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ASSENG/2015/64205

PAGE 8

Vol. II

Issue 96

TOP 17 POPULAR TRAVEL DESTINATIONS IN INDIA Bomb recovered at Gossaigaon; 1 arrested Kokrajhar, Oct 21: A major tragedy was averted at Gossaigaon in Kokrajhar after a crude bomb weighing about 3.5 kg was recovered late Thursday night.

The bomb was recovered from the house of one Abdus Samad in Kumguri who was later arrested by the police.

Police have begun interrogating the arrested person to probe an angle of involvement of international terrorist groups.

AAPLU raises various inflicted issues in interior Anjaw dist ET Burea Tezu, Oct, 20 Expressing serious concern over various inflicted issues, All Arunachal Pradesh Labour Union (AAPLU) Anjaw district Unit the union articulate distress on pitiable Telecommunication services in the border district which has adversely affecting the normal communication services in both civilian and armed forces deployed in the border. “BSNL services hyped to connect the interior part of India miserably failed in Anjaw the far flung district of the Indian Union and creeping the entire public services”, rues the union.

The letter made earnest plea to the authority concerned to improve the services immediately in the interest of entire district for smooth functioning of Government and Armed Forces services.

While alleging FPS Talukung Lamp Cooperative Society Hayuliang, Contd. on Page 4

Dibrugarh, Saturday, October 22, 2016

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Pages- 12

PAGE 6

HOW TO KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION

P9 P6 P11 2 days democratic America makes its presence in Tawang Festival movement of ET Bureau Tawang, Oct 21

Now in its fifth year, the Tawang festival has established itself as global event with presence of U.S. Ambassador to India, Mr. Richard Verma.

The Assam Chief Minister, Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal, the Chief Guest for the event said the presence of U.S. Ambassador to India in the festival means the American President, Mr. Barack Obama will come to know about the festival through Mr. Verma soon.

Mr. Sonowal said the Tawang festival is known not only among Arunachalis and in the country, but is known throughout the world. He later declared the three days festival open at the end of the inaugural event in presence of Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Chowna Mein, Health Minister Mr. Jomde Kena, Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Jambey Tashi, and MLAs Mr. Tsering Tashi, Dr Mohesh Chai, Mr. Paknga Bage, Mr. Laisam Simai and Mr. Kaling Moyong.

Mr. Sonowal appreciated the Arunachal Chief Minister, Mr. Pema Khandu who with his global vision had taken lots of pain to make the festival known all over the world. “That is why your Chief Minister has extended invitation to U.S. Ambassador to India to make this town event a global event,” said Mr. Sonowal to a gathering here at festival ground.

TAWANG FESTIVAL: WORDS FROM LEADERS Assam and Arunachal has maintained deep “cultural ties from ages. So to celebrate this bonding, the Assam Chief Minister has been invited to be part of the festival”.

CM Pema Khandu

are from the same family of the North “EastWeIndia.

So we will have to stay together,

Celebrating the age-old relations between Assam and Arunachal, the Assam CM said, “We are from the same family of the North East India. So we will have to stay together, work together and prosper together.”

work together and prosper together”.

CM Sarbananda Sonowal

Mr. Sonowal exhorted the youths to realize their potential through hard work and said that Tawang festival is an opportunity for them to explore their talent. “Tawang is not a just a place, but it’s the land of Gods. The place will shine and grow and will be able to curve her own destiny in future.”

The Assam CM also spoke on various welfare initiatives being taken by the centre for the North East under the able

U.S. – India relation is all time high and “theThecountry is looking towards India to work together in the field of tourism and technology”.

Mr. Richard Verma leadership of Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi.

Mr. Khandu, chief patron of the Tawang festival said that

Assam and Arunachal has maintained deep cultural ties from ages. So to celebrate this bonding, the Assam Chief

Minister has been invited to be part of the festival, he informed and thanked Mr. Sonowal for accepting the

invitation.

The Arunachal CM appealed the people to cooperate with state government to make tourism industry a success in the state.

He said though the state has high tourism potential but the communication bottleneck is one major impediment for the sector to flourish. Mr. Khandu informed the Tawang people that bearing in mind such bottlenecks, the centre under PM Modi has given special preference for the state.

CoSAAP ended peacefully A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Oct 21

Earlier, the festival began with Sebang, a religious procession carried out by monks from Tawang monastery to the festival ground.

The two days democratic movement of the Confederation of Service Associations of Arunachal Pradesh (CoSAAP) in the form of pens and tools down ended peacefully on Friday.

The state government employees attended their offices/ work places and put their attendance but did not discharge duty for second consecutive day.

The state government employees, under the banner of CoSAAP were in agitation as second phase on October 20 and 21.

The proposed first phase of strike on October 7 last was called off because of assurance given by the state government. But the meeting of CoSAAP office bearers with chief secretary on October 17 was not fruitful.

Accordingly,

Contd. on Page 4

Contd. on Page 4

Mr. Verma earlier thanked the people of Arunachal and especially Tawang for extending invite to him, on behalf of American people and Mr. Obama. He said the U.S. – India relation is all time high and the country is looking towards India to work together in the field of tourism and technology.

MLA Nikh Kamin roles out SC to get NRC update report ABFAR project at Bordumsa on October 26: Hajela A Staff Reporter Bordumsa, Oct 21

The Avoidable Blindness Free Arunachal (ABFAR) Project was rolled out by MLA Nikh Kamin at Community Health Centre, Bordumsa on October 20 last in presence of HoDs, Panchayat members, GBs, health workers and ASHAs. Officially rolling out the project by starting the engine of the mobile bus for the project, he thanked the Operation Eyesight Universal

(OEU), Chandraprabha Eye Hospital Jorhat and National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) for choosing Bordumsa for the project.

He appealed to the village heads, PRI members and general public to avail the specialty services and take utmost care of the donated bus for the greater benefit of the community who are in dire need of eye care.

which are happening for the development of the society.

Earlier, State Programme Officer (NPCB), Dr Taba Khanna explained the concept and the benefits of the project, which is being implemented in collaboration with OEU and Chandraprabha Eye Hospital, Jorhat.

The head programs of OEU, Franklin Daniel from Hyderabad while handing over the mobile bus to NPCB Arunachal,

He also appealed to the people to adapt with changes

Contd. on Page 4

ET Bureau Guwahati, Oct 21

The state coordinator of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) Prateek Hajela said the progress report of the NRC update will be submitted to the Supreme Court on October 26.

Hajela said he will request the apex court to direct other states to expedite the process of verification of documents of those who had links with these states and want their names to be included in the NRC in Assam.

He added that about five

lakh of six crore documents have been sent to other states for verification. Of this, the NRC office has received only 7,000 so far.

"We have verified 4.9 crore documents in Assam alone.

Our verification target is six crore documents," Hajela said.

He also said it will be possible to say what the timeline for preparation of the draft NRC will be only after the October 26 hearing.

Hajela denied reports that the pace of NRC updating process has slowed down because of the lack of sufficient

funds.

"The process of updating NRC has not slowed down.

The magnitude of the task is such that it is time-consuming.

Nowhere in the world has such an exercise on this scale been undertaken. That is why it is taking some time," Hajela said.

The total funds required for the project is Rs 908 crore.

Out of this, Rs 335 crore has already been spent. The NRC state coordinator said the Centre is going to release the remaining Rs 573 crore soon.

"Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal recently met Union

home minister Rajnath Singh.

The Centre has agreed to release the remaining funds soon," Hajela said.

When asked about reports that a large number of NRC documents were found from a hotel in the Dhekiajuli area of Sonitpur district, Hajela denied the allegation.

He said those documents had nothing to do with the NRC. "Both hard copies and soft copies of documents submitted by the people for updating NRC are with us," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

ARMSATA to join the proposed pens and tools down strike of AASSATA at Naharlagun A Staff Reporter Naharlagun, Oct 21

The Arunachal Teachers’ Association (ATA), along with the Arunachal Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan Teachers Association (ARMSATA) have decided to join the proposed pens and tools down strike of the All Arunachal Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers’ Association (AASSATA) on the fifth and sixth day of the seven day strike of the AASSATA. This was decided during an urgent coordination meeting of central executive committees of ATA, AASSATA and ARMSATA held under the chair of Tarh Yaku, president, ATA at Government Middle School ‘G’ Sector Naharlagun on October 20.

Holding discussions along with the ATA Advisory Board members and former leaders of ATA and AASSATA on the protest scheduled from October 24 to 30 in protest against non-fulfillment of demands of SSA teachers of the state, the

house also unanimously adopted a two-point resolution and came to the consensus that the demands are genuine and legitimate.

They opined that the demands must be put right by the Government of Arunachal Pradesh so that the future of working SSA teachers is secured and appealed to the state government to immediately redress the demands of the AASSATA. The ATA while resolving to show solidarity with the agitating SSA teachers, also expressed its displeasure over non-fulfillment of long pending demands of the ATA, which includes complete bifurcation of elementary and secondary education at district and block levels with creation of DDEE, DDSE and SEO post, creation of Principal & HM/VP Post, Single Grade entry of teachers i.e. Primary Teachers (PRT) for elementary and Trained Graduate Teacher (TGT) for secondary departments, notification of BEO RR, Timely conduct of DPC twice in a year for all categories, Group ‘B’ Gazette Status for PGT and

Restoration of 50% promotional avenues for PRT through modification of TGT RR. In event of failure to redress the demands of teachers of state, the ATA as the parental organization of the entire teaching fraternity of the state has decided to lead the intensified joint mass democratic movement of ATA, AASSATA and ARMSATA, which will be announced immediately after conclusion of the third phase of AASSATA’s strike.

Accordingly, all regular and RMSA teachers have been directed to join the strike on the fifth and sixth day of the proposed seven days pen and tool down strike on October 28 and 29.

Both regular and RMSA teachers will attend to their respective schools and offices/work places and put their attendance but will not discharge classroom and office activities.

The SSA teachers will continue with its strike from October 24 to 30 next as per notification issued by its central executive committee.

APUPF demands CBI inquiry over allegedly committing suicide by former CM Kalikho Pul

cmyk

The Arunachal Pradesh United Peoples’ Front (APUPF) today reiterated its demand for CBI inquiry into the alleged suicide of former chief minister Kalikho Pul It also demanded immediate revelation of the reportedly 60-page diary / notes found under the title ‘Mere Vichar’ (My Thought), which was written by late Pul before he died

and to disclose its contents before the People of Arunachal Pradesh in toto without any tempering.

Apart from these demands, it also asked for immediate ceasing of CCTV footages of the Chief Minister Bungalow and Deputy Chief Minister’s Bungalow of Chowna Mein, as well as all call details records of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Mein and late Pul. “It would be appreciable on the

part of state Chief Minister Pema Khandu to maintain the true spirit of the NDA Government in maintaining Modi’s concept of good governance, transparancy and positive attitude by making the notes written by late Pul available to the people of the state as they are eagerly awaiting to learn of the goodwill message from a true leader of the state”, it added.

Contd. on Page 4

cmyk

A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Oct 21

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22

P2

Upcoming NEEPCO projects in North East to generate 855 MW power A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Oct 21: North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) is working on three different hydroelectric projects in Northeast and planning for another project in Meghalaya. Works are going on at Kameng hydro electric project in Arunachal Pradesh which would produce 600 MW and another at Pare hydro electric project in Arunachal which will produce 110 MW. Tuirial hydro electric project in Mizoram will produce 60 MW of power. They are planning to set up the Mawphu Hydro electric project-II in Meghalaya which will produce another 85 MW. NEEPCO have eight power stations in Northeast and generating 1257 Mega watt power. Three hydro electric power stations will be com-

The NEEPCO plant at Kathalguri in Dibrugarh. Pic. Manoj Pandey pleted in 2017. NEEPCO was set up in 2nd April 1976 and having 2459 man power in Northeast.

H.K Changmai, General Manager, Project head of Assam Gas based power project, NEEPCO Ltd. Bokuloni said, “The Kathalguri project having a installed capacity of 291 MW but in recent times we are getting

HOROSCOPE Aries

Tap into the boisterous, lighthearted mood of the day instead of getting bogged down with heavy emotions, Aries. This is a good time to engage your mind rather than let your heart take control. Be aware of the expansive nature of the day that allows you to think clearly without getting bothered by emotions.

Take the cerebral route to figuring out what you need to do to smooth any bumps in the road.

Taurus

Your optimism will be inspiring today, Taurus. You will find that your lighthearted approach is perfectly suited to taking care of any issue that arises. Toss a few jokes into the mix and remind other people that it isn't necessary to take things so seriously. The Sun is shining as you proudly parade down the street with your head held high.

Gemini

Difficult challenges that have been lingering on the sidelines will probably become more prominent today, Gemini. There is a strong possibility that things will come to a head. The problem was easy to overlook at first, but now that it has taken on a life of its own, you may have to consult someone who is more of an expert on these types of situations than you are.

Cancer

You could be the one everyone runs to for advice today, Cancer. You're the one with all the answers who can easily pull the rabbit out of a hat. Trust your judgment and intellectual know-how. Feel free to push yourself to the limit. If you go too far, you can always take a step back. If you never drive all the way to the boundaries, you will never know how far you can go.

Leo

You may get frustrated when you find that people aren't as sensitive to a situation as you want them to be, Leo. While you're looking to make a strong connection with someone, almost wanting to take possession of his or her feelings, that person, in turn, is trying to pull back. People are apt to gravitate toward rational facts rather than intense, smothering emotions.

Virgo

A small spark in a dry field is apt to whip the hill into flames, Virgo. A raging wildfire may be underway by the end of the day. Know that you're one of the biggest perpetrators, but don't feel badly about it. Fire is destructive but also necessary. Clearing out brush and offering a fresh new place in which new growth can flourish is an important part of the cycle of nature.

Libra

Put on some lively music you can dance to and really kick up your heels, Libra. It's time to put away the sour mood and have fun with a large group of people. You will find that the more you engage in intellectual discussions, the more you will get warmed up to the idea that life should be fun, not the pain and stress you sometimes make it out to be.

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

This is a tremendously expansive time for you, Scorpio, and there is very little that will stop your momentum once you get going. Your eyes are alive with a spark that says that you're ready to take on the world.

Believe this about yourself and others will believe in you. There is a great deal of luck on your side today, so take a gamble in a certain part of your life.

This is a good time to put things in writing, Sagittarius. Your gift with words is apt to shine today as you write a proposal, email, or love poem.

You're able to communicate very well when you put your sensitive emotions aside and concentrate on what you think instead of what you feel.

Expand your influence by focusing on those things that require a more cerebral approach.

The day's energy is apt to be lively, making it much easier to get the things done that you need to do, Capricorn. You will find people are more than eager to help you. The trick is to integrate your leadership abilities with the knowledge available from other people. You will create a winning combination of power and strength to put to use in just about any realm of your life.

Aquarius

Obstacles that you have ignored are suddenly starting to expand beyond reasonable proportions, Aquarius. Be careful of what you say as a result, because your words could spread like wildfire. This is no laughing matter. Difficulties in your world are likely to crop up, and you will find your ego threatened. Try to keep some sort of emotional barrier.

Pisces

This is a terrific day for you, Pisces, and you will glow brightly from head to toe as you radiate your true inner self to the world. You will find profound joy in the simplest, most ordinary circumstances. If you run out of things to say, feel free to whistle a tune. This isn't likely to happen today, since you will overflow with things to talk about.

less amount of gas supply from Oil India Ltd. Earlier we were receiving 1.4 Million Metric Standard Cubic Meter Per Day (MMSCMD) from Oil India but now we are getting very less supply of gas from them. He added till July everything is well but after that they are getting less amount of gas from Oil India.

He informed that they are thinking for an alternative and discussion is going on with GAIL. Changmai said that there is a short fall of 2700 MW of power in Northeast during peak hour and Assam needs 1500 MW of power in peak hours.

“NEEPCO operates three Hydro power plant and three thermal power plants.

The first plant Kopili Hydro electric Power plant in North Cachar hills district of Assam was commissioned in March 1984. The plant has two reservoirs and comprises of three power stations which was commissioned in three stages totaling 275 MW with an annual generation of 1550 Million units. The biggest plant commissioned by NEEPCO so far is 405 MW Ranganadi Hydro electric power plant in Arunachal Pradesh,’’ Changmai added.

This is the biggest power

plant operating in North eastern region as on today.

The annual generation from this plant is 1510 Million units. The 75 MW Doyang Hydro electric plants in Nagaland were commissioned in June 2000. The 291 MW Assam Gas based power plant was commissioned during March 1995 to March 1998. This plant was declared “Centre for excellence’’ in 2002 by government of India. Recently, NEEPCO has also commissioned 135 MW Agartala Gas turbine power plant, the 101 MW Tripura gas based power project and the 5 MW Solar PV Power project in Tripura.

He further added NEEPCO provides almost 40 per cent of the energy requirement of the North Eastern region of the country. Though presently all its plants are located in the North Eastern

region Changmai said, “Assam Gas based power plant (AGBP), a power generation industry is the first venture of North eastern electric power corporation Ltd (NEEPCO Ltd), a government of India undertaking corporation in the field of gas based thermal sector with an installed capacity of 291 MW. First unit of project was commissioned in the year 1995 and was dedicated to nation by then Minister of power Govt of India Late NKP Salve on March 24 1995. Till the month of March, 2016, the Kathalguri project has generated a total electrical energy of 28477.7465 Million units (MU). The plant is generating electricity by using natural gas as fuel. Oil India Limited supplies natural gas through gas pipe lines belongs to Assam Gas Company Limited.

3-day National workshop on Management concludes at Dibrugarh University A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Oct 21: A three-day National Workshop on Management of University Administration is being organized at the Indira Miri Conference Hall of Dibrugarh University from October 19. It has been organized by the Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi.

The workshop hosted by Dibrugarh University, has been organized to discuss, share and develop strategies for the smooth functioning of administration and academia of higher educational institutes. For the fourth time Dibrugarh University is hosting an event for the Association of Indian Universities. A total of 50 delegates from 28 univer-

sities are participating in the three-day workshop, in which nine technical sessions will be conducted by prominent resource persons from various parts of the country.

On October 19, the workshop began with an inaugural session, wherein the Vice Chancellor of DIbrugarh University , Prof.Alak Kumar Buragohain ; former Joint Secretary , Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India, R.D. Sahay ; Deputy Director in-charge, Research Division, Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi, Dr. Amarendra Pani ; Registrar of Dibrugarh University , Prof. MN Dutta , addressed the participating delegates.

Margherita police observed “Martyrs Day” Members of Chutia Organisation protested today in demand of ST status here in Jorhat. Pic Nakib Ahmed

Dibrugarh boy bring laurels in Arm wrestling Distinguished persons present at Martyrs Day program today at Margherita Public Higher Secondary School.

ET Correspondent Margherita, Oct 21: Margherita police observed "Martyrs Day" programme at Margherita Public Higher Secondary School premises in memory of martyred home guard Krishnakanta

Hazarika here today. The programme began with lightning of lamp by his family members. A plantation of saplings was done by Ananda Gogoi, former headmaster of Ketetong Shishu Primary School.

An Art Competition was also held among school children which was presided by Khirod Mahon teacher of Margherita Public Higher Secondary School. Several dignitaries were present during the program.

Arm wrestler Monuj Debnath A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Oct 21: Arm wrestler Monuj Debnath of Dibrugarh secured the sixth position in the 38th World Arm wrestling Championship held from October 1 to 10 in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. Debnath was the only Indian to secure a place in the list of top ten world arm

A scene of traffic in the mid of a busy road in Jorhat today. Pic- Nakib Ahmed Cinema Galleria Cinema Dibrugarh Junction Mall Screen-1

Screen-2

tion in the top ten world ranks. Talking to “The Eastern Today”, he said that he is happy with his achievement and will practice more to bring gold in other events which will start soon.

Monoj Debnath is the son of Babul and Sabita Debnath of Lachit Nagar area of the town

Sports Prize Money Football competition organised by AASU in Bhadoi Pranjal Gogoi Duliajan, Oct 21: All Assam Student Union, Bhadoi unit, in memory of Late Nipen Bora and Late Purnananda Borgohain has organized a prize money football tournament here.

