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Back issues - July '2003

News on 31st July '2003

NFR recruitment takes nasty turn:

Guwahati: The members of the Cotton College unit of All Assam Students' Union and the All Guwahati Students' Union this morning burnt as many as twenty bags of job application forms which were allegedly brought from Bihar for submission "illegally" after the last date of submission of the forms for the post of Grade IV employees in the NF Railway.

Amendment Bill in this session

Advani assures Karbi leaders of BTC Bill review:

Guwahati: Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani has assured a delegation of the CPI-ML, KNCA, KSA and ASDC (P) last week in New Delhi, that the Centre would suitably amend the Bodoland Territorial Council Bill and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribe) Order, 1950 to protect the socio-political rights of the tribal people living in the hill areas of Assam. Mr Advani also assured the delegation that the amendment Bills would be tabled in the current session of Parliament itself.

Apex Bnak affairs

Gogoi Govt's transparency claim bombs:

Guwahati: It seems that officers who are bold enough to fight against corruption, and mismanagement which have spread their tentacles throughout the administration, have no place in the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress Government in the State, which however, seems to be the most vocal cleanest and the most transparent administration. A recent case proves the point. The bold steps taken by Assam Cooperative Apex Bank Managing Director AB Das to bring the loss making bank back on track has proved very costly for him as the State Government has decided to remove him from the post. The loss of the bank has run into Rs 80 crore.

JAT anomaly probe report submitted:

Guwahati: The inquiry report on anomalies during the selection of the candidates for the admission in medical and engineering colleges conducted by the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) has been submitted to the Education Minister on July 29. The inquiry was conducted by Joint director of DTE S Nath following complaints received from as many as 55 candidates, who alleged that evaluation of answer scripts was not properly done.

Gas cracker project will get justice: Dhindsa

Guwahati: The Centre would abide by its promises made in the Assam Accord to set up the Gas Cracker project, said Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers on July 29 to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who is in New Delhi. Mr Gogoi urged the Union Minister to put pressure on the Reliance Industries to start the work of the project soon.

3 killed in Jagiroad road mishap:

Jagiroad: Three persons were killed and two others injured when the Maruti car they were travelling in collided head-on with a 709 minibus on the NH-37 near Hindustan Paper

Corporation under Jagiroad police station in the morning on July 29.

Meet on plantation workers on July 30:

Guwahati: The crucial meeting of the State standing labour committee to discuss issues related to tea planter workers will be held on July 30 under the chairmanship of Assam Labour Minister Rameswar Dhanowar. The meeting assumed significance following the crisis being faced by the tea industry, which demanded a big package from the State Government ranging from cut in rate of bonus to tea workers to waiving of State Government cess on tea, Representatives from all plantation owners' associations and workers' unions are scheduled to attend the meeting.

Bhaben Saikia serious:

Guwahati: the condition of noted writer and film-maker Dr Bhabendranath Saikia is critical. He was admitted to the GNRC Hospital on July 24 for hypertension and breathing problem. GNRC CMD Dr NC Bora said that the film-maker is in life support system.

Koch-Rajbongshis gherao BJP MLA:

Dhubri: Protesting the non-inclusion of the Koch-Rajbongshi community in the list of Scheduled Tribe, the All Koch-Rajbongshi Students' Union (AKRSU) demanded the resignation of the Golokganj BJP MLA, Dinesh Chandra Sarkar and gheraoed his residence from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sonahat under Golokganj police station on July 29. District unit of the AKRSU also handed over a memorandum to the Centre to deprive the community in all fronts since the independence of the country.

80% locals will be recruited: Nitish

Tezpur: Railway Minister Nitish Kumar assured the people of Assam that 80 per cent post in the NF Railway would go to the local candidates. This was disclosed on July 29 by the State president of the Samata Party, Ms Sahida Begum. The State Samata Party demanded the Railway Minister recently to recruit Assamese youths in the posts, Ms Begum said. A delegation of the state Samata Party would meet Mr Kumar in August.

7 ULFA cadres apprehended:

Guwahati: Altogether seven hard-core ULFA cadres have been apprehended during a joint operation by troops of Second mountain division and Assam Police in Dibrugarh district recently.

Assam bandh against killing on July 30:

Guwahati: the Sanmilita Janagosthiya Sangram Samity (SJSS) has called a 12-hour Assam bandh on July 30 in protest against the killing of eight Adivasis in police firing at Paneri in Darrang district on July 25.

AALA calls for local candidates in judicial services:

Guwahati: An executive committee meeting of All Assam Lawyers' Association (AALA) held at Udalguri subdivisional town of Darrang district on July 26, under the presidentship of the Mr S P Deka, the presidentship of the Association has unanimously resolved that the 30 vacant posts of class III Assam Judicial Services, for which there were about 1,500 candidates who appeared in the written test conducted by the Gauhati High Court, must be filled by the local candidates on merit basis having any of the local languages

authorised by the court as mother tongue.

News on 30th July '2003

LNG-powered vehicles soon:

Guwahati: Assam will soon witness Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) powered vehicles plying on its roads. The pilot project for this mega Rs 10-crore project will start in September. Disclosing this during the release of a handbook on the performance of the Industries and Commerce Department during 2001-2003, the Industries and Commerce Minister Mr Bhubaneswar Kalita said that an encouraging number of NRIs have come forward for investment.

