-server application development using Java, web component developer (WCD), struts 2.0 and android. Both the courses spread across three months.

Getting through civil services examination is the dream of many aspirants.

A candidate who gets into the Indian Administrative Services gets exposure to diverse roles such as that of a commissioner, chief secretary, collector, cabinet secretary or can head public sector units. The opportunity to bring about positive changes in the lives of millions draws aspirants' to the career.

It is therefore no surprise that close to four and a half lakh students appear for the UPSC examination each year. However, only a few hundred candidates manage to crack the exam. So it becomes imperative to understand what are those qualities that set those few apart from the rest?

Self-discipline A strong sense of selfdiscipline is essentially required and key to success in achieving any goal. IAS preparation may involve 912 months of intensive study and this cannot be achieved without having a set routine. Good management and optimal

utilisation of the time are the essential components of self-discipline. There are many parts of general studies that are important in clearing the CSE; however, a deep understanding of sociology is important if you're looking to clear IAS. Self-discipline does not imply studying the prescribed course books every day. Aspirants should have burning desire to know what's happening in the world around them and keep themselves abreast with the news on magazines, television and newspapers. Needless to say, a keen interest in reading is also a great quality to have for IAS aspirants.

Leadership Through all the three stages of examination, UPSC primarily checks a candidate's leadership quality. Coherent and organic approach to preparation will get candidates through the preliminary (stage I) and main (stage II) but the interview will observe the candidate's personality. IAS officers should be endowed with an ability to articulate their

point of view to their superiors and peers conclusively besides having a high emotional intelligence. They are goal-oriented and able to influence others to devote themselves to the same goal.

This is what makes the dynamic and effective leaders in their unique field of work. To exhibit traits of a good leader, aspirants should have good interpersonal as well as communication skills.

Strong Resolve Even before starting their preparation, candidates start scoping their chances of getting through the examination, which proves to be a deterring factor for most of the aspirants. Hence, it's pertinent to stamp out this mental block before preparation. An aspiring IAS candidate should have strong resolve to become an officer and influence the lives of his/her countrymen. It would also be futile to engage yourself in preparation due to peer pressure or your parent's insistence.

(The author is director, Chanakya IAS Academy)

NATION

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2

PAGE 10

Indo-Pak:People should have faith PM concerned about encephalitis menace in eastern UP: Nadda in government,says Satyarthi Jaipur, Oct 1: In the wake of heightened tension in Indo-Pak ties following the surgical strike targeting terror camps across LoC, Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi today said peace has been the tradition of India and people should have faith in the government.

"India has been a great country and has always worked for peace...Ravana was killed and Mahabharta had also taken place in this country but all for establishing peace," he told a gathering of students here.

He said that whatever the government is doing, people should have faith on it.

Pakistan has stepped up cross-border firing after

ist Malala Yousafzai, said the youths should preserve their energy for good work instead of being involved in violence and for this, governments should also make options available to them.

Kailash Satyarthi the surgical strikes on September 29 by the India Army to destroy terror launchpads in Pakistanoccupied-Kashmir.

"I am not into politics and cannot comment more on

this, but whatever will take place, this will be for good," he said.

Child labour activist Satyarti, who won Nobel peace prize with Pakistan's education activ-

"Anger is an energy and this energy should be preserved and utilised in good work. In troubled countries like Syria, youths are engaged in violence.Girls are raped and this has to be changed," he said.

Satyarthi said he is going to launch a youth campaign called '100 million to 100 million' for left out children worldwide in which youths from across the world...From Bangladesh and Pakistantoo would be the

part.

"I am launching a youth campaign campaign Hundred million to hundred million for left out children worldwide," he said.

Speaking at a programme organised by a private university here, Satyarthi motivated the students to think beyond a career and earning money, saying they should aim to create history instead of being satisfied in getting a good job.

He said that Rajasthan ranks third in child labour and not only the government, but every individual should understand his responsibility and act against such menace and should create awareness.

(PTI)

BJD protest against Cauvery row:Gowda on hunger Polavaram project strike seeking 'justice' for Karna Bhubaneswar, Oct 1 : Normal life in seven southern Odisha districts was affected due to a 12-hour strike called by the ruling BJD protesting the national project status to Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh.

The strike was observed in the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Raygada, Nabarangpur, Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal.

BJD workers staged the strike in a peaceful manner, shops and business establishments remained closed and vehicular movement came to a grinding halt.

