September 21, 2016, Wednesday by THE EASTERN TODAY

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ASSENG/2015/64205

Vol. II

Issue 68

Dibrugarh, Wednesday, September 21, 2016

NORWAY ON A KILLING SPREE: PLANS TO KILL 47 OF ITS REMAINING 68 WOLVES!

Nagarik Suraksha Samity protest against NECF Coal India Limited Margherita :Today more than 700 people of Baragolai region gathered at Margherita SDO(C) office and Staged Dharna against NECF Coal India Limited Margherita as proposed plan of open cast mining is to be set up at Baragolai region where more than 60 houses shall be demolished as for more than five decades the people are residing there. P-2

CM Sonowal flags off 20 vehicles for better road safety at Guwahati Guwahati: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off 20 vehicles for better road safety at a function held at Assam Secretariat this evening. It may be mentioned that 13 vehicles were given to Assam Police and seven to Transport Department to sensitise road safety mechanism. P-3

GST council secretariat to have IRS officers New Delhi : The Centre will look into the composition of Goods and Services Tax (GST) council secretariat to ensure postings of Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers in its key positions, an association representing them said today. P-5

India ferries petroleum products via Bangladesh for Tripura Agartala : India for the first time on Saturday transported petroleum products through Bangladesh to Tripura, officials said. P-7

North Korea hails 'successful' test of new rocket engine Seoul : North Korea has successfully tested a new, high-powered rocket engine, state media said Tuesday, a move Seoul said was designed to showcase its progress towards being able to target the US east coast. The ground test comes less than two weeks after Pyongyang detonated what it said was a miniaturised atomic bomb. P-8

Career in Air hostess Air hostess, often called stewardess, cabin crew or flight attendant, is one of the female members, whom an airline company employs to be a part of the aircrew. Their primary job role includes ensuring the comfort and safety of passengers traveling in different kinds of flights. P-9

100,000 deaths from Indonesia forest fires, study estimates

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CHINKOI FC CRUSH KINGFISHER 4-1, HAWK-16 WIN

DONALD TRUMP CALLS FOR SPEEDY TRIAL OF ARRESTED AFGHAN BOMBER RAHAMI

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ET CAPSULES

Price -

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HC refuses to interfere in Kaziranga eviction drive PTI Guwahati, Sept 20

Govt assures to clear all encroachments of Assam

The Gauhati High Court on Monday refused to interfere in the eviction drive started in Kaziranga National Park, home to one-horned rhinoceros.

A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Sept 20

The petitioners sought relief to protect their stay at Bandardubi village until compensation is received by the occupiers. A division bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Paran Kumar Phukan refused to interfere in the eviction drive after hearing a writ petition filed by one Md Jalal Uddin and three other residents of Bandardubi village of Nagaon District against the ongoing eviction drive in the national park. The petitioners' contention was they were facing eviction from the park and sought a direction for payment of compensation for their dislocation and protection of their stay at Bandardubi village until compensation was received. The petition had also

A File Photo for representation only.

referred to the minutes of a meeting of the Assam government on September 5, wherein it was projected that while eviction was the outcome of the direction given by the court in its order of October 9, 2015, disbursal of compensation for the evicted was not ruled out. The court, after hearing the case, held that the status of the occupiers of Bandardubi and Deusur Chang villages was illegal. The bench had earlier noted that public interest

requires clearance of the national park from all encroachers and accordingly, the application concerned filed by the villagers of Bandardubi and Deusur Chang villages was dismissed. After hearing of the case, the court held there was no justification to stop the eviction drive. It observed that the government has decided to verify the entitlement of compensation and it would do the needful in accordance with the decision taken in the meeting held on September 5.

In an all out attack on the previous Assam government, which was headed by the Congress party led by party veteran Tarun Gogoi, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that after evicting three villages near the Kaziranga National Park, the government is now focusing on the illegal encroachments in Mayong area in Morigaon district. In a sharp attack on Gogoi and his then forest minister Rakibul Hussain, Sarma said that the previous Congress government in the state had also sanctioned a Lower Primary School, an Anganwadi centre and was building a road in Banderdubi area where the government carried out an eviction drive on Monday. "The former Congress government in Assam had done all this in violation of a Supreme Court order and an order passed by the Gauhati

2 days after Uri, Eight militants killed as Army foils infiltration PTI Uri/New Delhi, Sept 20

The spokesman refused to comment on the number of militants killed in the ongoing operations so far, saying details will be made public in due course. He, however, said one soldier was killed in the operation in Nowgam sector.

Barely two days after the terror attack in Uri, two infiltration bids were made from across the border in Kashmir today but they were foiled by the Army in an encounter in which 10 terrorists and a jawan were killed even as Pakistani troops violated ceasefire and fired at Indian positions. As the Government mulled various options on India's response to the cross-border terror attack on Sunday in which 18 jawans were killed, a crucial meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS) has been

Two infiltration bids were made from across the border in Kashmir today

convened tomorrow. "Two infiltration bids by militants from across the Line of Control(LoC) have

been foiled in Uri and Nowgam sectors today. At both places the operations are in progress," an army spokesman said in Srinagar.

Army sources in Delhi, however, said that 10 terrorists were killed in the encounter with the army in the Uri sector. The bodies have not yet been recovered, they added. The sources said a group of 15 terrorists had attempted to infiltrate into Indian territory through the LoC. Contd. on Page 10

High Court in 2015. The government had also given electricity connection to the illegal encroachers there," said Sarma. He said the government had not fixed a timeframe to clear the illegal take-overs of lands but all the encroachments will be cleared gradually in a timebound manner. "We are going slow on this but it will be done for sure," he said, adding that it was also one of the poll promises of the BJP. "The Congress government not only disobeyed the orders of the apex court but violated it to settle the illegal encroachers and provided them with basic amenities," he said, adding that it was a plan of the Congress to intentionally change the demography of the state, particularly towards the Upper Assam areas for their petty vote bank politics.

Contd. on Page 4

“The Central Government is very much concern about overall development of the rural areas of the North Eastern States,’’ stated Union Minister of Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, Drinking Water and Sanitation Narendra Singh Tomar while interacting with the Members of Parliaments of the North Eastern States today at Vivanta by Taj in Guwahati. The Union Minister in his deliberation stated that the Central Government will consider on emphasizing the state’s specific problems as a special case while formulating action plans. While highlighting on the priorities of rural development, Union Minister Tomar stressed on the united efforts of Centre-State and informed about the vision of implementing Rural Road connectivity to all eligible habitations by 2019, construction of one crore houses under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (Rural) by 2019, reaching out to four crore women through 40 lakh women SHGs by 2019, Skill development of 7 to 10 lakh rural youths per year, doubling income of the

Implementing Rural Road connectivity to all eligible habitations. Construction of one crore houses under Pradhan Mantri Narendra Singh Tomar Awaas Yojana (Rural). Doubling Skill development of 7 to 10 lakh rural youths income of the farmers. per year. Special attention Use of MGNREGA for livelihood expansion and to drought affected areas. development. farmers, use of MGNREGA for livelihood expansion and development, construction of 5 lakh farm ponds and 10 lakh Vermi compost units and special attention to drought affected areas etc. Addressing the session, Union Minister of State for Rural Development Ram Kripal Yadav dealt in length on the key issues of rural development, its monitoring system and good governance framework.

Environment & Forest Horticulture Hydro Power Thangwang Wangham Power (Electrical) Shri Gojen Gadi WCD, SJETA & Land Management Phurpa Tsering Health Services Jambey Tashi RWD Passang Dorjee Sona Tourism Bamang Felix Education Markio Tado Food & Civil Supply Likha Saaya Transport, Supply & Transport Gum Tayeng WRD Tapuk Taku Tax & Execise Kumsi Sidisow PHED Karya Bagang Industries, Textiles Handlooms & Handicrafts Nikh Kamin Disaster Management Techi Kaso UD, Housing, Town Planning & Municipal Affairs Tirong Aboh Geology & Mining Mutchu Mithi PWD Pani Taram Home Mama Natung

Rural Development & Panchayati Raj

Tatung Jamoh Nyamar Karbak Dikto Yekar Zingnu Namchoom

Agriculture Sport & Youth Affairs Art & Culture Planning

Pema Khandu have distributed portfolios for the appointed parliamentary Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh. On 18 Sept 26 MLAs were appointed as parliamentary secretary.

Assam CM thanks Modi for choosing Kamakhya Temple A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Sept 20

'Swachta Abhiyan' is a target specific pilot project under 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' which will be carried out in ten iconic places, spread all over the country, primarily having religious and spiritual significance. The places which have been selected are Kamakhya Temple in Assam, Vaishno Devi Temple in Jammu and Kashmir, Taj Mahal in Uttar Pradesh, Tirupati Temple in Andhra Pradesh, Golden Temple in Punjab, Ajmer Sharif in Rajasthan, Jagannath Temple in Odisha, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Maharashtra, Manikarnika Ghat in Uttar Pradesh, Meenakshi Temple in Tamil Nadu. A total of 100 such iconic places are planned for 'Swachta Abhiyan' and after completion of scheme in the initial 10 places it

Central Government keen about the overall development of NE State: Union Minister Tomar ROAD MAP FOR NORTH-EAST

Chow Tewa Mein Punji Mara Phosum Khimhun

‘Swachta Abhiyan’ to be carried out in 10 iconic religious places of the country

Union Minister interacts with the MPs of the NE States in Guwahati A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Sept 20

Portfolios of Parliamentary Secretary

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain stressed on taking necessary steps for maintenance of rural infrastructures including road and rural electrification. Participating in the Interactive session, Guwahati MP Bijoya Chakravarty, Mangaldai MP Ramen Deka, Kaliabor MP Gaurav Gogoi, Jorhat MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, Silchar MP Susmita Dev, Kokrajhar MP Naba Kumar Sarania, Manipur MP Thangso Baite and Mizoram MP C L Ruala in their speech drew special attention to the area specific constraints in implementing the rural development schemes. They also raised the drinking water problem in Guwahati and other parts, issue of AADHAAR cards in Assam, flood problem, soil conditions hindering the construction of roads, salaries of rural development officials, generalized scheme guidelines, problems in implementation of schemes in sixth scheduled areas, non inclusion of tea garden areas and inter-state border areas for implementation of rural development schemes. Among others the Conference was attended by Union Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation Ramesh C Jigajinagi and senior officials of Ministries of Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, Government of India.

will be rolled out to 90 such places. Sonowal thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for choosing to start the national programme from Kamakhya Temple. "Goddess Kamakhya's blessings will guide everyone to make this cleanliness drive a grand success and Assam will strive hard to make Prime Minster Modi's dream of clean India a reality," he said. Reiterating that cleanliness is next to godliness, Chief Minister said that, Kamakhya Temple is visited every year by thousands of national and international tourists and devotees and it is everyone's prime duty to keep the shrine clean to spread the message of 'Swachta Abhiyan', he said. People's behaviour will have to change for inculcating the

habit of clean and hygienic living and awareness campaign would be carried out for this purpose under 'Swachta Abhiyan', he said. The Chief Minister also called upon the priests of the shrine to make the scheme a success. Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation Narendra Singh Tomar, who was also present on the occasion, said that all members of the civil society must cooperate with the government agencies to make 'Swachta Abhiyan' a great success. Union Minister of State for Rural Development Ram Kripal Yadav, Assam PHED Minister Rihon Daimary and PHED Minister Naba Kumar Doley and senior officials of the state government were also present on the occasion.

Intimation regarding accident An accident has occurred at about 1530 hrs on 31 Aug 2016 at Km 66.900(NEAR Tidding River) on TohangamHayuliang road in which Mahindra Bolero BA No.10B-14940 driven by GS-177428F MTDVR Gde-II Balbir Singh has met with accident while returning from sector visit Balbir Singh by Shri Devaki Nandan, EE (Civ) Officer Commanding 1444 BCC (GREF). Vehicle Bolero BA No.10B-14940 has been recovered in damaged condition. Also Officer Commanding Shri Devaki Nandan, EE (Civ) has been recovered in injured state. But MTDVR Balbir Singh has not been found till date. MT DVR Balbir Singh belongs with sikh community and he was in khaki uniform. Though search operation is still going on in Lohit River. If anybody finds him kindly intimate us on following address:HQ 1444 BCC, GREF Camp AT : Jengthu PO : Namsai Dist : Namsai (Arunachal Pradesh) Telephone No.: 03806202097/Mob No.08132897343 Major Singh Mob No. : 09417593573

An amount of Rs 50,000/- will be awarded to the person, giving information regarding Shri Balbir singh

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PAGE 10

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

CITY

PAGE 2

Dibrugarh, Tinsukia

Nagarik Suraksha Samity protest against NECF Coal India Limited

No impact of AAMSU bandh in Dibrugarh town on Tuesday with public welcoming the Kaziranga eviction drive. Pic Manoj Pandey

HOROSCOPE Aries

Have you been feeling less than your normal self, Aries? If so, today you may suddenly regain your strength and be raring to go. You might even be tempted to start a rigorous exercise program. Go ahead and start, but pace yourself and try not to make up for lost time all at once. You need to ease into these things. Maybe start with walking and yoga.

Taurus

Love and romance aren't just part of your life today, Taurus, they're your whole life. If you're single, an exciting potential partner could have you reeling. If you're currently involved, recent events may have created such a powerful bond between you and your beloved that you think it will never end. Consider what led to this feeling and find a way to repeat it. This can only benefit you.

Gemini

Does your house look like a cyclone hit it? Your tidy nature should drive you to clean it up. In the course of wading through the mess, don't be surprised if you discover some objects you thought you'd lost forever. Once you finish, you'll probably find that the place looks beautiful, better than it did before it was messed up. Something good can indeed come out of chaos.

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Libra

An exciting phone call or email could come from a friend who has some great news for you, Cancer. Love, romance, and success in the arts are all highlighted now, and this communication could bring it to your attention. Conversations could bring inspiration your way, and your mind is apt to be going a thousand miles an hour for most of the day. Make the most of it! A group could meet in your home today, Leo, perhaps friends who are involved in the arts or meditation or spiritual studies. This group is likely to be close, probably through mutual interests, so the evening should be both intellectually stimulating and emotionally gratifying. What takes place today could also bring healing of some kind, either for you or for someone else. Communication involving romance could come unexpectedly today, Virgo. You may get a loving message from a romantic partner, or you could hear of a wedding to take place in your circle of friends. You could also read a love poem or romance novel, or write something along the same lines yourself! Someone might also express affection to you. Don't be surprised. You deserve it! A chance to increase your income by participating in an artistic project of some kind could come your way today, Libra. You might take part in the creative work or you could promote it in a business capacity. Whichever it is, you're likely to form some firm friendships in the process. If you're single, one of your colleagues might turn out to be a potential love partner. Enjoy!

Scorpio

Have you been feeling stagnant lately, Scorpio, as if your life is going nowhere? What happens today could change that. An unusual group event could put you in touch with people who open new intellectual, career, or spiritual doors for you. Stimulating conversations could turn your head toward opportunities that you were never aware of before. Onward and upward!

Sagittarius

Inspiration could hit today, Sagittarius. It's a beautiful feeling, but you might not be sure how to channel it. It could represent a spiritual breakthrough, artistic inspiration, increased understanding of others, or all of the above. What's almost certain is that you'll want to spend time alone to take it all in and figure out how to use it. Don't dismiss any possibility, however outrageous it may seem.

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

You might have the chance to meet new people in interesting fields, perhaps from foreign lands, Capricorn. Your conversational abilities are at an alltime high, so you'll not only enjoy everyone's company but they'll enjoy yours, too. Intriguing ideas and useful information could have your mind buzzing all night. Try to take a walk in the evening to clear your head. Information gleaned from surprising sources could lead to sudden, fortunate career breaks, Aquarius. You might explore totally new fields, although this could be temporary. Your efforts should attract the attention of those who matter and eventually lead to advancement or a raise. Don't be afraid to continue to explore these sources. Keep up the good work! A passionate encounter with a love partner might cement the bond between you so thoroughly that you start talking about commitment or even a wedding. A romantic haze may permeate your interactions. Still, exercise some restraint in expressing your feelings. Hitting your friend with too much at once could have the opposite effect from the one you're hoping for. Be patient!

Mithun Baruah Margherita, Sept. 20:Today more than 700 people of Baragolai region gathered at Margherita SDO(C) office and Staged Dharna against NECF Coal India Limited Margherita as proposed plan of open cast mining is to be set up at Baragolai region where more than 60 houses shall be demolished as for more than five decades the people are residing there. The 700 protesters were led by Nagarik Suraksha Samity President Prakash Sharma and Secretary Amit Debnath where they started the Protest Rally from Margherita St James School to Margherita SDO(C) office by holding various placards and shouted various slogans against NECF Coal India Limited Margherita. Amit Debnath Secretary of Nagarik Suraksha Samity said Baragolai Colliery which falls under NECF Coal India Limited Margherita where people living here for many decades but NECF Coal India Limited’s decision to Set up Open Cast mining have turn into a nightmare for

Army ESM rally at Naharkatiya

Army ex- servicemen participating in a rally at Joypur. Pic: Manoj Pandey A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Sept 20 : A rally for the ex – servicemen (ESM)was organized by Army Camp Joypur of Dao Division. Altogether, 150 ESM with their families from Tingkhong, Naharani, Duliajan, Naharkatia, Namrup, Dilligat, Dangrikumar, and Joypur were present at Army camp Joypur. The Rally was aimed at addressing the grievances of ex- servicemen and to inform the ESM fraternity of the benefits given by the government. The ESM were conveyed about the welfare programmes which are be-

ing implemented for them by OIC ECHS and Secretary Zila Sainik board Dibrugarh. SDO Naharkatiya Mrs Sampriti Goswami and SDPO Sri Partha Vijoy Dutta extended a warm welcome to all and assured for any civil administrative and disciplinary issue to be resolved. The ESM were also educated on the various carrier opportunities being given by the Indian Army for their children. Canteen Smart Card Registration, Guidance for joining Armed Forces, Suvigya cell, Redressal of grievances were some of the key features ESM rally .The efforts were appreciated by ESM and many of their problems were solved.