Angry Condopan blasts police for Paneri firing:

Mangaldai: Prominent Congress leader and vice chairman, State Planning Board Silvius Condpan on July 28 blamed the incident at Kachubeel on July 25, that killed 8 Adivasis. "The agitated mob could have been controlled by adopting alternative measures without restoring to fire," said Mr Condpan while addressing a public meeting at Paneri Tea Estate.

NCP raps Sinha for illegal appointments in IIT:

Guwahati: The Assam State Committee of the Nationalist Congress Party on July 28 alleged that former Governor of Assam Lt Gen (retd) SK Sinha was involved in illegal recruitment in the Guwahati IIT.

Govt move to restore sugarcane acreage:

Guwahati: The gradual decrease in sugarcane acreage in Assam has caused serious concern in the State's Agriculture department. Out of the five sugarcane nurseries under the Department of Agriculture, two have already been leased out and one is proposed to be leased out soon.

GTC blames 'big players' in tea:

Guwahati: The Guwahati Tea Auction Committee members have expressed concern over continuous decrease in the offering of teas at Guwahati Tea Auction Centre by the big players in tea which include Warren Tea Ltd, Assam Company Ltd, Assam Frontier Group, Dhunseri Tea Industries of Dhunukas, Willamson Magor Group, etc.

Spurt in trafficking in poor, Assam girls; NGO steps in:

Guwahati: Economically poor Assam's girls have always been soft targets of traffickers in women who lure them away to the brothels of west Bengal and other parts of the country, but of late this has taken an ominously rising trend. A study on women trafficking from Assam and North-east across the inter-State border, conducted by the Global Organization for Life Development (GOLD), and NGO, find that most of the girls are either lured to brothels with promises of marriage, false promise of job or are just kidnapped for sale.

Rajkhowa to be Assam Chief Secy:

Guwahati: Mr JP Rajkhowa, senior IAS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre (1968 batch) will be the next Chief Secretary of Assam. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has already approved

this appointment.

Police medals for 8 officers:

Guwahati: Assam Director General of Police HK Deka announced the Police (Special Duty) Medals for eight police officers for their commendable services.

Students, lawyers, scribes gherao ASEB office:

Barpeta: Members of Barpeta Press Club, the Barpeta Bar Association, and Rising Club under the aegis of the Barpeta unit of the AASU on July 28 gheraoed Barpeta subdivisional office of the ASEB in protest against the frequent disruption of power supply in the town for the last four days.

Panel formed to probe Paneri firing:

Guwahati: A high-level committee has been constituted by the State Government on July 28 to inquire into the police firing at Paneri on July 25 last.

Gogoi leaves for New Delhi:

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has left for New Delhi on July 28 in a Sahara India flight. During his stay in New Delhi, Mr Gogoi would have discussion with the authorities in the Central Government on issues like the current flood furry in the State and funds required to tackle the post-flood situation, law and order, gas cracker project etc.

Two kawarias die at Gossaigaon:

Gossaigaon: Two Kawarias (devotees of Shravani festival) were killed and four others injured at Gosaigaon town in the night on July 27.

One shot at, hurt in city:

Guwahati: Mr Sugrib Ghosh, an employee of Srimanta Sankardev Junior College, Guwahati was shot at and injured by an unidentified gunman in Panbazar area on July 28. The police is searching one Sumatra Bhagawati in this conection.

HS first year results on July 29:

Guwahati: The results of HS first year (Arts, Science and Commerce), 2003 will be announced at 2 p.m. on July 29 in all the district headquarters in the State. The educational institutions will have to collect the results from the main institutions in their respective district headquarters.

ULFA cadre arrested in Tinsukia:

Doomdooma: Tinsukia police arrested an ULFA cadre, Lalan Moran (28) from near Tinsukia court on July 28.

Man run over in City:

Guwahati: One S.K.Raju (27), an employee of Down Town Hospital was run over by a city bus near Panbazar over bridge on July 28. Raju fell from the bus. The driver of the bus,

Suren Deka has been arrested.


Submit aliens' list: Gogoi asks BJP, AGP:

Nagaon: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has severely criticized different political parties including the AGP and BJP for their move against the IM(DT) Act. Addressing a public meet at Nehrubali here, Mr Gogoi assured the leadership of the AGP and BJP of taking necessary action against 'infiltration' and said, "first of all they have to submit the list of foreigners if they have any in this regard." Expressing distress over various activities of the BJP, Bajrang Dal, the RSS and the VHP leader Prabin Togadia, the Chief Minister alleged, that the BJP was trying capture power by using religion.

Assam, WB Police raise border alert:

Gossaigaon: Apprehensive of subversive activities by outfits on the eve of the Independence Day, the Assam and West Bengal Police have beefed up security measures along the bordering districts of the two States.

Mass funeral of slain Adivasis in Paneri passes off peacefully:

Mangaldai: The funeral ceremony of eight slain Adivasi people, killed in police firing at Kachubeel on July 25 during the AASAA sponsored Assam bandh, was performed at Panery Tea Estate at 3p.m. on July 27 amidst tight security measures. Seven dead bodies were taken to Paneri from Mangaldai Civil Hospital early on July 27 while the body of Dambu Purti, who succumbed to his injuries in Guwahati Medical College Hospital on July 26, was taken to Paneri in the evening on July 27.