The ruling party activists also staged a rail roko at several places including in Berhampur railway station for four hours. The BJD supporters also staged picketings before all the central government offices in the seven districts.

Though educational insti-

tutions remained closed for the day, the strike organisers spared the schools and colleges where exams are going on.

The BJD has been opposing the Polavaram project apprehending that several villages in Malkangiri district of the state will be submerged as Andhra Pradesh has allegedly changed the original design of the Indira Sagar Dam besides increasing its height.

While the erstwhile UPA government at the Centre had accorded national project status tag to Polavaram project, the incumbent NDA government has announced to provide all financial support to the project.

Earlier BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had appointed observers and assistant observers for the smooth conduct of the protest in the seven districts. (PTI)

Uri Brigade Commander Shifted In Terror Attack Aftermath

Bengaluru, Oct 1: Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda today began an "indefinite" hunger strike, seeking "justice" for Karnatakain the ongoing row with Tamil Nadu over release of Cauvery water.

The 83-year-old Janata Dal (Secular) supremo is sitting on fast near the Mahatma Gandhi statue next to Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat here.

Gowda's sudden decision comes in the backdrop of the Supreme Court order yesterday, asking Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water till October 6 toTamil Nadu and the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Water Management Board.

"We want justice. Drinking water is essential for humans to survive," Gowda, a former Chief Minister, told reporters here, as he launched the hunger strike.

Asserting that he would continue his protest tillKarnataka gets justice from the Union government, Gowda said he still has "confidence" in the Prime Minister that the issue will be resolved.

Gowda said he would not

Gorakhpur, Oct 1: Health Minister J P Nadda today asked the Uttar Pradesh government to work towards improving the health of the people, stressing there will be no dearth of funds for it and said the Prime Minister is concerned about the menace of encephalitis in Purvanchal region.

"You start spending...There will not be any dearth of funds in the works for the welfare of the people," he said.

The Union minister was speaking at an event here to lay the foundation stone of eight super speciality blocks worth Rs 150 crore at the BRD Medical College.

He said with these blocks, patients will get more facilities in the area which has continuously been facing the menace of encephalitis.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is concerned about the situation in Purvanchal and keeps asking for reports about encephalitis

Health Minister J P Nadda which is an annual occurrence in the region," Nadda added.

Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel, who was also present at the event, said with the joint efforts of the central and state government's encephalitis can be effectively checked.

She assured that the Centre will continue to give its support to the state in this direction.

Local BJP MP Yogi Adityanath said a large number of people have succumbed to the disease in the region and a request was made to the previous UPA government to take steps for checking it but they did not pay heed.

Now the Prime Minister is committed to wiping out the disease, Yogi said.

Earlier Nadda met encephalitis patients at the medical college. (PTI)

Raj Thackeray blasts Salman over Pakistan artists issue

H D Deve Gowda.

be attending the all-party meet called by Chief Minister Siddaramaia later today to chalk out the next course of action in the light of the apex court order, which came as a huge setback to the state.

Home Minister G Parameshwara, who visited Gowda, said the former Prime Minister had always fought for the state's interests and added, "I hope it (the hunger strike) will open the eyes of the judiciary."

He said the Attorney General agreeing in the Supreme Court to the formation of the Cauvery Water Management Board also showed that "it (Union

government) is also against us".

Taking Karnataka to task for its repeated "defiance"by flouting its orders, the apex court had yesterday asked it to release 6,000 cusecs water from tomorrow till October 6 to Tamil Nadu, warning "no one would know when the wrath of the law" would fall on it.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and U U Lalit had also directed the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Water ManagementBoard by October 4.

Siddaramaiah is also holding a Council of Ministers meeting after the all-party meets. (PTI)

Mumbai, Oct 1: MNS chief Raj Thackeray today blasted Bollywood star Salman Khan for opposing the ban on Pakistani artists in India, saying soldiers guarding our borders face real bullets unlike film actors.

"Our soldiers don't have any personal animosity with Pakistan soldiers.

The bullets our soldiers face are not filmy.

Salman gets up after being hit by a bullet," Raj said reacting to Salman's remarks, adding that "I have seen his (Salman's) tubelight blinker many a times."

"I am also an artist and artists don't fall from the sky.

Pakistani artists have refused to condemn Uri attacks. Why should our artists speak up for them," Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief told reporters.

The MNS president won-

dered what would happen if Indian soldiers keep aside their arms wanting to hear a Ghulam Ali concert.

"What will happen then.

Are soldiers our servants? ...they are protecting us," he said.