The tournament will kick

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wrestlers. Debnath has made the country and the Northeast region proud as he secured the 6th position in the 55kg senior men’s category. A total number of 63 countries took part in the event. He won against Egypt, Slovakia and Bulgaria in the 55 kg category and grabbed the sixth posi-

start from 22nd October 2016 at Bhadoi High school playground.

“A total number of 16 teams has participated in the competition”, said a member of AASU. The inaugural matches will be played between Bozaloni football team

vs Deomali Town football academy and Bhadoi Junior College vs Naharkatiya Junior College.

Anil Gogoi, AASU central Organising Secretary will be present to grace the opening ceremony of the tournament.

Sundhani Football Trophy

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Sports Correspondent Dibrugarh, Oct 21: Chabua Football Coaching Centre beat Kajikhowa Sports Association 5-4 via tiebreaker in the second semifinal of the 20th Sundhani Football trophy organized by Sundhani Sports Club in association with Chabua Sports Association at Chabua playground here today. Altogether, 14

team participated in the tournament.

The regulation time was ended in a goal less draw.

Both the teams toiled hard but could score a single goal in their allotted time. Kishor Gohain of Chabua got a chance in the 52nd minute but missed the crucial opportunity.

For Chabua Football Coaching Centre, Uday Borah, Gayandeep

Gohain, Pullock Gohain, Kishor Gohain and Labdh Das scored goals.

Prag Kurmi, Bitu Sobor, Shankar Tanti and Anupam Gohain scored goals for Kajikhowa Sports Club. Amar Rajowar missed the scoring opportunity for Kajikhowa.

Chabua Football Coaching Centre will take on Modoi Kriya Manch in the final on Sunday.

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22

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Assam Congress to review Citizenship Bill Poachers strike Assam’s Kaziranga again, 15th rhino killed this year

ET Bureau Guwahati, Oct 21: The Congress in Assam stated that Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 is a hasty decision and will disturb the age-old communal harmony in the state.

Tarun Gogoi to examine the ramifications of the proposed amendment and submit a report to AICC for formulating the party’s policy on the issue.

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of former chief minister

Former chief minister Tarun Gogoi

BJP leaders of Karbi Anglong joins Congress

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, as introduced in the Lok Sabha, has been referred to a Joint Parliamentary The committee will sub- Committee of both the mit its report by October Houses under the chair31. manship of Dr Satyapal The Congress had earlier Singh for examination advocated refugee status and presenting a report to for those minorities, who the Parliament. (With inface religious persecu- puts from agencies)

Protests staged in Assam over district status ET Bureau Guwahati, Oct 21: Hundreds of people blocked National Highway (NH)-37 on Friday against the Assam government's revoking its decision to create a South Kamrup district.

Sahay appealed to the people not to take the law in their hands.

Hundreds of people in Kamrup district's Chhaygaon area took to the streets and blocked movement of all vehicles, including ambulances.

The Assam cabinet had recently revoked the decision to create South and East Kamrup districts for lack of infrastructure.

The protests have led to snapping of road communication between Western Assam districts and Guwahati city.

ET Bureau Guwahati, Oct 21: Vice president of BJP West Karbi Anglong district committee Sing Teron and another BJP leader George Millik along with their supporters here joined the Congress party at a ceremonial function held at Karbi Anglong District Congress Committee (KADCC), Diphu office premises on Wednesday.

The development came ahead of the bypoll of the Baithalangso LAC slated to be held on November 19.

The two leaders along with their supporters were felicitated with Karbi traditional turban. Former EM, KAAC and vice president of BJP, Sing Teron claimed that many BJP supporters and workers from his

Rongkhang MAC constituency are yet to join the Congress.

It may be mentioned here that Teron along with his 182 BJP supporters joined the Congress today. Teron won as MAC for two times consecutively in KAAC elections from Rongkhang MAC constituency with the Congress ticket earlier.

Later, he left the Congress camp and joined BJP on March 25, 2014. A few days later he was appointed as vice president of BJP of West Karbi Anglong district committee.

Another BJP leader George Millik along with his BJP supporters of Amreng MAC constituency also joined BJP today. Citing the reason

RGVN conducts community-led poverty alleviation programme in Darrang ET Bureau Guwahati, Oct 21: In a bid to improve the rural economy, Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Nidhi (RGVN) has started Unnati, a community-led poverty alleviation programme in Darrang district.

Under this project, RGVN will help in forming selfhelp groups, provide training on livelihood activity, formulate projects for them and then arrange loans.

Livelihood and financial inclusion programmes will run under the project simul-

taneously.

The programme was formally launched at Aulachowka in Darrang district on Wednesday.

"The unique feature of the programme is to form selfhelp groups of farmers, provide training on livelihood activity, formulate projects for them and then arrange loans. Even the interest rates are much lower than the rates charged by the existing micro finance institution," project manager Arindam Pal told media.

(With inputs from agencies)

Committee to probe state's dengue deaths ET Bureau Guwahati, Oct 21: The state health department on Thursday set up a review committee to look into dengue death cases in the state. With 90 new dengue cases reported from different parts of the state on Thursday, the total number of dengue cases has shot up to 2,854.

A state government source told TOI that the review committee will be interrogating city hospitals and nursing homes from which dengue death cases were reported about whether protocol was followed in dealing with the cases.

So far, Kamrup (Metro) district has reported two dengue deaths. Another one was reported from Kamrup district.

The committee will be analyzing the patients' records whether they were suffering from any conditions prior to being tested positive for dengue and what kind of treatment was being administered to the patients.

"It is important to know the causes. There are certain criteria that lead to dengue deaths," the source said.

"It is mandatory for hospitals to detail the preconditions of patients suffering from vector-borne diseases. For example, a patient had a history of hypertension or diabetes but tested positive for dengue. The hospital should record this and not just declare that the patient died due to dengue," said the source.

The review committee will comprise the district joint director of health, a malaria officer, a member of the Indian Medical Association, a district medical officer, the director of the health services and the HOD of microbiology at the Gauhati Medical College Hospital.

The review committee will be formed at the district level with a specific focus on the districts that have reported the maximum number of dengue cases and deaths.

(With inputs from agencies)

of returning to the Congress, Milik said that it was due to the infighting among the BJP leaders.

Meanwhile, both the leaders assured the observers of the Congress party present in the programme to work wholeheartedly and strengthen the party.

In the joining programme, Diphu MP and district Congress president, Biren Sing Engti, former Diphu MLA, Bidyasing Engleng, former MLA and party observer for Karbi Anglong district Dr Durlabh Chamua, APCC secretary Hukum Chand Ali Bagshi and former minister Rupom Sing Ronghang were present. (With inputs from agencies)

tion in erstwhile East Pakistan.

Reacting to the agitation, Assam Director General of Police (DGP) Mukesh

"If someone takes law in their hands, we are going to deal with strictly," the DGP said.

The former Congress-led government had announced creation of five districts -South Kamrup, East Kamrup, Charaideo, Biswanath and West Karbi Anglong.

However, the three others will be created. (With inputs from agencies)

Army unit of Chirang conducts national integration tour for students ET Bureau Guwahati, Oct 21: Under the aegis of the Red Horns Division, the Army unit based in Chirang is conducting a national integration tour for children and teachers of various schools of the district by taking them to Rajasthan.

The tour is being conducted to familiarize students with the heritage, culture and

way of life in other parts of the country, said a press statement of Army on Thursday.

The visiting students and teachers will interact with Rajasthan chief minister Vasundra Raje and senior Army officers at Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur.

The tour was flagged off on October 15.

ET Bureau Guwahati, Oct 21: Poachers struck in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park after a brief pause to kill the 15th one-horned rhino this year. In all, 18 rhinos have been killed in the state.

Forest guards retrieved the carcass of the rhino from the Balipukhuri forest of the 430 sq km park’s Agratoli range on Friday. The animal’s horn had been sawed off after it was shot on Wednesday night.

Park officials said a search had been launched after gunshots were heard Wednesday night.

lion each, are believed to be smuggled out to Southeast Asian countries through Nagaland.

State forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma, who rushed to Kaziranga on Friday, said: “It is unfortunate that poachers managed to kill a rhino despite a series of measures undertaken.”

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and his Nagaland counterpart TR Zeliang had met at Kaziranga on Monday to discuss poaching among other cross-border issues.

Police say a section of the poachers is from Nagaland.

Rhino horns, sold as aphrodisiac for at least Rs 10 mil-

Since 2001, poachers have killed more than 250 rhinos in Assam. (With inputs from agencies)

JMCH celebrates foundation day at Jorhat ET Bureau Jorhat, Oct 21: Participating in the meeting of 7th foundation day of Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH), Jorhat MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa today said that doctors and supporting staffs of the hospital should dedicate more to create a patient-friendly atmosphere inside the premises as common people expect more from them.

them well, he said.

As the patients of Jorhat and its neighbouring districts prefer JMCH for better treatment, the staffs have vital responsibility to serve

The JMCH organised a walkathon in the city this morning to sensitise people about the importance of walking for maintaining a

Stressing the importance of maintaining cleanliness and better public relation inside the premises of JMCH, Jorhat Deputy Commissioner Virendra Mittal hoped that the hospital would be able to fulfil the expectations of the people the doctors and staffs dedicate themselves for better service.

good health, which reduces the risk of heart diseases.

It may be mentioned that the JMCH authority has already taken up some measures which are expected to generate feel-good ambience for all sorts of patients, attendants and the medical staff inside the hospital campus.

Retired Justice of Supreme Court, Justice SN Phukan, principal of JMCH Professor Debajit Hazarika and doctors and staffs of the hospital also attended the programme. (With inputs from agencies)

Congress forms panel to finalize candidate for Lakhimpur bypoll Kaziranga gears up to

receive Vice-President

ET Bureau Guwahati, Oct 21: After refusing to contest the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha bypoll, former chief minister Tarun Gogoi will now lead a four-member panel to select the Congress candidate for the bypoll.

A party insider said Rajib Lochan Pegu, minister in the previous Congress government, is the likely choice. The final approval, however, will be given by Sonia Gandhi. Pegu lost to chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal from the Majuli constituency in the assembly elections.

The Congress election committee, which met here on Thursday, finalized Rupan Singh Ronghang as the party's candidate for the Baithalangsu (Karbi Anglong) assembly bypoll, Congress legislature party leader Debabrata Saikia said.

Election to both constituencies will be held on November 19.

The Lakhimpur Lok Sabha bypoll was neces-

sitated after Sonowal, who had won this seat in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, vacated it following his election to the assembly. The Baithalangsu assembly constituency was vacated by former legislator Man Singh Rongpi, who resigned from Congress and will seek to re-contest as a BJP candidate this time. onghang, a former legislator from this seat and a minister in the Congress government of 2001-06, was the lone applicant for the ticket from Baithalangsu election.

There were nine aspirants to the party's Lakhimpur ticket, of which four were

shortlisted on Thursday.

Apart from Gogoi, the other members of the panel who have been entrusted with the responsibility of picking the candidate are CLP leader Debabrata Saikia, state party president Ripun Bora and Rajya Sabha MP and former party president Bhubaneswar Kalita.

"The panel will meet in New Delhi on Friday to further filter the four shortlisted names. The final call will be taken by party president Sonia Gandhi," a party source said. (With inputs from agencies)

Bank manager held under misappropriating funds of PMKVY ET Correspondent Jorhat, Oct 21: Jorhat Police on Friday arrested Ashilesh Kumar, bank manager of Bank of India over allegedly misappropriating funds of Prime Minister Kaushal Vikash Yojana.

Under PMKVY, hundreds of women get trained in in Assam Agriculture University and after completion of training programme the women eventually gets sum of 10,000 for selfdependent. But surpris-

ingly, the beneficiary women only get one thousand rupees.

Kumar was apprehended after a FIR was lodged against him by more than hundreds of beneficiary women in Jorhat Police Station.

ET Bureau Guwahati, Oct 21: Kaziranga National Park authorities are gearing up to receive Vice-President Hamid Ansari, who will be visiting the World Heritage Site next week.

A senior park official said the Vice-President will arrive at Kaziranga on October 26 and will go on a jungle safari the following day. The official said Ansari is expected to visit the Kohora forest range located in the central part of Kaziranga.

Security arrangements are being tightened be-

fore the visit. "All our focus is now on preparing for the VicePresident's visit," the official added. However, park officials were tightlipped about other details of the visit.

This is the second highprofile visit to the park this year, after the visit of the Dukeand Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Princess Catherine, in April this year.

Home to almost twothird of world's onehorned rhino population, the 430-sq km Kaziranga was thrown open to tour-

ists this month, a break from its tradition of opening the park in November.

In the meantime, park officials have launched a massive search operation inside the part after the firing at Kohora range on Wednesday.

"We heard gunfire near the Naobhangi antipoaching camp under Kohora range at around 10.30pm. Our staff has been searching the area but there has been no trace of a rhino carcass yet," another park official said. (With inputs from agencies)

Panel has received 9,000 memorandums from all over the country including Assam: Kalita ET Bureau Guwahati, Oct 21: Bhubaneswar Kalita, Rajya Sabha MP and member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee looking into the matter of amending the Citizenship Act, 1955, has said that the panel has received 9,000 memorandums from all over the country including Assam on this issue.

“The Committee has held meetings twice earlier. In the last meeting, I told the Committee members to visit Assam and take the views of all the organizations concerned. The format of the amendment to the Citizenship Act is found to be contradictory to the Assam Accord,” said Kalita, adding, “I

have told the Committee that if the Act is amended, it should be done as per the Assam Accord.”

Kalita further said he has proposed the Committee to go ahead with the amendment after publication of final NRC for Assam.

On the complaint made by some organizations in the State that they were not invited in the last two meetings held by the Committee, Kalita said, “In the last meeting, representatives of 27 organizations were invited, but representatives of only 12 organizations were present. We will take everybody’s views on the issue and so, some more time will be required,” adding, “Not just Assam, views of other

states too will be sought before amending the Act.” Kalita said the timeframe given to the Joint Parliamentary Committee to submit its report on the issue is not sufficient and that’s why more time has been sought from the Lok Sabha Speaker.

It may be mentioned here that the Joint Parliamentary Committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Satyapal Singh, with 20 members from Lok Sabha and 10 members from Rajya Sabha.

Besides Bhubaneswar Kalita, three other MPs from Assam Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, Ramen Deka and Sushmita Deb are in the panel. (With inputs from agencies)

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22

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3 days long soft skill training Motivational movie at CHF, Pasighat inaugurated screening at IGGC Staff Reporter Pasighat, Oct 21: A 3 days long Soft Skill Training for personality development of students on the theme: “Ignite Young Minds from today onwards” was inaugurated at College of Horticulture & Forestry, Central Agriculture University of Pasighat today by the Dean, Dr. A.K. Pandey being organized by Students Counseling Cell of the College.

Pandey, stressed upon that such type of programme is very much needed to the students to face the competitive world. He opined hope that, such training will aid them in dealing with the challenges of the outside world more effectively and efficiently.

This will also help them in understanding the intricacies involved in the corporate world. He felt it

should be a mandatory in any educational institution. Skills like problem solving, logical thinking, leadership and communication skills are highly essential for every candidate today.

CEO, Smart Series, Bangalore, Radha Shankarnaraynan has come all the way from Bangalore to deliver the lecture on goal setting, time management, leadership & communication

skills, group discussion , facing interview, making CV etc. While Student Welfare Officer cum Training Coordinator, Krishna S.Tomar told that, the real purpose of education is to equip students

with the potential to meet challenges in life.

For coping up with the growing demands of the day any student needs a strong personality to come out with flying colors. The Soft skills are personal characteristics that relate to a person's capability to interact effectually with others. Simply put, it is all about empathy. Empathy is not restricted to work, but, in fact, it is vital in all areas of life.

Around 70 students are participating in this training, informed source from the college. Dr B. R. Phukan, Academic Incharge also spoke and proposed the vote of thanks.

While, Dr. S. D. Warade, Dr. B. P. Mishra and other faculty members were also present on the occasion.

The training will conclude on 23rd October next.

WASE seizes several IMFL from Global IDD Prevenroad side vegetable vendor tion Day observed at Naharlagun Staff Reporter Pasighat, Oct 21: While continuing their crusade against drugs and IMFL menace in the district, the Women Against Social Evils (WASE) came across and seized several bottles of IMFL and can beer from a vegetable vendor at GTC region while on their night patrolling on Wednesday night.

Team WASE informed that, in their random patrolling

they came across the illegal sale of IMFL and beer from a roadside small vegetable vendor which shows the height of open selling of IMFL and its demand.

The seized items were destroyed in the very presence of the vendor and were warned not to repeat it.

“Earlier, some days ago, more than 60 bottles of IMFL meant for selling were also seized by our team. The IMFL

wholesalers are party to it despite restriction, as without their open and unrestricted sale how come a small vegetable vender, Pan Gumties and grocery shops can sale it”, said Joya Tasung Moyong, Secretary, WASE. She appealed district administration and police to put a full check on the erring wholesalers and cancel their licenses who doesn’t comply the order.

APUPF demands CBI inquiry over allegedly committing suicide by former CM Kalikho Pul Contd. from Page 1

The APUPF had earlier submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh onAugust 16 last, and a copy was sent to the state chief minister and chief secretary for necessary and

prompt action.

In the memorandum, it had sought the governor ’s intervention on the death of former chief minister Pul by recommending CBI inquiry and revelation of 60 pages notes in the public domain within 10 ten days time.

However, the APUPF

informed that the state government failed to fulfill its demands and they had resolved to organized a peaceful procession on September 9 last, but was suspended temporarily till traditional taboos of the aggrieved family members of late Pul were completed.

2 days democratic movement of CoSAAP ended peacefully Contd. from Page 1 the CoSAAP decided to continue its second phase of democratic movement.

The CEC CoSAAP members, headed by its president Pate Marik and secretary general Gonya Riba were monitoring the government establishments in the Capital Complex for the second day and found that all the employees were present in their respective, but no official works were discharged.

The Arunachal Pradesh Civil Secretariat was also defunct for second day because of the two days strike of state government employees, supported by all the state government employees throughout the state.

The president, secretary general and CEC CoSAAP members extend its heartiest thanks to all the state government employees and well-wishers for full participation in the agitation and making it a success.

Such cooperation and support is highly solicited in the near future too, the association added.

Further, as per the decision of extended meeting of CoSAAP held on October 1 last, the state government employees will continue its third phase of democratic movement in the form of indefinite pens and tools down strike from November 1 next, if the government fails to redress the demands before the 1st of November, this year.

MLA Nikh Kamin roles out ABFAR project at Bordumsa Contd. from Page 1

thanked the Government of Arunachal Pradesh for collaborating with OEU through NPCB and pledged expansion of the project to other part of the state in near future.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner, District

Medical Officer, Changlang and Zilla Parishad Member also addressed the gathering.

The ABFAR Project is a Hospital Based Community Eye Health Programme (HBCEHP) and a model developed for community eye care, where the grass root health workers are

intensively trained by OEU to survey, identify and refer cataract and other basic eye diseases for operation.

For the purpose, the Bordumsa CHC was upgraded as Eye Base Hospital in 2015, where all identified operable cases will be operated by government surgeons.

America makes its presence in Tawang Festival Contd. from Page 1

The arrival of chief guest and other dignitaries to the festival ground was followed by inauguration of traditional games and sports and inauguration of exhibition stalls.

18 exhibition stalls were set up, amongst which Monpa stall from Mukto and Lumla demonstrated the process of handmade paper and shengmar-akhmar making

respectively. While various medicinal plants were displayed highlighting their respective uses in the Gomkang Nursery Stall, Monpa pottery making stall of Industries department displayed the age-old art of pottery making.

This was followed by Mangalcharan prayer, which was recited seeking infinite blessing of the dieties for auspicious beginning.

Different cultural tableaus and cultural troupes from

various tribes of Arunachal and neighbouring state Assam showcased their rich tradition and culture.