Flash flood, landslides throw city life out of gear:

Guwahati: Guwahati and its neighbourhood were caught in vicious grip of flash floods on July 27 due to heavy overnight rains in Guwahati and Meghalaya, which continued for four hours in the wee hours. One died due to landslide in the Narengi area of the city and another was washed away by the strong current of a spring near Jorabat. The National highway 37 in Jorabat was blocked by the flood water and landslides for the whole day.

Onion, potato traders' threat over BI(EO) raid, warn of crisis:

Guwahati: Guwahatians might face the effect, but adverse though, of the recent raids conducted by the bureau of Investigation, Economic Offences (BIEO) on onion wholesalers of the city as the traders outside the State have decided not to send onions to the State. The BIEO raided some city potato and onion wholesalers on July 21 for selling these at exorbitant prices and also recovered some indiscriminating documents from them.

Gogoi asks Thakur, Swami to provide Rs 300 cr as flood relief:

Guwahati: In his meeting with Minister of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) Mr CP Thakur and the Union Minister of State for Home, Swami Chinmayanand in his residence here on July 26, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi demanded Rs 300 crore of Central funds in the form a of special post-flood package. Mr Gogoi is leaving for New Delhi on July 28, and a hard bargaining with the Prime Minister and others on the flood-related funds and issues is on the cards.

Bajrang Dal's bid to cross over to B'desh foiled:

Silchar: Bajrang Dal and other Hindu outfits' 'Bangladesh march' programme which attempted at crossing over to Bangladesh from Lathirghat point in Karimganj district was foiled by police on July 27.

Central University follows in SEBA footsteps to play ducks and drakes with results

AU bungling in exams leaves students high and dry:

Silchar: Students are on warpath, blocking roads, gheraoing heads of the institutions and university authorities, demanding explanations over delayed results and gross anomalies in their marksheets. Assam University, Silchar is now the butt of bitter public criticism for its worst ever management of the final year results of degree examinations.

Quit notice to 'aliens' by UPDS:

Diphu: The anti-talk faction of the UPDS appealed to all the 'alien' who have encroached the land of indigineous tribal people in the forest areas in Karbi Anglong and NC Hills to leave the two hill districts. The KNPR, armed wing of the UPDS, started its operation code named 'Operation Longri (homeland safe guard) against what it calls agents of the state machinery, Indian armed forces, Assam police and intelligence agencies.

Mob gheroes Golokganj MLA:

Dhubri: Not being satisfied with the development of Golokganj area in general and Golokganj- Kachokhana road in particular, thousands of people of Harirhat Nagarik Mancha and students of Harirhat unit of AASU gheroed the local MLA, Dinesh chandra Sarkar of his residence from 11 am to 2 pm on July 27.

Storms lashes Jorhat, power connection snapped:

Jorhat: A number of areas in Jorhat district were in dark over 17 hours from July 26 as heavy rains and storm that lashed the district snapped power and telephone connections.

SJSS declares Panery victims as 'martyrs':

Guwahati: The Sanmilita Jana-Gosthiya Sangram Samity, assam (SJSS) has decided to declare the eight Adivasis who killed in police firing at Paneri July 25 as the first martyrs of the anti-BTC movement in the State.


Peace back in NC Hills, claims Govt:

Guwahati: The Hmar-Dimasa clashes, which had created a serious law-and-order situation in the NC Hills district recently, have stopped and peace has returned to the district following the State Government's efforts to bring the two communities back to the path of reconciliation, Minister of State for Education and Health Rupan Singh Ronhang told from Haflong on July 16.

Paneri garden area scene tense:

Mangaldai: Tension and panic has gripped the 12 tea gardens under Paneri police station following the killing of seven Adivasi people in Kachubeel on July 25 in police firing. As many as 24 Adivasis have been injured while ten police personnel including Mr Bipin Medhi, officer-in-charge of Paneri PS received minor injuries.

Assam Police to phase out 303 rifles: Bora

Nagaon: "The Assam Police modernization programme has been going on since 1991, and within the coming five years the outdated 303 rifles will be replaced with much up-to-date rifles," said Mr Dilip Bora, IGP, Assam

Assam flood scene grim: Thakur

Guwahati: The Central team visiting Assam to make an on-the-spot assessment of the devastations caused by the recent wave of floods, led by Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) CP Thakur and accompanied by Minister of State for Home Swami Chinmayanand and Minister of State for Water Resources Bijoya Chakraborty on July 26 made an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas of Dhubri and Goalpara by a defence helicopter and later had a briefing with various departmental heads of the State Government.

GL asked to pay Rs 1 lakh to plaintiff:

Guwahati: The court of Ms C R Goswami, in its final judgement on the defamation suit field by noted trader and social worker Bimal Kumar Nahata against Mr G L Agarwala, editor of Purbanchal Prahari for publishing a news item, ordered Mr Agarwala to Rs 1 lakh as compensation to the plaintiff.