Refusing to buy the argument that there is no justification to ban Pakistani artists since they are not terrorists, Raj said, "How does that concern me if the people are good. I am seeing only terrorists who come to kill our people."

He said film industry knows only the business of their films. "But the (MS) Dhoni biopic has been banned in Pakistan.

Is there dearth of talent in India that we should take artists from the neighbouring country," he asked.

Interestingly, Raj is on good terms with Salman

and is a regular visitor to the actor's home during the Ganpati festival.

Salman had yesterday said that artistes from Pakistan should not be treated like terrorists and art and terrorism should not be mixed.

The Indian Motion Picture Producers Association has passed a resolution to ban Pakistani actors from the industry in the wake of the Uri attack, which left 19 soldiers dead.

The resolution came after Indian Army announced that seven terror launch pads were targeted across the LoC by Special Forces during a 'surgical strike'.

"Pakistani artistes are just artistes and not terrorists.

Terrorism and art are two different subjects," Salman had said, when asked about his take on banning the actors from Pakistan. (PTI)

Pakistan Troops Target Indian Posts, Punjab CM Badal assures residents Civilian Areas in J&K's Akhnoor

Brigadier K Somashanker, who was in charge of Uri army base when it was attacked, is shifted out.

Srinagar, Oct 1: Army has shifted out the commander of Uri Brigade, which was the target of the terror attack on September 18 that claimed the lives of 19 soldiers and left several others injured, defence sources said.

Brigadier K Somashanker, who was in charge during the September 18 terror attack, has been moved to north-

ern command at Udhampur.

The move is aimed at ensuring a free and impartial court of inquiry into the attack. They said an officer from the 28 Mountain Division of the army is scheduled to take over as the Uri Brigade commander.

Army officials did not respond to calls seeking comment on the development.(PTI)

Four killed, 29 hurt after truck hits tractor-trolley Anand , Oct 1: At least four persons were killed and 29 others injured when a tractor trolley they were travelling on was hit by a speeding truck near Ladvel village in Kathlal taluka of Kheda district, police said today.

Over 36 devotees were on their way back home in Amba village of Aravalli district after completing a pilgrimage to the Mahakali Mata temple at Pavagadh in Panchmahals district when the truck hit their tractor from the rear, late last night, police said.

"Four persons died on the spot while 29 were injured at Ladvel chowkdi around 10 pm last night. The injured were taken to different government hospitals," Kathlal police sub inspector A G Rathod said.

The deceased were identified as Bharat Khant, Vikram Khant, Deepak Khant and Vijay Khant.

Rathod said the devotees had walked on foot to reach the Pavagadh temple from their village in Arvalli district, and were going back on a tractor when the accident took place. (PTI)

of border villages of all help

Barth Sahib, Oct 1: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today assured the residents of the border villages, who were moved to relief camps, of "all the help".

He said despite the tension in the Indo-Pak border region, farmers will be allowed to carry on with their agricultural activities.

The villages in the border areas are being evacuated in apprehension of retaliation from Pakistan to the Army's recent surgical strikes on terrorist launchpads in Pakistanoccupied Kashmir (PoK).

Addressing a gathering during his whirlwind tour of the relief camps in Pathankot district here, Badal said the crops were as dear to the farmers as their children.

He said he had spoken to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in this regard, who had immediately directed the Border Security Force (BSF) to

allow the farmers of the border region to harvest the crop, adding that the Centre had also permitted those farmers, who had their land across the fence, to reap and lift the crop.

Describing the border residents of the state as "true patriots", the chief minister said that braving all the odds, these hardworking sons of the soil contributed immensely towards the development of the state and the country.

He added that these bravehearts served their motherland in the true sense by confronting the enemy everyday.

Badal said his government was "duty-bound" to extend a helping hand to these people who had to leave their homes after escalation of tension between India and Pakistan.

The chief minister said the villages in the border regions were evacuated as per an advisory of the

Centre, adding that he, along with the top brass of his government, was regularly monitoring the arrangements at the relief camps.

Praising the district and police administration for setting up the relief camps, he said every official must serve those at the camps diligently at this hour of crisis.

"There is no need to panic as the state government is committed to serving the bravehearts of the border region," Badal said.

During his visit to the relief camps at Barth Sahib and Bamiyaal, the chief minister interacted with the people there and enquired about the arrangements.

Later, talking to reporters, he said the villages were evacuated to ensure the safety of the residents, adding that in a situation like this, the "enemy" could not be trusted as it could make "any move".(PTI)

Jammu, Oct 1: Pakistani troops on Saturday targeted Indian posts and civilian areas with mortar bombs and heavy machine guns along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor tehsil.