Teach Next Smart classes inaugurates at VKV

many people living at Baragolai as the people residing there will be homeless. “We demand that the Proposed Open Cast mining at Baragolai should be cancelled, To Cancel the order of eviction which NECF Coal India Limited Margherita have given to the residents of Baragolai region, To open the Under Ground coal mining

and to give employment to 100 Percent Educated youths of Margherita Constituency and to Construct roads of Baragolai region and to Supply safe drinking water to the residents of Baragolai region. If our demands are not fulfilled at the earliest than we shall be bound to intensify strong agitation in the coming days with the Coopera-

tion of Margherita citizens”, said Prakash Sharma and Amit Debnath. A memorandum was today given to Margherita SDO(C) which was recieved on behalf by Margherita Election officer Jagadish Brahma. A 12 hour Baragolai Bandh was also called by Nagarik Suraksha Samity where Business establishment and Plying of Vehicles were also not seen.

State Health Department with UNDP launches eVIN at Namrup

ET Correspondent Dibrugarh, Sept 20: To give a major boost to the mechanism of preventive health care especially among children, the State Health Department has introduced an innovative Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It’s an integrated solution to vaccine management, which will provide adequate information on the stocks and flows of vaccine along with the storage temperature across all the cold chain point in Assam. As a part of this initiative eVIN has already been launched in Dibrugarh by a team led by Dr. Deepok Mili, Regional Project Officer (UNDP)) at hotel Little Palace, Dibrugarh in a meeting

held yesterday on Sept 19 in which welcome address was delivered by Mr Pankaj Kr Bordoloi , SCO-IT (Dibrugarh Region). He too narrated the system of eVIN along with its utility and benefits and also pointed out various issues of vaccination in Assam. Dr. Deepak Mili in his keynote address stated about the use and purpose of the eVIN for systematic stock keeping, proper records and validity of vaccines etc. A training programme was also held where a total 22 numbers of Cold chain handlers from 11 cold chain point were trained on mobile & eVIN based application. Moreover another 24 members from 12 cold chain points of Dibrugarh are being trained in the next phase this training programme to be commenced on 22 and 23 sept respec-

tively. A host of notable dignitaries including Dr. Sunity Gogoi, DIO, Dr. Udayan Baruah, Joint Director, Dr. Bhabajyoti Bora, SMO from WHO graced the occasion with their presence and cooperation. It’s important to mention here that In Assam, nearly 1,700 government staff including vaccine store-keepers and cold chain handlers are being trained on mobile and Web-based eVIN application. More than 900 temperature loggers will be installed at over 800 vaccine stores and cold chain points in all 27 districts for integrated solution to vaccine management. Thus the day long programme rounded off with providing Smart phones to 11 members from each cold chain point.

SPORTS

Chetia Gaon Surjoyadaya Sangha win Sports Correspondent Dibrugarh, Sept 20: Chetia Gaon Surjoyadaya Sangha defeated Chabua Veteran XI 2-0 in the 10th Gold Cup Football Tournament organised by Surjoyadaya Sangha Chetia Gaon under Chabua Sports Association at Chetia Gaon field in Chabua

today. Chetia Gaon Surjoyadaya Sangha put his team ahead in the 18th minute through Biplob Gogoi with a powerful strike from the left flank. Mithu Dowerah received a pass from the midfield and found the back of the net in

the 57th minute. Chabua Veteran XI tried to come back in the match but all goes in vain because the players missed some crucial scoring opportunities. Trinayanjyoti Sangha will lock horn with ABCY, Chabua on September 24.

Cinema Galleria Cinema Dibrugarh Junction Mall Screen-1

Chairperson of Centre for Computer Studies, Dibrugarh University Prof Surajit Borkotokey inaugurating the Teach Next Smart Classes at Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya in Dibrugarh. Pic - Manoj Pandey

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"KOTHANODI" A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Sept 20: 'Teach Next Smart Classes' was today inaugurated at Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya by Professor Surajit Borkotoky, chair person of centre for computer studies, Dibrugarh University. Hardikji Meheta, Jivanvrati Karyakarta of Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari, Professor. Shrutidhara Mahanta, Dibrugarh

University, Professor Dr. Vasant Barve, former Principal, Engineering Colleges, Maharashtra B. Kamalakant Regional Administrative officer of VKSPV, Guwahati graced the occasion as guests. The programme was attended by Parents and Students of the school. B.M. Naidu, Vice Principal gave the welcome address and R. D. Savdeykar Principal, has offered vote of thanks during the program.

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DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

BSF trope apprehends 1 Indian cattle smuggler at Cooch Behar A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Sep 20: Troops of Guwahati Frontier of Border Security Force apprehended 01 Indian cattle smuggler today from the International Boundary in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal, while he was trying to smuggle cattle heads from India to Bangladesh. The apprehended cattle smuggler who was identified as Kajal Das, (20yrs), S/o Shyamal Das, R/o VPO- Bamanhat, PSDinhata, Distt- Cooch Behar, West Bengal was apprehended by the troops of BOP Kalamati, while he was trying to smuggle cattle heads from India to Bangladesh. 08 cattle heads was also seized from the place of apprehension. He has been handed over to local police for further legal action. Beside, BSF troops of Guwahati frontier seized 343 cattle heads having an approximate value of Rs. 14,30,320 on the intervening night of 19/20 Sept.2016. BSF troops are always alert to the issues of transborder crimes and illegal infiltration and are making all out efforts to prevent commission such crimes.

AROUND THE

STATE

CM Sonowal flags off 20 vehicles for better road safety at Guwahati A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Sep 20: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off 20 vehicles for better road safety at a function held at Assam Secretariat this evening. It may be mentioned that 13 vehicles were given to Assam Police and seven to Transport Department to sensitise road safety mechanism. Speaking on the occasion Chief Minister Sonowal said, “We need to be careful to avert accidents as everybody has holidays but road safety does not”. He said that the in view of increasing number of road accidents, people should be extra cautious to prevent them. He also mooted the

idea of innovative means of using sign postings and other road safety related messages conspicuously on either side of the roads to catch the attention of the drivers and make them more attentive during driving.

PWD (Roads) took the initiative in handing over the vehicles under Assam State Roads Project to Police and Transport Department which will be adequately used for the purpose of road safety.

He also pitched in for interdepartmental synergy for creating awareness towards road safety and avert road related accidents. He said that road safety awareness meetings should be organised even at the gaon panchayat level for people’s awareness towards road safety and asked Transport and other line departments to take a lead in this regard.

The World Bank funded project will subsequently be replicated in other areas of the State. Assam PWD Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, MLAs Terosh Gowala, Bimal Bora, Mrinal Saikia, Suman Haripriya, Chief Secretary Vinod Kumar Pipersenia, Additional Chief Secretary T.Y. Das, PWD Commissioner Mohan Chandra Boro and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

It may be mentioned that the

Assam govt. health scheme announced A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Sept 20: In a much welcome move and keeping an important election promise, the Assam Government today announced an insurance scheme which will be operated by the Assam Government itself. The scheme will cost only Rs 100 per person, and the charge will be waived off in case of BPL families. The scheme will provide a cover of around Rs. 2 lakhs and

treatment of Cancer, Urinary diseases, Neurology, Heart problem and burn cases. Giving details of the scheme, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said it will cost Rs 200 crore to the state exchequer annually and the state government will issue a smart card at the rate of Rs 100 per person. The scheme will start from October 2 this year. For the insurance holders,

the government is planning to issue smart cards, and using it a patients will be able to get cashless treatment at all empanelled hospitals. The scheme will be launched as a pilot project on October 2, and will only cover those patients who have already applied under the scheme. “All new applications will be considered only from April 1 onwards,” said Sarma.

PAGE 3

90% of cigarette products comply new 85 % pictorial norms of health warning tobacco packets, says VHAA survey A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Sept 20: Ninety percent of the cigarette products sold across Assam comply with the new 85 percent pictorial norms of displaying health warning tobacco packets, according to a recent survey. The survey found that all the leading brands of cigarettes and many of the leading brands of the smokeless tobacco and Bidis sold across Assam are displaying the new pictorial health warnings covering 85 percent of tobacco product packages and complying with the law, as mandated by the Government of India since April 1, 2016. It shows that 51 % of the smokeless tobacco products and 25 % of bidi products are complying with the new pictorial health warning rule in Assam. The survey conducted by Voluntary Health Association of Assam (VHAA), Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI) and several other local voluntary bodies was carried out in eight states of India (Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan and West Bengal). The survey by the public health groups, which was done during June-July, 2016, two months after implementation of new rules in India shows that contrary

to the claim of major tobacco companies’, that health warning cannot be covered in any manner when the pack is sealed or opened. The Survey results clearly prove that printing the new 85% warnings is practically feasible on ALL tobacco products. The evidence is indisputable and shows that tobacco manufacturers are capable of complying with all the provisions of the government's mandate, which includes a picture and the text message “WARNING Smoking causes throat cancer in case of smoking forms of products and “Warning Tobacco causes mouth cancer” in case of smokeless products;” located on top in both front and back of the pack; covering 85 percent of the principle display area with a minimum size of 3.5cm wide and 4 cm high; text in English, Hindi or local Indian language. The survey in Assam was conducted by collecting samples of pre-selected cigarette, smokeless tobacco and bidi brands in the city of Guwahati. The study found the following leading brands to be fully compliant with the new 85 percent pictorial warnings on both sides, as mandated in with the law that came into effect from 1 April 2016:

Ø Cigarettes: ITC Limited - Gold Flake (regular, king size), Navy Cut, Flake, Capstan. VST Industries- Total, Special, Charminar, Charms. Ø Smokeless tobacco: Tulsi 00, Vimal V1 Zarda, Kamala Pasand double black zarda, Shikhar S 10 zarda, Bandar Khaini and Raja Khaini Ø Bidis: Mother India Bidi. State Nodal Officer of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) Assam, Dr. Arundhati Deka praising VHAA for carrying out the survey to find out compliance level of the 85% health warning rules on tobacco products said that Health Department and other enforcement agencies are trying their best to make 100 % compliance of the new pictorial health warning rule in all tobacco products. “The survey proved that pictorial warning covering 85% of the pack area can be printed on tobacco products contrary to claims made by the tobacco industry that it is practically not feasible. A large graphic health warning discourage initiation by new users, especially children and youth and also remind users of the ill-effects of consumption and encourages them to quit,” Dr. Deka said. Executive Secretary of the Voluntary Health Association of Assam (VHAA)

Ruchira Neog stated that this study demonstrates that the Government of India made the right decision when it forged ahead, despite tobacco industry resistance, and mandated 85 percent pictorial health warnings to protect millions of Indians from the growing tobacco epidemic in the country. “These new and larger pictorial warnings will allow people to see clearly the devastating truth about tobacco consumption that leads to death and disease for majority of its users. Scientific studies demonstrate that larger pictorial warning labels on tobacco packages are an effective way to inform and bring greater awareness about the serious and adverse health impact of tobacco use especially among youth, children and the illiterate,” she added. The new graphic health warning rules also need to be applied to imported cigarettes and other tobacco products for sale in India. The sales effected through the duty free shops within India, would also need to comply with these rules. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare had already issued directions to the concerned authorities in this regard. The Assam Home Department also recently issued instruction to all SPs and DCs to implement the new pictorial rule in letter and spirit.

Anomalies and Corruption at Digboi CHC to the peak Assam Governor assures for overall development, asks cooperation from people

The governor while meeting departmental heads, employees, institutional heads, NGOs, businessmen, social workers, freedom fighters in his tour has asked the deputy commissioners to make reports on particular hardship face by the common people and submit latest by a week at his Raj Bhawan office at Guwahati.

is also Chancellor of Assam Agricultural University (AAU) and Assam Women University met delegates from AAU administrative officials, Teachers Association’s members, AAU Employees Association and AAU students union and Assam Women University faculty members and Registrar. Senior administrative officials from AAU with whom he have discussed issues relating to teaching, research and extension which was elaborately discussed by Dr. Girindra Nath Hazarika, Director Research, Dr. Tanu Goswami, Registrar, Dr. Dipti Kumar Bora-Dean, Dr. Dipak Kumar Bora-director Students Welfare, Dr. RK Saud-asst director cum PRO among Ms Sewali Bordodloi-Registrar Assam Women University.

Mr. Banwarilal Purihit who

Moreover the Chancellor of

Bijoy Shankar Handique Jorhat, Sept 20: “I will very strictly monitor and look for the overall development for Assam through the central Government schemes which will only help for double development for the state of Assam, said his Excellency Banwarilal Purohit, thegovernor of Assam while talking to reporters at the Jorhat Circuit House this evening today.

AAU highly appreciated the AAU team for their outstanding research and development works and for which the University managed to beg two national awards in a year and assured for any kind of help from the centre which will help to grow both the universities for the students’ fraternity for tomorrow. The governor who is from the media background welcomed and congratulated young media team from Jorhat, he praised Sarbananda Sonowal, the Chief Minister of Assam who has been trying hard to turn Assam into a cleaner state and has been working for 18 hours a day so that they too chalk out problems which the governor called upon the people of Assam to corporate and give a helping hand to the dynamic chief minister.

Heritage MG train in Dima Hasao to be revived, assures Rajen Gohain

ET Correspondent Haflong, Sept 20: Ultimately, the aspiration and long standing demand of the people Dima Hasao to be fulfilled as the Minister of State, Railways Rajen Gohain assured that the Heritage train with steam engine to be revived when a team from Haflong met him on Tuesday informed Samuel Changsan, Executive Member, N C Hills Autonomous Council. He also said that Minister called up his officers in their presence and instructed to immediately take initiative to stop the theft or destruction of old MG tracks while the project was being re-

vived. It is to be mentioned here that as the railway discarded the portion from Mahur to Harangajao when the Lumding – Silcahr MG was converted to BG, the people of more than 240 villages along the MG track lost the prime means of communication and also suffered a great economic setback, perhaps for the relief of these suffered people of these villages, a project in the name Mahur – Harangajao was initiated and even some works were also done in this regards but all of sudden the project was dropped by the Railway authority without assigning

any reasons. The NCHAC and also all most all the NGOs of Dima Hasao approached concerned authority time and again and the efforts were continuing for last several years. As soon as this information reached Haflong people from every walk of life began to offer their heartfelt gratefulness towards the MoS, Rajaen Gohain and each and every members of the team who have convinced the MoS for this Heritage MG train in Dima Hasao. People are of the opinion that this Heritage MG train would bring a sea change in the life of Dima Hasao people and boost the tourism sector to its peak.

ET Correspondent DigboI, Sept 20: When Hiamta Biswa Sarmah the Health Minister of Assam has been striving hard to streamline the allegedly infected existing system prevailing in the health department across the State for the interest of the people of all class including women and children on priority list to ensure basic health amenities, the picturesque of Digboi CHC which the minister himself dreamt of making it as model hospital in Assam speaks otherwise in ground realities. The Digboi CHC located amidst the heart of the Oil town equipped almost with all the basic amenities and technologies has been known for its corruption, irregularities and anomalies including the delayed reporting of the doctors and staffs on their regular as-

signed duty.

According to sources at the hospital and patients being admitted and some discharged from hospital recently alleged that they had been asked to pay for undergoing pre natal operation (maternity) and appendix operation amounting ranging from four thousand to six thousand rupees. The patients also reported of paying extra charges for certain tests without money receipts from the cash counter. The doctors also insisted the patients to go for conducting certain test and medical examination to private lab or nursing home almost every day where the poor patients from the rural pockets including Pengaree, Bordumsa, Balijan, Borjan and so on had to pay exorbitant charges than the prices fixed by the Govern-

ment of Assam for all the government run hospitals across the state.

Based on reports of anomalies, when the Eastern Today Digboi visited the hospital and contacted the patients physically in their wards, the woes of the rural patients and their hidden anguish was worth noticing. According to two women who underwent pre-natal operation, they had to deposit rupees 4000 and 6500 in the cash counter before the operation and balanced amount was to be paid just before the release. Talking to the Eastern Today, the IC of Digboi CHC Gautam Saikia in a tone of admitting his administrative lapses and ongoing corruptions told that he would tell the doctors and staffs not to repeat such act claiming that he is free from any such al-

legations. Saikia admitted of similar reports from different sources and assured to take the matter seriously however, added ‘I have already informed my higher authority and I cannot do anything beyond that’. He also fell to reply when asked about the whereabouts of certain doctors not reported till 9.30 am in their chamber while there was a long queue of serious patients outside the chamber. Ironically when contacted a concerned doctor who was alleged of asking to pay the illegal amount from the patients, he told that corruption exists everywhere in governmental service sector including the health department but in proportion. According to him, certain test and medical examinations were very crucial and urgent and as such they refer the patients outside for the

same complaining of poor infrastructures and man power in the health department. As for alleged corruption, he told the Eastern Today that the guardians of the patients themselves offer in the name of sweets which they readily accept. Meanwhile, what need to be pondered here is the liabilities, responsibilities and administrative efficiency of the In Charge of the concerned CHC how he delivered for the common good ensuring free basic health service for the people in and around Digboi securing cooperation of the doctors too in obtaining their true supports so that the commitments and promise of the Health Minister who is all set to reform and streamline the existing systems does not collide and appear contradictory.

Multipurpose pulverizer machines Bomb hoax call delays Kolkata-Guwahati flight distributed in Dima Hasao PTI desk and a female voice inET Correspondent, Haflong, Sept 20: Subrata Thaosen incharge executive member (EM) for Agriculture distributed multi-purpose pulveriser machines among women from various self help groups and organizations at the office premises of Agriculture department at Haflong today. EM Thaosen said the council embarked on the distribution to encourage women entrepreneurship and to support women farmers in the district. Distributed as the first phase under the women welfare scheme as gen-

der responsive budget, the department of Agriculture provides women planters, harvesters and processing machines to aid them through pulverize rice, chili, turmeric and other spices which will also help them earn self employment. Altogether ten ladies from various SHGs and organizations were benefitted today from the first phase of distribution. Phase wise distributions shall be done as conveyed during the ceremony. Before the beginning of the formal distribution, training was also con-

Section 144 imposed at Serishpur Tea Estate in Katlicherra A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Sept 20: As personnel of Assam Police (IR) Battalion 148 get ready to hone their combat skills, the Hailakandi District Administration has clamped Section 144 Cr PC around 500 metre radius of the firing range situated at

Serishpur Tea Estate in Katlicherra. There will be severe restrictions on movement from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm till 25th September. Anyone found violating the order will be dealt sternly, District Administration sources said

ducted as to familiarize with the usage of this multipurpose pulverization machine. Further during the function it was conveyed that in order to ensure proper utility of the machine by the beneficiaries, follow up will be done. The District Agriculture Officer Seikhodam Thangngew in his short speech said that such programme aims to boost the farmers by helping them in better productivity of their produce. The programme was attended by many women from self help groups, villagers and departmental officers.