NRL donates Rs 10 lakh for flood-hit:

Guwahati: Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) donated Rs 10 lakh to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for the flood-affected people of Assam. The cheque was handed over to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi by NRL Managing Director BK Das on July 26 in presence of NRL (technical) RC Choudhury and Assam Finance and Industries Commissioner and Secretary HS Das, who is also a Director of NRL.

OIL donates Rs 15 lakh to CM's fund:

Guwahati: Oil India Limited (OIL) Genaral Manager Mohan Bhandari handed over a cheque of Rs 15 lakh to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi towards the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, on behalf of the the OIL on July 26.

Work for NH has begun : Borkotoky

Nagaon: Rs 238 crore got approval for the reconstruction of Nagaon-Silchar NH 54 via Lumding, said Assam PWD Minister Sarat Borkotoky, adding that the work of the project had already been started. Mr Borkotoky announced that as many as 240 bridges would be concretized in the State.

Three Bangladeshis arrested in city:

Guwahati: Paltan Bazar police arrested three Banladeshis when they were about to broad a Silchar-bound bus in the night on July 25. The three, who arrived in the city from Amitsar by train, were the residents of Habirganj of Bangladesh.


Dimasa women body threatens armed struggle:

Guwahati: The Dimaraji Mohila Somaj (DMS) central committee has welcomed the decision taken by the Central government and the Dima Halem Daogah (DHD) of extending the ceasefire agreement by another six months. The DMS has also urged the government to find a solution to the vexed Dimasa problem within the extended ceasefire period. The DMS has warned that it might take up the path of armed resistance if the government failed to deliver on their demands.

AICC legal cell against IM(DT) repeal:

Guwahati: The Legal Cell of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) has said that under no circumstance will they allow the repeal of the IM(DT) Act and urged the Centre to increase the flow of relief materials to the flood affected districts of the State.

Assam submits Rs 105 cr plan to Centre:

Guwahati: The Assam Forest department has submitted sixteen detailed schemes to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests totalling Rs 105 crore for its approval. Disclosing this on July 24 during an informal chat with reporters here, the Minister of State for Forests Mr Pradyut Bordoloi said that these schemes include modernization of the Assam Forest Protection force, afforestation drive, biodiversity conservation, management action plan for Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park and Deepor Beel. Mr Bordoloi said that these schemes are likely to be sanctioned in a phased manner.

Assam Ayurvedic College & Hospital gasping for life:

Guwahati: Ever visited the Ayurvedic College in Town? The college and the hospital, the only institution of its kind in the North-east, is in a real pathetic State with problems galore. With about 250 students and 50 internees, the institution is lacking in staff in almost all disciplines. There is a shortage of sweepers as well as professors! According to Dr Kalita, six posts of teachers are lying vacant after retirement of the earlier incumbents. The present teaching staff of the college is 42.

Bhagawati receives best editor award:

Dibrugarh: "The society will fail to take right decisions if the newspapers continue to feed them with incorrect and unjust news. Incorrect decisions, in turn, will never lead the society on the right path, which is why today's newspapers and journalists have to work hard to lead the society in the right direction," said Mr Radhika Mohan Bhagawati, Editor of Ajir Asom and Sentinel (Hindi), after receiving the Kedar Nath Goswami Memorial Best Editor Award, 2003 at Moran On July 24.

83% cut-off mark at Cotton in HS(Sc)

Guwahati: They have secured fairly good marks in the High School Leaving Certificate Examination (HSLC) but have nonetheless faced though competition in getting admission to reputed colleges in the State. The cut-off marks for admissions in higher secondary science stream in Cotton College, Handique Girls' college, B.Borooah College, and Srimanta Sankardev Junior College in the city, to name a few, have been pushed up due to the overall improved performance of this year's HSLC students compared to that of last year's.

Floods, and now a blistering heat wave:

Guwahati: After keeping more than half of the State under water for more than a month, blistering heat coupled with high humidity has made life measurable in Assam. Coming out from long spell of rain, the last four days of intense heat has caused heatstrokes forcing most people to stay indoor. The temperature is hovering around 36 degree and high humidity has made it even more complicated. However, the local Indian Meteorological department has found nothing unusual about the weather condition.

Hailstorm plunges Dibrugarh into darkness:

Dibrugarh: A severe hailstorm lashed Dibrugarh around 6 p.m. on July 24, plunging the town into darkness. The storm which lasted for about one-and-a-half hour uprooted more than ten big trees in the Tinkunia-Phoolbagan area and also disrupted vehicular traffic in the Milannagar-Chowkidingee area. According to ASEB officials, it might take more than two days to restore back the power. There was no power in the town since morning of July 24 due to a major breakdown at the Namrup Thermal Power corporation.

SFI demands reconsideration of fee hike:

Guwahati: The Guwahati University unit committee of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) has submitted a memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor Dr GN Talukdar on July 24 demanding reconsideration of the hike in admission fees in eight courses by the Gauhati University Executive Council recently.

UPDS cadre killed in Karbi Anglong:

Diphu: One suspected UPDS militant was shot dead by security forces in Karbi Anglong district on July 24.

Two NDFB cadres killed:

Nalbari: Red Horns Division of the Army based at Doomni Tea Estate killed two NDFB militants on July 23.