This is the fifth violation of ceasefire by Pakistani troops along LoC in J&K in the past four days.

An Indian soldier stands guard inside a bunker near the ceasefire line in Akhnoor sector, about 65 km (40 miles) southwest of the northern Indian city of Jammu

There was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the firing, which started at 0330 hours and ended at 0600 hours.

Indian troops guarding the border retaliated effectively, defence sources said.

and Chanoo hamlets.

"Villagers residing along the LoC were evacuated and shifted to safer places," a police official said.

"There was heavy shelling of mortar bombs, RPGs and heavy machine guns and small arms firing on forward positions along the LoC in Pallanwala sector and Chamb area of Akhnoor tehsil today," the sources said.

Police said the Pakistani troops targeted Badoo

As some border residents were returning to take care of their cattle and homes along the border, Pakistan troops tried to target them by heavy firing, they said.

Some houses were hit by bullets from Pakistan in Badoo village, police said.

Pakistan has stepped up

cross-border firing after the surgical strikes on September 29 by the India Army to destroy terror launchpads in Pakistan-occupiedKashmir.

Yesterday, Pakistani troops had restored to small arms firing along LoC in Pallanwala, Chaprial,Samnam areas of Akhnoor sector of Jammu district during the night, Deputy Commissioner Jammu Simrandeep Singh said.(PTI)

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DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2

PAGE 11

Pujara down with flu flu and rested as a precautionary measure.

There's nothing serious, he will be fine," a team source said.

Pujara was India's top scorer with 87 runs in the first innings. With Pujara not coming to field, both Gautam Gambhir and Umesh Yadav were seen fielding in phases as New Zealand finished the day at 128 for seven in reply to India's first innings total of 316 all out.(PTI)

Chikka in contention for T-10 place; Chiragh, Himmat move up Tamsui, Oct 1 : Indian golfer S Chikkrangappa was back in the reckoning for a Top-10 finish as he carded an even par 72 at the end of the third round of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters here today. Chikka is now oneover 217 and Tied-11th but only five shots behind the leader, Panuphol Pittayarat (74) who had a rough round in blustery conditions under swirling winds with speed of 30

km/h. Himmat Rai (70) and Chiragh Kumar (73) made smart upward moves to Tied-19th from Tied-42nd and T-28th.

Also moving up was Shubhankar Sharma (74) to Tied-24th, up from Tied-32nd.

Chikka started the day with a string of eight pars before sinking his first birdie.

But three bogeys between 10th and 13th set him back sharply before birdies on 15th and 18th

gave him another lease of life. Himmat had six birdies including four on front nine with a double on 10th. But what hit him hard was a bogeybogey finish. Panphol battled tooth-and-nail to return on four-under-par 212 to hold a one-shot advantage at the USD 800,000 Asian Tour event which is celebrating its 30th edition.

Home favourite Lu Wei-chih carded a 71 for

Lewis Hamilton scorches to record Malaysian GP pole AFP Sepang (Malaysia), Oct 1 : Lewis Hamilton blitzed his rivals in qualifying on Saturday to secure pole position for the Malaysian Grand Prix.

The reigning world champion clocked the fastest lap ever recorded at the 5.543km circuit in 1min 32.850sec.

His amazing drive eclipsed the pole position lap record for Sepang set by Juan-Pablo Montoya way back in 2004.

But Hamilton still reckoned it wasn't perfect despite being more than fourtenths faster than Mercedes rival and championship leader Nico Rosberg.

"I really enjoyed the lap.

But it could have been faster," said Hamilton, who has been consistently quicker all week than Rosberg.

It is a welcome and timely return to form for the three time world

champion after his Mercedes teammate won the last three races to open up an eight-point title race lead.

"This is definitely the best the car h a s

Third on the grid will be birthday boy Max Verstappen, who celebrated turning 19 on Friday before clocking 1:33.420 a day later, less than 0.2sec off the pace of Rosberg.

"The whole weekend has been quite positive for me, we made some changes after Singapore that worked," said the teenager.

Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo Lewis Hamilton completes the second row of the grid for Sunday's race.

Next comes been here," Hamilton told the Ferrari of four-time reporters.