Guwahati, Sept 20: Security personnel at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport here went into a tizzy today after receiving a phone call threatening to blow up an Air India flight. The Guwahati-bound flight from the city was delayed by around two hours following a unanimous call saying a bomb has been planted in the plane,airport officials said. The AI-729 flight from Kolkata to Guwahati with 114 passengers on board was scheduled to fly from the Airport at 9.50 AM. However, shortly before that, a phone call came to the airport duty manager's

formed him that a bomb has been planted in that flight, the officials said. The plane was immediately taken to the isolation bay and passengers were offloaded. Security and bomb squad personnel checked the plane but nothing was found, the officials said. The plane finally took off at 11.45 PM, delayed by an hour and 55 minutes. The the second incident of hoax call to the airport this month. Three phone calls had been made threatening to blow up the airport on September 7. Two days later, another unanimous call was made to the state secretariat, 'Nabanna', threatening to blow it up.

C.M. to bear the long-term medical benefits of veteran journalist A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Sept 20: Assam Govt. will bear the medical expenses of veteran journalist Tilok Hazarika, who is presently undergoing treatment at GNRC Hospital.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has already issued directions to the Chief Secretary to the Govt. of Assam to take necessary action in this regard. The CM has also prayed for early re-

covery of health to Hazarika. On the other hand, Chief Minister’s Media Adviser Hrishikesh Goswami has visited GNRC Hospital today and took stock of the situation.

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

PAGE 4

NEWS

CM Khandu assures cooperation to all PMS lottery draw postponement gets the Women’s welfare activities of the state irk of buyers, but committee clarifies ET Bureau Itanagar, Sept 20: Chief Minister Pema Khandu has assured to extend cooperation to all women’s welfare activities being taken up by the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women (APSCW). APSCW members led by its chairman Mitali Tingkhatra had called on the Chief Minister here today to request support of the government in carrying out welfare programmes for women across the state. Acknowledging the important role played by women in tribal society, Khandu said that due to their pivotal role in contributing to the

women commission for taking up issues of child rights and welfare activities for children. Announcing further measures, the Chief Minister said the state government will also work on opening of more juvenile centres and shelter homes for women in the state.

economy and well being of the family, they command high respect and honour in the society. “The state government will take full measures to guarantee that women are assured equal right and free-

dom to pursue their dreams,” he said. As measures to encourage women welfare activities, the Chief Minister promised to instruct the respective district administrations and departments to extend

full cooperation to the women commission in its programmes and activities wherever and whenever needed. He also assured the support of the government to work out additional grant to the

To encourage marriage registration, Khandu, on suggestion from the Commission, assured to work out on reducing the marriage registration fee. Further the women commission suggested the state government for legislation on marriage, which, it asserted, will enable the wives to seek maintenance cost.

Govt Model Degree College of Roing Ex servicemen looted of Rs 20 lakh organizes its Maiden Fresher’s Meet New Delhi, Sep 20 (PTI) Unidentified persons stole a bag containing Rs 20 lakh from the car of a retired armyman in north Delhi's Timarpur area, police said today. Ravinder was on way to his to Panipat in Haryana with his friend Ashok in his car when they were stopped by two bike-borne men around 4.56 pm near Majnu Ka Tila, who told him that the car had hit a man, a police official said. Ravinder told police that their car had "touched" a man but when the bikeborne men told him that the man was injured, he locked his car and went to help him. When they returned, they found a window of their car smashed and the bag with

Rs 20 lakh cash missing, he said. Ravinder said he had given Rs 20 lakh that he had got after retirement to his maternal uncle in Gurgaon who is a property dealer. The uncle had been asking him to come and collect the money from the last few days, the official said. Today, he collected the money from his uncle in Gurgaon and came to Delhi to meet a friend at India before leaving for Panipat, he added. Police is suspecting that the two bike-borne men might have been following Ravinder from Gurgaon. We are also probing whether someone known to the armymanis involved in the theft, the official added.

ET Bureau Roing, Sept 20: Government Model Degree College, Jemi Notko, Roing organised it’s maiden Freshers’ Meet on 20th September, 2016 in order to inculcate as well as disseminate fresh ideas among the students with gaiety and fanfare. Dr. Rajiv Miso, Assistant Professor, Department of History while welcoming the freshers, said that the triad of introduction, interaction and innovation should be a mantra for every students of the institution to bring academic excellence. Dr. Jajati K. Pattnaik, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science dwelling upon the issues of higher education mentioned that the students should not be confined to the fourwalls of the discipline but they should adopt interdisciplinary approach to the study of social science and humanities to reinforce

the academic ambience of higher learning institutions.

Razzeko Dele, Assistant Professor, Department of English thrust on discipline and advised the students to read good books for knowledge oriented studies and develop writing practice for better result in the University examinations. Monshi Tayeng, Principal of the institution while speaking on the occasion called upon the students to maintain utmost punctuality and dedication for ushering an era of quality education in the region. Further, he said that anyone can become a high performer if one can adopt six habits such as planning time, fixing ambitious life, controlling distractions, pursuing achievable objectives, knowing the peak hours and making use of waste time through continuous

engagement to attain one’s cherished goal in life. He highlighted the contributions and logistical support of the Department of Higher Education, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, College Management Committee, public leaders and Deputy Commissioner, Lower Dibang Valley district in initial setting of the institution in the temporary site. Then, he looked forward for an early infrastructural development of the institution in the permanent site for the benefit of whole college community.

The issue came up when Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who is leading an Indian Parliamentary delegation to New Zealand, called on Acting Prime Minister Bill English here. With obvious reference to Pakistan, she raised the issue of state-sponsored terrorism and said India has long been a victim of the dastardly attacks by cross-border terrorists. In this regard, she said all peace-loving countries in the world should come together to fight terrorism. She stressed that time had come to isolate the countries which harbour terrorists, a statement from her office said. India witnessed the latest terror attack emanating from Pakistan on Sunday when four terrorists struck at an army camp in Uri in Kashmir, killing 18 soldiers and injuring about 25. Mahajan noted that In-

dia, historically and traditionally, has been a follower of non-violence, believing in living together in harmony to promote prosperity, friendship and peace across the world, the statement said.

UN systems to respond to challenges that confront the international community.

Complementing New Zealand's achievements in dairy and food processing industries, Mahajan said India The Speaker also needs to learn from their sought New Zeland's remarkable experiences support for India's in this particular sector. membership of the Nuclear Suppliers She invited investors Group, a bid for which and entrepreneurs from failed at the June meet- New Zealand to join Ining of the grouping. dian counterparts in the "Make in India" The membership of the programme. Nuclear Suppliers Group is imperative for She further noted that India's clean energy, she the progress of the FTA told English while not- negotiations between ing that nuclear energy India and New Zealand is an important compo- has been very encouragnent for achieving the ing. goals of sustainable development. In her meeting with David Carter, Speaker India s NSG member- of the New Zealand ship would, therefore, House of Representastrengthen global non- tives, Mahajan noted proliferation objectives that both India and New and, in that context, In- Zealand have a healthy dia looks forward to the tradition of parliamensupport and cooperation tary exchanges and coof New Zealand, operation. Mahajan added. This has added to the With regard to India's friendship and goodwill candidature for perma- between the two counnent membership of the tries and India looks forUN Security Council, ward to sustaining this the Speaker appreciated momentum, she said. New Zealand's recognition of India s creden- She commended the Intials. dian Diaspora for playing a constructive and She said both the coun- meaningful role in tries realize the inad- strengthening the bilatequacy of the existing eral relationship.

New Delhi, Sep 20 (PTI) A special court today could not commence hearing afresh arguments on appointment of special public prosecutor(SPP) in the Rs 100 crore transport scam case in Delhi as it was yet to receive a copy of the High Court's recent verdict on powers of Delhi government and Lieutenant Governor. Special Judge Poonam Chaudhry, who had earlier fixed the matter for today to hear arguments on the issue, put up the case for October 19. "Order of the Delhi High Court has not yet been received. List the matter on October 19 for arguments," the court said. The high court in its August verdict had set aside the special court's earlier order turning down Delhi government's notification appointing a SPP in the case. While advocate Sanjay Kumar Gupta was appointed SPP by LG Najeeb Jung last year, advocate B S Joon was notified for the post by the AAP government in the case. However, the special court had in September last year observed that the LG-appointed SPP would conduct proceedings in the matter which was challenged by the Delhi government before the

While sharing his side of ordeals and hardships in managing the Mega Solung to this reporter today evening, Okom Yosung, President, ABK E/Siang cum Chairman, Lottery Committee, has revealed that, only around 6000 leaves out of 20,000 total leaves payment were received by the committee on the due date. Out of which, Rs. 1 Cr was paid to the Pasighat, Mega Solung committee for smooth management of the festival. Yosung, who was seemingly

very tensed and worried over repeated questions raised by ticket buyers and well-wishers for deferring the lottery draw date to 18th December next, also said that, they had to run pillar to post to get the ticket sold. But despite our hard efforts, the ticket couldn’t be sold out as expected, nor did those people whom ticket selling was endorsed return the payment and counterfoil on time leading to his ugly situation, added Yosung who begged apology from everyone on behalf of entire Mega Solung Committee. It is pertinent to mention here that, the Pasighat Mega Solung Committee had received several criticisms from many quarters, even some of from within the Adi Baane Kebang (apex) executive members who were of the view that, such situation puts entire Adis in a lower abs and it’s unfortunate. However, the committee has cited several ground

reasons as successful conduction of the Mega Solung was the prime objective for which huge budgets were required. While apologizing for postponement of the draw date to 18th December 2016, the committee has urged each and every wellwisher to buy a tickets or help in selling it. Nevertheless, the situation has taught a big lesson to the managements of the Pasighat Mega Solung too, whose maximum budget relied upon the possible returns/incomes from the lottery draw that led to the sacrificing of either one of the two; to make the Mega Solung celebration successful or draw the lottery on due date. But accomplishing the former was more important than the later, so lottery draw was postponed which need to be accepted by all of us somewhere down the line for overall good of the Adis as organizing a mega event like this year’s was a tough job.

Chinese media slams Prachanda for putting ties on back-burner

The students signed a declaration and fully understood their moral duties and responsibilities towards the rules and regulations of the institution. Last but not the least, M. Ngupok, Assistant Professor in Economics offered the vote of thanks.

India tells NZealand about Transport scam: Pak-sponsored terror Court awaiting copy of HC order

Wellington, Sep 20 (PTI) Against the backdrop of Uri attack, India today apprised New Zealand about Pakistansponsored terrorism and pitched for isolating such countries which harbour terrorists.

A Staff Reporter Pasighat, Sept 20: While expressing deep regret over inability to draw the lottery of Pasighat Mega Solung, (PMS) on due date, the Adi Baane Kebang East Siang Unit Lottery Committee has urged each and every wellwishers of Mega Solung to bear with the committee as circumstances like non-receipt of payment and counterfoil on time has led to the situation.

high court. The high court, on August 4, had held that the LG has to act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers while exercising the power to appoint an SPP for any case. It had set aside trial court's September 7, 2015 order and directed the special judge to pass an appropriate order afresh in accordance with law. The ruling assumes significance as, of late, various criminal matters, including the transport scam, in the high court and trial courts have witnessed heated arguments between prosecutors appointed by the Delhi government and Lieutenant Governor, as to who would represent the state or the police. The Anti Corruption Branch of Delhi Government had on September 3 last year filed its charge sheet in the court naming nine persons, including two IAS officers, as accused in the transport scam case. The court is yet to take cognisance of the charge sheet.

Beijing, Sep 20 (PTI) Irked by Prachanda's visit to New Delhi, state-run Chinese media today criticised India for trying to "turn tables" against China and lashed out at the new Nepal Prime Minister for "tricking" Beijing and putting bilateral ties on "back burner" at the behest of India. China "feels tricked" that Nepal got close to Beijing to "relieve pressure" from India and signed a number of crucial agreements with Beijing to help get rid of its reliance on New Delhi but later put ties on "backburner" after the "pressure" somewhat relaxed, an article in state-run Global Times said. In a scathing attack on Prachanda and India, two articles in the newspaper pointed to China's anger over the regime change in Kathmandu replacing proChina former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli. "Prachanda is no more "furious" as he was once described, but rather has more realistic considerations for political interest," one article said, recalling his choice to visit China first in 2008 during his previous

During his tour to India this time, the Pancheshwar Project, reconstruction after the earthquake and the EastWest Railway programme were on the agenda of highlevel meetings. However, all those are among the "core subjects" of China's Belt and Road (Silk Road) initiative that can benefit Nepal, it said. "Against such a backdrop, people cannot help but ask whether Prachanda is seeking reconciliation with New Delhi or maintaining Nepal's status of being controlled by India," it said. "It seems that the relationship between Nepal and China stalled abruptly, and a visit by Chinese leaders to Nepal has allegedly been suspended - an unprecedented situation," it said, without directly referring to postponement of Chinese President Xi Jinping's planned to visit to Kathmandu next month. The article said that the bilateral relationship between China and Nepal seems to have "suddenly turned fragile and sensitive".

"Obviously, China feels tricked. When Kathmandu needed Beijing to relieve pressure from New Delhi, it got close to China and signed a series of crucial agreements with Beijing which would help Nepal get rid of its reliance on India. "But once India's attitude toward Kathmandu relaxed a bit and the former made some promises to the latter, Nepalese politicians immediately put the nation's ties with China on the back burner," it said. The article added that in the Sino-Nepalese relationship, Kathmandu is the "one that always gets more. Beijing will lose nothing, but it is Nepal that needs to consider whether it will miss more opportunities". Another article in the same daily titled "Good ties with China, India in Nepal's best interest" accused India of 'turning tables' against China. "Alarmed by China's rising influence in Nepal, India is now trying to turn the tables. But such narrowminded geopolitical logic will do favour to nobody," it said.

HC refuses to interfere in Kaziranga eviction drive Contd. from Page 1

The charge sheet was filed for offences punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the IPC, including sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant), 420 (cheating), 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.

tenure.

"It was as part of a larger plan. The demography of certain districts in Lower Assam has already changed. The Congress was trying to change the demography in districts in Upper Assam also," he said. Sarma

said

the

administration in Nagaon district has demolished a total of 331 houses in the eviction drive in three villages in Kaziranga on Monday. He said that the genuine citizens of the villages have shifted on their own after being assured by the government that they would be given proper compensation.

"However, some people created problems leading to the death of two persons, including a woman, on Monday. However, the government is committed to free all the illegal encroachments in the state and there will be no compromise on that issue," Sarma added.

BUSINESS

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

GST council secretariat to have IRS officers New Delhi, Sept 20: The Centre will look into the composition of Goods and Services Tax (GST) council secretariat to ensure postings of Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers in its key positions, an association representing them said today.

proved creation of one post of Additional Secretary and four posts of Commissioner in the secretariat. The council will decide on the tax rate, exempted goods and the threshold. The association had demanded that the Secretary to the council be Member (GST) in the CBEC.

The development comes after a delegation of IRS officers association met Finance Minister Arun Jaitleyhere yesterday. The Finance Minister has assured them that composition of the GST council secretariat would be looked into, the association said in a statement. He assured them that the officers of the department as well as the Central Board of Excise and

Customs(CBEC) would be key to GST, and the interest of the officers would not be compromised and no post would be reduced under any circumstance, rather the role would increase, it said.

opposed the composition of GST council secretariat and demanded that the IRS officers be allowed to man it rather than those from Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

appointment of the Secretary (Revenue) as the exofficio Secretary to the GST council and inclusion of the chairperson, CBEC, as a permanent invitee. Revenue Secretary is usually an IAS officer.

The association had earlier

The Union Cabinet had on September 12, approved

The Cabinet had also ap-

The Member GST, being expert in indirect taxation, will not only provide professional inputs to the council to perform in an objective and professional manner, but also he will be able to devote undivided attention for this important responsibility, it had earlier said. The association informed the Finance Minister that all the states Value Added Tax officers are being trained by

PAGE 6 Rupee down 2 paise against dollar in early trade

IRS officers all over the country, laws and procedures are being framed and new service structure being drafted. All the officers are working on war footing with full dedication to make roll out of GST from April 1 a grand success in India, it said. "The implementation of GST has seen rough weather in several countries and several governments have lost on this count. "The Greek economic crisis is also resultant of faulty implementation of GST by generalists. However, the association assured the Finance Minister that officers of this service are committed and determined for successful rollout of GST in the country and will set an example before the world," the association said.(PTI)

Mumbai, Sept 20: The rupee weakened by 2 paise to 66.98 against the dollar in early trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market on Tuesday on fresh demand for the American currency from importers.

the opening trade also weighed on the rupee.

Forex dealers said the strength in dollar against some currencies overseas and weakness in domestic equities in

The benchmark BSE Sensex fell by 50.70 points, or 0.17 per cent, to 28,583.80 in early trade on Tuesday. (PTI)

The rupee had settled almost flat at 66.96 against the American currency in a highly volatile trade on Monday, ahead of a crucial US Fed meeting.

Ready to suspend trade with OVL served service tax Pak if asked: Tea association demand of Rs 6,100 crore

Kolkata, Sept 20: In the wake of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Tea Association (ITA), the apex body of tea planters, today said it was ready to suspend trade withPakistan if the government wished so. "ITA is ready to suspend tea trade with Pakistan if asked by the government particularly in the wake of terror attacks in Kashmir," ITA chairman Azam Menom

told PTI.

He said that "Pakistan is a fair weather friend as far as tea is concerned. Suspending trade with Pakistan will not have much impact in terms of exports.

"Pakistan generally buys from Sri Lanka and Kenya. They buy from India when the prices are cheaper here," he added.

"I think the Tea Board will guide us in this regard," Menom said.

The ITA chairman said 80 per cent of tea imported by Pakistan was of the south Indian variety. The balance 20 per cent is sourced from north India, he added.

Out of 230 million kg of tea exports, Pakistan accounted for only 15 to 18 million kg.

India's thrust export markets were Russia,

Kazakhstan, the US, China, Iran, Egypt and Latin America.