Karbi leaders meet Advani on BTC Bill:

Guwahati: A delegation from Karbi Anglong comprising elected representatives of all the parties having presence in the hill region met Deputy Prime Minister L.K.Advani on July 24 at his Parliament House office. The leaders submitted a joint memorandum to Mr Advani urging him not to disturb the exiting ST-H list at the time of creating BTC. The leaders pointed out that all the political parties of Karbies of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills are united on this issue and there is an overwhelming consensus that the Bodos should not be conferred the status of a hill tribe.

AASA bandh turns violent, seven killed in Panery:

Mangaldai: Seven persons have been killed in police firing at Kachubeel area under Panery police station in Darrang district on July 25 during the 12 hour Assam bandh sponsored by All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA).

Civic polls in September, confirms Gogoi:

Nagaon: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on July 25 said that the municipal polls in the State have been delayed due to the devastating flood situation. Mr Gogoi said that the Government has made necessary arrangements for conducting the polls by September. He said that the Government has not taken a final decision on selling out tea gardens of Assam Tea Corporation.

NLFT recruiting cadres from B'desh:

Silchar: Tripura militants have taken a drive to recruit cadres from Bangladesh, police said quoting confessional statements of ultras who were arrested from Karimganj district on July 25. Karimganj SP told that two militants of the NLFT were arrested while they were on their way to Bangladesh.

Gogoi visits Kaziranga:

Jorhat: chief Minister Tarun Gogoi visited the Kaziranga National Park on July 25 to take stock of the flood damage. He was accompanied by senior officers. Mr Gogoi reviewed the situation and instructed the Park authorities to maintain convoy system during the high flood to check road accident of animals on the national highway. Mr Gogoi also instructed to strengthen the embankment at Dhansirimukh, which was protecting the park on the eastern side.

Recounting of Moran LAC begins:

Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court started recounting the ballot papers on July 25, which had gone in favour of the sitting MLA, Mr Sarbananda Sonowal and the rejected ballots of the last Assembly election of Moran constituency. Challenging the outcome of the polls, One of the candidates from that constituency, Ms Jibantara Ghatowar had filed a case at the Gauhati High Court alleging anomalies during the counting of the rejected ballots and those which had gone in favour of Mr Sonowal.

Educational fair begins in city:

Guwahati: 'Guwahati Educational Fair 2003,' the first ever fair related to career and education in the State, has begun from July 25 at NEDFi Haat, Ambari, in the city. The main objective of the event is to bring all the educational institutions on a single platform for the benefit of the students as well as the institutions. The fair, which will be a six-day affair, is being organised by the city-based Eastern Management Group.

Assam seeks more forces:

Guwahati: As Assam is entering its most deadliest fortnight, a worried Assam Government has sought more forces to intensify its security measures. The ULFA will be celebrating its 'protest day' on July 27 and from then to August 15, the militant organization traditionally chose to strike. An apprehensive Assam Government is not taking any chances and sending SOS to the Centre for sending of more paramilitary forces to Assam to guard its strategic position.


Two districts defaulters in Red Cross relief distribution in 2002

Red Cross team in state, disease alert sounded:

Guwahati: An International Red Cross team arrived here on July 23 in response to an urgent appeal for relief while State authorities are grappling with controlling water-borne disease spreading fast among the flood-hit millions.

Food poisoning: Govt sits on report, no action taken

Guwahati: Is the Assam Government at all serious about health care of the people? The fate of the recommendations submitted to the State Government by the then Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Political), Mr MS Pangtey, after a through inquiry into the August 9, 2001 food poisoning incident at Bhella and Keotkuchi in Barpeta district, probably gives an appropriate answer to it.

Games 05: action plan for different sports ready

Guwahati: Despite apparent differences between the Sports and Youth Welfare Commissioner MGVK Bhanu and Sports Minister Robin Bordoloi, the planning for team preparation for the mega sporting event, the National Games 2005, has already been completed. The respective sports associations of various disciplines have submitted their action plans before the Government and the Assam Olympic Association and the venues for coaching of different disciplines have also been decided.

Coop Union staff go without pay for a year:

Guwahati: Although the employees of the Assam State Co-operative Union have not been getting their salaries for the past twelve months, the State government has released an amount of Rs 60 lakh till now which has been allocated to the Union for this fiscal.

State fertilizer firm in disinvestments list:

Dibrugarh: Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Company (BVFC) at Numrup in Dibrugarh district, a bifurcated unit of Hindustan Fertilizers, is all set to face disinvestment. The proposal of disinvestment has irked the employees, who have already started a phase-wise agitational programme.

Two ULFA cadres killed in Kokrajhar:

Guwahati: Troops of the Red Horns division of the Army deployed in Kokrajhar district shot dead two ULFA cadres in Koksaguri area along the Sankosh river in the night on July 23.

'Dismiss State Women's Commission'

Guwahati: The Nirjatan Birodhi Aikya Mancha (NBAM) on July 23 demanded the dismissal of the Assam State Women's Commission (ASWC) for its "suspicious relationship" with the owner of the Network Travels regarding the eight-year-old Barnali Deb rape and murder case.

Basab kalita new SAKP secy gen:

Sivasagar: Basab Kalita of Guwahati was elected unopposed as the secretary general of the Sadou Assam Karmachari Parishad (SAKP) in its 20th session which concluded here on July 23. Mr Charan Deka was likely contestant for the post, but his candidature was not

proposed by anyone.