The evening cultural show of the first day of the festival, will have performances from the Brooks (Lobsang Deleg) and New York based Nepali singer, Mr. Raju Lama. Also the cultural event will have ethnic dress show that would showcase the traditional attires of Mago-Pangchin, Tsoksum and Brokpas.

A Staff Reporter Naharlagun, Oct 21: Global Iodine Deficiency Disorder Prevention Day was observed throughout the state on October 21, along with the rest of the world in an effort to bring home the message that Iodine Deficiency can be prevented by supplementation of iodine through iodine fortified salt.

“A day with Salt Traders” was organised at Naharlagun, where about 50 salt traders joined in an interaction with the officers of Directorate of Health Services at Hotel Nemko, Naharlagun.

The salt traders were illumi-

nated on their role in preventing iodine deficiency and how they are working as health warriors. They were also distributed with spot test kits to check the quality of iodised salt they are selling.

Appropriate activities were also conducted in most of the districts, including school level activities and competitions for children.

The programme was also attended by Dr M Lego, DFW and i/c DHS, along with Dr B Padu, Joint DHS, Dr L Jampa, SNO (NCD) and U K Mitra, Deputy Food Commissioner, among others.

ET Correspondent Tezu, Oct 21: In an effort to motivate and inspire the students, the Department of Commerce headed by Dr. K.RajendraBabu screened in the presence of faculty and a huge number of students an international awards-winning motivational and inspirational movie “A Small Act” today at Indira Gandhi Government College, Tezu with commentary by HoDHindi, Dr. Madhu Sudan Sharma and introductory address of Principal Dr. TasiTaloh.

Scholarship and becomes a United Nations Human Rights Commissioner. Inspired and moved by the generosity of his sponsored for his studies, he starts a foundation in her name – Hilde Back Foundation and provides scholarships for poor Kenyan village children. Chris Mburu decides to find the stranger “who changed my life” with her monthly donation towards his education. She is found to be 84 years old, a German Jew who was sent by her parents to Sweden as a child.

The 2010, HBO short movie, directed by Ms. Jennifer Arnold is based on the true story of Chris Mburu, a small boy living in a mud house in a Kenyan village.

He had his primary and secondary education sponsored by a Swedish lady.

But they were not met anytime before. Later he graduates from Harward Law School with Fulbright

Her family died in the German Holocaust. She never married and was a school teacher. She is a tiny woman but filled with energy. Chris Mburu and Hilde Back meet for the first time. She is taken to his village, feasted, thanked and draped with traditional clothes. She says that her small donation was an insignificant sum to her, but she

continued her help because she thought that “even a small act was worth doing”.

It may be mentioned that Hilde Back is 90 years old now and Chris Mburu is still working with UNO. He meets her very often especially on her birthdays.

Hilde Back never married and now Chris becomes her child. The movie gives a powerful message that a small help that we extend to others bring a big change in the lives of the beneficiaries. The movie also bears a witness as to how one can be grateful to those from whom we get help in our life. The movie also conveys the message that a small act of kindness can have a ripple effect and produce all kinds of good eventually in the world.The organizers and the viewers of the movie thanked SatyanarayanMundayoor “Uncle Moosa” and O.P. Chandran, the patrons of Bamboosa Library, Tezu from whom soft copy of the film was obtained.

Nicham Sonam Bridge inaugurated at Seppa A Staff Reporter Seppa, Oct 21: Inaugurating the Nicham Sonam Bridge on October 21 at Seppa, Parliamentary Secretary (Tax & Excise) Tapuk Taku remembered late Nicham Sonam as a true gentleman and a social reformer, and that his services toward a better East Kameng district shall always be remembered.

He said that government is looking into the demands

of agitating CoSAAP members, and appealed to them to resume their duty in greater interest of the society.

Khya Safar Pao, chairman of EKSWCO said that every individual should do good deeds so that they will be remembered even after they are long gone. He thanked state government and administration for naming the new bridge after the legendary Nicham

Sonam.

He further appealed to every individual of East Kameng district to attend EKSWCO foundation day celebration at Pipu, which will take place fromOctober 23 to 25 next.

The inauguration program was attended by various HODs, members of WWO, general public and EKSWCO executive members.

7th Dr T Ao Memorial North East Tourna- Bike lifter arrested ment: Sikkim wins by 4-2 over Assam at Pasighat A Staff Reporter give up and kept on at- utes of play ended and Naharlagun, Oct 21: In an enthralling match of the seventh edition of the Dr T Ao Memorial North East Tournament, a formidable team Sikkim on Friday made two outstanding comebacks to defeat last year champions Assam by four goals to 2, making it to the grand finale of the tourney.

With this win Sikkim will now face a confident Manipur in the finals on October 23 next, a match which is anticipated to be a delight for all football lovers.

Both Sikkim and Assam which had not lost even a single match in the tournament fought a tough battle against each other in a jam packed Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here at Naharlagun, but it was Assam who drew first blood in the 7th minute through the boots of Dipu Mirdha, who converted a through ball into an outstanding goal.

Sikkim though, did not

tacking and creating chances which finally paid off in the 29th minute as its left winger Manash Darnal leveled the scores to a piece each.

Adding much to the dismay of fans who were supporting Sikkim throughout the game, Mirdha scored his brace in the 36th minute and that was the story of the first half.

The second half of the match saw a different team Sikkim altogether as they started playing Tika-Taka football which in due course started to frustrate Assam which most had senior players compared to that of its opponent.

As Sikkim continued to dominate Assam in ball possession, a corner awarded to them in the 49th minute was converted into a magnificent goal by Sangay Chopel Bhutia.

It was Sikkim 2-2 Assam when the official 90 min-

AAPLU raises various inflicted issues in interior Anjaw dist Contd. from Page 1 The union claims that the FPS foul practices deprived Ration Card holders who are poor villagers and casual laborer.

Despite the FPS is receiving adequate allotted monthly quota it practices irregularity in disbursing the ration, says the memo.

Coming down heavily on SBI Hayuliang, the letter criticizes the improper functioning of the bank in the absence of Branch Manager for last one year. “The villagers and government employees from Chaglagam, Goiliang and Manchal circles have been facing impediment and delay transaction and sometime compel to come down at SBI Tezu branch for

normal transaction. The letter urges the authority to transfer the BM at the earliest for the normal functioning of the Bank, exhorts the memo further.

Meanwhile, The Union further irks over the lackadaisical attitude of the education department Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh in failing to transfer senior teacher at Govt. Hr Secondary School Hayuliang for the last five years. “The senior subject teacher including Chemistry, Geography, Mathematics, English and Economic have been bereft from GHSS resulting adverse affect in quality education”, laments the union and appeal strongly the government easing the long pending crisis.

the match had to be stretched to an extra time of 15 minutes each half.

This was when Sikkim totally dominated the match, thanks to some wonderful midfield play

by Suresh Chetri who distributed the ball evenly in both sides. As Sikkim continued to pressurize Assam they ultimately went on to score two more goals one from Nikesh Gurung and the other from Manos Rai which won them the match.

Suresh Chetri for his adept skills in the midfield play was awarded the Man of Match award which was present to him by home minister Kumar Waii.

Meanwhile, host Arunachal will lock horns with Assam on October 22 at 1.30 pm for the third place.

Team Arunachal had lost out to Manipur in the semi-finals with a score of 7-0 yesterday.

Maksam Tayeng Pasighat, Oct 21: A bike lifter was caught red handed on Wednesday evening at Airfield area in between Paglek and Jarku village and was handed over to police.

The arrested boy has been identified as Jing Tateh, S/o Tagong Tateh of Sitang Village under Siang District.

“On hearing the sound, I told a boy of the house to check who found the bike missing. Immediately we rushed out and

on distance we saw two guys fleeing with the bike. On shouting for help many rushed in and we caught the one while other fled away with the help of Tetem Lego and Kangkim Ering, both All Bogong Students’ Union (E) executive members”, said Kabit Borang, the bike owner.

“The boy has been booked under Pasighat PS Case No. 181/2016 U/s 379 IPC and is in custody”, said Atan Taki, OC, Pasighat PS.

SPORT

BEMFT-2016: Kabu SC enters last eight A Staff Reporter Aalo, Oct 21: Kabu Soccer Club today became the last team to make it to the quarterfinals of the first Binga Ete Memorial Football Tournament, 2016.

In a do-or-die clash, Kabu SC beat FC Tadin by a thrilling 5-4 goals in a match played in front of thousands of screaming fans from both sides at General Ground Aalo.

Liyom Loya, Minto Loyi,

Reken Loyi, Ginjom Loya, Likar Loya and Dodam Loyi scored for Kabu SC. For FC Tadin, Pagge Tashi scored twice, while Byabang Doley and Tame Dolu scored a goal apiece.

Kabu SC became the second qualifier from pool A after Jummi Combats FC Bene, who won all its league matches.

As many as 120 goals were scored in the 28 league matches at 4.28 goals per

match in the league stage of the tournament.

From Saturday, the quarterfinals of the tournament organized by the district sports association will begin.

In the first match, last year ’s DSA champion Jummi Combats FC Bene will play Gotu TK Darka while SFS FC will play surprise qualifier, Ngomdir PH FC in the second quarterfinals.

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22

REST OF

Naga students urge NSCNIM to stop 'tax collection' IANS Dimapur, Oct 21: A student body has urged the NSCNIM to stop its unlawful "tax collection" from various educational departments in Arunachal Pradesh.

At a meeting with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), the Arunachal Naga Students Federation (ANSF) said the tax collection was creating hurdles in the development of education in many districts, according to an ANSF statement.

The ANSF pointed out that the tax collection by NSCNIM in three economically and socially backward districts of the state -- Tirap, Changlang and Longding - had led to financial problems in the operation of several schools and colleges.

"This appeal got necessitated due to problems faced by the teaching staff, department's officers and

Image for representational purpose authorities of schools and colleges in Tirap, Changlang and Longding.

Not just that, the lives of the upcoming youths is also getting ruined due to lack of education," the statement addd.

According to the ANSF, Tirap, Changlang and Longding were economically weak districts where poor parents cannot afford

to send their wards to schools that charge more.

In spite of being rich in natural resources, these three districts are economically and socially-deprived.

They are also considered to be housing camps of extremist groups such as National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Khaplang and United Liberation Front of Assam.

Shutdown: Tura DC denies partiality allegation Agencies Shillong, Oct21: West Garo Hills DC Pravin Bakshi on Thursday denied the allegations of NGOs that the district administration played a biased role by calling a meeting of only nontribal businessmen on the eve of the strike in Tura town that was called to protest against the death of a teenager in a clash at Rishipara.

The organizations led by GSU had failed to evoke much response during Wednesday’s shutdown of business and trade in Tura as majority of the shops remained open fearing legal action.

Bakshi said the notice for the meeting and information about the directions of the High Court banning strikes was addressed to all shop owners and that “anyone is free to inspect the names of the traders, pastors and senior citizens who attended the meeting”.

“I would like to issue a strong rebuttal on the totally false allegations of the conglomeration of NGOs that has misinformed and claimed that on October 18 only non-tribals were called… It is frivolous to suggest that only one section of traders was called,” said Bakshi on Thursday.

He, however, said the attendance list could not be

shared with the public as the persons concerned could be targeted by the pressure groups “as always has been the case in the past”.

Bakshi said the agenda of the meeting had been to inform and sensitise the people and traders about the government’s directions in compliance with the High Court order banning bandhs and shutdowns by militant and other organisations.

“The meeting was called and an FIR was lodged as per clear and specific instructions of the higher authorities in the State and in respectful compliance with the High Court,” stated Bakshi in his clarification.

“The traders who chose to keep their shops and establishments open on October 19 reposed their faith in the judicial system, criminal justice system, the Constitution and law of the land though all of them deeply mourn and condemn the unfortunate loss of life in the case,” the DC added.

He further said the security cover in Rishipara was for the safety of several innocent people, children and women living there and they have already been attacked with a petrol bomb and stones.

He also mentioned that security cover in Rishipara is

State Govt in no mood to stop health cover scheme Agencies Shillong, Oct 21: With the policy period for the Megha Health Insurance Scheme II (MHIS II) set to expire on October 31, the government has asserted that it will not abandon the scheme as it has benefited thousands of people in the State.

Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, HM Shangpliang, told The Shillong Times that the department is in no mood to abolish a “beautiful scheme” like MHIS. He said the tender process is on to select a new insurance agency and that the process would be over soon.

The policy period for MHIS II was from August 1, 2015, to July 31, 2016, and it was extended for another three months.

In MHIS II, the October

2013 electoral database was used for enrolment and altogether 3,46,548 beneficiaries were enrolled in the second edition of the health cover scheme. Claims generated from 71,532 households till September 30 amount to Rs 47,08,07,159.

The scheme covers 210 hospitals, including 109 primary health centres, 15 private and 44 private hospitals outside the State.

The second phase was designed in convergence mode with the existing central health insurance scheme, Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana, which provides Rs 30,000 cover to families below the poverty line.

The State’s health scheme, on the other hand, provides enhanced coverage of up to Rs 2 lakh to all families, excluding State and Central government employees.

for the safety of the several innocent people, children and women who also live there and had nothing to do with the violence and yet were still attacked with a petrol bomb and pelting of stones.

“Action as per the law has already been taken and a magisterial inquiry was ordered on October 15. A police officer has already been suspended. Eight accused have been arrested already,” he said.

Action against the doctor for alleged negligence can only take place after the magisterial probe that will focus on this aspect first and furnish a preliminary report. “It is now through press releases of the pressure groups that people are being threatened with incendiaries and inflammatory references. Tura is a haven of peace where people of all castes, religions and communities live in mutual harmony and peace and the peace of the town should never be compromised by inciting violence and creating situations, which make innocent and peace-loving people vulnerable,” Bakshi said, adding that in the last couple of days, several people called up the DC office to ensure peace while simultaneously expressing their support for all the steps taken by the administration.

KHADC sets up 2-member probe team Agencies Shillong, Oct 21: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has constituted a two-member magisterial team to inquire the two cases of alleged misuse of Council funds and another of illegal appointments.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, KHADC CEM PN Syiem said in the alleged misappropriation of funds involving the Khasi Heritage Conservation Forum, Rs 2 crore was illegally transferred to private bank accounts of six individuals. The other two scams – diversion of Rs 23 lakh meant for compensation against land acquired for the four-lane Jorabat-Umiam road and anomaly in employing casual appointees – will also be inquired by the team.

“The Executive Committee in an emergency meeting made a decision to constitute an inquiry team, which will comprise S. Kharsyiemlieh, Judge of the District Council Court, and SB Laitthma, First Class Magistrate of the District Council Court. Though we have set a time frame of two months, we expect the report to be placed at the earliest.”

Refusing to divulge much information on the issue, he said the inquiry report should reflect all possibilities as to who are involved in the embezzlement.

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NORTHEAST

NH7 music festival to kick off in Meghalaya IANS Shillong, Oct 21: Come Friday, and all roads in Meghalaya will lead to Madan Kurkalang in Bhoirymbong, Ri-Bhoi district for the seventh edition of Bacardi NH7 Weekender, one of the biggest music festivals in India.

The two-day festival, which will entertain the region's music enthusiasts on October 21 and 22, will see many maiden performances by international and national artistes.

The international artistes expected are Steven Wilson, Natty, Rhythm Shaw, River, Mali, The Ritornellos and Vertical Horizon.

While the Indian part will include Farhan Live, Kumail, What Escapes Me, Elephant In The Elevator and Wild Palms.

They will perform over the weekend at the Shillong edition, and are expected to make it a night to remember for all music aficionados.

Other popular local artistes who will be performing at the festival this year will be Papon and Lucid Recess from Guwahati; Soulmate: History of the Blues, Aberrant, Blue Temptation and Dossers Urge from Shillong; Alobo Naga & Band from Dimapur and Imphal Talkies

from Imphal.

The Shillong leg of the festival will host five stages Bacardi Arena, The Dewarists, The Breezer Vivid Village, Bacardi House Party and Insider.

"Following the overwhelming response we got last year, we decided to start the festival from Shillong again this year. So here we come again," Only Much Louder's COO Vijay Nair said.

"It was one of the best Bacardi NH7 Weekender editions we have ever had.

The support we received during the weekend from everyone - the local and state authorities, our fantastic local production and security crews," Nair said.

He also praised their brand partners, and the fans "who were amazing".

The NH7 weekender will have imaginative stage designs, exquisite art installations, eclectic food options and a specially curated bazaar for artists, craftspeople, DIYers and hobbyist entrepreneurs to showcase their creativity.

"I am super excited about playing at Shillong. Me being from the region and add to it the beautiful setting surrounded by hills that no city location can beat makes the Shillong edition

Mizoram minister atttributes cooking gas crisis to drive to give tamper-free LPG

Image for representational purpose PTI Aizawl, Oct 21: Mizoram Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister John Rotluangliana on Friday said that the present scarcity of cooking gas in the state was due to the efforts made by the state government and the Young Mizo Association (YMA) to provide unadulterated and tamper-free cooking gas to the general public.

Addressing the ruling party workers at the Congress Bhavan here, Rotluangliana said that some drivers tampered the gas cylinders while trying to earn extra money as they were underpaid.

He said that the present carrying contractors bid the tender at Rs.12 per kilometre while the earlier rate was Rs.17 per kilometre.

"The rate quoted by the present carrying contractors was not a workable rate forcing the contractors to pay minimum wages to their drivers which in turn force the latter to tamper the LPG," he said.

He said that the state government has already earmarked a land for establishment of a new Gas Bottling Plant at Sihhmui near Aizawl and the ball is now with the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).

The Minister and the Congress government have been under severe attack from the opposition parties due to acute shortage of cooking gas in the last four months.

People could not find a gas cylinder even at the cost of Rs.3,000 in the black market due to acute scarcity.

FIR filed against KSU leaders in Jaintia Hills Agencies Shillong, Oct 21: Joint Secretary of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), S. Passah, on Thursday lodged a complaint against KSU leaders in Jaintia Hills for allegedly trespassing on the chamber of the JHADC Chief and threatening the CEM and other MDCs who were present in his chamber on Wednesday.

According to the complaint, the JHADC joint secretary said a group of KSU leaders led by Nang-ai Sutnga and Justice Paul Lyngdoh forcibly entered into CEM Thombor Shiwat’s chamber on Wednesday around 4pm and threatened him and other MDCs present in his chamber with dire consequences.

A statement issued by the KSU on Thursday stated that its members wanted to

meet the CEM over the demand to correct the name of the proposed LadLakadong Police Outpost in East Jaintia Hills to Lakadong Police Outpost.

“We have sought several appointments but he failed to respond and on Wednesday we had entered his chamber forcibly and had an argument with him before he agreed to take up the matters seriously,” the statement read.

“The KSU has also condemned the manner of the JHADC chief. The JHADC Chief, Thombor Shiwat, seems to take the JHADC Office as his own home and not a public office,” the statement added.

Jowai Police, who received the complaint in the evening, have not yet registered a case. A case will be registered once the FIR is received, said a senior police officer.

Image for representational purpose of the Bacardi NH7 Weekender provide for a great exposure along with quality music and fun," singing sensation Agaraag 'Papon' Mahanta said.

Papon also termed the Shillong leg of the festival as one of the best musical extravaganza unfolding in the Northeast. "The Shillong edition of Bacardi NH7 Weekender is definitely one of the best festivals I have played at, in terms of the vibe," he said.

Papon added that the region deserved such an initiative and the team behind OML has been instrumental in giving the region one of its biggest musical extravaganzas.

"The people of the Northeast deserved something like this,

something of this magnitude.

It's a remote region, so hats off to OML for taking the music to Shillong. It's great exposure for the region, and for the young people who are so talented with such great music traditions," the Assamese singer said.

Excited about his debut at the Bacardi NH7 Weekender in Shillong, noted singer Alobo Naga said, "We are happy and excited to be a part of the festival this year. Such music festivals are not only a treat for music lovers in the region as they get a chance to hear popular national and international bands and performers but also open doors for people from other parts of the country to travel and explore the region... a win-

win situation."