Menom, who is also the chairman of CCPA by virtue of holding the same chair in ITA, said his advice to the United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI), if needed, would hold ground. UPASI is the central body of tea growers of South India.(PTI)

Under Modi, record rise in unspent funds for Dalits & tribals The plans are run on guidelines issued from time to time by the NITI Aayog. But given that the Aayog lacks muscle to enforce them, the guidelines are simply ignored New Delhi, Sept 20: A woman holds her child as she stands outside her house at the Dalit village of Bhaddi Kheda in Lucknow district, Uttar Pradesh. More than one-third of the funds allocated by central ministries to the two funds meant forDalits and the adivasis-the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) and the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP)remained unspent in 201415. Corruption drains away the little that does trickle down to the Dalits and adivasis, our investigation found. In the run-up to the 2014 general elections, then the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, while addressing a gathering of Dalitsand backward classes in Kerala, had described himself as a victim of untouchability. "The next 10 years are go-

Service Tax Dept contends that OVL's overseas units are rendering services to the company New Delhi, Sept 20: The tax department has slapped a service tax demand of over Rs 6,100 crore on the overseas arm of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), a move that may potentially render its investments in oil and gas fields abroad infructuous. ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) has stakes in 37 oil and gas projects in 17 countries around the world. These stakes are held through subsidiaries, branches and joint-ventures. For operations of these projects, those units and joint-ventures would raise a demand for money on the parent, OVL, which would transmit the investments. The Service Tax Department now contends that the overseas units are rendering a service to OVL and as such the company is liable to pay service tax at the full rate, sources said.

ing to be yours," he had said. And the crowd broke into loud cheers. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government ostensibly kept his promise-the 2014-15 budget witnessed a 25% increase in allocation of the two funds meant for Dalits

and the adivasis-the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) and the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) funds. However, more than one-third of the funds allocated by central ministries-Rs 32,979 croreremained unspent in 201415. This is an increase of 250%

in the money unused compared to the previous year. Modi's first year in office as the prime minister saw the 'highest' amount unspent and also the highest percentage of amount unspent in the last three years (the only period for which central government has figures). (PTI)

The department first issued a demand cum show-cause notice on October 11, 2011, requiring OVL to showcause why service tax amounting to Rs 2,816.31 crore plus interest on such amount and penalty should not be demanded and recovered. The tax amount was calculated based on foreign currency expenditure reported in the company's financial statements covering the period from April 1, 2006, to March 31, 2010. Subsequently, five more

demand-cum-show cause notices were issued covering period up to March 31, 2015, to show-cause why service tax amounting to Rs 3,286.36 crore, the interest on such amount and penalty should not be demanded and recovered from the company. The Service Tax Department, sources said, has contended that the expenses represent business auxiliary services rendered by the company's foreign branches and operator of joint-venture and consortium to the company. OVL, however, has contended that service tax is not payable and is contesting the same legally.

According to OVL, investments made overseas through subsidiaries, branches, and joint-ventures do not constitute availing of any service. The company operates the projects at an internal rate of return on investments of 12-13 per cent and if it has to pay 14-15 per cent service tax on such investments, the projects will give negative returns and would become infructuous. Also, it contends that service tax by law can be levied on services rendered within the country. And even if one were to assume that its branches or subsidiaries were rendering any service, they were all overseas and not within India

India sucessfully test fires long range surface-to-air missile These missiles would be inducted in all the three services after trials are completed Balsore, Sept 20 : In a bid to galvanise its air defence capabilities, India on Wednesday successfully test fired a new, long rangesurface-to-air missile jointly developed with Israel from adefence base off Odisha coast. The long range missile, a product of a joint venture between India and Israel, was test launched from a mobile launcher at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur near here at around 10.13 hours, a DRDOofficial said. The trial was successful and some more rounds of test are expected to be conducted shortly, the DRDOscientist said.

armoured seeker had successfully hit the last minute manoeuvring target.

"Apart from the missile, the system includes a Multi Functional Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar (MF STAR) for detection, tracking and guidance of the missile," the official said, adding the missile along withMF-STAR would provide the users the capability to neutralise any aerial threats. Earlier, between June 30 and July 1, 2016 three consecutive test firing of the medium range surface to air missile, jointly developed by India and Israel were conducted from the DefenceResearch & Development Organisation (DRDO) base at Chandipur. The missile guided by

Indian Navy had also successfully test launched the long range surface to air missile (LR-SAM). The test was undertaken on the Western Seaboard by INS Kolkata on December 30, 2015. These missiles would be inducted in all the three services after trials were completed.

The missile guided by armoured seeker had successfully hit the last minute manoeuvring target.

Many Indian industries like BEL, L&T, BDL, and TATA group of companies besides other private industries have contributed to the development of a number of subsystems which have

been put into use in this flight test, the official said. As a safety measure, Balasore district administration in consultation with the defence officials had temporarily shifted 3,652 persons residing within 2.5 km radius of the launch pad No.3 of the ITR at Chandipur to nearby temporary shelter centres this morning to ensure a safe launch of the missile, a district revenue official said. Fishermen engaged in fishing along the Bay of Bengal in three coastal districts of Balasore,Bhadrak and Kendrapada were asked not to venture into the sea during the time of the test launch.

and so cannot be subject to any service tax, sources said. OVL had reported a net loss of Rs 2,093.5 crore in the 2015-16 fiscal on a turnover of Rs 12,772 crore. It had a net profit of Rs 1,904.2 crore on a turnover of Rs 19,148.9 crore in the previous fiscal. It produced 8.916 million tonnes of oil and oil equivalent gas in 2015-16 as compared to 8.874 million tonnes in the previous year. The overall gas production slightly increased from 3.341 billion cubic meters during 2014-15 to 3.406 bcm in 2015-16 and oil production was almost flat at 5.51 million tonnes.

RBI sets rupee reference rate at 67.0200 against US dollar Mumbai, Sept 20: Reserve Bank today fixed the reference rate of the rupee at 67.0200 against the US dollar and 74.8814 for the euro. The rates were at 66.8737 and 74.6845 respectively, yesterday. According to an RBI statement, the exchange rates for the pound and the yen against the rupee were quoted at 87.3740 and 65.86 per 100 yens 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)

EDITORIAL

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

Today's quote

“

When hungry, eat your rice; when tired, close your eyes. Fools may laugh at me, but wise men will know what I mean.

Lin-Chi

‘Not go unpunished’ It would be easy for millions of Indians to endorse those words of the Prime Minister, and indeed other strong comments from across the establishment - so thin has patience worn with Pakistan and its terror-sponsoring ways. What will be difficult is formulating the manner which the promised punishment is administered. A series of meetings to fine-tune that response were held, no game-plan immediately indicated. Statecraft is now on severe test, for notwithstanding all the tough talk there is no scope for myopic, knee-jerk reactions that may prove counter-productive in the long term. A response that harmonises the military, economic and diplomatic angles is critical -so too is a degree of political consensus, the customary sniping across party lines will have to be put on hold for the present. Informal consultation with Opposition leaders, enlightening them on the military’s thinking, and ensuring that none of them seeks cheap political points is advisable - certainly more preferable than an all-party meeting that only facilitates grandstanding. It could be argued that the window for a military response is already closing. It would be a surprising shame if the armed forces did not have previous plans in place for surgical strikes across the frontier to deliver the message that a price would have to be paid - none was in place when terrorists struck the Parliament House, and the foray at Pathankot only re-emphasised the need for immediate counter-measures. With the subcontinent a nuclear flashpoint there will be international pressure that would prevent much counter-punching: the body-blow needed to be unleashed even before the “combing” operations at Uri concluded. It would be a poor reflection on the Army if it was incapable of “taking out” a couple of terrorist training camps within hours of the fidayeen attack. That the Army Chief and Defene Minister rushed to the affected area reconfirms how top-heavy and cumbersome the decision-making process has become - surely they could have performed more useful coordinating duties in the Capital, rather than “making a show”. Criticising the Army would appear out of place at the present juncture, but questions of how the terrorists managed to breach the fence at the camp - just as they had done at Pathankot. In both places there had been intelligence “alerts”. Was security at the camp reduced because Army units were “rolling over”, as happened prior to the ambush of a convoy in the North-east? And if, as reported, many of the soldiers killed at Uri died of burn injuries, the DRDO/Ordnance Corps must be slammed for not issuing less fire-prone tenting when so many of our troops/paramilitary are required to live “under canvas”. These are “basics”, overlooked in the drive for hitech equipment. The inability of the state and central governments to quell the unrest in the Valley is also responsible for the massacre at Uri. Prolonged curfews have dismantled the intelligence-gathering network, infiltration of militants become increasingly common as good governance gives way to jingoism.

Setback for Merkel Angela Merkel is going through a rough patch. For Germany’s Chancellor, Sunday’s election in Berlin has come as a grave embarrassment. And the irony must appear to be still more bitter as alone in Europe, Merkel had accepted the migrants with an open heart as well as doors. As it turns out, that almost exemplary political courage has not paid dividend at the hustings. In a sense, history has been crafted; Berlin is likely to get the first leftwing triple-coalition government in its history; Merkel’s CDU party and the Social Democrats have both plummeted to their lowest result in the German capital. For the CDU, the slump is palpable; it has garnered barely 18 per cent of the vote. The refugee issue, which has convulsed Europe in the wider canvas, has doubtless influenced the result. As much is plain from the fact that the anti-immigration party, Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), is poised to enter the German capital’s state parliament for the first time with 14.1 per cent of the votes. Indeed, there are two opposing “firsts” at the two ends of the political spectrum. While the capital faces the prospect of a left-wing coalition, the far-right - at another remove - will now set foot inside the state Parliament. The outlook for Germany must lie between the two very different extremes of democracy. The AfD has after all won a double-digit score, though

its performance need not immediately be translated into a sign of the return of the rightwing and the Nazis in Germany, as Berlin’s mayor, Michael Müller, had warned before the election. Merkel’s CDU will be the worst affected by the outcome. The Berlin result is the fourth blow in a row for the centre-right party, which came close to gaining an absolute majority at the federal level in 2013. Unmistakable is the psephological pattern; going by the trends in the previous four elections, the vote-share of the established parties has declined while the AfD, founded three years ago, has been able to achieve double digits. Which is more than a little surprising for Berlin, the city that had transformed itself from the capital of Hitler’s Nazi Germany into a fountainhead of freedom, tolerance, diversity and social cohesion. Local issues such as social justice, the economy, and the state of education did predominate, if the campaigning over rising rental prices and the fiasco over the new Brandenburg airport is any indication. Merkel’s management of the refugee crisis or fears of terror attacks cannot be readily discounted, however. Which explains why the AfD’s principal campaign plank has paid off. For now, Berlin, more than just an “old city”, is headed for a “grand coalition” between the centre-left and centre-right.

PAGE 6

SDGs as building blocks for peace We are aware of different development goals which have been made for the progress of the humanity and others. Previously there were Millennium Development Goals and now we have SDGs. There is no doubt that development is not possible without peace. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are integral to achieving peace in our time, as development and peace are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. Every single one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals is a building block in the global architecture of peace. Everyone has a stake and everyone has a contribution to make. Sustainability addresses the fundamental needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Modern challenges of poverty, hunger, diminishing natural resources, water scarcity, social inequality, environmental degradation, diseases,

corruption, racism and xenophobia, among others, pose challenges for peace and create fertile grounds for conflict. Sustainable development contributes decisively to dissipation and elimination of these causes of conflict and provides the foundation for a lasting peace. Peace, meanwhile, reinforces the conditions for sustainable development and liberates the resources needed for societies to develop and prosper. Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The United Nations General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by resolution 36/67 of the United Nations General Assembly to coincide with its opening session, which was held annually on the third Tuesday of September. The first Peace

the day in the past are as follows:

Ranjan K Baruah Day was observed in September 1982. In 2001, the General Assembly by unanimous vote adopted resolution 55/282, which established 21 September as an annual day of non-violence and cease-fire. This Day provides an opportunity for individuals, organisations and nations to create practical acts of Peace on a shared date. It is also observed by the UN as an annual day of non-violence and cease fire. The Day's theme for 2016 is "The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace."The 17 Sustainable Development Goals were unanimously adopted by the 193 Member States of the United Nations at an historic summit of the world's leaders in New York in September 2015. The new ambitious 2030 agenda calls on countries to begin efforts to achieve these goals over the

next 15 years. It aims to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. "The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are our shared vision of humanity and a social contract between the world's leaders and the people," said UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon. "They are a to-do list for people and planet, and a blueprint for success." He also added that "Sustainable development is essential for lasting peace, and both depend on respect for human rights. We need to protect our planet. And only by working together can we make our common home safe for future generations. Let us all work together to help all human beings achieve dignity and equality; to build a greener planet; and to make sure no one is left behind." Some of the themes of

Arunachal Passengers lament Network Travel’s Negligence What would you perceive if an experienced bus driver having a driving experience of more than 7 years failed to control wheels and let the bus fell down eventually?

Lomhom Tangha my relatives were badly injured. My sister’s left leg had stuck between the bus hood carrier and ground.

followed by a series of telephonic conversations between us. Hearing this, I immediately arranged pro-

Who should be held accountable for such blunder committed by an experienced professional- Bus driver, bus owner or the transport Minister? An incident occurred on 15 September this year in the wee hours at around 2 am in Teok, Assam, a town roughly 20 KM away from Jorhat, when a bus belong to the fleet of “Network Travel’ apparently due to over speeding and over loading turns off-tract and slided down in ground. On that fateful day my sister, Jinu Tangha and one of my cousin Khomnong Tangha was travelling in that bus bearing Registraton no.AS01 GC-2922. This bus belongs to Network Service plying between Itanagar - Jagun daily is popular for reckless driving and inconsiderate behavior of the driver. Most of the time the drivers either raced to overtake rival vehicles so that they could pick up passerby passengers or to make the time consumed in loading fuel. Because of the comparatively high fares and poor services my relatives just like any other co-passengers had taken calculated risk to board the bus to attend an interview which was scheduled to be held on 16.9.2016 and 17.9.2016 at Changlang. In that accident, both of

She is hurt badly with swollen limb and open wounds. If it wasn't for loose mud, her leg would have fragmented into pieces. My cousin's head was injured and he got four stitches, three in the delicate temple region and one behind the ear. After the accident they were taken by the Assam police to the Teok hospital, the nearest health care facility and subsequently referred to Jorhat Medical college by the doctors of health centre. In jorhat medical college, X-rays, stitching and dressings were done and various investigations recommended. I was informed about the accident at around 3am by my sister and cousin through phone

ceeding to the location which is around 300kms away from Changlang. It took me around nine odd hours of extensive journey to reach in Jorhat. Both of them waited in injured condition for those long hours without any attendant in the strange town except for a person named Tujan Rakhung who arrived lately and look after them till my arrival. He is such a gentleman who rushed to Jorhat medical college as soon he heard about it, he also advised me to shift the patients in pay clinic and helped me in getting all reports, prescription which was pending. I can't thank him enough for his act of kindness and generosity that he has exhibited towards strangers in

strange town, Hats off! We all know that a govt. medical care centers lacks many basic medical facilities besides a large size of indoor & outdoor patients, we decided to shift them to Dibrugarh where better facilities exists, which I eventually did. It is evident from the above description that none of the responsible transport authorities have ever tried communicating with patients neither any of their family members. They even didn't felt necessary to send their representative to look out for victims. Why should the owner of bus bother, if he is getting his old and defective can replaced with a brand new one through Insurance? Where are their moral responsibilities gone? Are we reduced to only a potential income source for them? I am writing this to question the legality of a pathetic and responsible bus owner's chances of getting insurance and trying different hands in generating income by transforming a public night service into a cargo and city bus. How can such irresponsible bus service owner be allowed to play with the lives of innocent passengers on daily basis and get their things done so easily? Not only the driving license of the accused driver is terminated but driver fraternity across the nation be investigatd from time to time of their expertise to ensure accident free services. This would certainly play a pivotal role in minimizing road accident and be a wakeup call for Network Travel services.

Wisdom is more able than power Kandagupta was a famous saint. He lived in the outskirts of Maninagar which was the capital of Manipur Kingdom. There were very few who did not know about the wisdom of Kandagupta. He was also known for his fortune telling. Maniraj who was the king of Manipuri came to know of the feats of Kandagupta. He wanted to pay respect to this great saint. So, he invited Kandagupta to his palace. When Kandagupta arrived, Maniraj welcomed him and offered him a seat. Then, the king asked the saint to tell something about

his feature from his horoscope. After a keen observation into the king’s horoscope, Kandagupta started telling the future boons to be

blessed upon the king. The king was so happy. He kept on rewarding the saint with gold and silver for every boon told by Kandagupta.

Now, came the time to say the future misfortunes. The whole outlook of Maniraj started to change. At one point he shouted, “Stop! You filthy soul! How dare you say such nonsense! I order you to say me the time of your death". Kandagupta replied in a small voice, "My lord! According to my calculations, my death will take place just an hour before thy death". The king was stunned. He felt his error. He begged pardon from Kandagupta and sent him off with furthermore wealth.

2015 - Partnerships for Peace - Dignity for All 2014 - The Right of Peoples to Peace 2013 - Education for Peace 2012 - Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future 2011 - Peace and Democracy: Make your voice heard! 2010 - Youth for Peace and Development 2009 - Disarmament and non-proliferation 2008 - Human Rights and Peacekeeping 2007 - Peace is the United Nations' highest calling North Eastern region has witnessed conflicts for de-

cades now. There have been many changes in recent decades. Peace talks with many groups are under process but lots need to be done if we really want peace in the region. This year's theme is more linked to SDGs and this is also implacable in our region. Local capacity for peace building must be strengthened in our region if we need to have peace for a long term. For sustainable future conflicts and violence must end and peace must come. Peace can be bought in the region when all of us whether government or non governmental organisation and other players work for brining peace. Peace in the region means we are towards achieving SDGs. Let us all engaged ourselves to achieving SDGs and bring peace in our region. (With inputs from UN publication and published on the occasion of International Day of Peace and feedback may be sent to bkranjan@gmail.com)

TRUTHOSOPHY Tagam Mibang Materialistic modernity or health hazards! Tes days wherever one can move around in the so called modern world; homes, offices, shops, malls, hospitals, doctor's clinic, cars, etc, etc, what is universally encountered day in day out is the airtight, suffocating and claustrophobic glass enclosed airconditioned or non-airconditioned rooms with literally no provisions for air exchange and replenishment with the natural environmental air. The end harmful results being physical tiredness, lack of mental alertness, transmission and catching of air-borne communicable diseases, dangerously polluted and affected lung-cardiovascular system, etc. A modern human subjects oneself to the same deadly enclosures and the same dangerously polluted air most part of the day; then for weeks, months, years, decades; just imagine how much damage is being done to his health. Inhalation-exhalation cycle with fresh air is the fundamental fuel of life force, mind and the body but, it has become the most neglected aspect for the human. A focussed attention to breathe fresh environmental replenished air shall tremendously keep state of health at very high level. That's because, persistently rejuvenated life force, mind and body through fresh natural air is the best gifted and most effective natural medicine of the Creator of life. When one keeps oneself enclosed in airtight enclosures, it's the biggest way of self-hurting and damaging the soul, mind and body altogether.