Rhino horn recovered in the city:

Guwahati: The City Police on July 23 recovered a rhino horn from a Guwahati-bound bus from Hajo near Chilarai Park in North Guwahati. No one has been arrested so far.

Film maker Bhaben Saikia in hospital:

Guwahati: Noted litterateur and film maker Dr Bhabendranath Saikia has been admitted to the GNRC Hospital here in the morning on July 23 for hypertension and breathing problem.

B.Com Part-I results out

Guwahati: Results of B.Com Part-I examination, 2003, conducted by Guahati University were announced on July 23. Of the 2,960 candidates who had appeared in the examination, 1,375 came out successful, the pass percentage being 46.45.


DCs asked to list areas

Autonomy push for Sonowal-Kacharis:

Guwahati: The Assam Government on July 22 decided to issue notifications to the deputy commissioners of Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and other districts to identify the Sonowal Kachari populated villages which could be included in the proposed Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Councils. The government will table a Bill to pave the way for the formation of the Council during the coming winter session of the Assam Legislative Assembly.

No panchayat dues, funds, no civic polls: SEC

Guwahati: The Tarun Gogoi-led Congress Government in the State has received Rs 842 crore Central funds in cash and kind under various schemes after the panchayat bodies started functioning again in the State. The panchayat elections got over in December 2001, but the State Government is yet to pay Rs 1 crore to the State Election Commission (SEC), which, in turn, is yet to make payments to the suppliers and contractors for work done during the polls.

No doctor at LGB airport, Centre moved:

Guwahati: Neither the Airport Authority of India (AAI) nor the State Health Department has appointed a full-time doctor at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport. This is, at the cost of life death of a person in case of an emergency.

GMC awaits 'adoption' of city parks:

Guwahati: A quiet greenery to for a while and relish moments stolen from the day's busy work schedule is one of the most sought after things by city dwellers. Unfortunately, a city like Guwahati, which is full of natural beauty, is quite short of well maintained parks where people can go and spend some time at ease. Out of the 17 Guwahati Municipal Corporation parks only the Narikalbasti Park can be termed a "park", and that too, because of the initiative of the local people.

KAAC likely to ban bandh on Council Day:

Diphu: After a stormy debate on July 22, the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) decided to call an all-party meeting to ban bandh call by political parties on June 23 every year, the foundation day of the autonomous council.

Encephalitis toll in Dibrugarh 13:

Dibrugarh: With the two more deaths in the Assam Medical College on July 22, the death toll of encephalitis in Dibrugarh district rose to 13. More than 31 people afflicted with either encephalitis or malaria are undergoing treatment at the AMCH.

2 killed in NC Hills train mishap:

Guwahati: At least two persons were killed in a goods train accident between Harangajao and Didakchora stations in North Cachar Hills district on July 21. The accident occurred when some of the bogies of the guards' van of the train jumped the rail.

Woman ULFA cadre arrested, in jail:

Dibrugarh: The Army on July 22 handed over a suspected female cadre of the ULFA, Hiraboti Gogoi of Kothaloni Gaon, Tengakhat, to the Dibrugarh police along with two 9mm cartridges.

Khargharia new Kamrup east DFO:

Guwahati: The Assam Government, in a notification issued on July 22, appointed Kailash Khargharia to the post of Kamrup East Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) in place of PP Changkakoty.

Gogoi's assurance to minorities:

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on July 22 assured members of the minority community that they would not be subjected to any harassment. The Chief Minister gave this assurance to an eleven-member delegation of the State Jamiat Ulema and its Guwahati district committee which called on him.

News on 23rd July '2003

Gogoi cries for help before Centre:

Guwahati: With the Centre refusing to release the first instalment of funds under various rural development programmes for the year 2003-04, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is now on a mission to rectify matters. The CM has rushed to New Delhi explaining reasons for the urgent need of funds.

APOL on the verge of collapse:

Rangiya : The Assam Cooperative Polyster Society Ltd. (APOL), established at Tulsiban near Rangiya in 1988 is now in a deplorable condition and on the verge of collapse due to mismanagement of the mill. The ASEB has cut off the electric power line due to non payment of outstanding bills amounting to about Rs 2 crore. The management has failed to deposit the CPF money, LICI premium and bank loan of the employees, although the

amounts were deducted from the salaries of the employees.

Rains make Assam rivers swell again:

Guwahati: The overall flood situation in Assam which improved considerably during the last couple of days, on July 20 again took a turn for the worse following heavy rainfall. The water level of the Brahmaputra and its major tributaries were receding following cessation of rainfall during the last few days but fresh rains in the catchments areas had led to a rising trend in most of the rivers.

Gogoi can seek PR if he can't rule State: Bijoya

Guwahati: Union Minister of State for Water Resources Bijoya Chakrabortty on July 20 accused the Tarun Gogoi Government of falsely blaming the Centre repeatedly for not releasing flood aid as well as other Central funds to the State. The Union Minister said that if Mr Gogoi is incapable of running the Government, he should rather ask the Centre for President's rule.