Malaysia victor Sebastian Rosberg's best lap was Vettel and his teammate hampered by a slide at the Kimi Raikkonen. remodelled final hairpin Just two-tenths of a secbend. ond separated the best "Lewis's lap was very lap times of the Red Bulls quick so it was always and Ferraris making for going to be difficult," said an intriguing battle in Rosberg. "I would have Sunday's race on a highbeen close, but unfortu- speed circuit that pronately I made a mistake vides ample opportuniin the last corner." ties for overtaking.

second place as he aims to return to winning ways on the Asian Tour since undergoing brain surgery to remove a non-malignant tumour in mid-2012.

Malaysias Nicholas Fung (71), Lin Wen-tang (74) of Chinese Taipei, Danthai Boonma (74) of Thailand and Miguel Tabuena (74) of the Philippines are a further shot back in tied third place on 214 at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club.(PTI)

In reply to India’s 316, New Zealand lost Tom Latham (1) and Martin Guptill (13) in successive overs with the seam duo taking the wickets.

PTI Kolkata, Oct 1: Indian seam duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami rattled the New Zealand top-order to leave them at a spot of bother at 85-4 when tea was taken early due to rain on day 2 of the second cricket Test here on Saturday.

In reply to India’s first innings total of 316, New Zealand were still trailing by 231 runs when rain stopped play with 40 minutes to go for the scheduled tea break.

New Zealand stand-in skipper Ross Taylor (30) was at the crease after inform Luke Ronchi just departed for 35 being adjudged lbw to Jadeja to a dubious decision.

Reduced to 23-3 shortly after lunch break when Kumar (2/20) castled Henry Nicholls, Taylor and Ronchi (35) put in their best effort to build a partnership but it did not last long with Jadeja cutting it short for 62 runs.

Ronchi was trapped on his backfoot from an angled delivery from Jadeja which seemed to have gone down the leg but umpire

PTI Tamsui (Chinese Taipei), Oct 1 : Indian golfer S Chikkrangappa was back in the reckoning for a Top-10 finish as he carded an even par 72 at the end of the third round of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters here today.

Chikka is now one-over 217 and Tied-11th but only five shots behind the leader, Panuphol Pittayarat (74) who had a rough round in blustery conditions under swirling

fore birdies on 15th and 18th gave him another lease of life.

Himmat had six birdies including four on front nine with a double on 10th. But what hit him hard was a bogey-bogey finish.

Panphol battled toothand-nail to return on four-under-par 212 to hold a one-shot advantage at the USD 800,000 Asian Tour event which is celebrating its 30th edition.

Home favourite Lu Wei-

HIGHLIGHTS

Sania Mirza-Barbora Sytrcova have won two titles in their last four tournaments together.

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Wuhan, Oct 1 : Sania Mirza and her Czech partner Barbora Strycova suffered a straight-set loss against Bethanie MattekSands and Lucie Safarova in the summit clash of the WTA Wuhan Open, here on Saturday.

The third seeds lost 1-6 46 to the fifth seeded US-

Czech pair of MattekSands and Safarova in the finals of the $2,589,000 tournament that lasted a little over an hour.

Mattek-Sands and Safarova converted six of the eight break points that came their way, while the Indo-Czech pair squan-

dered six out of eight.

Sania has won three titles in her last four tournaments she has played after splitting with Swiss Martina Hingis.

Stay updated on the go with Times of India News App. Click here to download it for your device.

Rod Tucker had other ideas as he gifted India another opening.

In fact, Ronchi’s innings almost ended at 16 but he was dropped at point by substitute Gautam Gambhir who seemed slow to react and let down a regulation catch.

Suddenly a thick cloud covered the Eden sky and a passing shower meant that the match had to be stopped for an early tea

break.

Earlier, youngster Nicholls who replaced skipper Kane Williamson in the side dragged a widish delivery onto his stumps in a replay of Shikhar Dhawan’s dismissal as India kept taking regular breakthroughs.

In reply to India’s 316, New Zealand lost Tom Latham (1) and Martin Guptill (13) in successive overs with Shami and

41-time champions Mumbai begin their title defense against Tamil Nadu at Rohtak.

Arman Jaffer named in Mumbai Ranji squad AFP Mumbai, Oct 1 : Armaan Jaffer has been named in the Mumbai Ranji Trophy squad for the first time, as the Mumbai Cricket Association announced their 15-man squad on Saturday (October 1) for their opening fixture against Tamil Nadu in Lahli, starting on October 6.

Jaffer represented India in the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh earlier this year and made an impressive 69 against the New Zealanders last month in the practice game in Greater Noida.