Elaborate arrangements are being made by outdoor accommodation providers who are looking to house music lovers during the festival in tents and camps.

Camp site Kite Manja, situated within 1.5 km of the venue, is planning to accommodate over 150 people.

An additional 50 people will be provided with facilities if they bring their own tents.

"On the first day of our tieup with Make My Trip, we got 15 tent bookings.

Seeing such a response, we have increased our capacity to 150 from our initial plan of 100 tents," Founder and Programme Director at Kite Manja, Jnandip Borgohain said.

Jnandip said the festival has been a boon for the local economy as the flow of music lovers to the city will add to many more allied activities.

"Festivals like Bacardi NH7 Weekender provide lots of opportunities to local people in terms of employment. At our campsite, a lot of local population is working. A lot of visitors will come to Shillong in the next many days and this indeed is a big boost to the local economy," he said.

Parliament did nothing to curb religion’s misuse: SC Agencies Shillong, Oct 21: The Supreme Court on Thursday said Parliament has done nothing in the last two decades to stop misuse of religion for electoral gains.

The apex court’s seven-judge Constitution Bench asked why it (court) should not step in to make seeking of votes by raking up religion a corrupt electoral practise under the Representation of People Act. Observing that Parliament did noting since 1996 when a fivejudge bench made a reference to a seven-judge bench on the impact of using Hindutva in elections vis-a-vis Section 132 (3) of the Act, Chief Justice T.S. Thakur asked if it (Parliament) was waiting for the apex court to pronounce a verdict as in case of curbing sexual harassment at work places through what are known as Vishaka guidelines.

“Parliament has done nothing in the last 20 years while the reference was pending. Maybe it is waiting for us to pronounce judgment like in the sexual harassment case,” said Chief Justice Takhur, who is heading the bench.

Besides the Chief Justice, Justice Madan B. Lokur, Justice

S.A. Bobde, Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, and Justice L. Nageswara Rao are on the Constitution Bench.

“The essence, the ethos of our constitutional system is secularism. Religion and politics don’t mix. (Are) Elections a secular activity or not? In a secular state, can religion be brought into secular activities?” Chief Justice Thakur observed.

The Chief Justice said this as senior counsel Shyam Divan, appearing for former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Sunderlal Patwa, said that “an appeal by a candidate to voters other than those who share his religion is not proscribed”.

At this, the Chief Justice said: “Let us take the case of Patwa.

He belongs to the Jain community. But some person acting on his behalf makes an appeal that Patwa — though a Jain — will help in making the Ram Mandir (at Ayodhya).

This is an appeal in the name of religion and not the candidate.”

“Is it not an appeal for vote in the name of religion? The very purpose of the legislation (Act) is to ensure there is no

basis for religion. Religion should be separated from the political process,” the Chief Justice said.

In 1995, a Supreme Court bench headed by the then Chief Justice J.S. Verma ruled that Hindutva was not a religion but a way of life, but a year later a five-judge bench disagreed and referred it to a larger bench.

The question before the sevenjudge bench is whether seeking votes in the name of religion amounts to corrupt practice under the Representation of People Act, leading to unseating of a lawmaker.

Meanwhile, social activist Teesta Setalvad, academic Shamshul Islam and journalist Dilip Mandal have moved an impleadment application to seek authoritative pronouncement on Hindutva so that it could not be used during elections for influencing voters.

The bench told senior counsel Indira Jaisinh, who mentioned the application for impleading by the three, that it would not go into the whole issue afresh as “it is difficult to define religion. There will be no end to this”.

The hearing will continue on October 24.

‘Cong’s downfall certain under Mukul-Lapang’ Agencies Shillong, Oct 21: Former deputy Chief Minister Rowell Lyngdoh said on Thursday the MukulLapang combine will bring the downfall of the Congress in Meghalaya.

The statement assumes significance in the context of the suspension of Congress legislator from Mawsynram and KHADC chief PN Syiem and the growing dissatisfaction among senior Congress functionaries about the current state of affairs in the party.

Lyngdoh said since he was out of station, he did not have much information about the political situation, but came to know about the case of Syiem from media reports.

Lyngdoh and AL Hek were dropped from the cabinet on August 25 this year by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma to quell the rebellion within the Congress over the demand for change in leadership.

Since the reshuffle, Lyngdoh has been critical about the style of functioning of the chief minister and

said the future of the Congress would be bleak under his regime.

However, Lyngdoh added on Thursday that he would talk to the Congress legislators about the manner in which the chief minister and the MPPC president are running the government and the party in the State.

“The combination of Mukul and Lapang will only lead to a disastrous result and this needs to be addressed by the legislators,” Lyngdoh said.

Upper Shillong road project set to start Agencies Shillong, Oct 21: Land acquisition for the remaining stretch of ShillongNongstoin-Tura road in Upper Shillong is almost over.

The two-lane road from Sohiong in East Khasi Hills to Jengjal in West Garo Hills is complete, but work on the second stretch in Upper Shillong has not started owing to the delay in land acquisition.

East Khasi Hills DC PS

Dkhar said most of the land has been handed over to the PWD and “it is the department’s prerogative to start the construction work as and when it wants”.

The district administration has to pay around Rs 100 crore in compensation against the land acquired for the project. “We have around Rs 33 crore and last month we had a meeting and the Ministry of Road Transport and

Highways will soon release the remaining fund,” he added.

The work along the 264.30km ShillongNongstoin-Tura road at an estimated cost of Rs 1,494 crore started in February 2011 and the deadline was March 2014.

The road that is scheduled to start from Upper Shillong connects with Jengjal, around 30km away from Tura.

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22

Today's quote of an educated mind “toItbeis theablemark to entertain a thought without accepting it.

–– Aristotle

EDITORIAL P6 Myths about Israel's security model The PM's comments raise once again the question whether the Israeli security model is desirable for India Stanly Johny

Shifting the GST goalpost T

he outcomes of the latest meeting of the Council tasked with steering the Goods and Services Tax regime are worrying. For one, it leaves the Centre hard-pressed to meet its intended deadline for the new indirect tax regime, April 1, 2017. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had set a November 22 target to resolve all operational issues with State representatives in the Council so that the rates and implementation modalities could be codified into law and passed by Parliament in the winter session. When it met for the first time in late September, things appeared to be on track, with the Council agreeing almost unanimously on technicalities such as the turnover thresholds for firms to be covered under the GST and the division of administrative control over tax assesses between the Centre and the States. A time-bound road map to finalise remaining details, such as the tax rates, compensation for States in case of revenue loss under the new system, as well as the legislative actions required in Parliament and the State Assemblies, was also agreed upon.

As the winter session approaches, that spirit of cooperation has evaporated: the Council has agreed on precious little, including the tax rates proposed by the Centre. Worse, the pact reached earlier on administrative control of manufacturing sector assesses has unraveled with States raising fresh concerns. The proposal to subsume in the GST all cess levies, several of them introduced by the present NDA government, has been discarded. This was a critical part of the official GST pitch and was backed by the Council in September. But now the Finance Ministry is keen on an additional cess on ultra-luxury and 'sin' goods to fund compensation for States losing revenue. It has suggested a cess may be better than the 40 per cent slab for demerit goods, mooted by a committee led by Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian along with two other slabs of 12 per cent and 17-18 per cent. With a four-tier GST rate structure, a 4 per cent tax on gold (in line with the CEA's advice), in addition to some exemptions that would be granted as tax refunds, topped with the new cess to compensate States, the new regime could well just be old wine in a new bottle, from the taxpayers' perspective. Mr. Jaitley has explained that the rate proposals are meant to prevent a spurt in retail inflation. But to bring about convergence with States at the Council's next meetings in November and bring its showcase reform item back on track, the government needs to return to the drawing board.

Debating to the bitter end W

hat began last month with a handshake and visible warmth between two very different U.S. presidential candidates degenerated into disrespectful interruptions, unashamed baiting, and abrasive name-calling as the third and final debate between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump came to a frosty end. With less than three weeks to go before the election, the campaigns saw explosive revelations about both candidates. This included disturbing evidence of Mr. Trump boasting about groping women without their consent, allegations of such behaviour and sexual assault by at least nine women, and an avalanche of confidential emails of Ms. Clinton's campaign released by WikiLeaks that underscored her proximity to deeppocketed Wall Street donors. Yet, even as these damning facts have tumbled into the public domain and the degree of hostility has soared, they have probably done little to swing the election dramatically in either direction. Ms. Clinton was leading by a little over two percentage points across an average of major head-to-head polls around the time of the first debate. Her margin grew to over 6.5 per cent after the "Access Hollywood" tapes of Mr. Trump's offensive remarks. Most poll simulation models predict she is well-positioned to capture the minimum of 270 electoral college votes that are necessary to secure the presidency, principally owing to her likely success in the swing States.

However, the electorate is plagued by intractable, bitter polarization that is beginning to rot the core ideals of a tolerant, pluralistic democracy. Even a resounding Clinton victory in terms of Electoral College votes would beg the question whether she will be able to bring on board her stoutly Democratic agenda, given the vast number of middle class and poor Americans, many of them white, who may not have voted for her. To achieve her goals will she not be compelled to mend fences with the discredited mainstream Republican Party leadership that will be busy trying to rehabilitate itself after Hurricane Donald passes? Ms. Clinton, if she finds herself in the White House, will have to strike a multitude of bargains across the policy positions that Americans disagree most stridently on: the economy, job-creation and the role of the government, national debt and tax cuts, Medicare and Social Security, immigration and border control, women's reproductive rights, race relations, and a range of foreign policy issues. In the vitiated atmosphere of the third debate, the candidates touched upon all of these issues, yet neither enunciated a new approach or even hinted at a desire to build bridges to make America whole again.

Prime Minster Narendra Modi's veiled comparison of India's strike against militants along the Line of Control with Israel's military operations in its neighborhood exposes the admiration India's ruling elite have for the West Asian country's aggressive foreign and security policy. Speaking at a public event in Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday, Mr. Modi said, "Our Army's valour is being discussed across the country these days. We used to hear earlier that Israel has done this. The nation has seen that the Indian Army is no less than anybody." His comments raise once again the question whether the Israeli security model is desirable for India.

Feeble deterrence In fact, such an aggressive, militarist policy is not a successful model even for Israel if we look at the broader picture. Decades of war have pushed Israel to a security dilemma - whatever its leadership does to minimize the security threats it faces actually deepens the crisis further. Take a quick look at Israel's military operations against groups it

calls terrorist. In 1982, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin sent troops to Lebanon to defeat the Palestine Liberation Organisation which was targeting Israel from southern Lebanon. Begin then famously said Israel would win "forty years of peace" after the war.

But the outcome was more complicated than the status quo. The PLO retreated from southern Lebanon, first to Tripoli and then to Tunis. But the Israeli intervention stirred up the Lebanese civil war, kicking off another protracted bloody phase of fighting between different sects. Instead of winning peace for 40 years, Israel continued the Lebanese occupation for 18 years. By that time, the PLO had moved to the West Bank, but Hezbollah, a Shia militia which was formed during the civil war, had established itself as a sizeable military force in southern Lebanon and as an influential sociopolitical movement among the country's disadvantaged Shia community.

In 2006, six years after it pulled troops out of Lebanon, Israel had to return to the neighbouring country to stop Hezbollah's cross-border attacks. Israel bombed the country for 34 days and also conducted a major ground offensive. But throughout the war,

the blockade and the wars have triggered widespread international criticisms and even allegations of war crimes. The United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the 2008-09 Gaza war, led by the South African jurist Richard Goldstone, accused both Israel and Palestinian militants of war crimes and possible crimes against humanity.

Hezbollah continued the rocket attacks into Israel (almost 4,000 rockets in a month). Israel claims the operation was a success as it destroyed much of Hezbollah's military infrastructure. But in reality the war left Hezbollah more powerful in Lebanon's fractious politics, while it amassed weapons and rebuilt its military might over the next several years. So the security threat Israel faces from southern Lebanon still very much remains.

Backfiring bombings The story of Israel's wars on Hamas is not substantially different. To be sure, Hamas is a violent group that has targeted

both the Israeli military and civilian centers. But Israel has been unable to claim a moral anti-terror position against Hamas because of the continuing occupation and, to be more specific, its policy of collectively punishing the Palestinian people. Israel withdrew forces and settlers unilaterally from Gaza in 2005, but it never stopped punishing the people of Gaza, and Hamas never stopped firing rockets into Israel. Ever since the withdrawal, Israel tried everything its mighty military could do to weaken the Hamas in Gaza. In 2007, it imposed a brutal land, air and sea blockade on Gaza, and between 2005 and 2014, it bombed Gaza thrice. Both

Another UN report, on the 2014 Gaza war, also reached similar conclusions. During the war, Israeli bombings killed 2,165 Palestinians, including 1,644 civilians, while militant attacks killed 66 Israeli soldiers and four civilians. But what has Israel achieved from this bloodshed? Hamas continues to rule Gaza and still possesses the capability to fire rockets into Israel. Even after all these military operations, if Israel is not feeling secure or doesn't possess credible deterrence against militant groups, realists would suggest it should well rethink its strategy.

Low risk potential Another argument why the Israeli model is not desirable for other countries is that Tel Aviv's cross-border attacks were against relatively weaker powers. Israel is the only nuclear armed state in West

Asia. By conducting cross-border strikes in Lebanon, Palestinian territories, or even in Syria, Israel doesn't face an immediate escalation of a conventional war. Hezbollah and Hamas have the potential to file rockets into Israel, target its citizens and mount pressure on the country's political leadership. They could also make any Israeli ground operation costly. But they are largely guerrilla forces who use asymmetric tactics rather than posing any existential threats. So the risk Israel takes with its cross-border attacks is the human cost of such operations and hostile international public opinion. Israel's history shows that it is not very bothered about either of these things.

India, on the other side, has two nuclear armed powers in its neighborhood. The source of overseas terrorist threat it faces is Pakistan, a nuclear power with considerable conventional military prowess. It doesn't mean that India shouldn't act, but it should play within a limited hostility doctrine. It can't risk a nuclear war.

Moreover, India is a country that cares about its international image and international laws. It can't go about violating global norms and then hope to play a responsible role in international politics.

Frames of reference A raft of judicial pronouncements in Indian courts and an examination of cross-currents on the subject in several Muslim-majority countries could inform the current debate on triple talaq K. Kannan The thicket of legal dialogues on the validity of triple talaq conceals the result of churnings that have already taken place in our courts on this subject. The renewed debate has come through a questionnaire circulated by the Law Commission where it posed the question of whether triple talaq should be abolished or modified, along with a score of other questions predominantly in the context of framing a uniform civil code (UCC). There has been recently also reference to a larger Bench from a decision of the Supreme Court in Prakash v.

Phulavati(2015), a case that had nothing to do with divorce but was a case disposed of under the Hindu Succession Act. The court was considering whether a Hindu woman had a right to claim by birth ancestral property held by her father who had died before 2005, although the property had not been put to partition till after the Act was amended in 2005. The court held that such a right existed, but before parting handed down a beneficent handshake to a bystander in court who wanted the plight of Muslim women also to be considered in public interest.

Triple talaq and Islamic countries From the earliest days of Islam, a husband could divorce his wife on pronouncement of talaq in three successive tuhrs (menses-free time). The first and second pronouncements are revocable and resumption of co-

habitation is possible. It is the third pronouncement that dissolves the marriage. Pronouncement of talaq at one go, called talaq-e-bidat, was a latter-day innovation to get an incorrigibly acrimonious couple to part ways as quickly as possible. The practice was challenged as early as the 13th century by the Hanbali scholar Ibn Taimiyah (12681328 AD), who argued that triple talaq at one sitting shall be counted as one and hence revocable. This idea never settled down to prevalent understanding till almost the entire Islamic world rallied to support this view around the first quarter of the 20th century.

Turkey adopted a modified version of the Swiss Civil Code in 1926, taking away the religious imprint and allowing for judicial control; Egypt framed a law in 1929 terming triple talaq pronounced at one sitting as a single pronouncement open to easy revocability; Syria followed in 1953 with a slight modification that if the pronouncement of talaq is with reference to number, every talaq shall be revocable, except a third talaq or a talaq before consummation or for a consideration and expressly stated to be irrevocable. Iraq, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have fashioned their own interpretations to Ibn Tamiyah's view. In Iraq, since 1959, divorce could be affected only after approval by government-run personal status courts.

Algeria has adopted the same law, making a further provision for completing the reconciliation process within 90 days. In 1956, a similar interpretation was adopted in Pakistan thanks to the

recommendation of a sevenmember Commission on Marriage and Family Laws that was set up to assuage the public outrage against then Prime Minister Muhammad Ali Bogra who married his secretary the previous year without divorcing his first wife. The commission suggested that the divorce would not take effect till the matrimonial court dissolves the marriage. The court intervention was opposed by some sections, necessitating promulgation of an ordinance in 1961 impliedly abrogated triple talaq at one go by removing the obstacle of the divorced woman by the first and second pronouncement to remarry the same husband without intervention of another marriage with another husband and dissolution of such marriage and restricting the disability to operate only after the third pronouncement. A later decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in Syed Ali Nawaz Gardezi v. Lt. Col. Muhammad Yusuf (1963) emphatically ruled against triple talaq in one session. In Tunisia, since 1956, divorce was possible only through court, which was to examine if there was scope for rapprochement between the parties before granting relief.

Judicial pronouncements in India Islamic scholars in India and our high courts did not lag behind either. In A. Yousuf Rawther v. Sowramma (1971), Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, as a judge of the Kerala High Court, wrote in eloquent prose as was his wont: "The Indo-Anglican judicial exposition of the Islamic law of divorce has not exactly been just to the Holy Prophet or

Helping hands A mother, wishing to encourage her son's progress at the piano, bought tickets to a performance by the great Polish pianist Ignace Paderewski. When the evening arrived, they found their seats near the front of the concert hall and eyed the m a j e s t i c Steinway waiting on the stage. Soon the mother found a friend to talk to, and the boy slipped away.

At eight o'clock, the lights in the auditorium began to dim, the spotlights came on, and only

then did they notice the boy - up on the piano bench, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." His mother gasped in shock and embarrassment but, before she could retrieve her son, the master himself appeared on the stage and quickly moved to the keyboard.

He whispered gently to the boy, "Don't quit. Keep playing." Leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass part. Soon his right arm reached around the other side and improvised a delightful obbli-

gato. Together, the old master and the young novice held the crowd mesmerized with their blended and beautiful music.

In all our lives, we receive helping hands some we notice, some we don't. Equally we ourselves have countless opportunities to provide helping hands sometimes we would like our assistance to be noticed, sometimes we don't. Little of what we all achieve is without learning from others and without support from others and what we receive we should hand out.

the Holy Book. Marginal distortions are inevitable when the judicial committee in Downing Street has to interpret Manu and Muhammad of India and Arabia.

The soul of a culture law is largely the formalised and enforceable expression of a community; cultural norms cannot be fully understood by alien minds… It is a popular fallacy that a Muslim male enjoys, under the Koranic law, unbridled authority to liquidate the marriage. The whole Koran expressly forbids a man to seek pretexts for divorcing his wife, so long as she remains faithful and obedient to him: If they (namely, women) obey you, then do not seek a way against them (The Koran, iv:34). The 'Islamic law gives to the man primarily the faculty of dissolving the marriage, if the wife, by her indocility or her bad character, renders the married life unhappy; but in the absence of serious reasons, no man can justify a divorce, either in the eye of religion or the law. If he abandons his wife or puts her away in simple caprice, he draws upon himself divine anger, for the curse of God, said the Prophet, rests on him who repudiates his wife capriciously'." Justice V. Khalid (in Mohammed Haneefa v. Pathummal Beevi, 1972, Kerala), even while sitting as a single judge, held that the view expressed by a Division Bench of two judges that a husband had an unbridled power to pronounce talaq unilaterally was wrong and did not lay down the correct law.