Dowry spreading in State: survey

Guwahati: Assam is gradually losing its claim as a dowry-free State. The system of dowry is fast spreading among the Assamese community and recent survey in five districts of Assam showed that 20.9 percent of the people accept that without dowry, a marriage is not possible. The survey, conducted by the Assam branch of the Nikhil Bharat Gantantrik Mahila Samiti in Kamrup, Barpeta, Dibrugarh, Dhubri and Sonitpur districts covered 234 unmarried women and 237 guardians from middle class Assamese families.

Media in Assam should help change people's mindset: CM

Guwahati: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has urged the journalists in the State to play an important role in changing the mindset of the people. He said this while speaking at the inaugural function of the Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma Memorial Journalists' Guest House at Rupnagar in the city on July 20.

'Exodus from other states behind spurt in Hmar population'

Dimasa student body raps Centre for truce move:

Guwahati: Close on the heels of the Centre's move for a ceasefire agreement with the Hmar People's Convention, Democratic HPC(D), the Cachar district unit of the All Dimasa Students' Union (ADSU) has reacted sharply to the Centre's decision. The Centre's move would not augur well for the peace and stability in the region, the ADSU warred. The ADSU termed the Centre's move as uncalled for considering the fact that "these Hmar extremists killed 28 innocent Dimasa people and torched 18 Dimasa villages recently."

ABVKA raps Naga church, blames it for Hmar-Dimasa clashes:

Guwahati: The Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan shram has come down heavily on the Church in the North-east, especially the Nagaland Church which, according to a release of the Ashram, was primarily responsible for the recent Hmar-Dimasa communal clash in North Cachar hills and Cachar districts of Assam.

Nagaon dist vet officer for all help to NGOs:

Nagaon: "We are ready to help you, provided you come forward," said nagaon district

Veterinary Officer, Mr B C Tamuli as the chief guest in the inaugural function of the workshop organized by an NGO, 'Aami'. This NGO has organized rural educated and uneducated boys and girls and given them a forum though which they may uplift themselves economically. Recently at Chapanalla HS School in Nagaon district, the NGO had arranged training for piggery and diary farming.

Times they are changing: CM to newspapers

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has asked small newspapers to tune themselves with changing times to take their messages to the public. Speaking in his capacity as the chief guest of the 18th convention of the All Assam Small newspaper Association held recently at the Radha Gobinda Barua College in the city, Mr Gogoi assured all possible help to the small newspapers in the region. Before the start of the convention, the Chief Minister also inaugurated an exhibition of all the small newspapers.

News on 22nd July '2003

Assam tea COS faking crisis: Dhanowar

Guwahati: Labour Minister Rameshwar Dhanowar on July 21 brushed aside suggestions of a crisis in the State's tea industry. He said that this was a self-created issue by the garden owners and they are responsible for creating this situation. Mr Dhanowar lambasted the plantation owners who stay away in Kolkata or elsewhere and seldom take personal care of the gardens." The owners keep track of how much tea is produced and how much has gone to the black market. But these statistics are what their managers provide and mostly found to be incorrect", Mr Dhanowar said, adding ," this has been the case since the late nineties".

Relief packs handed over to State

Ensure impartial distribution of relief: Red Cross:

Guwahati: The Indian Red Cross Society, on July 21 handed over ten tonnes of nutritious food (compact food) and relief packages for 2,000 flood-hit families to the State Government for distribution.

Flood scene still grim:

Guwahati: The swollen Brahmaputra and its tributaries submerged vast areas of human habitation and cropland as the flood situation in Assam remained grim on July 21.

Dhemaji, NL farmers avail crop insurance, no Corpus Fund yet:

Guwahati: Agriculture being the way of life for majority of the people, it is crop insurance that seems more important for a farmer of this natural calamity prone State, than life insurance. Under the three crop insurance schemes, which were implemented in the State with the objective of providing insurance coverage and financial support to the farmer in the event of crop loss due to natural calamities, a total of 22,995 farmers have been benefited till date. Mr PP Kalita, Executive Officer, Crop Insurance Scheme, Department of Agriculture said that the farmers of Lakhimpur and the Dhemaji districts have formed the major portion of the beneficiaries of the crop insurance schemes of the Government of Assam.

Posts vacant, forest protection in jeopardy:

Guwahati: Despite attempts to bring things back on track, the Forest Department finds itself pushed to the wall with inadequate number of frontline guards to protect its vast forest areas from encroachers, and save the animals and birds from poachers.

Several Assam PSUs in defaulters' list, matter in court

PF default on the rise in NE:

Guwahati: The number of establishments defaulting in provident fund of employees in the North-east is on the rise. According to statistics available at the office of the Regional Commissioner of Provident Fund here, there are as many as 34 establishments in the region with defaulting amounts exceeding Rs 10 lakh. Of these, as many as 21 organisations are based in Assam, six in Manipur, four in Tripura, two in Meghalaya and one in Nagaland.

Mishap at Twelfth Mile: 6 die, 2 hurt

Guwahati: At least six persons were killed and two injured seriously in a road which was under requisition by the Assam Police, ran over an autorickshaw (ML 10 2218) at Twelfth Mile near Jorabat around 5.30 p.m. on July 21. All those died were passengers of the three-wheeler which was plying from Jorabat to Byrnihat in Meghalaya.