Aditya Tare, who led

Sania-Strycova suffered a straight-set loss against Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova.

Sania has won three titles in her last four tournaments she has played after splitting with Swiss Martina Hingis.

Indian players celebrate the fall of New Zealand's batsman Luke Ronchi on the second day of the second cricket test match in Kolkata, India

Earlier attacked by a barrage of short-pitch deliveries, Saha stood determined as he built his innings from being 14 not out last night to remain 54 not out, only the third halfcentury of his career as India made impressive progress from the overnight score of 239 for seven in 86 overs.

For Saha, who has had one century and two fifties before today, this was his first half-century in India and came at a crucial period when India looked in danger of being wrapped under 250 after yesterday’s poor show in the first hour.

Chikka in contention for T-10 place; Chiragh, Himmat move up

Sania-Strycova lose in final of Wuhan Open The third seeds lost 1-6 4-6 to the fifth seeded US-Czech pair.

Bhuvneshwar taking the wickets.

Shami struck in his first over to dismiss Latham for LBW, while Guptill continued with his woeful run to be bowled by Kumar when the ball hit his elbow before crashing on to the stumps.

Earlier, Wriddhiman Saha spiced up India’s late order batting with a gritty unbeaten half-century and shared a quick last wicket partnership of 35 from 31 balls with Shami.

S Chikkrangappa winds with speed of 30 km/h.

Himmat Rai (70) and Chiragh Kumar (73) made smart upward moves to Tied-19th from Tied-42nd and T-28th. Also moving up was Shubhankar Sharma (74) to Tied-24th, up from Tied-32nd.

Chikka started the day with a string of eight pars before sinking his first birdie. But three bogeys between 10th and 13th set him back sharply be-

chih carded a 71 for second place as he aims to return to winning ways on the Asian Tour since undergoing brain surgery to remove a non-malignant tumour in mid-2012.

Malaysia's Nicholas Fung (71), Lin Wen-tang (74) of Chinese Taipei, Danthai Boonma (74) of Thailand and Miguel Tabuena (74) of the Philippines are a further shot back in tied third place on 214 at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club.

Mumbai to their 41st Ranji Trophy title last year, will continue to lead the side that includes seasoned players like Abhishek Nayar, Dhawal Kulkarni, Suryakumar Yadav and Shradul Thakur.

Shreyas Iyer, last season's highest run-getter, has been ruled out of Mumbai's opening clash due to quadriceps injury.

Sufiyan Shaikh, the wicketkeeper batsman who made his first-class debut earlier this year against Jharkhand, has also been included. The squad also sees familiar

faces like Kaustubh Pawar, Jay Bista and Akhil Herwadkar, who were key to Mumbai's successful campaign last year.

After their clash in Lahli, Mumbai travel to Delhi to take on Baroda from October 13.

Mumbai Squad: Aditya Tare (capt, wk), Armaan Jaffer, Abhishek Nayar, Dhawal Kulkarni, Shradul Thakur, Suryakumar Yadav, Nikhil Patil, Kaustubh Pawar, Jay Bista, Akhil Herwadkar, Sufiyan Shaikh, Balwinder Singh Sandhu (Jr.), Tushar Deshpande, Vishaal Dhabolkar, Vijay Gohil.

PM Modi unveils BRICS U-17 football trophy PTI New Delhi, Oct 1 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday unveiled the trophy for the BRICS U-17 football tournament, scheduled to be held in the west Indian state of Goa from October 5 to 15.

"Shri Narendra Modi, today unveiled the Trophy for the BRICS U-17 Football Tournament in New Delhi," the PMO said in a statement on Saturday.

"The MoS (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri

Vijay Goel; and the President of the All India Football Federation, Shri Praful Patel, were present on the occasion. Ambassadors from BRICS countries were also present."

Wishing the tournament a grand success, the Prime Minister had said that he was confident that it would meet its objective of facilitating greater understanding and friendship amongst all participants.

The tournament aims at

taking the ongoing interaction and cohesion amongst the BRICS nations to a new level of exchange between the youth of these countries in the field of sports.

Perceived as a Roll On Tournament, it will be a harbinger of similar exchanges in other sports also.

The ceremony was also attended by Ambassadors and High Commissioners of BRICS nations and other dignitaries.

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Cheteshwar Pujara

Kolkata, Oct 1: India's top order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara is down with flu and did not come out to field on the second day of the second Test against New Zealand here on Saturday.

However, according to the team sources there is "nothing serious" and he would bat at his usual No. 3 position in India's second innings.