Dastardly Attack Sir, Some polite and meek persons kill mosquitoes inside the mosquito net very lightly lest the mosquito being killed is hurt badly. This is exactly what India maintains towards Pakistan knowing it fully well that Pakistan is an ideal breeding ground of the terrorists, why India has been maintaining a lenient attitude towards that pugnacious country is not comprehensible. Despite much hullabaloo, the border with Bangladesh remains wide open through which terrorists and infiltrators enter India. Chief-minister Sarbananda Sonowal during his last visit to the border areas expressed his grave concern over the vulnerable border. About the border with Pakistan, it presents a horrible picture. The Pakistan sponsored terrorists leave no stone

unturned to find out ways and means to enter India with the sole objective of destabilizing it. The dastardly attack on the army camp of Uri in Baramulla district bordering Pakistan by the terrorists is a case in point, where 18 unarmed Jawans had been killed and 30 others got severely injured. It is high time, India should play an offensive role isolating Pakistan diplomatically. The sophisticated weapons, other materials including food-packets left out by the Pakistansponsored terrorists bear the Pakistan-marks. Pakistan's despicable diplomacy has already been unmasked before the world-power. Russia's withdrawal from the joint-drill with Pak-army in PoK amply shows it. Yours etc. Ashok Bordoloi Dibrugarh

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

REST OF

Stop twisting history in school books: BJP to Tripura government Subal Bhowmik, Jishnu Debbarma besides Biplab Deb after the march met Chief Secretary Yashpal Singh and submitted a memorandum on their 12point demands.

IANS Agartala, Sep 20: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday organised a rally in Agartala, demanding among other things that the distortion of history be stopped in school curriculum in Left-ruled Tripura. "The Left Front government in Tripura while preparing the syllabuses for the schools under the state government is distorting the facts of the Indian his-

The BJP also demanded a probe by the CBI into the illegal activities of the Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and chit fund organisations in Tripura, a pay-scale to the state government employees at par with the central government emtory, freedom struggle and ployees, increase in freedom fighters," BJP's wages under the rural job state President Biplab Deb guarantee scheme told reporters here. (MGNREGA), and action He said: "They are avoid- against rising crime ing the famed freedom against women and chilfighters of India and high- dren. lighting the Marxist leaders of other countries in the "Unauthorised NBFCs school curriculum. The and chit fund state government on pur- organisations have robbed pose also overlooked the thousands of crores of historical happenings of rupees from over 14 lakh freedom struggle." depositors in Tripura An eight-member delega- while the Left Front govtion led by state party lead- ernment has remained siers Arun Kanti Bhowmik, lent," Deb alleged.

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NORTHEAST India ferries petroleum products via Bangladesh for Tripura IANS Agartala, Sep 20: India for the first time on Saturday transported petroleum products through Bangladesh to Tripura, officials said. Tripura Industries and Commerce Minister Tapan Chakraborty and other state and central government officials received the tanker trucks at Kailashahar along the India-Bangladesh border at around 11 p.m. on Saturday. Bangladesh had earlier allowed India to ferry heavy machineries of the Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) and carry foodgrains to Tripura. "Indian Oil Corp Ltd (IOCL) today transported petroleum products from Assam to Tripura through Bangladesh," an IOCL official said. "The special arrangement was taken due to the difficulties faced in carrying petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas through

the national highways linking Tripura," the official added. The official said nine tank trucks carrying 108 kl of diesel and kerosene along with one LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) truck travelled from Betkutchi near Guwahati to Dawki, Meghalaya's border point with Bangladesh, and then on to Tamabil and Chatlapur in Bangladesh, eventually reaching Kailasahar and Dharmanagar in north Tripura. The trucks reached the Dharmanagar IOCL depot on Saturday night after plying 136 km in Bangladesh. To carry these products, the IOCL under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India and the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) of Bangladesh had signed MoU in Dhaka on August 18. "This new route via Bangladesh would save

time and costs in carrying petroleum products from Assam to Tripura as the existing over 400 km of mountainous route required more than 10 hours to carry these essential items," the official had said. "Besides, the condition of national highways in Meghalaya and southern Assam is horrifying," the official added. The short-term India-

Bangladesh deal on shipping of the petroleum products is valid till September 30. "This move by IOCL not only paves the way for future logistic management but also exemplifies its commitment to be the energy accessibility of India in true sense," said IOCL Executive Director Dipankar Ray. A statement of the Indian

Deputy Speaker’s Man missing from city traced Javadekar to post vacant since in Bengaluru after 8 years chair IIM meet March ’15 Agencies Shillong, Sep 20: The post of deputy speaker of the Assembly may remain vacant till 2018 as the State government is yet to make any decision on filling the post. When contacted, Assembly Speaker AT Mondal said he was yet to receive any communication from the government regarding the matter. In a dramatic turn of events in March last year, NCP legislator Sanbor Shullai, who had held the post of the deputy speaker, resigned to ensure that the Opposition was tackled by any other Chairman of the House when the no-confidence motion against the Speaker was taken up. Later, the then Chairman Ronnie V Lyngdoh tact-

fully handled the no-confidence motion leading to its defeat. Sources said that the MUA-II government had a role in facilitating the resignation of Shullai who, however, had said in the past that his resignation had nothing to do with the no-confidence motion against the Speaker. Recently, Shullai was accommodated as the CoChairman of the Meghalaya State Planning Board. He was also allotted a room in the Main Secretariat. Sources said as the post of deputy speaker is still vacant, the Chief Minister may use the opportunity to accommodate any disgruntled legislator in the MUA-II as the new deputy speaker.

Guv yet to notify date for by-poll

Agencies Shillong, Sep 20: A man who went missing eight years ago from a city locality was traced in Bengaluru recently, giving relief to the family and friends. Pramod Kumar Jalewa (58), a bachelor, left home in Wahthapbru locality on March 28, 2008, and did not come back. The family said Pramod was mentally disturbed. Pramod’s relatives searched for him frantically for a long time. Later, an FIR was filed with the nearest police station and his family followed up the matter with the police frequently. Dipak Jalewa, Pramod’s cousin, told The Shillong Times that all these years, they searched for him in the neighbouring states, including Assam and West Bengal, but in vain. “There was a time when we lost all hope and we even requested the police to file the final report in the case,” Dipak said. The family got the ‘providential clues’ about Pramod’s whereabouts in August when a letter from State Bank of India regard-

ing his account reached the house. The bank statement referred to withdrawal of money from Pramod’s account in Bengaluru.

On further query to SBI Shillong, the family came to know that Pramod’s account was transferred to Malleswaram branch of Bengaluru and subsequently the family informed the police here about the development. The Shillong police contacted their counterparts in Bengaluru and gathered more information about Pramod, who was confirmed to be residing there. Two of Pramod’s nephews, Subham and Dipak, decided to go to Bengaluru to meet Pramod. The duo then contacted Bangalore police and went to Nagappa block where Pramod was staying. But they could not meet him on the first day as he had already left for work in Malleswaram. “We showed his photo to the neighbours and they immediately recognised the person and said he would come back in the

evening,” Dipak said. The residents also informed the cousins that Pramod had a small business in Malleswaram and that he had been residing in the Jalahalli area of the city before shifting to Nagappa block. Finally, the cousins met Pramod at his work place in Malleswaram and the duo conveyed to him how happy the family was to know about him after eight years. Pramod told them that after leaving Shillong, he visited Mathura and the adjoining areas of Uttar Pradesh before finally reaching Bengaluru. The cousins stayed with Pramod for at least five days and convinced him to come back to Shillong. “He did not want to come to Shillong immediately though he assured us that he would return,” Dipak said. Dipak said he wanted to share the tidings about tracing Pramod as this would kindle hope for those families in the State who are pessimistic about the return of their near and dear ones who are missing for long.

BSNL proposes 56 towers at BSF outposts in State V. Shanmuganathan Agencies Shillong, Sep 20: Meghalaya Governor V. Shanmuganathan is yet to notify officially the date for holding the by-election to seven district council constituencies. An official source said on Monday that after the Supreme Court stayed the order of the High Court of Meghalaya, which had disapproved the December 13 date fixed by the State government, the Governor was informed by the government regarding the decision to hold the polls on the same date. Six seats in KHADC and one in JHADC fell vacant following the resignation of MLAs who were

MDCs too following the amended dual post Act. The State Cabinet had fixed the by-poll date for December 13 and the counting for December 16. The process of election will begin from the publication of draft electoral rolls on October 10. The source added that the letter of the legal counsel for the State in the Apex Court, Ranjan Mukherjee, was also sent to the Governor on the status of the case after the Supreme Court allowed the State government to go ahead with the polls. The source added that the Governor is taking time since he is yet to receive the copy of the Supreme Court order.

Agencies Shillong, Sep 20: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s Meghalaya Secondary Switching Areas (SSA) has sent a proposal to the Home Ministry to set up 56 towers at the outposts of Border Security Force (BSF) along the IndoBangla border. BSNL GMTD of Meghalaya SSA Totha Anila Kiran said on Monday the move to set up towers under the Central Armed Police Force plan would provide mobile coverage to those living along the border, besides helping BSF personnel. Kiran said the detailed project report was submitted to the Ministry and BSNL is awaiting

approval. The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 70 crore. Most of the bordering villages in the State do not have mobile connectivity. BSNL has also provided 44 digital satellite phone terminals to the State Government out of the 75 demanded and these can be used in times of emergencies when mobile network is weak. According to Kiran, the digital satellite phone terminals are being temporarily set up at the office buildings of the respective Deputy Commissioners. The price of a digital satellite phone terminal is around Rs 1.5 lakh and the satellite hubs are located in Bengaluru and Secunderabad. During

emergency, calls will be made from the State to the hub centres. Meanwhile, Kiran, who has recently taken charge of the BSNL Meghalaya area, asserted that her focus was to better services as “subscribers are demanding better services, proper applications and prompt action”. “Our counterparts work merely for profit and we work to serve people and contribute to nation building,” she added. It may be mentioned cellular connectivity in the border areas of the State needs immediate attention of the concerned authorities.

Union Minister for Human Resources Development, Prakash Javadekar

Agencies Shillong, Sep 20: Union Minister for Human Resources Development, Prakash Javadekar, will chair an IIM Coordination Committee meeting of the chairpersons and secretaries at IIM Shillong on Tuesday. During the meeting, he

will review the functioning of other central educational institutions in Shillong. The meeting is scheduled to start at 9:30 am and prior to the meeting, the Union minister will interact with students of IIM Shillong from 8:30 am.

Sordar rubbishes allegations Agencies Shillong, Sep 20: The Sordar of the Raid Kyrdem has rubbished allegations of embezzlement in the toilets scheme under the Total Sanitation Campaign levelled against him by CSWO. Briefing media persons at the office of the Raid Kyrdem on Monday, Sordar Pholning Makdoh and secretary of Raid Kyrdem Amberlight Masharing said the accusations made by CSWO president Agnes Kharshïing and one Helin Lawai of Upper Klew village are baseless and aimed at defaming the Raid Kyrdem. “Helin Lawai is trying to tarnish my image by making false allegations without knowing the traditional customary laws of the Raid Kyrdem,” Makdoh said, adding that there was “no such village by the name of Upper Klew in the files of the Raid Kyrdem but Klew village which has been recognised by the Raid”.

According to CSWO, Makdoh had received over Rs 1.47 lakh for the Total Sanitation Campaign, which was meant for construction of toilets for as many as 137 beneficiaries. However, as per CSWO, several villagers, including Lawai, had not received the benefit of the scheme. Refuting the charge, Makdoh alleged that a section of the villagers refused to implement the scheme during his tenure as the headman of Klew village as they wanted to create a separate hamlet of Upper Klew. He went on to claim that Lawai, a resident of Klew, aspired to be the headman of the new village that would have only a few households within its jurisdiction. The executive members of the Raid Kyrdem, who are also headmen of various villages falling under the Raid, also denied the allegations that the Sordar was levying taxes on the farmers in the area.

High Commission in Dhaka said that Bangladesh has granted permission for the movement of petroleum goods on humanitarian grounds through its territory. The MoU will facilitate India to carry petroleum goods (Motor Spirit, High Speed Diesel, Superior Kerosene Oil and LPG) from Assam to Tripura through Bangladesh to make a buffer stock in the northeastern state. The Food Corp of India had transported 2,350 tonnes of rice earlier this month from Kolkata toTripura via Bangladesh. There is only a narrow land corridor to the northeastern region through Assam and West Bengal that passes through hilly terrain with steep gradients and multiple hairpin bends, making transportation, especially of loaded trucks, very difficult. The distance between Agartala and Kolkata via Bangladesh is just 620 km.

Shylla to contest from Nongkrem Agencies Shillong, Sep 20: The state election committee of the United Democratic Party (UDP) has named HS Shylla as the UDP candidate from Nongkrem constituency for the MDC by-election in December. The party will decide on the process of selecting candidates for other constituencies by October. UDP held a meeting on Monday to discuss names of candidates in other constituencies. Addressing reporters after the meeting, UDP working president Jemino Mawthoh said, “As for the constituencies – which include Mairang, Rambrai, Mawthadraishan, Laban, War East, Sohiong, Jaintia Hills – we have directed the grassroots level workers from the circles and district levels to speed up the process of selecting candidates. We have given them time till October.” “In selecting a candidate to contest for the by-election, it solely depends on the wisdom of the district and circle party workers,” he added. Commenting on the issue of one man one post, Mawthoh said, “We agree in principle but we have to examine the practicability of the democratic process and we have to solicit the views and opinions from the grassroots workers.” The party intends to field candidates in all the constituencies. When asked about the contentious dual-posts bill issue, UDP leader Bindo Lanong said the law was inconclusive. “It is still inconclusive as the High Court has upheld the order. We will wait till the final orders are out,” he said.

INTERNATIONAL PAGE 8 Donald Trump calls for speedy trial Organisation of Islamic Cooperation of arrested Afghan bomber Rahami backs Pak, asks India to cease

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

Washington, Sept 20: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has demanded a speedy trail for a 28-year-old naturalised American citizen of Afghan descent who was arrested for planting bombs in New York and New Jersey that injured 29 people. "We must have speedy, but fair trials, and we must deliver a just and very harsh punishment to these people," Trump told his supporters at an election rally in Florida yesterday. He thanked the police for arresting Ahmad Khan Rahami, the man suspected in bombings in New York

"Trump said the US must use whatever lawful methods are available to obtain information from the apprehended suspect to get information before it is no longer timely".

Donald Trump He thanked the police for arresting Ahmad Khan and New Jersey. "Today, we have caught this evil thug who planted the bombs. Thank you, law enforcement. Thank you, po-

lice. But the bad part is now we will give him amazing hospitalisation," Trump, 70, said. "He will be taken care of by

Will press Pak to take steps to deal with terror groups: US

Sharif's meeting with Kerry was among his first bilaterals in the city on the sidelines of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly and Kashmir featured prominently in the talks. New York, Sept 20: The US has said it will continue to press Pakistan to take "additional steps" to deal with terror groups seeking refuge within its borders, hours after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sought American help to resolve bilateral issues between India and Pakistan. Sharif met US Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday and raised the issue of alleged human rights violations and killings in Kashmir. Sharif's meeting with Kerry was among his first bilateral in the city on the sidelines of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly and Kashmir featured prominently in the talks.

US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner said at a press briefing just hours after the bilateral meeting between Kerry and Sharif that the US want to see more progress from Pakistan in dealing with the terror groups effectively. Toner told reporters at the briefing at the New York Foreign Press Centre that US-Pakistan is "obviously a very important relationship. "There's a lot on the bilateral agenda but also on the regional agenda," he said when asked about the Sharif- Kerry meeting. He said the two sides are expected to discuss ongoing efforts by Pakistan at

economic reform, "but certainly security will also be on the agenda, and we'll continue to urge Pakistan to take additional steps to deal with all of the terrorist threats that it faces on its own territory but also those groups that - frankly, that seek refuge or safe refuge within Pakistan's borders and how to deal with those groups in an effective way. "We've seen some progress; we want to see more, and I think moving forward we'll just continue to work closely and try to encourage greater counter terrorism cooperation with Pakistan but also within the region," Toner said. According to a readout of the meeting by the Pakistan mission, Sharif said, "I still remember President (Bill) Clinton's promise that US will play its role to help out in resolving bilateral disputes and issues between Pakistan and India." "I expect US Administration and Secretary Kerry to use his good offices to help in resolving bilateral issues between Pakistan and India," he said. In his meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May, Sharif again raised the Kashmir issue and asked the British leader to play her role in convincing India to stop the use of force against the people in the region.

some of the best doctors in the world. He will be given a fully modern and updated hospital room. And he will probably even have room service, knowing the way our country is," he said. "And on top of all of that, he will be represented by an outstanding lawyer. His case will go through the various court systems for years, and in the end, people will forget and his punishment will not be what it once would have been. What a sad situation," he rued. Trump said the US must use whatever lawful methods are available to obtain information from the appre-

hended suspect to get information before it is no longer timely. "The Congress should pass measures to ensure that foreign enemy combatants are treated as such. These are enemies. These are combatants. And we have to be tough and we have to be strong," he said. Rahami will be questioned in connection with the explosion that occurred on Sunday in Chelsea district of Manhattan, New York, and injured 29 people. (PTI) Rahami, the man suspected in bombings in New York and New Jersey.

Baloch activists to protest outside UN during Nawaz Sharif's address tomorrow

women, including access to legal, medical and psychological support. "I decided to do something when I realised that I could go online to find information about restaurants, but for victims of sexual abuse, there was nothing," Shetty said. Shetty and her team work with established institutions across the education, entertainment and health care sectors to build a network of support that recognises all levels of sexual abuse and provides the necessary means to fight it, according to a statement on the young leaders by the office of the UN Secretary-General's envoy on Youth. So far, the organisation has successfully engaged more than 60,000 young people through educational workshops and Shetty is now focused on achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of gender equality. Kawatra's organisation has a network of over 2,000 volunteers in 28 cities in India for rescuing and redistributing excess food to help feed people in need. The organisation has served over one million meals to date and aims to reach 100 million by 2020. Kawatra, who quit his corporate job at 22, said he decided to focus on tackling food waste and hunger in India when at an Indian wedding he was "appalled" by the amount of food going waste in a country where 194 million are undernourished.