Justice Baharul Islam, later a Supreme Court Judge, speaking for Gauhati Bench, said in Jiauddin Ahmed v. Anwara Begum (1981): "The correct law of talaq as ordained by the Holy Quran

is that talaq must be for a reasonable cause and be preceded by attempts at reconciliation between the husband and the wife by two arbiters, one from the wife's family and the other from the husband's; if the attempts fail, talaq may be effected."

The Supreme Court, speaking through R.C. Lahoti, who later went on to become the Chief Justice of India, recalled all these decisions in Shamim Ara v. State of U.P. (2002) and struck down a claim of divorce by triple talaq expressed through a written statement filed to fend off a demand for maintenance from the wife as invalid. In an earlier judgment in Danial Latifi v.

Union of India (2001), the Supreme Court adopted an extremely novel interpretation to get over the infamous attempt of Rajiv Gandhi by the enactment of Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986 to scuttle the decision in Mohd.

Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum (1985). While upholding the constitutional validity of the law, even if seriously straining the plain language, the court said: A Muslim husband is liable to make reasonable and fair provision for the future of the divorced wife which includes her maintenance as well. Such a reasonable and fair provision extending beyond the iddat period (the period a woman must observe after the death of her spouse or after a divorce, during which she may not marry another man) must be made by the husband within the iddat period.

Handling the current imbroglio Now then, the approach shall be: (i) Triple talaq at one go shall be treated as a single pronounce-

ment not yet capable of bringing an irrevocable coup de grace to end matrimonial ties. There is no need to abolish it since it is judicially pronounced to be ineffective. (ii) The pronouncements shall be tested on their reasonableness and parties shall undertake a compulsory conciliatory effort before their utterance. (iii) The interpretation of personal laws of all communities is - like every other law - amenable to be tested on its constitutionality on the touchstone of fundamental rights in the Constitution. (iv) The Law Commission, which is a recommendatory body, will do well to let the pronouncement of the Supreme Court clear the air.

It is important to remember that the judicial dispensation shall not be read as a testing time for pitching the status of one system of laws against the other and if we are undertaking a fresh exercise, it shall be to affirm that it is possible to reinterpret the law within the core equitable principles in every Holy Book.

Courts cannot or shall not test the constitutional vires of any Holy Book, be it Koran or Gita or Bible. We shall fashion our understanding of these higher laws to the needs of the time by appropriate interpretations that shall serve the greater good. The regurgitation of existing case law may have the benefit of examining cross-currents on the subject in several countries and help us consolidate the gains of reformative spirit through an express legislation, the same way it was done to consolidate and clarify the provisions of Muslim law relating to suit for dissolution of marriage by women through the Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939.

Bandh culture in Assam Sir, My 3 years old daughter was quite happy that on 19 and 20 October her mother will not go anywhere after college hours ,due to 36 hours Assam bandh called by Tai- Ahoms, Morans , Muttocks , Koch , Rajbonshis , Sutias and tea tribes in Assam for S.T. recognition.

We the people of Assam becomes habitual for bandh call by various organization or groups from time to time and as a result the state incurred heavy lost and damages, which is in operable.

If we analyze the current bandh called by Tai- Ahoms , Morans , Muttocks , Koch , Rajbongshis , Sutias and tea tribes for ST status or recognition . It is true that BJP- led governments at the Centre or State promises before election to grant them of ST status but to deprive them till today is not justifiable.

Now the question arise, whether 36 hours Assam bandh is the absolute remedy for it. During the bandh , it is to be observed that protesters through the state protests by burning tyres on the Highway, blocking the roads and closures of commercial and personal venture throughout the days including the shops and the educational establishments. Even we have seen in the television screen that they damaged car of pregnant woman, which is so horrible .

If we look rest of the states of north- east, Assam is only state , where educational institutions are badly affected due to bandh culture.

At last, it is my humble appeal being a citizen of this county through your esteemed daily to all political parties as well as voluntary organization for the growth and development of state please avoid Assam bandh.

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

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22

Rupee extends losses, down 13 paise against dollar

Pic for representation purpose New Delhi, Oct 21:The rupee fell further by 13 paise to 66.94 against the dollar in early trade today at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market on increased demand for the American currency from importers.

Moreover, the US dollar's gains against some currencies overseas and a lower opening in the domestic equity market put the rupee on the back foot,forex dealers said.

The rupee had ended lower by 13 paise at 66.81 in yesterday's trade on fresh bouts of dollar demand from banks and importers.

The benchmark BSE Sensex fell by 94.24 points, or 0.34 per cent, to 28,035.60 in early trade today. (PTI)

RBI sets rupee reference rate at 66.8943 against US dollar Exchange rates for the pound and yen were based on reference rates and cross-currency quotes at noon New Delhi, Oct 21: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday fixed the reference rate of the rupee at 66.8943 against the USdollar and 72.9750 for the euro.

The corresponding rates were 66.7411 and 73.1482, respectively on October 20.

According to an RBI statement, the exchange rates for the pound and yen against the rupee were 81.9589 and 64.40 per 100 yen, respectively, based on reference rates for the dollar and cross-currency quotes at noon.

The SDR-rupee figure will be based on this rate, the statement added. (PTI)

BUSSINESS

Reliance Jio Wins a Big Round; Offer Sensex slips 94 points of Free Voice Calls for Life Is Cleared post RIL earnings Free voice calls for subscribers offered by Reliance Jio, the new telecom owned

by Mukesh Ambani, do not violate guidelines, regulator Trai has said in a big win for the network. However, the promotional offer for Jio, which offers a slew of services including data at no cost, must conclude by the of the year.

The pricing plans presented

by Jio are not "predatory" as alleged by older telecoms like Bharti Airtel and Vodafone, the regulator has ruled, according to news agency Press Trust of India, while stressing that Jio has confirmed its freebies will

end on December 31. New subscribers will be able to avail of the Jio Welcome Offer until December 3, which said to be in compliance with a 90-day limit for promotional schemes.

Jio in a statement described the regulator's decision as a win stressing that a big focus of its packages is "free voice calling for Local, STD and National roaming for all times."

Jio, which launched in September, is offering free voice calls - that means the telecom has to absorb the cost of 14 paise per minute for each call placed by its users to another network. Mr. Ambani, launching his telecom's ser-

KEY HIGHLIGHT

Trai has ruled the free voice calls offer is not 'predatory' The Reliance Jio Welcome Offer ends on December 3 Jio Welcome Offer users will get free calls, data till December 31

vices last month, said Jio subscribers would get free voice calls "for life" that are Internet-based.

Jio is also offering unlimited free fourth-generation or 4G mobile broadband till December 31. Basically, all services- voice and data- are free for all subscribers till December 31. After that, Jio will price 1GB of data at about Rs. 50 on average, about one-fifth of what rivals charge.

Rivals have been forced by Jio's aggressive pricing to drop their own rates. Mr. Ambani has set a target of 100 million customers for Reliance Jio "in the shortest possible time." (Agencies)

Sadiq Khan tops 2016 list of most influential Asian people London's Labour mayor heads AMG's GG2 Power 101, which also includes Sajid Javid, Priti Patel and Nadiya Hussain London, Oct 21: The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, has been judged the most influential Asian person in Britain, topping a list of 101 prominent people including the Nobel peace prize winner Malala Yousafzai, the Hinduja brothers and musician Zayn Malik.

Khan, an observant Muslim and former civil rights lawyer, claimed the top slot after he won the mayoral election in May this year. Khan reclaimed the post for Labour after eight years of Conservative rule, becoming the first Muslim mayor of a major western capital.

Khan is described as "someone who has smashed one of the biggest glass ceilings in the country" in the GG2 Power 101 list compiled by the Asian Media and Marketing Group (AMG).

Shailesh Solanki, executive director of AMG, said: "He is someone very special. He grew up in very humble circumstances on a tough council estate in London. It was there as a young boy that he witnessed first-hand the poverty and burning injustice that afflicts so many parts of our country.

"It was these early experi-

Pan Bahar is a pan masala made from a mixture of nuts, seeds, herbs and spices. It is considered harmful to health as it contains some carcinogenic ingredients. In India, several states and Union territories like Bihar, Maharashtra, Kerala and Delhi have banned the sale of such products. Products like these are also criticised for causing red spit stains in public places across the country.

Mumbai, Oct 21: India pharma major Cipla today lost a case related to overcharging in certain drugs, in violation of the provisions of drug (price control) order, 1995.

On October 16, 2016, Central Board of Film Certifica-

As per the company's latest annual report, it had received notices of demand aggregating to Rs 1,768.51 crore.

Pierce Brosnan features in a Pan Bahar ad. tion had banned the advertisement from being aired on television and movie halls.

supari, nor any other harmful ingredient."

He reportedly stated to the site: "As a man who has spent decades championing women's health care and environmental protection, I was distressed to learn of Pan Bahar's unauthorised and deceptive use of my image to endorse their range of pan masala products."

Explaining his commitment to the society, the reported statement said: "Having endured, in my own personal life, the loss of my first wife and daughter as well as numerous friends to cancer, I am fully committed to supporting women's health care and research programmes that improve human health and alleviate suffering."

The actor added: "I would never have entered into an agreement to promote a product in India that is dangerous to one's health."

According to people.com, Brosnan's contract detailed that he was to advertise a "breath freshener/tooth whitener," which wouldn't have an ingredient that turns saliva red.

The website further quoted Brosnan as saying that he agreed to advertise a single product only, and that it was presented as "all-natural, containing neither tobacco,

The 30-share index, which had gained 145.47 points in the previous session, dropped by 94.24 points, or 0.34 per cent, at 28,035.60, with oil and gas, metal, banking, PSU and capital goods sectors bringing about the fall.

Similarly, the NSE Nifty index edged lower by 24.30 points, or 0.27 per cent, to 8,675.10.

Brokers said selling by funds as well as retailers gathered momentum after Reliance Industries yesterday reported a 23 per cent drop in its second quarter consolidated net profit, which had a bearing on

The actor of some of the James Bond movies demanded the removal of his image from all advertisements of the company and said that he had no knowledge of endorsing an item that would draw a negative or painful reaction in India, said People.com.

The website further informed that Brosnan had accused the company of grossly manipulating him and he was sincerely apologetic towards it.

He would definitely rectify this matter. (Agencies)

"Further, vide order dated July 20, 2016, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has transferred back the writ petitions to Hon'ble Bombay High Court along with directions that 50% of the alleged "overcharged" amount mentioned in its earlier order dated August 1, 2003, should be deposited by the petitioners in the Bombay Petitions, within 6 weeks," the company said in

its annual report.

Accordingly, the company deposited a sum of Rs 175.07 crore before the deadline.

"The company has been legally advised on the merits of the cases that there is very little likelihood of these demands crystallising. Hence, no provision is considered necessary in respect of notices of demand received by the company up to date aggregating to Rs 1,768.51 crore," said the company in the annual report.

Now since the final verdict from the Bomaby High Court has not come in its favour, it supposed to get a hit on its financial. The company stock was down by 2.5% to Rs 580.4 on Bombay Stock Exchange at 1.10 pm. (Agencies)

Pic for representation purpose. stock movement.

RIL shares fell 1.73 per cent to Rs 1,069.65 in early trade after the consolidated net profit in July-September came in at Rs 7,206 crore, 22.9 per cent lower than Rs 9,345 crore in the same period a year ago.

However, a better trend in other Asian bourses restricted the losses on the domestic markets, the brokers added.

Japan's Nikkei rose 0.29 per cent while Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.20 per cent in early trade. Hong Kong's financial markets are closed Friday morning due to a typhoon. The afternoon trading session will also be cancelled if the storm signal remains up at noon.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average had ended 0.22 per cent lower in yesterday's trade. (PTI)

B'desh shuts down oldest mobile phone operator Citycell

"BTRC (Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission) has shut down Citycell's operations and suspended the spectrum since it failed to pay the dues," State Minister for Posts and TelecommunicaSadiq Khan addresses the Olympic and Paralympic Heroes Parade in London tions Tarana Halim told reporters last night at a hurences which were to shape political history," said rights law firm aged 27 and riedly called press conferand influence our winner to Solanki. also chaired the human ence. go into public life. He qualirights group Liberty before fied as a lawyer and took a "His victory and huge per- being elected to parliament BTRC suspended the lead in fighting inequality sonal mandate sent a mes- in Tooting in 2005. He be- Citycell spectrum, resulting and injustice, much of it pro sage to the world, that Brit- came transport minister in in the closure of the services bono. ain was a bright glowing the last year of Gordon of the country's first mobile company which introduced "Earlier this year he won his beacon of diversity and in- Brown's government. the cell phone inBangladesh biggest victory of all. clusion by electing its first Against the odds, he won a Asian mayor of the great The 46-year-old married in early 1990s. gruelling primary campaign city of London." father of two knocked the and then went on to win the The son of a bus driver, community's secretary, Halim's comments came election with an emphatic Khan was the fifth of eight Sajid Javid, who had held hours after a BTRC team mandate - the biggest per- children in his family. He the crown for the past two accompanied by police and sonal mandate in British became a partner in a human years, off the top spot. (PTI) anti-crime Rapid Action

New Delhi, Oct 21: Hollywood actor Pierce Brosnan has said that he is "deeply shocked and saddened" over his controversial participation in the endorsement of Pan Bahar breath freshener, which might include ingredients that cause cancer, according to people.com.

In an exclusive statement to people.com, Brosnan, however, explained he had great love and affection for India and its people.

Mumbai, Oct 21: The benchmark BSE Sensex fell by over 94 points in early session today after sentiment was dampened byReliance Industries' second quarter earnings numbers, which were announced yesterday.

Dhaka, Oct 21 : Bangladesh has shut down services of the country's oldest mobile phone operator Citycell, snapping its spectrum after the company failed to pay outstanding dues it owes to the authorities.

Pan Bahar ad: Brosnan Cipla loses drugdeeply shocked by overcharging case 'unauthorised endorsement'

Last week, Pan Bahar had brought out full-page advertisements in national dailies and digital ads across mediums featuring Brosnan as the brand ambassador. While this caught everyone's attention Brosnan's endorsement soon became a trending topic on social media - it also drew flak from many who frowned at the international icon endorsing a potentially unhealthy product.

P7

Battalion (RAB) went to the operator's headquarters at the Pacific Centre at Dhaka's Mohakhali area to shut down its operations.

asked operator's subscribers to choose alternative services by August 16. Later, the regulator extended time up to August 23.

On Wednesday, Citycell paid Tk 1.30 billion in dues, contradicting with the regulator's estimate of Tk 3.18 billion the company needed to pay as the first instalment to avert the closure.

The apex court had directed the operator to pay in first instalment two-thirds of the outstanding amount of Tk 4.77 billion in dues by Wednesday, but the company paid only a portion of the money.

"But, the operator again failed to comply with the regulator's directives.

Citycell went to the court finally," a BTRC official said.

According to the BTRC count, Citycell had 150,000 active customers.

Citycell had launched its operations in 1993 using CDMA technology as the first mobile telecom operator while its subsequent proposal to move to the widelyused GSM technology was rejected by BTRC on the ground that the company had a huge amount of dues.

Halim said Citycell was supposed to pay the two thirds of the outstanding amount within four weeks, but its failure to comply with the apex court order forced authorities to take the decision.

BTRC earlier started the process to shutdown Citycell in August when it

According to the company's website, Singapore's SingTel owns 44.54 per cent shares of Citycell while 37.95 per cent belongs to Pacific Motors Ltd and Far East Telecom owns 17.51 per cent stake in the company. (PTI)

Shiv Nadar gets in control, announces C Vijaykumar CEO of HCL Tech Pune, Oct 21: For many the announcement of C Vijaykumar as CEOof HCL Technologies may have come as a surprise, but insiders and analyst who track the company told Business Standard that this was in the coming.

The first confirmation of top level management change was seen, when, in August at the company's analyst meet Anant Gupta, then CEO HCL Technologies, was not present. "We were told that the CEO will be addressing and will be discussing the entire go-ahead strategy. But we were surprised to see Vijaykumar instead addressing us and going in details on the strategy," said an analyst from a leading domestic brokerage house on condition of anonymity.

Before the analyst meet, in July this year, the company announced C Vijaykumar has been elevated to the role of chief operating officer (COO) in addition to his responsibili-

ties as president infrastructure services.

Generally an appointment of COO is hint towards the succession plan that the company has and in most of the cases this person is the next CEO. Many insiders and people who have worked with atHCL Technologies said that this is decision driven right from the top, chairman's office. "Nadar holds a significant chunk of the company shares and he was concerned with the growth of the company for the past few quarters," said a source who has worked with HCL Technologies in the past.

Though the change is in tradition of the company, what has surprised many is the pace with which the change has been brought. Before Gupta was made the CEO, was first made the president of infrastructure services, then the COO and eventually he took over from Vineet Nayar.

Gupta was CEO of the company for about three years, analyst tracking the company said that the change has come as a surprise. "One ideally for a CEO to show his strategy is working he needs at least a five-year horizon. Two, while the COO appointment of Vijaykumar was a hint towards the change, Gupta seems to have left in a hurry," said another analyst.

According to insiders, Gupta was to leave the position by the end of December this year.

"What we know is that in July 2016, Vijaykumar was announced as the next CEO of the company. And Gupta as we know was supposed to hand over the reigns in December.

But this was a sudden decision and we came to know about it after the board meeting in the morning itself. Chairman Shiv Nadar and the board members took the decision to accept Gupta's resignation," said a company insider.

Govt unveils UDAN, fares capped at Rs 2,500 for 1-hour flights New Delhi, Oct 21: Air passengers on major routes will soon have to shell out more for flights to fund the regional connectivity scheme under which fares will be capped at Rs 2,500 for one-hour flights.

The government expects the first flight under this scheme to take off in January.

A "first of its kind" in the

world, UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) will be based on market mechanism as well as bidding for a minimum of 9 seats and a maximum of 40 seats in a fixed wing aircraft.

tic about it (UDAN)," Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said on Friday, adding that the first flight under the scheme is expected to take off in January 2017.

For 50 per cent of the seats of flights under UDAN, the fare cap will be Rs 2,500, and the rest will be marketbased pricing.

"We are cautiously optimis-

The comments come against the backdrop of some airlines being unhappy with the proposal to charge a levy for funding the scheme. The draft

scheme was unveiled in July.

Civil Aviation Secretary RN Choubey said the rules related to the levy will be "printed in the gazette in two days" while the executive order in this regard will be ready by month-end.

The levy will be "very small", he added.

Charging a levy on profitable routes is likely to push the air fare for fliers.

"This is first of its kind globally... We are doing something not done anywhere else," Minister of State Jayant Sinha said.

The fares will be capped at Rs 2,500 for one-hour flights on unserved and under-served routes.

(Agencies)

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22

P8

INTERNATIONAL Aziz Ansari mocks Donald Trump, asks youngsters to vote Los Angeles, Oct 21: Indian origin American actor Aziz Ansari is the latest to join the list of celebrities requesting young people to vote.

The "Master of None" mocked Trump in a video for the #WHYWEVOTE campaign, reported Entertainment Weekly.

"How many celebrities have made these stupid videos?

Robert Downey Jr made one, DiCaprio made one, Jennifer Lawrence made one. These people are way more famous than me! Why do you need me?" Ansari asked.

The campaign is using the internet to encourage and energize young people to vote in the election and the video finds the actor ditching his signature comedy routine for a serious message.

"There's a guy running that says he hates brown people.

That's not enough! He doesn't believe in climate change!

Do you realize how dumb you have to be to not believe in climate change at this point? Go vote! Please!," he said.

The ad is set to run in the key battleground states of Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Nevada on digital platforms ahead of the historic November 8 election. (PTI)

South Korea activists leaflet North after missile tests Seoul, Oct 21: South Korean activists floated hundreds of thousands of leaflets across the border into North Korea on Friday, protesting Pyongyang's recent missile testing efforts in defiance of UN sanctions.

"We launched the leaflets to protest against these provocative acts," North Korean defector-turned-activist Park Sang-Hak told media.