"Pujara was down with

Bhuvneshwar, Shami reduce NZ to 85-4 at tea

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DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2

PAGE 12 N

un Sofia Hayat took the internet by storm when she sported a white robe and a white headgear few months ago, telling the world that she had let go off the worldly pleasures of her life and was ready to lead the life of a nun from then on. Little did anyone believe their eyes then, and just when it had begun to sink in, she came with another surpirise. She has now posed in a bikini on a pool side for the photo shoot of her upcoming movie Six-X opposite Ashmit Patel. The actress still looks as hot as she did when she hosted Splitsvilla. Sofia lets herself loose on the poolside as the photographer takes his position to take the best shots of the sexy actress.

She is definitely back to being what she is best at. Her close friend, Rakhi Sawant recently suggested her to return to her bold avatar and it seems Sofia has taken the suggestion quite seriously.

During the photo shoot, the Saintturned-sexy Sofia was seen flaunting a hot bikini, taking a dip in the swimming pool with a bunch of guys.

Sofia had transformed into a Nun a few months ago and looking at her recent pictures it seems the actress has finally made a U-turn.

Sofia's film with Ashmit Patel, 'Six X' is releasing on October 14. For the uninitiated, Sofia had called for a ban on this film during her 'Nun phase' and had stated, "Why would I promote a movie where I am wearing underwear when I am now the Divine Holy Mother. I want this film banned."(Agencies)

idya Balan who was down withdengue last month was spotted watching 'Pink' with her husbandSiddharth Roy Kapur at PVR Phoenix, Lower Parel in Mumbai.

This was Vidya's first outing after recovering from dengue. The couple watched Amitabh Bachchan-starrer 'Pink' but surprisingly n o body in the audience was able to recognize them.

It was only after the couple got up after the movie and the people started noticing them. As fans requested photos and autographs, the actress not only agreed to it but also interacted with her fans. (Agencies)

V

Vidya Balan's post-dengue movie outing

Mother Sofia Hayat lets off her robe! A look at her hot poolside bikini pics Sunny Leone Has All Fawad Khan the Talent to Become hasn't been Kareena Mainstream Heroine, in India Says Director since July Kapoor Khan: Lesser known facts eiiman Love direc tor Rajeev Chaudhury thinks actress Sunny Leone has enough talent to be a mainstream heroine.

"Why not Sunny Leone? I think she has all the talent to become a mainstream heroine. She has the Indian

B

look. I watched her films like Jism 2and Ragini MMS. I was so convinced that she definitely deserves much better than what she is doing," he said at the music launch of the film when asked why he chose the Jism 2 actress for the film. "I prepared the script

Salman Khan Backs Pakistani Artists, Says They're Not Terrorists, Government Gives Them Visas Salman Khan has spoken about Pakistani artists, stating that they're not terrorists and that our government gives them visas. He was speaking in context of yesterday's decision when Indian Motion Pictures Association (IMPA) banned Pakistani actors from working in Indian movies. e had told you a while back about how Salman Khan had called up MNS chief Raj Thackery and asked him to let movies featuring Pakistani artists, like ADHM andRaees release peacefully. This was after MNS had threatened Pakistani actors to leave India or be pushed out. And now it seems Salman Khan is supporting Pakistani actors yet again.

According to the latest reports,

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W

T he MNS party's call to ban Pakistani actors has not received an overwhelming response from the film fraternity. Karan Johar went on a limb when he said that banning actors will not stop terrorism and is not the solution. When asked about the call for the ban, Kangana says that right now the country is not in that frame of mind to think on such issues. According to her, it is very difficult to be objective right now since the Uri tragedy is such a big loss for the country.

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areena Kapoor Khan turned a damsel in distress since her Income Tax account was hacked last Friday. She has filed a complaint with the cyber cell of the Mumbai police alleging that the online account used for filing her income tax (I-T) returns has been hacked. The complaint which was filed on Friday by the cyber cell revealed that the hacker had even paid Kapoor's quarterly I-T tax amount. Kareena's chartered accountant approached the cyber cell alleging that the account filing her income returns was hacked after he failed to access the account. The hacker has changed the password for her e-filing account as well.

Very few people know that Kareena Kapoor was the first choice for the female lead opposite Hrithik Roshan in his superhit debut 'Kaho Naa‌Pyaar Hai' which eventually ended up in Ameesha Patel's kitty. In an interview, Kareena mentioned that she had even shot for a small portion of the film, one of which was even included in the final copy. The 'Udta Punjab' actress re-

He said, "They are artists not terrorists. It's the Govt who gives those permits and visas."