The idea behind his organisation was to collect excess food from parties, events and weddings and redistribute to people in need and it is now eyeing reaching zero hunger. Speaking at a UN event, Kawatra said he was "honoured" to be selected as a UN Young Leader, a role which will give "me an opportunity to further advocate global development goals that need to be achieved for a better planet and also raise India's concerns and social challenges all over the world". Jerath, a scientist and innovator, was born in India, raised in Malaysia and moved to the US at the age of 13. When the BP oil spill happened 30 minutes away from his home in Texas, Jerath says he was determined to take action. "I realised that much smaller spills are happening on a daily basis and adversely affecting our oceans and environment. I had to find a solution," he said. While still in high school, he invented a device that contains oil spills at the source. The patent-pending device can collect oil, gas and water gushing from a broken well on the seafloor, providing an effective, temporary solution in the case of an unforeseen subsea oil spill. For his invention, Jerath won the 'Young Scientist Award' at the Intel International Science and Engineer-

Expressing their solidarity with the Kashmiri people, the OIC group "reaffirmed their resolve to remain the voice of the Kashmiris' at the international stage." New York, Sept 20: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has backed Pakistan and called on India to immediately cease 'atrocities' in Kashmir and peacefully settle the issue in accordance with wishes of Kashmiri people and the UNSC resolutions. OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani Monday expressed concern over the situation in Kashmir and called for an immediate cessation of atrocities by India, urging the Indian government for peaceful settlement of the dispute 'in accordance with wishes of Kashmiri people and the UNSC resolutions'. Expressing their solidarity with the Kashmiri people, the OIC group "reaffirmed their resolve to remain the voice of the Kashmiris' at the international stage." Madani's remarks came after Pakistan Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz addressed a meeting of the OIC Contact Group on

Iyad Ameen Madani, head of Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Jammu and Kashmir. Aziz referred to the killing of 'youth leader' Burhan Wani and the use of pellet guns by Indian forces against Kashmiri protesters following his death. Wani was killed by security forces on July 8. Aziz said such measures cannot break the spirit of the Kashmiri people and their legitimate struggle for self-deter-

mination. "Underscoring that the Kashmir dispute remains central to lasting peace and stability in South Asia, the Adviser regretted that India had failed to reciprocate Pakistan's proposal of meaningful engagement for the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute," according to a statement by the OIC contact group.

North Korea hails 'successful' test of new rocket engine Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif New York, Sept 20:Baloch activists will hold protests outside the UN General Assembly headquarters here on Wednesday during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's address to the General Debate, to highlight "atrocities" and human rights violations by Pakistani forces in Balochistan. The 'Coalition of American Friends of Balochistan' and Indian-American Organisations said they will hold a"peaceful protest" against Pakistan for "its state sponsored atrocities and terrorism on the people of Balochistan, Pakistan OccupiedKashmir, Jammu and Kashmir and minorities". The Baloch National Movement of North America (BNM) said a joint protest of Baloch and Sindhi activists will be held outside the UN headquarters to protest the "ongoing military operations" in Sindh and Balochistan. "Baloch people have welcomed and are grateful for the support extended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at such a critical juncture when our nation is strug-

gling to be free from the illegal military occupation of Pakistan since 1948," BNM said in a statement. Sharif will address the General Debate tomorrow and has said he will raise the Kashmir issue at the UN. The group said that since 2003, more than 20,000 Baloch political activists have gone missing, "illegally abducted" by the Pakistani state security forces and victims of enforced disappearances are being "tortured and executed" in custody. The group also blamed China for joining hands with Pakistan and causing displacement of people living in the tribal and coastal areas with its economic activity. "China is Pakistan's strategic partner in the economic plundering and mass murder of Baloch civilians, particularly in the coastal belt of the Makran region of Balochistan," it said. Strongly criticising the ChinaPakistan economic corridor, the group said thousands of Baloch tribal people have been dislocated due to the development of the corridor.

2 Indians, one US-Indian among 17 UN Young Leaders United Nations, Sept 20: Two Indians and an IndianAmerican are among the 17 people selected for the inaugural class of UN Young Leaders for Sustainable Development Goals for their leadership and contribution to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change by 2030. Trisha Shetty, 25, is the founder and CEO of 'SheSays', a platform she launched last year to educate, rehabilitate and empower women to take direct action against sexual assault in India. Ankit Kawatra, 24, founded 'Feeding India' in 2014 to address the issues of hunger and food waste, particularly by distributing excess food from weddings and parties to the needy. Indian-American Karan Jerath, 19, invented a ground-breaking, subsea wellhead capping device that contains oil spills at the source as a solution in the aftermath of the BP deepwater horizon oil spill-the largest marine oilspill in US history, near his home in Texas. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said the 17 young change-makers are a "testament to the ingenuity of youth and I congratulate them for their exceptional leadership and demonstrated commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals". 'SheSays' uniquely provides tools and resources for

atrocities in Kashmir

ing Fair's 2015 competition, and was selected as the youngest honoree on this year's Forbes 30 Under 30 Energy list. Other leaders are Anthony Ford-Shubrook from the UK, a lifelong advocate for disability rights and access, Kenya's Rita Kimani, cofounder of a social enterprise that connects unbanked and underserved smallholder farmers to credit, and women's rights activist Safaath Ahmed Zahir from Maldives. Shougat Nazbin Khan from Bangladesh who established a digital school for children from underprivileged communities in Bangladesh and Tunisian-Iraqi writer Samar Samir Mezghanni who has written over 100 short stories for children and published 14 books. The inaugural class, selected from over 18,000 nominations from 186 different countries, will support efforts to engage young people in the realisation of the SDGs and will have opportunities to engage in UN and partner-led projects. The initiative will also contribute to a brain trust of young leaders supporting initiatives related to the SDGs. The young leaders have been recognised for their leadership and contribution to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes a set of 17 goals to end poverty, fight inequal-

ity and injustice, and tackle climate change by 2030. UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth Ahmad Alhendawi unveiled the inaugural class of UN Young Leaders for the SDGs at the Social Good Summit in New York o Monday. The flagship initiative of the Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth comes against a backdrop of increasing efforts by the UN to engage young people in its efforts to achieve the SDGs. "We are proud to announce this group of young global citizens who are already transforming their communities. At the same time, the selection process was an important reminder of the great potential and talent of so many young people around the world, who are making immense contributions to peace, development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals," Alhendawi said. The Young Leaders Initiative is powered by the Office of the UN SecretaryGeneral's Envoy on Youth and is part of the Global Youth Partnership for Sustainable Development Goals, launched in 2015 and housed in the Envoy's Office. From food to fashion to micro-finance, the UN Young Leaders for the SDGs, aged 19-30, come from many different backgrounds, represent every region in the world and inspire all of us to achieve the goals. (PTI)

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) inspects the ground jet test of a new high-powered inter-continental ballistic rocket engine, at the Sohae Space Center in North Pyongan Province, in April 2016, Seoul, Sept 20: North Korea has successfully tested a new, high-powered rocket engine, state media said Tuesday, a move Seoul said was designed to showcase its progress towards being able to target the US east coast. The ground test comes less than two weeks after Pyongyang detonated what it said was a miniaturised atomic bomb. Taken together, the two tests raise the prospect that the isolated state could be inching towards its ultimate goal of developing a nuclear-tipped missile that could hit Washington DC. State-run news agency KCNA trumpeted the engine test, which it said would give the country "sufficient carrier capability for launching various kinds of satellites". Rocket engines are easily repurposed for use in missiles, and outside observers say that Pyongyang's space programme is a fig leaf for weapons tests. The North's leader Kim JongUn hailed the test and called for more rocket launches to turn the country into a "possessor of geostationary satellites in a couple of years to

come", KCNA said. A geostationary satellite must be propelled to an altitude of 36,000 kilometres (22,500 miles), a Unification Ministry official was quoted as saying by South Korea's official Yonhap news agency. "The distance to the eastern part of the United States is some 12,000 kilometres. The North is thus showing off its ability" to hit the US east coast, the official added. Rocket scientist Chae YeonSeok at the South's Korea Aerospace Research Institute said such an engine would represent "a technical leap forward" in developing launch vehicles. It suggests the North is "coming close to having an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that could hit the US mainland". Pyongyang regularly parades homegrown missiles and boasts of its plan to develop long-range missiles capable of targeting America. It has already carried out a series of long-range missile tests presented as satellite launches, most recently in February, and has fired missiles from a submarine. A proven submarine-launched

ballistic missile system would allow deployment far beyond the Korean peninsula and a "second-strike" capability in the event of an attack on the North's military bases. - 'Great satisfaction' After supervising the test at the country's Sohae satellitelaunching site, leader Kim Jong-Un called on officials, scientists and technicians "to round off the preparations for launching the satellite as soon as possible", KCNA reported. Kim "expressed great satisfaction" with the results of the test, according to KCNA, and said the North had made cutting-edge scientific advances despite difficult economic conditions. North Korea has been hit by five sets of United Nations sanctions since it first tested a nuclear device in 2006, but has insisted it will continue. Professor Yang Moo-Jin of the University of North Korean Studies said the North had set a five-year space development programme that ends this year. "This new test heralds an upcoming landmark ICBM test. The next test, disguised as a satellite launch, is likely to come when the UN Security Council adopts new sanctions over its last nuclear test or around the time when the US presidential election takes place in November", Yang said. The US has a range of missiledefence technologies at its disposal, including the Aegis Combat System, Patriot missiles and sophisticated radars. Washington is also working with Seoul to install a missile defence system known as THAAD in South Korea, though Beijing says the hardware poses a significant threat to regional security. Yonhap news agency said two B-52 heavy bombers were to be sent from Guam to the South as a fresh show of force against the North this week.

Designate Pakistan as terror sponsor state: Indian-Americans to US Washington, Sept 20: The Indian-American community has asked the US government to designate Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism and impose sanctions on it following the terror attack in Uri that killed 18 soldiers. "Enough is enough. It is time that Pakistan be designated as a state sponsor of terrorism," said Jagdish Sewhani president of American India Public Affairs Committee. Referring to various unilateral peace initiatives of Prime MinisterNarendra Modi after coming to power in May 2014 including the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif to his swearing in ceremony and Lahore visit last December, Sewhani said Islamabad had interpreted these overtures as India's weakness. "Leaders of Pakistan need to understand the price they might have to pay for their continuing support to terrorist activities in India," Sewhani said, adding that both the Obama administration and the US

Congress needed to send a strong message to Pakistan by declaring it a state sponsor of terrorism and impose sanctions on it. "The ability of groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammad to operate freely and with impunity in Pakistan are a direct indication of state sponsored terrorism by the country's intelligence services and military apparatus," said Samir Kalra, senior director and Human Rights Fellow at the Hindu American Foundation. The foundation said the attack was allegedly carried out by Jaishe-Mohammad, a Pakistanbased militant group and a US designated Foreign Terrorist Organisation, believed to receive military and logistical support from the Pakistani army. "Since 1989, a militant insurgency supported by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency has left thousands of Hindus dead, and has driven out more than 350,000 people from the Kashmiri Pandit community from the

KashmirValley," it alleged. "It is time for the US to take a serious look at the foreign military assistance to Pakistan and how those resources are being diverted to cross-border terrorism and other nefarious activities," said Indian National Overseas Congress, USA. "We join the civilised people everywhere in condemning this dastardly attack across the border from Pakistan and offer our condolences and prayers to families of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives," said George Abraham, chairman, INOC, USA. "We also call upon Pakistan to stop exporting terrorism and return the region to relative peace and tranquility," Abraham said. Eighteen soldiers were killed and over a dozen others injured as heavily armed militants stormed a battalion headquarters of the force in North Kashmir's Uri town early Sunday. Four militants involved in the terror strike were killed by the Army. (PTI)

EDUCATION

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

Get that global edge "The world is flat," said famed economist Thomas Friedman in his seminal book on global economics, over a decade back. Since then, the world has become flatter, and nowhere else is this more apparent than in the hundreds of Indian students who aspire for the best global education today. MBA is one such programme that attracts some of the best talent from India. Yet, top MBA programmes are extremely selective. Only 13 per cent of students applying to the MBA programme at Harvard Business School are selected, while the figure for Stanford is even lower - six per cent. What are the key factors that these institutions look for while selecting students? Here are a few to lookout for. Leadership To most people, 'leadership' is an abstract term. Some look at it merely by way of designation, while others, through the size of teams one leads. In reality, leadership, at least the way that top B-schools look at it, goes well beyond this. It includes the ability to take up difficult challenges, work collaboratively to accomplish tough shared goals, and provide new ideas and solutions (thought leadership). Importantly, leadership need not be a quality limited to top executives in the Csuite - an operations engineer leading a team of workers on a government infrastructure project in a rural area can be a great leader too. It is the situation and the impact that matters, more than the designation. Further, Bschools also evaluate leadership potential - how

likely are you to be a leader in the future, based on past experiences? Strong scores Most Indian professionals are aware that academic history and test scores play a role in top B-school admissions, but they are unaware of exactly how good their performance needs to be. At MIT Sloan, the average college GPA (on a 4-point scale) of incoming MBA students is 3.58, while it is 3.60 at Wharton and at Kellogg, and a whopping 3.74 at Stanford. Students with poor grades are bound to be at a disadvantage. Planning for a top global MBA should therefore start when you are still in college. Just as academic scores are important, so too are test scores. A 700 on the GMAT used to be considered a great score just a decade back. Today, it is below par for top schools. Communication skills This one comes as a surprise to many applicants. After all, they reason, they have been working in a professional environment for a few years, and surely, their communication skills would pass muster in any situation. Not quite, as the standards expected are high, and often, Indian applicants who are strong on paper, are unable to translate the same ability to success in interviews. In fact, top B-school admissions officers state that inadequate communication skills are one of the biggest limitations of Indian candidates. This emphasis on communication skills can be seen in some admissions parameters as well. While most B-schools will

excuse applicants from taking the TOEFL, the TOEFL requirements are quite high for those that do need to take it - 109 (~90th percentile) for Harvard, and 105 (~83rd percentile) for INSEAD. They are lower for some other top schools, but the point still remains - if your communication skills are weak, you are going to be at a significant disadvantage. Experience Today, international exposure is passé. Almost everyone works with global colleagues and in global teams. It is international experience - spending significant time working in a foreign county that counts. Some top schools, such as INSEAD and IMD, will state international experience as an important criterion for applicants explicitly, while others will state it more subtly, in the form of 'global experience'. International experience can help when applying to top schools, as they value candidates who can excel in diverse and global teams, on campus, and after. While a handful of candidates can make it on stellar profiles without it, those with it have a definite edge. If you are contemplating taking up that foreign assignment or onsite project before you apply for an MBA, do not hesitate. To add a further cherry on top, you could also try and visit the schools you are applying to. Learning a foreign language and travelling abroad for personal reasons are other things you could do. After all, in an ever flattening world, creating your own competitive advantage really matters.

Deportation, indelible blot When a student decides to go abroad for further studies, meticulous planning follows. But after everything seems to fall in place, what if the student is deported to his/ her country even before he/she gets a chance to join the college? In the recent past, many students have had to undergo this traumatic experience due to various reasons. In this interview, Harjiv Singh, founder and CEO, Salwan Media Ventures and convener, One Globe Forum, sheds light on the reasons behind this problem and how to avoid it. Why are Indian students deported back home? How does it impact them? We see two main sources of fraud. While the occasional applicant may wilfully fudge his or her credentials to get a student visa, it is clear that the two biggest sources of fraud are shady universities and unscrupulous recruitment agents. Students get caught in scams, often not realising how serious the consequences are until it is too late. For instance, several months ago, Air India offloaded 19 students in Hyderabad, saying the schools they were about to join - Silicon Valley University in San Jose and Northwestern Polytechnic University in Fremont - were under suspicion. In June, a real school, the Western Kentucky University (WKU), found that 40 of the 60 Indian students admitted in the computer science programme did not meet admission requirements. News reports said at least 25 of them would be forced to leave the university and thus faced deportation, be-

cause student visas are university-specific. Interestingly, in an aggressive effort to attract Indian students, WKU paid international recruiters based on the number of students they brought in. The impact of fraud on students and their families can be devastating. Firstly, there's the psychological sense of failure and regret. Secondly, the lakhs of rupees spent on the application process - coaching fees, application fees, exams such as SAT or GMAT, agent fees, visa and travel costs - are wasted. Lastly, deportation is an indelible blot on your immigration record which can permanently damage your chances of studying or working abroad. Why do several students get stuck at the port of entry in the U.S.? What is the difference between U.S. Visa and the port of entry? It is important to understand that your visa authorises you to enter the United States, but does not guarantee entry. The port of entry is where you literally enter a country - for example, Los Angeles International airport or JFK airport. At the port of entry, you still have to clear immigration. Regardless of your visa, if an immigration or security official has reason to believe you are entering the country illegally, or with illegal intentions, they are within their rights to deny you entry. It is important to understand that even after you enter the country, it is your responsibility as a student to "remain in status". This means you must always comply with all the requirements for your visa, such as being registered as

Career in Air hostess ØStress handling ability ØUnmarried females ØValid passport Ø Work pressures han-

dling capabilities A person, who have successfully passed the Plus Two level of education but qualifies these entrance level examinations of the Indian air hostess institutes, are even eligible to enroll themselves for a course for becoming an air hostess.

Major Air Hostess Examinations in India Air hostess, often called stewardess, cabin crew or flight attendant, is one of the female members, whom an airline company employs to be a part of the aircrew. Their primary job role includes ensuring the comfort and safety of passengers traveling in different kinds of flights. Apart from this, such flight attendants are even tasked with various types of customer services like serving drinks and meals to the passengers. Starting from welcoming the passengers to giving demonstration about the different emergency devices is even part of the job role of an air hostess. Their work schedule involves working at odd times as well depending of the schedule of the flight, which they are assigned with the duty for. As per the regulations

related to the international safety of the air travelers, each and every flight needs to have a specified number of air hostesses. Current Scenario of Air Hostess Courses in India Many students from all over India wish to build up a career in this field. The financial crunch that affected the sector of Indian civil aviation during the year 2008 shattered the confidence of public in terms of choosing this field as a career. However, the youths of this nation have now been able to regain that confidence and have started once again to enroll them in the different air hostess training institutes. Several students from the Indian Republic even travel abroad to pursue varied courses related to

this career. Generally, the graduate candidates are preferred for such a profession. However, many other pre-requisites are required that are judged in the admission tests of the different institutions in India that impart training on this field of study.