A total of 300,000 leaflets along with 2,000 one-dollar bills designed to encourage people to pick them up were floated over the heavily militarized border in packages attached to large helium balloons.

next year.

The missile - believed to be an intermediate-range Musudan - exploded shortly after lift-off early on Thursday, according to South Korean and US monitors.

Friday's balloon launch was the first this month by Park's group which has carried out nearly 20 similar exercises this year.

"We launched the leaflets to protest against these provocative acts," North Korean defector-turnedactivist Park Sang-Hak told media.

The balloon launch came a day after the North conducted what appeared to be its second failed test in a

6.2-magnitude quake hits western Japan: USGS Tokyo, Oct 21: A strong 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit western Japan Friday (Oct 21), the US Geological Survey said, but there was no tsunami risk.

The quake, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres (six miles), struck shortly after 2:00 pm (0500 GMT) in Tottori prefecture.

Initially, the USGS had pegged the quake's magnitude at 6.6 before downgrading it.

Public broadcaster NHK quoted local officials as say-

ing they had received reports that a house collapsed in the town of Yurihama, while fires broke out in another part of the prefecture, without giving details.

In Kurayoshi City, the fire department reported receiving seven emergency calls for injuries.

Television images showed severe shaking in the region.

"We felt fairly strong jolts, which I think were the biggest in years, but we have not seen any damage or things falling," Suminori Sakinada, a local government official, told AFP.

Donald Trump: I will accept election result if I win Republican candidate sticks to his defiance but adds he will accept a "clear election result" next month.

Washington, Oct 21: Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump has told his supporters that he would accept the results of the US elections next month if he wins.

Trump stuck firm to his unprecedented defiance of US democratic norms, telling supporters: "I will totally accept the results of this great and historic presidential election - if I win."

A day earlier, Trump had refused to say that he would accept the election result if he loses, as he clashed with rival Hillary Clinton in their third and final debate.

Declining to be drawn on what he would do, he had said: "I will look at it at the time."

Trump has leaned on an increasingly brazen strategy in the campaign's closing weeks, including peddling charges that the election will be rigged, despite no evidence of widespread voter fraud in previous US presidential contests.

"The biggest issue [from the debate] is his unwillingness to accept the outcome of the election," the Reverend Jesse Jackson, a prominent civil rights leader and member of the Democratic Party, told Al Jazeera. "That could sabotage the entire American process."

One of the hotly debated topics on stage was immigration, which has been a key issue in Trump's campaign. He repeated a pledge that if he becomes president, a wall will be built on the Mexico border to stop people entering the country illegally.

After discussing the wars in Syria and Iraq, the discussion turned to refugees in need of protection. While Trump repeated his claim that the US does not know who it is letting into the country, Clinton said: "I am not going to let anyone into this country who is not vetted ... but I am not going to slam the door on women and children."

Al Jazeera's Alan Fisher, reporting from Las Vegas, said Wednesday's debate was the first of three such confrontations in which "we

week of a powerful medium-range missile that experts warn could be operationally deployed as early as

The North's official media has described Park as "human scum without an equal in the world", and threatened to shell areas where the launches are made from.

(PTI)

Trump slams the media for 'bias' saw real policy differences" between the two candidates.

"They argued about them in substantive terms," Fisher said.

But D'Angelo Gore, a factchecker with the website Politifact, told Al Jazeera that both candidates mischaracterised each other's policy proposals during the debate.

"Trump said that Clinton's immigration policy was to simply grant amnesty to all the immigrants living in the United States, which is inaccurate," Gore said. "The reality is that Clinton's immigration reform is much more comprehensive, including increased border control."

According to Gore, Clinton's accusation that Trump wanted to abolish NATO was also inaccurate, as Trump has thus far only expressed frustration that the alliance has not focused enough on "fighting terrorism" as well as the notion that the US carries most of the financial burden.

The face-off at the University of Nevada came as early voting was already under way in more than 30 states - at least 2.1 million voters have cast ballots already.

For Trump, the debate was perhaps his last opportunity to turn around a presidential race that appears to be slipping away.

In an average of national polls , Clinton has a lead at

48.6 percent over Trump's 42.1 percent.

His predatory comments about women and a flood of sexual assault accusations have increased his unpopularity with women and limited his pathways to victory.

Discussing the sexual assault claims in the debate, Trump said he did not apologise to his wife, because he "didn't do anything".

Clinton took the stage with challenges of her own.

While the electoral map currently leans in her favour, she is facing a new round of questions about her trustworthiness, concerns that have trailed her throughout the campaign.

The hacking of her top campaign adviser's emails revealed a candidate who is averse to apologising, can strike a different tone in private than in public, and makes some decisions only after political deliberations.

When the moderator brought up quotes from a Clinton email released by WikiLeaks in which she seemed to express a stance on trade that differs from what she has said publicly, she quickly deflected the question.

She proceeded to say, "What's really important about WikiLeaks is that the Russian government has engaged in espionage against Americans ... this has come from the highest levels ... from Putin himself ... to influence this election". (Agencies)

Bullet train services were suspended in the area, while nearly 40,000 homes were left without electricity as the quake damaged power lines, officials said.

NHK said switched-off nuclear reactors in the region were not affected.

Japan sits at the junction of four tectonic plates and experiences a number of relatively violent quakes every year, but rigid building codes and their strict enforcement mean even strong tremors often do little damage.

Petition seeking elevation of Pak army chief to Field Marshal dismissed Justice Aamer Farooq observed that the court lacked jurisdiction to direct the legislature in this regard Islamabad, Oct 21: A petition seeking Field Marshal's status for Pakistan's Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif was on Friday dismissed by the Islamabad High Court, weeks ahead of his retirement from the powerful post.

Justice Aamer Farooq observed that the court lacked jurisdiction to direct the legislature in this regard.

When judge asked the petitioner's counsel Raja Saimul Haq Satti if there was any law under which the federal government might be asked to elevate Gen Raheel to field marshal, he said the federal government might make a new law for the purpose, Dawn reported today.

A massive undersea quake however that hit in March 2011 sent a tsunami barreling into Japan's northeast coast, leaving more than 18,000 people dead or missing, and sending three reactors into meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

In his order, Justice Farooq said, "No direction can be issued to the legislature to legislate a particular law."

In April, two strong earthquakes hit southern Japan's Kumamoto prefecture followed by more than 1,700 aftershocks, and left at least 50 dead and caused widespread damage. (Agencies)

Petitioner Sardar Adnan Saleem had sought the high court's help to elevate Gen Raheel, 60, to the rank ofField Marshal in the greater national interest.

The order declared that the petition was "without merit and dismissed".

Pakistan Army General Raheel Sharif

The petition, which had named the prime minister and the secretaries of defence and cabinet division as respondents, said Gen Sharif launched the Operation Zarb-i-Azb against terrorists and it was still in progress.

It said Sharif had also initiated and formulated the National Action Plan for the safety and security of Pakistan and was also monitoring the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.

Sharif, currently serving as the 15th Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army, was appointed by Prime Minis-

ter Nawaz Sharif on November 29, 2013 for a three-year term.

If Sharif hangs up his boots on November 30, he would be the first army chief to retire on time in two decades. His predecessors Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Gen Pervez Musharraf got extensions, while Gen Jehangir Karamat was sent home prematurely.

There has been only one Field Marshal in Pakistan.

Former military ruler Ayub Khan, who ruled from 1958 to 1969, appointed himself Field Marshal while serving as president and commander-in-chief. (PTI)

Duterte causes Philippine foreign policy confusion Manila, Oct 21: President Rodrigo Duterte's shock "separation" from the United States has thrown Philippine foreign policy into confusion, with the Americans saying they are baffled and some of his top aides contradicting him.

The firebrand leader rarely lets a day pass without taunting or abusing the United States but his latest comments, made during a state visit to Beijing, were the strongest signal he wants to torpedo a 70-year alliance in favour of China and Russia.

"I announce my separation from the United States," Duterte said Thursday as he paused to soak up the applause from hundreds of Chinese businessmen in the audience.

"I've realigned myself in your ideological flow and maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to (President Vladimir) Putin and tell him that there are three of us against the world: China, Philippines and Russia. It's the only way."

Until Duterte took office on June 30, the Philippines had been one of the United States' most important and loyal allies in Asia, and a key to President Barack Obama's "pivot" to the re-

The firebrand leader rarely lets a day pass without taunting or abusing the United States gion.

The Philippines had also been a bastion of democracy -- albeit a chaotic and corrupt one -- in Southeast Asia since shedding the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

But Duterte, who describes himself as a socialist and has close links with communists still waging a rebellion in the Philippines, has revealed a deep dislike of the United States.

He has repeatedly branded Obama a "son of a whore", and called on his countrymen to remember crimes committed by Americans when the Philippines was a

colony of the United States from 1898 to 1946.

Ignoring the thousands of American lives that were lost to liberate the Philippines from Japan during World War II, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign aid, Duterte has also told Filipinos that the United States had done nothing for them.

He has said there will be no more joint US-Philippine patrols in the South China Sea, nor will there be any further joint military exercises with the United States that see thousands of troops pass through the Philippines each year.

- Confusion, concern Duterte's tirades are causing confusion in Washington, where officials have repeatedly said the Philippine government has not made any of his words official policy.

"I just want to say that obviously we're aware of this rhetoric," US State Department spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday.

"And we still hold that it is inexplicably at odds with the very close relationship that we have with the Filipino people, as well as the government there, on many different levels, not just from a security perspective."

Kirby said the US government would seek an explanation on the "separation" remarks.

"It's not clear to us exactly what that means in all its ramifications," he said.

Kirby indicated Asian governments were also growing increasingly nervous about Duterte, who has been fiercely criticised in the West for a war on crime in which thousands of people have been killed.

"It isn't just the United States who is baffled by this rhetoric. We have heard

Nearly 500 dead, food running out in Aleppo: UN chief United Nations, Oct 21: The nearly month-long Russian and Syrian bombing campaign in Aleppo has had horrific results with nearly 500 dead and food rations expected to run out by the end of the month, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday.

"The conflict continues to reach new and awful depths," Ban told a special meeting of the General Assembly called by 72 countries in an initiative led by Canada.

The air strikes on rebelheld eastern Aleppo since the Syrian offensive was launched on September 22 have been the most sustained and intensive bombardment of the fiveyear war, said Ban.

"The results have been horrific", said the UN chief, with nearly 500 people killed and about 2,000 injured. More than a quarter of all deaths are children.

No UN aid convoy has entered Aleppo since July 7 and food rations will run out by the end of October, Ban warned, deploring that hunger was being used as a weapon of war.

The meeting at the General Assembly was called after the Security Council failed to take action to end the bombing raids on Aleppo and revive peace efforts.

Two resolutions were defeated during a stormy council session earlier

this month, one of which was vetoed by Russia, which is backing the Syrian regime in its war against opposition fighters and jihadists.

Russia this week declared a humanitarian pause in the assault on rebel-held eastern Aleppo, where more than 250,000 civilians have been under near-continuous siege since July.

Canada's foreign minister welcomed Russia's decision to extend a ceasefire in Aleppo but said it was not enough to improve aid access and raise prospects for peace negotiations in Syria.

"This is a positive sign," Foreign Minister Stephane Dion told AFP. "But it is not enough."

"We all want to see a return to negotiations" to end the war and ensure deliveries of aid to desperate civilians besieged in Aleppo, he said.

"We can't do this on the basis of such a short pause."

The foreign minister said the assembly meeting could have "positive consequences" and could put pressure on "those who can take concrete measures."

"We can expect that everyone will agree on a cessation of hostilities and opening up aid deliveries, but this must be said in the loudest way possible and that's the goal of today's meeting," he said. (PTI)

from many of our friends and partners in the region who are likewise confused about where this is going," he said.

A frequent pattern following Duterte's explosive remarks against the United States, the crime war and other hot-button issues has been for his aides or cabinet ministers to try to downplay, clarify or otherwise interpret them.

And within a few hours of Duterte's separation remarks, his finance and economic planning secretaries released a joint statement saying the Philippines would not break ties with Western nations.

"We will maintain relations with the West but we desire stronger integration with our neighbours," they said.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez also insisted the Philippines would not break with the United States.

"I guess this will be explained better by the people around the president," Lopez told ABS-CBN television.

"But what is clear to me, we're basically continuing with those activities, but it's just breaking the dependence with those countries."

(Agencies)

Suicide Attackers Kill 16 At Iraq Power Plant Kirkuk, Oct 21: Suicide attackers stormed the site of a power plant being built by an Iranian company in Dibis in northern Iraq on Friday, killing at least 16 people, the mayor and security officials said.

"Three suicide bombers attacked the power plant at around 6:00 am (0300 GMT), killing 12 Iraqi administrators and engineers and four Iranian technicians," Dibis mayor Abdullah Nureddin al-Salehi told media. (PTI)

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22

EDUCATION

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How to Know the Importance of Education economic situation. m Employers look for educational achievements. Even having a high school degree will reduce the risk of unemployment and increase the average lifetime earnings of most working adults.

Getting an education is important, as most career paths require at least some education and training. Though the decision to continue your education is a personal choice, it's worth considering if knowledge and experience are important to you. If you have any career goals, you will most likely need an education to achieve those goals. Learning the importance of an education can help motivate you to learn more and achieve great things.

Preparing for Your Future Decide on your career goals If you've thought about your future at all, you probably have some idea of what you want to do as a career. No matter what your goal is, it will probably require some degree of education. mSearch online for information about your desired career, or talk to professionals working in that field. There is a good chance that anyone you talk to will tell you that you'll need an education in order to enter that field. mIn the United States, only 27 percent of jobs available nationwide require less than a high

out of school thinking that they would rather work than be in school, but statistics show that the majority of high school dropouts are unemployed and have little or no source of income.

Get a better job Even if the career you've chosen doesn't require an advanced education to break into the field, you will most likely need an education if you want to get promoted or earn a higher-paying job. m People who have completed an advanced education typically make more money than people who have not gone to school. For example, in the United States, median weekly earnings in 2014 for people with only a high school diploma were $751 (men) and $558 (women). In contrast, the median weekly earnings for people with least a bachelor's degree were $1385 (men) and $1049 (women) in 2014. For people with an advanced degree, the median weekly wage was even higher: $1630 (men) and $1185 (women). mHaving a high school diploma dramatically increase the chances of earning a job over high school dropouts. That number continues to rise as students pursue higher

can help you learn new skills, make professional connections, and generally have greater success. m People who have completed an advanced education often have more and better opportunities available to them because of their education. mEven if you have not

completed a high school diploma, completing vocational training (education emphasizing a particular trade, such as electrician) will likely increase your income level and ability to find a job.[11] If you have a high school education and vocational training, you are a much more attractive candidate for jobs.

Overcoming equality

In-

m In the United States, 54 percent of high school dropouts between the ages of 16 and 24 are unemployed. For high school graduates, that number decreases to 32 percent of people in the same age bracket, and it decreases even further to 13 percent of college graduates.

Live a better life Beyond the professional opportunities that an education affords people, having an education may also be correlated with living a better life in general. Some studies suggest that people who stay in school

relatives with a positive role model, and inspiring them to pursue an education.

Recognizing the Social Benefits of an Education Live a longer life Some studies suggest that having a higher education can help you live a longer life. This may be because of better working conditions that come with an education, or it could be because earning an education helped remove people from adverse domestic situations.

Whatever the cause, many studies show that even earning a high school education significantly decreases the likelihood of dying young. m Young men who graduate high school statistically live an average of seven years longer than male high school dropouts. Young women who graduate high school

are less likely to end up having legal troubles later in life.

live an average of six years longer than female high school dropouts.

m College graduates with a bachelor's degree earn an average of $1.64 million dollars more than high school dropouts over the course of a lifetime.

High school graduates earn an average of $429,280 more than high school dropouts over the course of a lifetime.

m Young men who graduate college statistically live an average of 13 years longer than male high school dropouts, and an average of six years longer than male high school graduates who do not go to college. Young women who graduate college live an average of 12 years longer than female high school dropouts, and an average of six years longer than female high school graduates who do not go to college.

Be happier in life In addition to living a longer life, people who pursue an education tend to be happier in life.

That's because having an education has been shown to make people better problem solvers who are better equipped to manage day-to-day problems.

school degree. By contrast, students who have graduated from high school are deemed qualified for 39 percent of jobs available nationwide. m Many people drop

education through college and graduate school.

Find better opportunities Getting an education opens a lot of professional doors for you. It

Overcome income inequality Studies have shown that having an education - even a primary education - can help low-income workers earn more money and find a better

m Having an education (and subsequently getting a better job) may make people less likely to commit crimes for fear of losing what they've worked for.

m Some studies suggest that simply earning an education, regardless of subsequent income or job contentment, helps people have better mental health later in life.

m The average high school dropout in America has a one in 10 chance of being arrested, whereas the average high school graduate only has a one in 35 chance of being arrested. m Some studies suggest having an education can also make people more patient, and therefore less likely to be overcome by anger or violent tendencies.

Find more fulfillment in life Some studies suggest that people who have completed an education are more likely to pursue things that offer personal fulfillment. m Flow, a term used to describe meaningful and satisfying absorption in a task, is often associated with educational advancement. In other words, having an education may help you find hobbies or passions that give you a sense of fulfillment.

Help your family Having an education is typically associated with an increased ability to provide for your family.

That means not only being able to help financially support your family, but also providing younger

m Many schools encourage flow, whether intentionally or not, by offering a stimulating learning environment and meaningful extracurricular activities to students who might not otherwise have those opportunities.

How to Make a Good Career Choice Most of us are in the position of making a career choice very early on in life and when we are young, it isn't so easy to decide whether or not the career we choose will suit us for a lifetime.

Making a good career choice is actually about a lot more than choosing a job; it's about choosing something that will provide you with the lifestyle you seek.

Don't decide until you're ready Although this seems obvious advice, too many young people feel pressured into making a choice before they are really sure of what it is they want to do. In fact, many young people don't even know who they are, let alone what they want to become! If you need time, take off a year or two to go and discover yourself and what you're good at.

School doesn't teach you a lot of life skills – life does. Many successful people take off time to slowly work out what it is that makes them tick and brings them fulfillment.

Look for breadth in your career choice Instead of trying to narrow down your options, it can be helpful to keep open as many options as possible within your chosen trade, profession, or field of expertise. That way, you gain maneuverability and flexibility as you and the job change. For example, if you want to be a marine biologist, why not consider also taking a course in photography and writing, so that you can write or photograph stories about what is under the sea on a freelance basis. Keeping open your options might mean a little extra study but it will be worth it in the long run when

you gain increased flexibility.

Work to your strengths Even if you are well into your chosen course, training, internship, or induction for your career, and find that you are always relying on your less strong attributes, it pays to stop and reassess the worth of continuing on this course. A lifetime spent working in an area where you don't get to rely on your strengths for the majority of the time will cause you a great deal of stress and disharmony and can prevent growth and enjoyment of your career.

A good career will, on the whole, have you working to your strengths.

Volunteer in your desired career There is no better way to know whether or not the career is for you than to just pitch in and get your hands dirty. It's much more likely to happen if you take on such roles without payment, especially where the employer understands your motivations. If you can handle the work thrown to you and still want more, you're likely to be onto a winner.

Moreover, the network contacts built up during volunteer experiences are priceless.

Talk to people who work in your desired career Ask them such questions as: "Do you still enjoy working in this career after all these years?", "What is it about this job that you like the most?", "What are the downsides to this job?", "Do you find that this job lets you have a good work-life balance?" Ask away and you will soon get a good sense of fit for you.

Listen to advice but

make your own decision ultimately. Parents, teachers, friends, careers counselors – all of them tend to mean well but they're not you. It's you who has to feel comfortable with the cloak you wear, the boots you strap on, and the daily routine that you adapt to. Nobody else can truly know what works for you. Also, don't be put off by stories from people who have nothing to do with your career but have a bag of hearsay to feed you, both good and bad.