"In this day and age if we live in peace it is better for everyone, especially the common man," Salman said in response to a question. Well, well. Looks who is supporting peace and non-violence! (Agencies)

ohn Abraham says that actors are not really in a position to opinionate about what others do. The actor was quoted as saying that they can only speak for themselves.

"Right now, we need to express our solidarity with our country,'' says the actor.

'Force 2' team pays tribute to the Indian Army

Kangana Ranaut: W Uri tragedy is a big loss for the country

hen John Abraham, Sonakshi Sinha and Tahir Raj Bhasin walked inside the arena where the trailer of their 'Force 2' was being launched, the audiences were in for a surprise.

For, the three trotted in holding guns, with their bindaas attitude in place. The trailer of the espionage thriller, presented by Viacom18 Motion Pictures in association with Sunshine Pictures Pvt Ltd and JA Entertainment Pvt

Ltd, was launched amidst a rousing response.

While the actors mouthed lines from the film, director Abhinay Deo was spotted answering interesting questions by the guests.

The film, which releases on November 18, pays tribute to unsung martyrs, and the entire team, including producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah, also congratulated the Indian army for its successful surgical strike. (Agencies)

Sonakshi Sinha, who plays a journalist in her upcoming 'Noor', based on Pakistani author Saba Imtiaz's novel 'Karachi, You're Killing Me', refused to comment on the issue. (Agencies)

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Several reports began doing the rounds that Pakistani actor Fawad Khan has reportedly left India and stalled plans to get back anytime soon after the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) had issued a 48-hour ultimatum on Friday to all actors from across the border to leave India in the wake of Uri attacks.

Reports even stated that Fawad had passed statements against Bollywood.

However, as per information, Fawad has not been in India since July and hasn't interacted with the media since then. (Agencies)

for Sunny. Sunny liked the script and we tried to give the film a different look.

Sunny is different in this film. She is not the same Sunny what you have been seeing till now. She performed very well in all her films and in this film too.

But in this film, she has done something out of the box. She has done a substantial job which is going to become a new track for her. That's what I feel," he added. "This is Sunny's best performance till date. She has acted tremendously as well as Priyanka Chopra or Deepika Padukone. She has done justice to the role. She is fantastic. You'll watch her soon," the director said. The erotic thriller is directed and produced by Rajeev Chaudhari. It stars Sunny Leone and Rajniesh Duggall and will mark the acting debut of Sunny's husband Daniel Weber. The film is slated to release on September 30, along with "M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story"(Agencies)

vealed that it was her first shot. Notice the girl in the blue sweater and jeans behind the rocks in the above picture? Well, that's not Ameesha, it's our very own Bebo!

Kareena Kapoor is not just a Bollywood hottie but a desi Punjabi at heart. In an old video shared on web, the diva can be seen serving food to army men during her stint on the TV show 'Jai Jawan'. Kareena could be seen serving rice and other delicacies to the jawans during a buffet hosted for her in Bikaner. Not only this, Bebo also distributed ladoos to each of them while they could not stop blushing. The Kapoor girl also gave autographs and clicked pictures with the Jawaans. Well, this throwback video is definitely not to be missed.

The Kapoor sisters have always managed to captivate our hearts. Be it their drop-dead gorgeous looks or their mighty acting chops; the sisters never fail to amaze us. We recently came across this vintage picture of Karisma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan along with their mother, Babita Kapoor on social media. While Karisma looks sensuous in her curly hair and bright red lipstick, Kareena, on the other hand, looks like a total cutie in her chubby avatar. The duo is seen posing with their mother, yesteryear actress Babita Kapoor and make for such an adorable portrait.

After the super success of 'Bajirao Mastani', Sanjay Leela Bhansali is now in search of the female lead of his next ambitious project, 'Gustakhiyaan', which is a biopic on the writer-poet, Amrita Pritam. While Deepika and Priyanka, who performed fabulously in 'Bajirao Mastani', were the first choices for the film, it now seems Kareena Kapoor Khan might bag the coveted role. As Deepika is reportedly not interested and Priyanka hasn't committed yet, Bhansali met Kareena to discuss the role, the report further mentioned. If all goes well, the actress will be cast opposite Irrfan Khan who is essaying the role of Amrita's lover and legendary lyricist, Sahir Ludhianvi, in the film. (Agencies)