ØGood eyesight

The nature and duration of such examinations can vary from one college to another though. Apart from being a graduate, one, who aspires to be an air hostess in this nation, is required to fulfill some other criteria, some of which are mentioned below:

Ø Knowledge of swim-

Ø Age limit within 18 years to 25 years

ØPeople friendly

Ø Confident wearing

smart dresses

ØGood communication

PAGE 9

ØFluency in the English

language ØKnowledge about first

aid ØKnowledge of different

foreign languages ming ØMedically fit Ø Minimum 5 ft and 2

inches with balanced weight ØWithout criminal back-

ground

Ø Pleasing and presentable personality ØPositive attitude

The selection procedure of the different air hostess institutions of India includes a written examination, which each and every candidate aspiring to be an air hostess, needs to pass. However, the aspirants first need to clear the screening test. The nature and level of the examination might vary from one institute to another. The entrance examinations even depend on the nature of the course as well.

Top Air Hostess Colleges in India Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training or F. I. A. H. T, Delhi Air Hostess Academy or A. H. A., Bangalore Rajiv Gandhi Memorial College of Aeronautics or R. G. M. C. A. Kingfisher Training Academy or K. T. A. Universal Aviation Academy or U. A. A.

a full-time student (generally foreign students in the U.S. cannot be part-time), not doing unauthorised work, ensuring your I-20 form is renewed on time, and so on. Every university has an office for international students that will guide them. What are the mistakes students make while choosing a university abroad? I think the biggest mistake students make is to rely on someone else at the cost of doing their own research to decide where and what they want to study. They should not set too much store by rankings and reputation. Seek help during the admission process, but do not outsource your own responsibility. Also, do not let money decide for you - just because you can afford a programme does not mean

it is right for you. Conversely, if you can't afford a programme you really want to sign up for, that does not necessarily mean it is not meant for you - seek scholarships, ask questions and do not give up. What can students do to ensure that their college application and studies proceed without mishaps? There are many good college search engines available these days. Sessions by Education USA, CampusFrance, DAAD and other agencies can also help students to understand the process of going abroad. Seek out official information by referring to the websites of embassies and high commissions, and the universities you want to apply to. This should be the basic homework, in addition to any information you get from study fairs,

university-promoted information sessions, studyabroad agents, and so on. If you are applying for a specialised programme, especially at the postgraduate-level, reach out to the university or professor you are interested in, and ask questions about the programme you are considering. It costs almost nothing. Basic research skills are necessary to succeed as an international student. Think of the process of applying abroad as a way to polish your research skills. This will help you discover programmes and possibilities that you had not thought of before, and are more likely to find programmes that you are really excited about. And you will become better at detecting fraud when something looks too good to be true.

NATION

PAGE 10

Rajnath reviews Kashmir situation

President lauds DRDO for successful missile launch

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

PTI New Delhi, Sept 20: Home Minister Rajnath Singh today again reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir with top officials, including NSA Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, in the wake of the terror attack in Uri. Doval and top officials of the ministries of Home and Defence, paramilitary forces and chiefs of intelligence agencies briefed Singh on the prevailing situation in the Kashmir Valley as well as along the Line of Con-

Home Minister Rajnath Singh trol, official sources said. The presence of the Foreign Secretary in the

meeting is significant as government plans to launch a diplomatic offen-

Barring Srinagar, curfew lifted across Kashmir PTI Srinagar, Sept 20: Curfew was today lifted across Kashmir, except from six police station areas of Srinagar, in view of the improving situation, even as normal life remained disrupted in the Valley for the 74th straight day. Curfew remains in force in five police station areas of downtown (interior city) and Harwan in Srinagar, while the curbs have been lifted from elsewhere in the Valley, a police official said. He said curfew was clamped in Harwan Police Station areas today in view of the fourth day of mourning of a boy killed in security forces' action on Friday. The official said the curbs on the movement of people were lifted, from other areas where curfew was in force yesterday,

because of the improving situation. Barring stray incidents of stone pelting in Sopore and Shopian, overall situation remained under control across the Valley yesterday and there was increased traffic and movement of people between various districts and towns of the Valley including in some areas of Srinagar city, the official said. He, however, said that restrictions on the assembly of people under Section 144 CrPc continued to remain in force in the Valley. Meanwhile, normal life continued to remain paralysed in Kashmir for the 74th consecutive day due to restrictions and separatist sponsored strike. The separatists, who are spearheading the current agitation in the Valley, have extended the protest programme till September 22. They have also asked

Woman killed in frenzied stabbing by stalker PTI New Delhi, Sept 20 : A 21-year-old woman was brutally stabbed to death in broad daylight by her 34-year-old stalker, who attacked her nearly 22 times as passersby looked on in north Delhi's Burari area. The accused, identified as Surender Singh, carried out the frenzied attack when the victim, Karuna, was walking through the area at 9 AM. She was a teacher at Novel Reaches School, police said. Scooterists and passersby looked on as Singh dragged the girl, who fell down as she tried to save herself, and relentlessly attacked her. Singh stabbed the woman 22 times.

A man tried to approach but backed off and left from there. Some onlookers later caught Singh and handed him over to the police. Singh had been stalking the girl for a year but she resisted his advances, said a senior police officer. The victim used to learn computer at a training centre owned by the accused and he fell in love with her, police said. The victim's family had lodged a complaint against the stalker six months back but both the families reached a compromise and the accused had stopped stalking her, said the victim's family. However, he attacked her today and brutally killed her, police said.

2 days after Uri, 2 infiltration bids in Kashmir foiled Contd. from Page 1

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh again reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir at a meeting in Delhi with top officials, including NSA Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar. Separately, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said that any action against terrorists based in Pakistan will be taken only after examining all relevant issues. On the ceasefire violation incident, an army official in Srinagar said the firing from across the LoC took place between 1.10 pm and 1.30 pm. However, there was no damage in the incident, he said. "Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing by small arms towards Indian positions in Uri sector this afternoon," the official said in Srinagar. The official said while

there were no reports of any casualty in the firing, further details of the incident were awaited. The infiltration bids and the ceasefire violation came two days after four militants of Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad stormed an army base in Uri Sector, killing 18 soldiers and injuring several others. All the four militants were also killed. The terror attack has heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. At the meeting convened by Rajnath Singh, Doval and top officials of the ministries of Home and Defence, paramilitary forces and chiefs of intelligence agencies briefed him on the prevailing situation in the Kashmir Valley as well as along the LoC, official sources said. The presence of the Foreign Secretary at the meeting is significant as government plans to launch a diplomatic offensive against Pakistan.

people to observe today as Women's Day. They have not announced any period of relaxation in the strike for the week. Shops, business establishments and petrol pumps continued to remain shut, while public transport was off the roads. Schools, colleges and other educational institutions also continued to remain shut. Postpaid mobile telephony services were restored last night, while the outgoing calls on prepaid numbers continued to remain snapped across the Valley. Mobile Internet services also remained suspended. As many as 81 people, including two cops, have been killed in the unrest that broke out a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces in South Kashmir on July 8.

sive against Pakistan. Sources said the Home Minister took stock of the steps taken to check infiltration along the LoC and the International Border with Pakistan. The Home Minister and the top officials also reviewed the security situation across the country, including Punjab which had faced two similar terror attacks early this year. Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi is in Srinagar to assess the ground situation in Kashmir.

Heavily armed militants suspected to be from Pakistan-based JeM had stormed an army base in Uri in Kashmir on Sunday, killing 18 jawans. Government is planning to use a calibrated, multilayered and strategic response to Uri attack besides planning to hand over to Pakistan evidence of the four terrorists using Pakistanimarked weapons, food, energy drinks and GPS trackers which they carried to enter Jammu and Kashmir from across the LoC.

IAF's MiG-21 fighter plane makes emergency landing at Srinagar Airport

Agencies Srinagar, Sept 20: A MiG21 fighter jet on Tuesday made an emergency landing at Srinagar airport after developing a "technical snag" but no one including the pilot was hurt in the incident. "The fighter jet made an emergency landing at the Srinagar Airport after the pilot noticed a technical snag in the plane," airport sources said here. They said fire tenders were rushed to the runaway to ensure that the aircraft did not catch fire.

"The tyres of the jet were badly burnt due to the emergency landing but timely action saved the plane," they added. Meanwhile, the civilian flights to and fro Srinagar Airport were briefly delayed in view of the jet making emergency landing. Indian Air Force officials refused to comment on the incident while public relations officer, defence, said he would comment after collecting information from the authorities concerned.

Yadav family war still on, Shivpal sacks pro-Akhilesh leaders

Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav PTI Lucknow, Sept 20: The war in Uttar Pradesh's first family seems to be far from over, with Samajawadi Party's state unit head Shivpal Yadav on Monday asserting himself against Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav by expelling seven party functionaries, including three MLCs, considered close to him. Protesting against the tough action, a number of youth office bearers of the party's front wings spontaneously resigned, claiming that "Akhilesh" is their "undisputed" leader. Sunil Singh Sajan, Anand Bhadauria and Sanjay Lathar -- all MLCs -- were shown the door by Shivpal for making "derogatory remarks" against party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, indulging in anti-

party activities and indiscipline. Besides the MLCs, state chief of SP youth brigade Mohd Ebad, state president of SP yuvjan sabha Brijesh Yadav, national president of SP youth brigade Gaurav Dubey, and state chief of chatra sabha Digvijay Singh Dev were sacked from the party on similar grounds by Shivpal. The pro-Akhilesh camp protested against this development which came only two days after a compromise worked out by SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav between Shivpal and the Chief Minister, who have been engaged in a turf war. As per the compromise, Akhilesh restored all but one key portfolios of Shivpal and accepted him as state unit president, a post from which

he himself had been removed. "Akhilesh ji is our undisputed leader. We joined politics under his leadership. We did not indulge in indiscipline. We are even ready to give our life from him," an angry Brijesh said. Digvijay aired similar sentiments, saying they believe in the policies of Netaji (Mulayam) and will continue to work for Samajwadi Party. "We only apprised Netaji of our views in favour of Akhilesh," he said. High drama unfolded in the VVIP Guest House area where two youths of SP chatra sabha climbed atop a TV transmission tower to protest the mass sacking. Protests against the decision were reported from some districts as well. After taking the decision, Shivpal visited CM's residence and both the leaders had closed door talks. A meeting of legislators and party district presidents has been called by Shivpal tomorrow to discuss the party's strategy for the Assembly elections due early next year. Meanwhile, Shivpal, while talking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme, gave a tough message to party cadres saying, "Strict action will be taken against all those who indulge in indiscipline."

Agencies New Delhi, Sept 20: President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday hailed the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for successfully test firing a new, long range surface-to-air missile jointly developed with Israel. "Congratulations DRDO on the successful test firing of Indo-Israeli surface- to air missile 'Barak-8 ' from Odisha today (Tuesday)," Mukherjee said. The long range missile, a product of a joint venture between India and Israel,

Pranab Mukherjee was test launched from a mobile launcher at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha at around 10.13 hours, a DRDO official

said. The trial was successful and some more rounds of test are expected to be conducted shortly, the DRDO scientist said.

Digvijaya hints at re-entry of George in Siddaramaiah cabinet PTI Hyderabad, Sept 20: The Congress leadership believes there was no "enough reason" for former Karnataka Minister K J George to resign, senior party leader Digvijaya Singh said today, hinting at his likely return into the Siddaramaiah cabinet. "As far as we are concerned, merely a complaint or statement by a person who commits suicide is not enough reason for anyone to resign," the party General Secretary in charge of Karnataka Affairs told PTI here. Singh was asked if the Congress leadership has approved the reinstatement of George in the wake of Karnataka CID earlier this month giving a clean chit to him and two senior police officers in connection with the alleged suicide of Dy SP M K Ganapathy. "There was no reason for

him (George) to resign in the first place but on his personal thing he resigned. As far as the high command is concerned, there is nothing against George," the two-time Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister said. Asked if the party highcommand has given green signal for the re-entry of George, Singh said, "That is for the Chief Minister to decide. It is the prerogative of the Chief Minister. We do not interfere in these matters." Ganapathy was found hanging from a ceiling fan in a room at a lodge in Madikeri on July 7, prior to which he had in an interview to a local TV channel said the Minister and the two senior police officers, A M Prasad and Pranab Mohanty, would be responsible "if anything happens to me". George had on July 18 resigned after a court di-

rected police to register an FIR against him and the two police officers in connection with the matter. On criticism in some quarters that Karanataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah did not handle the situation well on September 12 when Bengaluru witnessed largescale violence over the Cauvery water sharing row with Tamil Nadu, Singh admitted the state government was "not very stringent" on that day. "The agitation is by farmers. No government, when its a sensitive issue of water, can be seen to be aggressively taking action against genuine demands of farmers which the government also feels the same way. So, the Karnataka government was sort of not very stringent on the first day. So, some violence did happen. From second day onwards, it was controlled," he said.

Goa CM Parsekar defends defence minister's frequent visits to state

Goa chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar, right, defended Manohar Parrikar, saying being a defence minister does not mean he should be 'standing on the border'. PTI Panaji, Sept 20: Taking a jibe at the Congress for its remarks over Manohar Parrikar frequenting the state, Goa chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Tuesday said being a defence minister does not mean he should be "standing on the border". "He (Manohar Parrikar) is the defence minister. But that does not mean he

should be standing on the border and should not come to Goa," Parsekar said, reacting the Congress dubbing Parrikar a "part-time defence minister". Parsekar said the Congress was feeling the pinch of developmental works and schemes launched by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government and indulging

in "cheap tactics". "We (BJP) have launched one social welfare scheme a month during last five years of our rule in the state. Let Congress count and tell me how many such schemes they introduced during their tenure," Parsekar said. He said the state government has been accepted wholeheartedly by the people and it would reflect in the results of the 2017 Goa assembly elections. Responding to a question, Parsekar said the BJP was confident that the alliance with Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) would continue in the upcoming assembly polls. "We have been in alliance since last five years and it will continue even in the future. There is no question of discontinuing it. Both the parties are likeminded and believe in working for the people of Goa," he said.

Telangana to set up Backward Classes Commission Hyderabad, Sept 20: Telangana government today said it has decided to set up Backward Classes (BC) Commission for the integrated development and welfare of the communities. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who today held a review meeting with senior officials, asked them to take neces-

sary steps in that direction, according to a press release issued. "The chief minister asked the officials to make budgetary allocations for BCs from next year. He also ordered the officials to start residential schools in each of the 119 assembly constituencies in the state in the first phase," the release said.

The State cabinet which is expected to meet on September 26, will discuss issues related to setting up the commission and also creating Nizamabad and Karimnagar Police Commissionarates, it said. 'Action on Pak-based terrorists only after due consideration' New Delhi, Sept 20: Any action against terrorists

based in Pakistan will be taken only after examining all relevant issues, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said today. "Action will be taken after due consideration. Action is not taken after making announcements," he told reporters here. The Minister of State for Home made the remarks

when he was asked whether the government was planning to carry out a strike against terrorists camps based in Pakistan. Eighteen soldiers were killed after heavily armed militants, suspected to be from Pakistan-based JeM, stormed an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. There have been various

reports suggesting that the government was exploring options on how to deal with the terror emanating from Pakistan. "It is a very serious issue and we should not indulge in any war of words. So many lives have been lost, people's sentiments have been hurt. The matter cannot be handled just like that," Rijiju said.

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

PAGE 11 ENVIRONMENT Monsoon to be ‘normal’: IMD 100,000 deaths from Indonesia forest fires, study estimates ated Press and were not involved in the research, said the study is preliminary and involved a “very challenging” task of analysing the sources and spread of fine particulate matter over several countries and a lengthy time frame. Wake-up call Even with caveats, it should serve as a “wake-up call” for firm action in Indonesia to curb peatland and forest fires and for regional cooperation to deal with the fallout on public health, he said.

Indonesian forest fires that choked a swath of Southeast Asia with a smoky haze for weeks last year may have caused more than 100,000 deaths, according to new research that will add to pressure on Indonesia’s government to tackle the annual crisis. The study by scientists from Harvard University and Columbia University to be published in the journalEnvironmental Research Letters is being welcomed by other researchers and Indonesia’s medical profession as an advance in quantifying the suspected serious public health effects of the fires, which are set to clear land for agriculture and forestry. The number of deaths is an estimate derived from a complex analysis that has not yet been validated by analysis of official data on mortality. The research has implications for land-use practices and Indonesia’s vast pulp and paper industry. The researchers showed that

peatlands within timber concessions, and peatlands overall, were a much bigger proportion of the fires observed by satellite than in 2006, which was another particularly bad year for haze. The researchers surmise that draining of the peatlands to prepare them for pulpwood plantations and other uses made them more vulnerable to fires. The estimate of early deaths linked to respiratory illness and other causes covers Indonesia and its neighbors Singapore and Malaysia. It dwarfs Indonesia’s official toll of 19 that included deaths from illness and the deaths of firefighters. However, the possible scale of serious health consequences was indicated by a statement from the country’s disaster management agency in October that said more than 43 million Indonesians were exposed to smoke from the fires and half a million suffered acute respiratory infections. Scope of the study

The study considered only the health impact on adults and restricts itself to the effects of health-threatening fine particulate matter, often referred to as PM2.5, rather than all toxins that would be in the smoke from burning peatlands and forests. The bulk of the estimated deaths are in Indonesia, by far the most populous of the three countries and the country with the biggest land area affected by haze. The fires from July to October last year in southern Sumatra and the Indonesian part of Borneo were the worst since 1997 and exacerbated by El Nino dry conditions. About 2, 61,000 hectares of land burned. Some of the fires started accidently, but many were deliberately set by companies and villagers to clear land for plantations and agriculture. Rajasekhar Bala, an environmental engineering expert at the National University of Singapore, one of five experts who reviewed the paper for The Associ-

“Air pollution, especially that caused by atmospheric fine particles, has grave implications for human health,” he said. Frank Murray, an associate professor of environment science at Australia’s Murdoch University, said the death estimates are not “precise health outcomes” but their overall scale should trigger intensified efforts to deal with the crisis. The study is a major contribution to addressing an international problem, he said. The study finds there is a high statistical probability that early deaths ranged between 26,300 and 1, 74,300. Its main estimate of 1, 00,300 deaths is the average of those two figures. It predicts 91,600 deaths in Indonesia, another 6,500 in Malaysia and 2,200 in Singapore. The researchers involved in the study say the model they developed can be combined with satellite and ground station observations to analyse the haze in close to real time. That gives it the potential to be used to di-

rect firefighting efforts in a way that reduces the amount of illness caused, they say. The annual fires have strained relations between Indonesia and its wealthier neighbours Singapore and Malaysia, who are at the mercy of winds that carry the haze into their territory from Sumatra. But the brunt of the crisis is faced by millions of Indonesians in Sumatra and Kalimantan, many of them poor and with little or no means to protect themselves from the blanket of smoke. “Particles penetrate indoors, and housing in Indonesia is very well ventilated, so I don’t think there is any avertive behaviour that people there could have taken that would have been effective,” said Joel Schwartz, an air pollution epidemiologist at Harvard who co-authored the study. “In Singapore, if you close all the windows and turn on the air conditioning you get some protection, which may have happened.”