They don't know, and often what they do know is gleaned from the entertainment industry, hardly a decent resource for reality! Be polite but do your own research and thinking on the matter. Ø The same principles apply to a change of career, something that happens often in mid-life but can also happen early on, or even much later. As with making your first decision, having the right information at your fingertips is crucial, including information about the acceptance by the industry or business in question of taking on someone in your position. Again, don't listen to other people's stories; you can rely more on those who actually work still in the particular career you intend to switch to, but even then, they cannot fully comprehend what you might bring to a new career with your previous experience in tow. Do your research, soul-searching, additional training, and stick with your convictions. Importantly, change of career is considered to be a lot more normal and responsible than it has been at any other time in history (leaving out politicians, of course!).

NATION

P10

Pak violates ceasefire twice, jawan injured

Security tightened in anticipation of JNU students' protest

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22

Jammu, Oct 21 : A BSF jawan was on Friday injured as Pakistani troops violated ceasefire along the LoC in Rajouri and the International Border in Kathua district, prompting the Indian forces to retaliate strongly BSF troops had on Thursday foiled a major infiltration bid in the same area by a group of six militants "Pakistani soldiers resorted to?indiscriminate firing from 1240 hours on the Indian Army posts along the Line of Control in Rajouri?sector," a defence spokesman said "The Indian Army is responding strongly. The exchange is going on," he said

Pakistani troops used small arms, automatic weapons and 82 mm mortars bombs to target Indian positions.

A BSF officer on Friday said, "Pakistani Rangers resorted small arms firing on a forward border out

post?(BoP) along IB in Bobiya area of Hiranagar sector of Kathua district from 0945 hours today."

NHRC should roar like a tiger: Panel chief New Delhi, Oct 21: National Human Rights Commission Chairperson Justice H L Dattu today pitched for vesting NHRC with "more power", saying the rights watchdog should "roar like a tiger".

"Everyone wants to have more power. We (NHRC) also want to have more power," he told reporters.

The former Chief Justice of India was addressing a press conference here to mark the Foundation Day of the NHRC. According to a recent media report, Dattu had termed NHRC a "toothless tiger" that needed some teeth to enforce its orders on remedial measures in cases relating to any violations.

"In many cases, due to our active intervention, we have addressed human rights issues. We are celebrating our foundation day today... And, with more power, it (NHRC) should roar like a tiger," he told PTI

on the sidelines of the press conference.

Since its inception in 1993, the NHRC has come a long way by addressing several issues of human rights violations as well as giving inputs on key legislations impacting human rights, he said.

"Whenever an issue of human rights violation comes to the notice of the NHRC, it has to take cognisance without bothering for the permutations and combinations of electoral politics or caste and creed equations," Dattu said.

When asked what action the NHRC takes in case a party to which a notice has been served by it does not respond within the stipulated time, he said, "In case they don't, we give them one more opportunity, and even then if they don't respond, then we issue them a conditional summon to appear before us and submit the report."

"In 95-96 per cent cases the

state government or authorities do respond. But, there have been instances, where despite repeated reminders they don't respond and in those cases, we presume they have nothing to say in the matter. And, so based on the given material, we take a decision, and if we don't find merit in the case, we dismiss it," he said.

The rights panel chief also enumerated cases where the Supreme Court had accepted its recommendations, like in the encounter cases of Manipur and the incident of silicosis in a state.

"Since October, 2015 to September, 2016, the NHRC has registered 1,05,664 cases on the basis of complaints, intimation from police and prison authorities, etc, and on suo motu basis," the NHRC said.

During the period, maximum 32,498 complaints were registered against police, out of which 206 cases were of encounter. (PTI)

Puducherry CM Narayanasamy launches campaign for Nellithope by-poll Narayanasamy and the volunteers of the Congress and DMK offered worship at the Anandamuthu Mariamman temple in Nellithope.

Narayanasamy and the volunteers of the Congress and DMK offered worship at the Anandamuthu Mariamman temple in Nellithope before kickstarting the campaign.

Puducherry, Oct 21: Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today launched his campaign for the crucial November 19 by-poll to Nellithope Assembly constituency. The AICC had yesterday announced his candidature for the Nellithope seat.

Narayanasamy was sworn in as the tenth Chief Minister of Puducherry on June

6.

69-year-old Narayanasamy, who had served as Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office in the second UPA government and as MoS Parliamentary Affairs in UPA-I, did not contest the May 16 Assembly polls. A John Kumar of the Congress had vacated the seat to enable Narayanasamy contest a

by-election before December 6 deadline for getting elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly.

Congress had a strength of 15 members and its ally DMK two in the 30-member Assembly before the resignation of John Kumar.

Volunteers of the ruling Congress and also its alliance partner DMK participated in the campaign along with Narayanasamy, who is contesting against AIADMK's Om Sakthi Segar, a former MLA. Narayanasamy and the volunteers of the Congress and DMK offered worship at the Anandamuthu Mariamman temple in Nellithope before kickstarting the campaign.

Senior AICC leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and party incharge of Puducherry Mukul Wasnik would be campaigning for him soon, Narayanasamy told media.

(PTI)

Youth gets life sentence for killing father Thane, Oct 21: A 22-yearold engineering student was today sentenced to life imprisonment for killing his father by a court in Vasai of neighbouring Palghar district.

District Judge N R Pradhan also imposed Rs 10,000 fine on the accused - Mayank Mukesh Kumrawat.

Additional Public Prosecutor Ujwala Moholkar told the court that the accused lived with his parents at Ram Rahim Garden housing complex in Vasai.

The prosecution relied on medical evidence and other

links in connection with the incident to prove the charge. It also mentioned the postmortem notes, according to which there were as many as 23 injuries on the ody.

There used to be frequent quarrels over petty issues between Mayank, studying engineering at a college in Vasai, and his father Mukesh Ramkaran Kumrawat (49), who worked as an engineer with a company, it was claimed.

After another such fight on April 12, 2014, Mayank went out and brought a sickle and sharpened it. An hour later, he

attacked his father with the sickle killing him on the spot.

At the time of the offence, the accused and his parents were the only persons in the house.

The prosecution examined the watchman of the society who used to see the family members quarrel.

On the day of the incident, the watchman had seen the accused going out of the house at around 2 PM and return shortly with something in his hand.Taking serious view of the crime, the judge awarded life sentence to the accused.

(PTI)

"BSF troops guarding the borderline took positions and retaliated, resulting in the exchange which continued for over 15 minutes," he said, adding one BSF jawan was injured in the firing According to unconfirmed reports, a Pakistani ranger was either injured or killed in retaliatory action Pakistani troops used small arms, automatic weapons and 82 mm mortars bombs to target Indian positions, he said With this, the number of ceasefire violations along the IB and the LoC in the state after surgical strikes by the Indian Army in PoK has risen to 31 Indian and Pakistani forces are exchanging fire for past

four days in the sector. Pakistani troops have violated ceasefire five times in past four days Pakistani troops had on Thursday heavily shelled areas in Bhimber Gali sector along the LoC in Rajouri district Meanwhile, Pakistan Army said Pakistani and Indian troops on Friday exchanged fire across the working boundary It said the exchange took place in Shakargarh sector in Punjab province. "No loss of life or property has been reported so far," a Pakistani military statement said the exchange of fire started at 9 AM and continued for half an hour, it said. (PTI)

9 coaches of goods train derail in Odisha

The goods train derailed on its way to Visakhapatnam from Bathili in Chhattisgarh Friday morning.

Chhattisgarh, Oct 21: Nine wagons of a goods train on Friday derailed between Maligura and Jarati stations in Odisha affecting train services on the KoraputJeypore railway section under Waltier Division of East Coast Railway.

The goods train derailed on its way to Visakhapatnam from Bathili in Chhattisgarh Friday morning, a railway official said, adding that no loss of life or injury to anyone has been reported in the accident.

Following the accident, six passenger trains were cancelled while Samaleshwari Express was short-terminated at Jeypore station and will return to Jagadalpur on Friday.

Bhubaneswar-Jagadalpur Hirakhand Express will originate from Koraput instead of Jagadalpue.

Visakhapatanam-Kiranul

passanger left Visakhapatanam on Friday and will be short terminated at Koraput and return to Vishakhapatanam as Kirandul-Vishakhapatanam passenger from Koraput.

Kirandul-Visakhapatanam passenger will be short terminated at Jagdalpur and return to Kirandul from Jagdalpur.

The service of Vishakhapatanam-KirandulVishakhapatanam will remain cancelled on Friday between Koraput and Jagadalpur from both the directions.

Jagadalpur-Durg Express scheduled to leave jagadalpur on Friday will also remain cancelled while Durg-Jagadalpur Express scheduled to leave Durg on October 23 will also remain cancelled for cancellation of connecting train, an ECoR statement said. (Agencies)

NGT raps UP Jal Nigam for non-compliance of order New Delhi, Oct 21: Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam today faced the National Green Tribunal's ire for its failure to comply with a 2015 order directing it to seal all hand pumps which were releasing contaminated ground water in six districts in the western part of the state.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar pulled up the authorities for not complying with its November 2015 order and asked why a joint affidavit has not been filed yet.

"It's shocking. Why don't you read the order and comply with it," the bench said and granted the last opportunity to UP Jal Nigam to comply.

The authorities sought more time to complete the process of dismantling the hand pumps after which the tribunal granted them a week's time and posted the matter for October 28.

"Authorities say they need more time. In the interest of justice, we give last opportunity and grant one week's time.

Put up the matter for further hearing on October 28," the bench said.

The green panel was hearing a petition filed by NGO Doaba Paryavaran Samiti head C V Singh, a retired scientist of Haryana Pol-

lution Control Board, who has alleged that due to consumption of contaminated ground water over 50 villagers have died in western Uttar Pradesh of cancer.

Advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, appearing for petitioner, sought that heavy cost be imposed on state authorities so that they get a lesson as children were also dying after drinking contaminated water, contending that the people were suffering due to the failure of the authorities.

During the hearing, the bench asked whether the state government was providing potable water to the poor villagers of thse six districts, to which the state's counsel replied in affirmative.

The tribunal was also informed that the government was in the process of dismantling the hand pumps and its completion required some more time.

The bench had earlier observed that it was the fundamental duty of the state government to look after the health and environment of villagers.

In November last year, the bench had directed UP Jal Nigam to forthwith seal the hand pumps of all western UP districts which were releasing contaminated ground water. (PTI)

New Delhi, Oct 21: Security has been beefed up in New Delhi district in anticipation of a protest by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students in front of the Home Ministry at Raisina Hill on Friday over alleged inaction of the university administration and police in tracing missing student Najeeb Ahmed.

Vehicular movement has been blocked on Raisina Road and police and paramilitary forces have been deployed at and around the area after police received information that the university students would arrive here to stage a protest, a police official said.

Ahmed has been missing from the JNU campus since Saturday.

Union Home Minister

Jawaharlal Nehru University Rajnath Singh had on Thursday ordered the Delhi Police to set up a special team to trace Ahmed, even as the agitating students decided to change their mode of protest after keeping the vice chancellor and some other top of-

ficials under siege for over 20 hours.

The agitating students had said they decided to change their mode of protest and will no longer confine VC M Jagadesh Kumar and other officials of the university. (PTI)

CBI registers FIR against UKbased arms dealer in Embraer deal New Delhi, Oct 21 : CBI has registered an FIR against a UK-based arms dealer for allegedly taking kickbacks worth over $5.70 million from Brazilian company Embraer in the 2008 threeaircraft deal.

CBI sources said a case has been registered against a UK based NRI whose named had also figured in another defence deal probed by the agency.

They said the kickbacks were allegedly paid in 2009 through subsidiaries of Embraer via a Singaporebased company which is owned by the middleman.

It is alleged that payoffs were routed through Austria and Switzerland.

They said the agency, which had registered a preliminary enquiry in September, has converted it into a regular FIR as enough prima facie material has been found by it to proceed in the case.

The deal for three aircraft

which were to be used by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for air-borne radar systems was inked in 2008 with Embraer.

A Brazilian newspaper had alleged that that the company had taken the services of middlemen to clinch deals in Saudi Arabia and India.

According to defence procurement rules of India, middlemen are strictly barred in such deals.

Leading Brazilian newspaper 'Folha de Sao Paulo' had reported that the company allegedly paid commissions to a UK-based defence agent to finalise the deal with India.

DRDO had purchased three aircraft from the company in 2008 and customized them for serving are air-borne radar system known as airborne early-warning and control systems or AWACS for the Indian Air Force.

The company has been under investigation by the US

Justice Department since 2010 when a contract with the Dominican Republic raised the Americans' suspicions, the report said.

Since then, the investigation has widened to examine business dealings with eight more countries.

After the PE was registered, Embraer had issued a statement saying, "Since 2011, Embraer has publicly reported that it has been conducting an extensive internal investigation and cooperating with the authorities on investigations regarding alleged violations of the FCPA. "The company voluntarily expanded the scope of the investigation, systematically reporting the progress of the case to the market."

"The company is not part of the legal proceedings in Brazil. Therefore, it does not have access to the information contained therein," it had said.

(Agencies)

Kerala orders probe against illegal single-digit lottery To take on the single-digit lottery operators, the state would telecast live the result of the draw of Kerala State Lotteries every day, Finance Minister T M Thomas Issac informed, Thiruvanathapuram, Oct 21: Kerala government has ordered a probe by a special task force headed by Inspector General of Police Balram Kumar Upadhyay into complaints of lottery frauds involving singledigit lotteries in the state.

Replying to a notice seeking adjournment motion on single digit illegal lotteries trade flourishing in the state, Finance Minister T M Thomas Issac informed the Assembly that government viewed the matter very seriously and stern action would be taken on the basis of the report of the STF. To take on the single-digit lottery operators, the state would telecast live the result of the draw of Kerala State Lotteries everyday, he said. "Government has an open mind on the issue.

It has be to curbed. Government is ready to accept any suggestions from the Opposition side," Issac said.

Kerala government orders probe regarding singledigit lottery scam "The single-digit lottery, locally known as 'written lottery', is actually illegal betting. It is suspected that an organised group is behind the lottery which operates more in the Northern parts of the state," he said.

People become addict to this kind of betting quickly, he said.

Seeking leave for the motion, V D Satheeshan (Congress) said it was operated online and through SMS messages. The 'lottery

mafia' from other states were trying to gain strength in Kerala in a different form as they were pushed out of the state few years ago, he said.

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala wanted the government to take stern action against single-digit lotteries as it has already started affecting the staterun lottery. He alleged that "benamis of lottery king Santiago Martin" were behind it. (Agencies)

Army foils infiltration bid in Poonch Jammu, Oct 21: The Army today foiled an infiltration bid of heavily armed terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch sector of Jammu, a day after the BSF thwarted a similar such attempt via the International Border (IB) in Kathua district.

"An infiltration bid was foiled by the alert and vigilant troops of Army in the densely forest area along LoC in the

Poonch sector this morning", a defence spokesman said.

He said that on noticing some suspicious activity, the alert troops challenged a group of 2-3 infiltrators who were attempting to cross the LoC. "On being challenged, the group immediately opened fire (on the Army) which was responded in equal measure by the alert troops

forcing the group to flee back", the spokesman said.

Yesterday, with Pakistani troops suspectedly providing cover fire, 4-6 heavilyarmed militants tried to sneak into India through the International Border in Kathua district of Jammu but the attempt was foiled by alert BSF which claimed to have injured or killed at least one of them. (PTI)

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22

P11 Top 17 Popular travel destinations in India Manali

Munnar Sprawling tea plantations surround the serene hills of Munnar, which attract adventure travelers hungry for paragliding, treks to Anaimudi (South India’s highest peak) and hikes originating at the confluence of three mountain streams.

The stone Christ Church, built by the British in 1910, is adorned with renowned works of stained glass, and Eravikulam National Park, about 10 miles away, is home to equally colorful wildlife, including the endangered Nilgiri Tahr (ibex), ruddy mongoose and 120 bird species.

Places of Interest Rajamalai (Eravikulam) National Park Tea Gardens Kolukkumalai Tea Estate

In Hinduism, Manu was said to have survived a great flood that destroyed the rest of the world. He then recreated mankind in this Kullu Valley town.

What a rush, huh? No wonder the towering peaks and verdant terrain of Manali attracts adventure travelers, with heli-skiing, hiking, mountaineering and river rafting the favored active pursuits.

Come down from your endorphin high by breathing deeply at the four-story, wooden Hidimba Devi Temple, which sits in the middle of a nearby deciduous forest, or take a medicinal soak in the hot springs burbling from the ground a 30-minute walk from town.

Place of Interest Manikaran Gurudwara Hadimba Devi Mandir River Beas

Goa

Hampi The former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, Hampi remains an essential religious hub, housing the Virupaksha, Lakshmi Narasimha, Hemakuta Hill, Big Shivlinga and Vithala temples. The architectural ruins of Hampi are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rock-climbing enthu-

siasts will adore Hampi, considered the bouldering capital of India, and the city’s rocky landscape, dotted with ancient temple ruins, makes for a unique climbing experience The former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, Hampi remains an essential religious hub, housing the Virupaksha, Lakshmi

Narasimha, Hemakuta Hill, Big Shivlinga and Vithala temples. The architectural ruins of Hampi are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rock-climbing enthusiasts will adore Hampi, considered the bouldering capital of India, and the city’s rocky landscape, dotted with ancient temple ruins, makes for a unique climbing experience

East meets West in this sun-soaked state, where Indian culture intertwines with Portuguese influences left over from a 500-year occupation.

The beaches have long served as a magnet for serene hedonists.

To the north, the tourist-centric scene is prevalent, with an international flair that is now skewing more hip than hippie. Travel south for stretches of unspoiled sand and an escape from large resorts.

Temples, mosques and wildlife sanctuaries provide diversions from the beach.

Places of Interest Old Goa Dudhsagar Falls Anjuna Market

Udaipur

Gangtok

Udaipur, known as the Venice of the East, boasts several sparkling lakes against a backdrop of the Aravail hills. Jag Niwas and Jag Mandir, islands in Fateh Sagar Lake, are the site of Udaipur Solar Observatory and Nehru Garden.

Famous palaces include the magical Lake Palace, now a luxurious five-star hotel, and the massive City Palace on Pichola’s east bank, featuring epic courtyards and stunning paintings.

The capital of the state of Sikkim, Gangtok is an attractive tourist destination, reflecting a unique ambience which derives from its happy blend of tradition and modernity. Alongside the deeply felt presence of stupas and monasteries, Gangtok also bustles like any other thriving town. Some of the key places to visit include Rumtek Monastery, Do-Drul Chorten, Enchey Monastery, Tashi View Point and the local bazaar, Lal Bazaar.

Place of Interest

Places of Interest

Jain Temple Ranakpur Shilpgram City Palace Udaipur

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Deer Park Phurchachu Springs Nathula Pass

Hot

Bangalore Known as both the “Garden City” and “The Silicon Valley of India,” Bangalore (officially “Bengaluru”) is a techie’s paradise, boasting the highest concentration of IT companies in the country. When you’re done geeking out, there are plenty of gardens, museums, natural features, palaces and temples to fill your dance card.

Visit Vidhana Soudha, Cubbon Park and the Ulsoor Lake of Bangalore, well known for its beautiful locales and boating facilities. Bangalore is also a major centre of Indian classical music and dance, and of vivid, cutting-edge nightlife.

Places of Interest ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna-Chandra Temple Lalbagh Botanical Garden Bannerghatta National Park

DharamShala Serenely spiritual Dharamsala is home to the largest Tibetan temple outside of Tibet. It’s known for its religious iconography and is the monastery of the Dalai Lama, who holds public lectures a few times a year.

Once you’ve restored your spiritual energy, enjoy a picturesque stroll to Bhagsu Waterfall or climb the hill to Triund to bask in stunning views of the Himalayas.

Places of Interest Tsuglag Khang Kangra Valley Triund Dharamshala

Leh The Ladakh capital city of Leh lies near the eastern parts of Jammu and Kashmir, on the crossroads of the historic “Silk Route” from

Sinkiang to West Asia and to the plains of India. The humbling monasteries of Shey, Hemis, Alchi, Thikse and Lamayuru will nurture your spiritual needs, and the landscape of Leh provides for a number

of adventure activities including mountaineering, white-water rafting and trekking along the Markha Valley.

Places of Interest Tibetan Market Phyang Monastery Leh Royal Palace

Jaipur If you take one look at the glorious stucco buildings that line Jaipur’s wide streets, you’ll understand why this is nicknamed “The Pink

City.” Spend your days exploring City Palace, Hawa Mahal, and Amber and Jaigarh forts.

And if you’re looking for a unique souvenir, head to one of the bazaars, where you can

pick up a pair of camel-leather slippers.

Places of Interest Amber (Amer) Fort and Palace Jantar Mantar – Jaipur Palace of Wind (Hawa Mahal)

Mount Abu Havelock Islands Premium scuba diving and snorkeling are the highlights of the gorgeous Havelock Island, the most popular of the Andaman Islands.

Glass-bottomed boats provide a similar upclose marine life experience. Jungle treks and camping are popular landlubbing activities, though the more delicately dispositioned can choose to retire to one of several luxury resorts. Refuel with fresh coconut milk and succulent, just-caught seafood, which dominates every meal.

Places of Interest Radhanagar Beach Barren Island Volcano Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

Wayanad

Mysore

The emerald landscape of Wayanad is the ideal destination for both intense outdoor adventure and calming restoration.

Climb the foothills of Brahmagiri to reach the ancient Thirunelli Temple, hike to the overwhelmingly stunning Meenmutty Falls, or explore Edakkal Caves, rich with prehistoric paintings. Wayanad is brimming with healing Ayurvedic healing spas, perfect for restoring your pleasantly exhausted body after a day of exploring

The kings of the Wodeyar dynasty set the bar high for the southern cultural capital of Mysore. Ornate palaces and the Gothic St. Philomena’s Church with its 175-foot spires pack a visual punch; local institutions keep Carnatic classical music and dance in the public eye. A prominent 11th-century temple sits atop 1,000 steps on the city’s outskirts. Dress to the nines and party like a rock star in celebration of Mysore heritage during the lively Dussehra festival, held for 10 days in October/ November.

Places of Interest Chembra Peak Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Edakkal Caves

Places of Interest Somnathpur Temples Mysore Zoo – Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens Maharajah’s Palace (Amba Vilas)

Mahabaleshwar The city of Mahabaleshwar is a pinnacle of greenery, boasting one of the only evergreen forests in the world. The landscape abounds with lush hills, valleys and lookout points such as Lodwick Point, Arthur ’s Seat and Babington Point, all of which offer spectacular

views. Trot along on horseback for a delightful fourlegged tour of the gorgeous Venna Lake area, and savour juicy native strawberries, mulberries and corn.

Places of Interest Venna Lake Wilson Point (Sunrise Point) Mahabaleshwar Temple

Situated amidst lush green, forested hills on the highest peak in the Aravali range, Mount Abu is the summer capital for the Indian state of Rajasthan. Its cool and soothing climate makes it an ideal retreat. Explore a number of Jain temples, including the Dilwara Temples, a complex carved of while marble, or visit the nearby Achalgarh fort, which houses many beautiful temples of its own.

Places of Interest Dilwara Jain Temples Sunset Point Mount Abu Nakki Lake

Matheran

Amritsar

Matheran is all about the views. Easily accessible via scenic rail from Mumbai, this refuge in the Sahyadri Hills is blissfully free of motor vehicles and affords nearly three dozen lookouts over the Western Ghats and the region’s village-dotted plains. Porcupine Point is anything but prickly—rather, it’s an ideal spot for gorgeous sunsets, especially at the aptly named Panorama Point. Avid hikers hit the densely forested and wildlife-rich route to the ruins of Prabalgad Fort.

Amritsar is a major commercial and cultural centre in the heart of Punjab. The city is the spiritual and cultural centre of the Sikh religion and is home to the Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple. Respectfully marvel at the Indian and Pakistani soldiers who march-off nightly at the Wagha Border, and at the Jallian Wala Bagh the site of the 1919 Amritsar Massacre in 1919.

Places of Interest Darbar Sahib Jallianwala Bagh Harmandir Sahib

Places of Interest Charlotte Lake Rambaug Point Paymasters Park

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DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22

P12 Shafiq leads Pakistan recovery in second Windies Test

Richarlyson guides FC Goa to their first win of Hero ISL 2016

Dubai, Oct 21: Asad Shafiq led Pakistan's recovery after the early departure of the openers on the opening day of the second Test against West Indies in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Shafiq drove paceman Shannon Gabriel to cover boundary for his sixth boundary to complete his 16th half-century to lift Pakistan after Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and opted to bat on a flat Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch.

After an extended two-anda-half hour session due to Friday prayers, Pakistan were 95-2 with Shafiq on 54 and with him Younis Khan on 29 not out.

The normal red ball and daylight cricket returned in Abu Dhabi after the first Test was a day-night affair with the pink ball in Dubai, as Pakistan were off to an unimpressive start.

Azhar Ali, who scored a career best 302 not out in Dubai, played on to Gabriel in the fifth over and was bowled without scoring.

Sami Aslam also did not last long as he missed an ambitious drive off leg-spinner Devendar Bishoo and was bowled for six.

Shafiq was at his best from the start, playing with confidence as he has so far hit six boundaries in his 90-ball stay.

Younis, who missed the first Test due to recovery from dengue fever, has so far hit a single boundary.

West Indies were forced to leave out unfit wicket-keeper batsman Shane Dowrich, bringing in Shai Hope. The third and final Test starts in Sharjah from October 30.

Earlier, Pakistan won the toss against West Indies and opted to bat.

Younis replaced Babar Azam, whereas Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz were replaced by Rahat Ali and Zulfiqar Babar "I am very happy the way Pakistan won the Test, the way Azhar scored a triple hundred and joined that elite group. I was watching the match and was very excited when on the last day there were ups and downs. The way West Indies fought and Darren Bravo scored that fighting hundred," Younis Khan said.

The lineup for both teams is as follows: Pakistan: Azhar Ali, S Aslam, Younis Khan, A Shafiq, Misbah-ul-Haq (Captain), S Ahmed (Wicket keeper), M Nawaz, Y Shah, S Khan, Z Babar, Rahat Ali. West Indies: K Brathwaite, L Johnson, DM Bravo, M Samuels, J Blackwood, R Chase, S Hope (Wicket keeper), J Holder (Captain), D Bishoo, M Cummins, S Gabriel.

Mumbai, Oct 21: FC Goa beat Mumbai City FC 1-0 to register their first win of Hero Indian Super League 2016 at the Mumbai Football Arena on Friday evening. The only goal of the game came in the 41st minute after Richarlyson conjured up an exquisite finish to set the Gaurs on their way.

After a stop-start opening 27 minutes to the game, the visitors had a pop from distance through Trindade Goncalves, who shot wide of target.

Mumbai’s brightest player of the half was Sony Norde, but Goa double-teamed the Haitian and minimised the threat posed by him for the most part of the first period.

The visitors managed to break the deadlock four minutes before half-time with their first shot on target. Julio Cesar’s free-kick managed to find Richarlyson, who had made a surging run into box. The Brazilian midfielder produced a spectacular finish on the half-volley to give the Gaurs a 1-0 lead.

Mumbai stepped up their game after falling behind in search of a leveller before the break. Their marquee player Diego Forlan took a shot from distance in the 43rdminute but failed to test Subhasish Roy Chowdhury in Goa’s goal.

The Gaurs should have doubled their lead within a

Match Awards: Club award: FC Goa Fittest Player of the Match: Trindade Goncalves

Winning Pass of the Match: Julio Cesar Swift Moment of the Match: Aiborlang Khongjee An action moment of the match. minute of the restart after Cesar headed a brilliant diagonal ball by Richarlyson straight to Robin Singh on the edge of Mumbai’s six-yard box.

The Indian international’s right-footed shot was straight at Chowdhury and lacked the power to beat Goa’s shotstopper.

Forlan went close to scoring for Mumbai a minute later after shooting narrowly wide of Goa’s goal in the 47th minute.

Another dangerous free-kick

by Cesar two minutes later went inches wide of goal with none of attackers managing to get a head on it.

Matias Defederico started to influence the game more in the

second period and ran at Goa’s defence before sending a leftfooted effort wide in the 53rd minute. The Argentine attacker wasn’t on the pitch for much longer though as he was replaced by Cafu due to an injury at the hour mark.

Another Mumbai substitute Jackichand Singh made an impact after coming on the pitch by testing Chowdhury with a shot on goal after cutting in from the left flank in the 63rd minute.

Norde burst into life in the 80th minute when he skipped past a few players in Goa’s defence before unleashing a powerful and low shot at goal. The Haitian’s attempt, however, was blocked by Rafael Dumas for Goa.

ISL Emerging Player of the Match: Raju Gaikwad

Hero of the Match: Richarlyson Forlan had another free-kick sail over the bar in the 86th minute. Cesar then collected the ball in Mumbai’s half two minutes later and ran at the hosts’ defence before taking a cheeky shot on goal, which Mumbai’s goalkeeper Roberto Volpato saved to keep his side in the game. Mumbai couldn’t create any chance of note in the closing stages though as Alexandre Guimaraes’ men stumbled to their second defeat of the season in six matches. (Agencies)

T20 Cricket Tournament gets started at Tezu Tezu, Oct, 21: All Arunachal Pradesh Worker Union (AAPWU) come with good cause first time other than their routine work to hold T20 Cricket Tournament where 24 (Twenty Four) teams play a part hailing from Namsai, Lower Dibang Valley and Anjaw district besides Lohit.

Nakul Chai former Minister as a chief guest lauded the innovative step taken by the labour union to search out better sportsperson or team to represent in the state level.

He also appreciated the AAPWU dist unit in organizing tournament of this magnitude first time in the district. The Chai also advises the participating teams to show their best performance and spirit to prove them for the state level competition. Danish Ashraf DC Lohit too praises the AAPWU for its noble gesture and advocates for better tournament ensuring violence free game and showcasing of good sports-

manship spirit. He further hopes for emerging cricketer out of this tournament to compete at state and national level to bring laurel for the district.

Badang Tayang as a special guest also generously donated Rs 10,000/ to the organizing committee to encourage the tournament.

T 20 Cricket Tournament gets underway here at the Jubilee Ground today which is being unveiled by Nakul Chai and Danish amidst, Officials, Cricket Fans and Executive

Members AAPWU Lohit unit.

Meanwhile, Akash Pul GS, BP Sharma AGS AAPWU district unit also spoke in the inauguration ceremony extending gratitude to DC, Public Leader and officials for their wholehearted support for the smooth conduct of the tournament.

The winner will be given a winner trophy and a cash award of Rs 40000/ and runner Rs 20000/ respectively.

The final match will be played on 10/11/2016.

Kamat hits triple ton as Goa declare at 606/6 Cuttack, Oct 21: Skipper Sagun Kamat became the first cricketer fromGoa to score a triple century as his unbeaten 304 today propelled the team to 606 for six declared against a listless Services in a Ranji Trophy Group C match.

At stumps on day two, Services were 39 for one, trailing by 567 runs with nine wickets in hand with Ravi Chauhan (27) and skipper Soumik Chatterjee (8) at the crease.

Resuming on his overnight score of 177, the left-hander was at ease even as Snehal

Kauthankar departed for 45 with an addition 18 to their last night's score at the DRIEMS Ground in Tangi on the outskirts.

The 33-year-old reached his double century in 301 balls and shared useful stands with Darshan Misal (45) and number eight Shadab Jakati (57 not out) to take the team past 600.

The left-hander had little difficulty in negotiating the Services bowling attack. They used as many as nine bowlers on a tough second day outing for them.

The Goan number three batsman hit 39 fours during his knock from 453 balls en-route to the third triple century of the ongoing Ranji season.

Maharashtra versus Delhi match saw two triple centuries by Swapnil Gugale (351 not out) and Rishabh Pant (308).

Kamat also became eighth Ranji captain to crack a triple, The elite list includes former greats like Vijay Merchant (359 not out) and Sunil Gavaskar (340) among others.

In a first, the ongoing season has already seen two captains --

Brief Scores: Goa 1st innings: 606/6 decl in 165 overs (Sagun Kamat 304 not out, Shadab Jakati 57 not out, Snehal Kauthankar 45, Darshan Misal 45).

Services 1st innings: 39 for one in 13 overs.

Kamat and Gugale -- notching up triple centuries. (PTI)

Role reversal: Lewis Hamilton chasing Nico Rosberg at US Grand Prix Austin, Oct 21: Nico Rosberg sat slumped in his chair, exhausted and exasperated after another race and world title was taken away by Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton.

Then came the hat toss seen around the world.

These friends-turned rivals return to Texas and the U.S. Grand Prix in very different places this week. This time, it's Rosberg with the big lead and Hamilton running out of time if he hopes to retain his Formula One championship.

Rosberg leads Hamilton by 33 points with four races left on the schedule. That means Hamilton has to make a big push starting Sunday on a track where he's won three of the last four years.

"America has been good hunting ground for me," Hamilton said.

A win streak alone won't do it.

Hamilton needs a bad race from Rosberg somewhere. If Rosberg finishes second three times and finishes third once, he'll still claim his first career championship. A Rosberg victory anywhere along the way

Lewis Hamilton (R) trails Nico Rosberg by 33 points in title race. would all but clinch it.

"My frame of mind at the moment is to have fun," Hamilton said. "I'm determined to win.

There's never a day in my life when I don't want to win. I could come here like I've got to win every race, but I've been racing a long time. I know what I'm doing so just go do it the best I can and enjoy."

Is that concession? "Absolutely not," Hamilton said.

"There's still 100 points out there. It's possible."

Four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel, who won a couple of close title chases, agreed. "He's quick enough,"

Vettel said. "I'm sure he'll go for it. It's only over when it's over."

Rosberg may dictate when the end comes. He's been a different driver since his moment of post-race infamy in 2015.

After Hamilton clinched last season's title in Austin, he playfully tossed Rosberg his podium cap in the drivers' cool-down room. Rosberg immediately threw it back at him in a petulant moment captured on live television.

The split-second reaction symbolized the meltdown of Rosberg's title efforts and the relationship between two

drivers who became friends when they were coming up through the junior circuits.

"Last year this race obviously didn't work out so great for me, so I'm looking forward to getting back out there and doing my best to get it right this time," Rosberg said.

Rosberg emerged from his Austin disaster with steely determination. He won the final three races of 2015 and the first four of 2016. A mid-season slump allowed Hamilton to charge back from a 43-point deficit, but Rosberg has been coolly efficient of late with a run of four wins in the last five races.

Rosberg refused to be pulled into thinking about the pressure facing both drivers or whether he's walking a tightrope of emotion with a title so close within reach. His father, Keke Rosberg, won the championship in 1982.

"I don't know how much pressure Lewis is putting on himself … I'm going to focus on this weekend," Rosberg said.

Rosberg also said he won't settle for the safety of second

MLA Lahowal Mr. Rituparna Baruah throughing the 1st handball by opening the 29th Inter District Sub Junior Hand Ball competition held in Chowkidingee field in Dibrugarh on Friday. Pic - Manoj Pandey

place on Sunday.

"I will try to push for the win, 100 percent," he said. "With the car I have, I can win on any track against Lewis."

Hamilton's title hopes took a huge dent two races ago in Malaysia when he was leading late but was forced to retire with an engine problem.

Hamilton looked dejected when he got out of the car day and said it felt like "something or someone" was working against him.

"A higher power," he later said. "It feels right now that the man above or any higher power is intervening a little bit.

Like the previous two seasons, Mercedes has dominated the field with 15 wins in 17 races.

No other driver has factored into the title chase.

If he loses the title, Hamilton said he'll "try to take it like a man because you can't win them all."

"Look at all the champions in the past who have who have won championships and lost championships," he said. "It is part of the game." (PTI)

India-Australia four-match Test series from February 23 India's four match Test series at home against Australia will begin with first Test in Pune from February 23.

New Delhi, Oct 21: India announced the schedule of the much awaited four-match BorderGavaskar Trophy that will begin from Feburary 23 in Pune. India and Australia will play four Tests matches, beginning Feburary 23 and will go on till March 29.

The first Test, scheduled to be played in Pune, will begin from Feburary 23 and continue till Feburary 27. Both teams will then travel to Bengaluru for the second match which begins on March 4 and continues till March 8. A break of one week after

India will play four Test matches against Australia in February-March in 2017. two Tests, the teams will head towards the eastern part of India and

play the third match in Ranchi, starting March 16.(PTI)

Ilie Nastase named Romania captain for Fed Cup Bucharest,Oct 21: The Romanian Tennis Federation (FRT) on Friday appointed Ilie Nastase as captain of the country's women's team playing in the Fed Cup. The FRT said that this appointment is part of the plan to concentrate all the values of the Romanian tennis around this team, which has real opportunities to win the

Fed Cup, reports Efe. Considered as the best Romanian tennis player till date, the 70-year-old Nastase's first assignment will be Romania's game against Belgium here on February 11.

Alina Cercel has been retained as the team coach. The team comprises of World No.4 Simona Halep, Irina Begu, Monica Niculescu, Raluca

Olaru and Andreea Mitu.

The Romanian captain was president of the FRT from 1997-2008 and was also captain of men's team that played in the Davis Cup in 1994.

Romania dropped this year from the first category of the Fed Cup after falling 2-3 against Czech Republic in February and 1-4 against Germany in April. (Agencies)

Stokes' late strike puts England even Chittagong, Oct 21: Tamim Iqbal scored a half-century as Bangladesh made a solid start on Friday against England in the first Test in Chittagong before skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was bowled just before the close.

England paceman Ben Stokes dismissed Rahim three overs before the stumps after the Bangladesh captain looked to have taken his side to a comfortable position with a solid innings of 48 runs.

Bangladesh survived some anxious moments after Rahim's dismissal to finish the second day with 221-5, trailing England's first innings total of 293 runs by 72 with five wickets in hand.

Shakib Al Hasan, who shared 58 runs with Rahim for the fifth wicket, remained unbeaten on 31 overnight along with night-watchman Shafiul Islam, who was yet to open his account.

Tamim earlier top-scored with 78 for the home side, his 19th half-century and fifth against England, before he got a top edge when he attempted a cut off off-spinner Gareth Batty.

Tamim, who hit seven fours, added 90 runs with Mahmudullah (38) for the third wicket to steady Bangladesh's innings after Moeen Ali took two wickets in one over before the lunch break to rattle them.

Tamim got a reprieve at 55 through a television review after being given out just before the tea break.

Adil Rashid, who earlier

Ben Stokes dropped a tough catch of Tamim at 28 off Moeen, broke the left-handers' partnership when he had Mahmudullah caught at slip by Joe Root.

The hosts had been 29-2 at lunch after Moeen bowled opener Imrul Kayes for 21 off his very first ball and then had Mominul Haque caught by Stokes at slip for a duck.

Earlier, 18-year-old debutant off-spinner Mehedi Hasan claimed the final wicket of Stuart Broad to finish with 6-80 as England added just 35 runs to their overnight 258-7 before they were all out.

Left-arm Taijul Islam took the other two wickets that fell in the morning in England's innings to return with the figures of 2-47.

Taijul dismissed overnight batsman Chris Woakes (36) off the first ball of the day as Mominul took the catch at forward short leg.

Adil Rashid was given out leg-before off Mehedi in the

next over but the decision was overturned after review as replays indicated the ball had been missing leg stump.

Rashid made good use of his fortune to score a brisk 26 before a fine diving catch at cover by Sabbir Rahman off Taijul ended his innings.

Broad also profited from the Decision Review System as he was given out by umpire Kumar Dharmasena off Taijul before it was overturned.

In a nightmare Test for the umpires, with eight of their decisions overturned in five sessions, Bangladesh also benefited from the review system at the end of the England innings.

Umpire Chris Gaffaney initially declared Broad not out of Mehedi, but wicketkeeper Rahim immediately demanded a review which showed the ball took a sharp edge before going into the hands of the captain. (PTI)

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