In an opinion article on the phasing down of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) recently, you wrote that this is the “climate’s low hanging fruit”. Are you positive that the nations meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, next month to discuss the Montreal Protocol (meant to protect the ozone layer) amendment on the matter would concur? Yes, we have been following the negotiations at the Montreal Protocol. And we are confident that there is momentum building up to phase down HFCs. It has been evident how important this is for the countries and the huge impact it will have. So, I am optimistic that the amendment in the Protocol for phasing down HFCs will go through next month. With the exception of some countries, particularly warm countries that operate well only with air conditioners, the phase

out time for all other countries will have to be worked out. Those will be parts of the agreement. There is general consensus that this goal must be pursued by the international community as a whole. These negotiations will make an important contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well and will help with the realisation of the Paris agreement. That is really the next step. Till now 27 nations have ratified the Paris climate agreement, the latest being Brazil. Do you see the possibility that the Paris agreement will be ready to enter into force by the end of the year, and get the ratification of 55 member nations as required? Currently, with Brazil, we have covered over 40 per cent of global emissions with the ratification of the Paris agreement. They are very good signals. This shows that countries are keeping up their political will to comply. On September 21, the UN Secretary General will hold an event to promote ratification and encourage important contributions from member countries in this regard. There is possibility that the Paris Agreement will enter into force by end of this year. Does it worry you that most of the countries that have ratified the pact till now, except for US, China or Brazil, are all small nations with low GHG emissions and are threatened by the climate catastrophe and not those who are responsible for the emissions? Small island countries

are the first to ratify the agreement. Their existence is at stake with this issue. Bigger countries are also joining in ratification. In Europe, a number of countries have already finalised the ratification and the EU nations will be depositing their ratification instruments together. Even Latin America and Africa are speeding up the process. Mexico, the country I come from, has also taken up the matter of ratification in the Senate yesterday. They will be having it approved by Congress as soon as possible. What would be the most important and urgent action points you are hoping to raise with member nations in Marrakesh at COP22 in November in this regard, since the summit will be focussing on implementation? An earlier UNFCCC report in April this year had pointed out that even if all the pledges covered by the Paris agreement were implemented, it would be insufficient to keep temperature rise within the 2 degree Celsius danger threshold… For COP22 one of the foremost agendas is ensuring the treaty’s entry into force. There has been a lot of movement on our side, on the part of the UNSG, and on the side of France and Morocco, the outgoing and incoming chairs of conference in this regard. First, we have to get as many people to ratify the agreement as that will allow it to come into force. If that happens we will have the first COP convention for building up the necessary machinery to

become operational. We do have a lot of emphasis on action. We are also preparing a series of events focusing on ongoing efforts to fight climate change. We would like to show that countries can advance in solutions, be it technological or naturebased, to fight the impact of climate change. All relevant actors, government, and also non-state actors like private companies and civil society groups will be brought together. We will aim to bring all those actions on the ground and seek information from participants and get their inputs into the negotiations. This will help in making the agreement operational. Christiana Figueres, the previous UNFCCC executive secretary, recently dropped out of the race for the top UN Secretary General job. Do you feel that having a woman as the next UNSG would make a difference in terms of delivering the stated goals of the organisation? It is important that women have the same opportunity to assume leadership roles in the United Nations as men do. The United Nations stands for justice, human rights and social progress, and part of the agenda of the UN is the empowerment of women and girls, which is also crucial to achieve the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals. It is more than two decades since the UNFCCC entered into force in 1994. What is your assessment of the progress made so far in curbing the worst impacts of climate change? Many of the

The activation phase of La Nina which was supposed to boost rainfall in September, got delayed, resulting in lesser than anticipated amount of rain this year, the state-run weather agency said. The monsoon, which delivers 70 per cent of India’s annual rainfall, is critical for the country’s 263 million farmers and their rice, sugarcane, corn, cotton and soybean crops because nearly half of its farmland lacks irrigation. Last month, Skymet, a

private weather forecasting agency, had lowered its forecast from “above normal” to “normal”. But the IMD had stuck to its earlier forecast of “above normal” monsoon. India has been hit by drought in the last two years, with the last monsoon being affected by El Nino. However, it was expected that this year there would be a gradual transition to La Nina phenomenon, which would have boosted monsoon and given “excess” rain in September.

The Indonesian Medical Association’s West Kalimantan chapter said Indonesia faces an overall decline in the health of future generations with social and economic consequences if the situation is not tackled. “We are the doctors who care for the vulnerable groups exposed to toxic smoke,” said Nursyam Ibrahim, deputy head of the West Kalimantan chapter of the association. “And we know how awful it is to see the disease symptoms experienced by babies and children in our care.”

Paris Agreement can enter into force by year end: UN climate body chief Mexican diplomat Patricia Espinosa, leading the UNFCCC since May, 2016, sees phasing down of HFCs as the “climate’s low hanging fruit”, their immediate target. On September 16 , 1987, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, was signed, which has seen success in addressing the damage to ozone layer from harmful chemicals. The next step is to phase d o w n Hydrofluorocarbons that can also help mitigate the climate crisis. Excerpts from a telephonic interview with the diplomat based in the Bonn, Germany headquarters of the UN climate body.

Going back on its earlier forecast of “above normal” monsoon, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday said the monsoon will be “normal” this year due to delay in La Nina weather pattern. The monsoon this year will be below 100 per cent of the long period average, Ministry of Earth Sciences Secretary Madhavan Nair Rajeevan said. IMD Director General K J Ramesh said, “The monsoon will be normal this year.”

negative impacts are already being felt the world over, such as droughts, cyclones, and rising sea levels submerging islands. International negotiations are slow, given all the different views that need to be taken into account. It is important to acknowledge the central achievement of Kyoto Protocol, which enabled those industrialised countries that ratified it – as a group – to limit their emissions to the levels they set themselves under the first commitment period. Last year we had a breakthrough with the Paris Agreement that has put the world on a firm trajectory towards low carbon and resilience. The Paris Agreement will help transform the global economy, and at the same time it provides the framework for governments to raise ambition and achieve their key objective set in Paris, which is to limit the global average temperature rise to as close to 1.5 degrees Celsius as possible. It is also important to keep in mind that the UNFCCC has developed and introduced many innovative ways of reducing emissions which are now bearing fruit. This includes carbon markets which are spreading all over the world, payments for maintaining forests, offsetting of emissions and various forms of innovative finance. Without the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, it is unlikely that we would be looking at the same levels of investments in renewable energy – around 300 billion a year - that have meanwhile become the norm.

Norway on a killing spree: Plans to kill 47 of its remaining 68 wolves! The whole world is accusing Norwegian Forest Department for its decision of approving the mass slaughter of its endangered wolf population. The country is about to cull two-third of its remaining species in wild. There are estimated to be about 68 wolves remaining in the wilderness areas of Norway, concentrated in the south-east of the country, but under con-

troversial plans approved on Friday as many as 47 of these will be shot, according to The Guardian. The worst part is the Norwegian government is justifying this mass slaughter plan citing problem that the predators has caused massive damage to their sheep flock. The green groups who are against this action said that the number of wolves

the government plans to kill this year is greater than in any year since 1911. Norway is known for its strong tradition of hunting. In 2015, more than 11,000 hunters applied for license to shoot wolves. Under the plan, 24 wolves will be shot within the region of the country designated for wolf habitat, while another 13 will be shot in neighboring regions and a further 10 in other areas of the country.

Damage to Great Barrier Reef costs ship owner $30 million

The Australian government reached a 39.3 million Australian dollar ($29.6 million) settlement with the owners of a Chinese coal carrier to pay for environmental damage caused when the ship ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef six years ago, the environment minister said Monday. The government had sued Shenzhen Energy Transport for at least AU$120 million in the Australian Federal Court after the fully laden ship Shen Neng1 went off course in April 2010 and grounded on Douglas Shoal, 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of the town of Rockhampton, among the chain of World Heritagelisted coral reefs. Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg said Shenzhen Energy Transport has agreed to the out-of-

court settlement after refusing to accept responsibility for restitution for more than six years. “Our ongoing actions to pursue funds to clean up the pollution sends an unambiguous signal that damage to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area is unacceptable and that we will use every available means to pursue ship owners who are negligent in causing damage to the reef,” Mr. Frydenberg said in a statement. Contamination The crash site was contaminated with hundreds of kilograms (pounds) of paint particles tainted with the highly toxic anti-fouling agent tributyltin. Tributyltin slows the growth of aquatic organisms on ship hulls, and marine biologists say the particles need to be removed from the 40-

hectare (100-acre) crash site to allow the area to recover. Shenzhen Energy Transport had said in court the reef is already healing and the company should not have to pay for a cleanup that is not needed. Shenzhen Energy Transport’s maritime insurer, London P&I Club, has said the government’s estimated costs of fixing the reef were unrealistic. Frydenberg said the cleanup is likely to begin in mid-2017. Of the total, AU$35 million is to be paid to the government to cover the cost of removing polluted rubble. The remaining AU$4.3 million is to cover government costs incurred in the immediate aftermath of the grounding. Shenzhen Energy Transport could not be contacted immediately for comment Monday.

cmyk

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

PAGE 12

2nd Thansen Wangchadong Memorial Football Tournament 2016, Tirap

Chinkoi FC crush Kingfisher 4-1, Hawk-16 win

An action moment of the match. Pic - Dr. Changwang Mongchan

ET Correspondent Khonsa, Sept 20: Chinkoi Football Club defeated Kingfisher Football Club 4-1 in the second ongoing Thansen Wangchandong memorial Football tournament organized by W.Lowangdong and family in collaboration with Tirap district administration at Nehru Stadium in Khonsa here today. In the one sided affair, the Chinkoi side opened their account in the ist minute throught the boot of Tihong Thinra. Domwang Lowang netted another goal in the 20th minute through a pass from the left flank. Tihong Thinra was booked with red card in the 36th minute due to foul play. Kingfisher FC reduced the margin in the 38th minute through midfielder Gannai Pansa pass from the right flank.

TODAY' MATCH Dated : 21-09-2016

1st QUARTER FINAL TIME : 02:30 PM

PANIDURIA V/S

DEOMALI TOMMOROWS MATCH Date: 22-9-2016NG

2nd Hawk-16 Football Club beat Lapnan Football Club 4-3 via-penalty shootout. Pic - Dr. Changwang Mongchan

In the second half, Chinkoi dominated the show. Jalan Tekwa opened the second -half account with a powerful shot from the midfield in the 78th minute. Two minute later Lowang

strike his second goal by converting a pass from the right flank. In another match, Hawk16 Football Club beat Lapnan Football Club 43 via-penalty shootout.

The regulation time was 0-0 draw. Logan Medam of Hawk-16 and Lemwang Nokbi of Lapnan FC were booked with yellow card in 3 and 77 minute respectively.

QUARTER FINAL TIME : 03:OO PM

BORDURIA V/S THINGDONG FC

Inzamam-ul-Haq says Shahid Afridi deserves farewell match PTI Karachi, Sept 20 : Pakistan's chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq believes that flamboyant allrounder Shahid Afridi deserves to be given a farewell match after serving the country for almost two decades. Inzamam told Pakistani reporters in Dubai on Monday night that Afridi had been a stellar performer and deserved a proper farewell and retirement. "In my opinion Shahid deserves to be given a farewell match so that he can announce his retirement properly and retire in a befitting manner," the former captain said. Inzamam played a key role in convincing the Pakistan Cricket Board to allow the selectors to pick Afridi as

the 16th player for the T20 that there were lot of series against the West things to be put right in Indies so that h e Pakistan cricket and this could play in a could not happen in three match or two months time. "There is a and than anlot to be done in Pakistan nounce his cricket and things can't retirechange in a few months ment time. It will take time b u t and patience to put the our cricket on the plan right path but it Shahid Afridi has will happen," now he said. been Inzamam, dropped by t h e w h o board. played in Afridi for the time being 1 2 0 has apparently taken up Te s t s , a new role of an exsaid that pert for the state he was owned television optimistic sports channel for about the the limited over future as the series against the West quality of talent being unIndies which begins from covered in domestic Friday. cricket was encouraging. The chief selector also felt He admitted that lot of

hard work was required to improve Pakistan's standing in one-day and T20 internationals where the national team is languishing at number nine and eight positions. "This selection committee has just worked for three months and we have identified lot of improvements that need to be made to our cricket system and structure. But all this will take time and commitment for us to move forward and there will be highs and lows in this path," he added. Inzamam is in Dubai to discuss with head coach Mickey Arthur the formation of the Pakistan oneday and Test squads for the series against the West Indies in which three ODIs and three Tests including a day and night

match will be played in September and October. Inzaman said the series against the West Indies would be a tough one for Pakistan since they had some good players and were also the World T20 Champions. "There is no question of taking the West Indies team lightly as they have always posed a challenge for us and I foresee a close series although we have a clear edge in the Test match format and we are the number one team," he added. Inzamam said Pakistan would need to win the Test series to retain their number one ranking as India were playing around 13 Tests in their home international season starting with the series against New Zealand.

Pune City sign Spanish Neha eyes third title at Jaypee forward Tato

Jesus Tato IANS Pune, Sep 20 : FC Pune City on Tuesday signed Spanish forward Jesus Tato for the third edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) football tournament. Tato said he was excited at the prospect of playing football out of his comfort zone.

“I am turning a new page in my career. Having played in Spain for most of my career, adapting to new culture, new style and different players will be a challenge I will relish and hope it will make me a better player,” he said. Tato started his career with Barcelona playing

for their youth team. He scored 11 goals playing for the Catalan giants ‘C’ team in his three years with them. He then moved on and played for Murcia, Albacete, Xerez, Las Palmas, Girona, Zaragoza in his senior career. Besides he also represented the Spanish U-16 and U20 national teams. Head coach Antonio Habas was pleased to have another ward from his homeland joining forces with him at FC Pune City. “Tato is a player with a solid work ethic and is also a thorough team player to say the least,” Habas said. “His attacking mindset makes him a dangerous player in any position that he plays. I welcome him to his new home and hope he makes the difference he is expected to make to the side.”

PTI Greater Noida, Sep 20 : Neha Tripathi will start as a firm favourite in the 13th Leg of Hero Women's Professional Golf Tour which gets underway at Jaypee Greens here tomorrow. Neha has been a consistent performer in the current season with two victories to her credit and will be aiming for her third title at the Rs 6,00,000 event, which will feature 14 professionals and two amateurs vying for the top spot. The Kolkata golfer currently leads the Hero Order of Merit with total earnings of Rs 8,53,583 in 12 appearances. She has two victories along with three runner-up finishes to her name and a win here will further strengthen her position atop the money list. Another strong contender for the title is Vani Kapoor. She hasn't been at her best in the last few events and will be keen to make amends. She is currently placed third in the Hero Order of Merit with total earnings of Rs 7,43,350 in eight appear-

ances with five victories. However, Neha and Vani will have to ward off a strong challenge from the likes of Amandeep Drall and Gursimar Badwal. Panchkula's Amandeep is currently placed second in the Hero Order of Merit with three wins and total earnings of RS 8,16,534 in nine appearances. She has been in good form throughout the season and is expected to give the others a run for their money. Kapurthala's Gursimar claimed her maiden professional title this season at Mumbai in Leg 5, and will be keen to add to her tally. She is currently placed fourth in the money list with total earnings of Rs 7,02,200 in 12 appearances. Other players in the fray are Pune's Shweta Galande, Chandigarh's Saaniya Sharma, Delhi's Ankita Tiwana, and amateurs Anisha Padukone and Shreya Ghei. The Par 72 scenic golf course in Greater Noida is all set to host some of the top professionals in the country.

The bcci annual general meeting will be the 87th edition of the event

BCCI to Hold AGM Under The Shadow of RM Lodha Panel Reforms Mumbai, Sept 20 : With the shadow of the Supreme Court-appointed Justice RM Lodha panelre commendations hanging over its head, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will be conducting its 87th Annual General Meetinghere on Wednesday with one of the items on the agenda being the election of its honorary secretary. The formal notice for the meeting was sent by honorary secretary Ajay Shirke on August 31 and, interestingly, one of the main items that is to be taken up is the election of the new honorary secretary after duly filed nominations are sent to the BCCI during a two-hour window on Tuesday afternoon, scrutinised immediately afterwards and list of eligible candidates displayed. The election of the honorary secretary has been necessitated as Shirke was nominated by president Anurag Thakur after the latter was elevated to the helm of affairs of the beleaguered Board on May 22, following the

resignation tendered by incumbent Shashank Manohar, in accordance with Rule 13 (a) (ii) of the BCCI's existing Memorandum of Rules and Regulations. Shirke was to hold office till the next AGM. The election of the honorary secretary is to be held as per the existent BCCI rules, including the eligibility of the candidates, while former Supreme Court judge, P B Sawant, has been appointed as the returning officer, according to the BCCI's notice sent to all its affiliated units. The meeting will also confirm the minutes of its last AGM held on November 9, 2015 as well as the three Special General Meetings held on February 19, May 22 and August 5 this year. The other items on the agenda include adoption of the secretary's report, the treasurer's report and audited statement of accounts for the previous fiscal, annual budget for 2016-17 and other such routine matters. Among the other items is the appointment of the Working Committee and Standing Committees

such as the Senior and Junior selection panels under the BCCI's existing rules, in contrast to the Lodha panel's reforms that calls for pruned panels which had been approved by the Supreme Court's subsequent ruling. Significantly, the Lodha panel has also fixed staggered deadlines for the full adoption of its reforms as approved by the Supreme Court and has also directed the BCCI that tomorrow's AGM must be "limited only to routine business concerning the past year (2015-16)". Already Aditya Verma, secretary of the non-affiliated (to BCCI) body, Cricket Association of Bihar - the petitioner in the case in the SC against the Board, has requested the Lodha panel - via a letter dated September 17 - to start "contempt of court" proceedings against the BCCI by pointing out the agenda for the meeting. Among the other items on the AGM's agenda are the appointment of an Ombudsman and International and Asian Cricket Councils and similar bodies.

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