City wholesalers raided for price hike:

Guwahati: The BIEO raided on several wholesalers of onion and potato in Fancy Bazar in the city and seized some incriminating documents on July 21.

Bijoya meets PM; Thakur to visit Assam

Guwahati: Union Minister of State for Water Resources Bijoya Chakraborty met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on July 21 and apprised him of Assam flood situation. Ms Chakraborty requested the Prime Minister to send a team to Assam soon to asses the flood situation.

Ripun Bora hits out at Bijoya:

Guwahati: Assam Panchyat and Rural Development Minister Ripun Bora, who is also the spokesman of Assam Government was ready to hand over the State Water Resources Department to the Centre if Union Minister of State for Water Resources Bijoya Chakraborty was ready to take the responsibility to execute all the flood and erosion control schemes of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries.

AASAA calls bandh on July 25:

Guwahati: The All Adivasi Students' Association of Assam (AASAA called a 12-hour Assam bandh from 5 a.m. on July 25 demanding Scheduled Tribe status. The bandh will be followed by a rail roko agitation if the demand is not met.


Boom time for boat builders in flooded Assam:

Kalitakuchi (Kamrup): Dewan Babul Ali wakes up before dawn every morning, gets over with an early lunch, and starts with his job of making wooden rowboats. This 47-year-old

furniture maker-turned-boat builder in Kamrup district does brisk business every monsoon, that sets in by in June and continues till September, when the rain-swollen rivers overshoots their banks and submerge vast tracts of land, affecting millions.

Diarrhea claims five in Assam:

Nalbari: At least five people have died of diarrhea and nearly 10000 others affected by disease in 12 villages of Nalbari district during the past week.

Unidentified ultra shot dead:

Gossaigaon: An unidentified ultra suspected to be an ULFA cadre was shot in an encounter with the Army and police on July 20 at around 2.00 a.m. at Shimultapu PGR under Gossaigaon police station.

'CM did not deny getting aid from National Calamity Relief Fund'

Floods: State reiterates charge against Centre:

Guwahati: The State Government has strongly refuted the allegations raised by V Satish, BJP's NE observer and Bijoya Chakraborty, Union Minister of State for Water Resources, who have blamed Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and the State Government of turning a 'blind eye' to the floods in Assam. The State Government has clarified that the Chief Minister never said that the State did not get funds from the Natural Calamity Relief Fund from the Centre. The State has been receiving the fund as per the recommendation of the 11th Finance Commission.

April massacre of Dimasa people by Hmar ultras

'Kidnapping of 3 DHD cadres was the root cause'

Haflong: Tracing the root cause of the ethnic strife in Cachar and North Cachar Hills districts to the kidnapping of three DHD cadres in the last week of February, Dilip Nunisa, vice-president of Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) said that the DHD had restrained itself so far from taking the law into their own hands. Providing a historical background to the incident, the DHD leader stated that the DHD has been fighting for the creation of 'separate Dimasa' state with a strong historical background. The Dimasa-Kachari kingdom, which was ruled by the Dimasa kings till its annexation with the British Empire on March 6, 1824, was a large and flourishing kingdom of the Dimasas.


NDFB on a killing spree, mows down 4:

Kokrajhar: National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) militants gunned down four persons at village Dwimguri under Serfanguri police station in Kokrajhar district in the night on July 18. The killing came close on the heels of the killing of Padmabil village headman and Belguri village VDP secretary, also under Serfanguri police station on July 14.

Gogoi SOS to Vajpayee:

Guwahati: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on July 19 sought the personal intervention of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to treat the floods and erosions of Assam as a national problem. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Gogoi said that in spite of the pressing need for declaring floods and erosion as national problem, the National Disaster Management Division of the Ministry of Home affairs is yet to

take a positive decision in this regard. Mr Gogoi wrote that the damage to crops, cattle, houses and utilities in the state due to floods between 1953 and 1995 alone is estimated at Rs 4,400 crore.

Assam flood scene improves:

Guwahati: The overall flood situation in Assam on July 19 further improved with the Brahmaputra and its major tributaries receding though vast tracts of low-lying areas still remain inundated.

New Hmar outfit worries Dimasa body:

Guwahati: A "provocative" statement made by the newly-floated Hmar outfit, Hnam Santu against the DHD, an outfit currently in a ceasefire agreement with the Centre, worried the peace-loving people of NC Hills and Cachar districts.

Singh lauds RPRS programme:

Diphu: Assam Governor Lt. Gen (retd) Ajai Singh appreciated the Raijor Padulit Raisor Sarkar (RPRS) programme launched by the State Government, at a meeting organised by the Gabharu Anchalik Parishad and Development Block at Bessaria Gaon at Dipota Natya Mandir in Sonitpur district on July 17.

Assam Finance Commissioner Dey no More:

Guwahati: Assam Finance Commissioner and Secretary TR Dey died of heart attack at GNRC Hospital in the city on July 19. He was 57 and a bachelor. His death has cast a gloom in the Secretariat.


No damage estimate yet, ministers asked to camp in districts:

Guwahati: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on July 18 directed all his ministers to rush to their respective district headquarters and camp there to monitor the rescue and relief operations of the flood victims. The Chief Minister, at a council of ministers' meeting held at the Janata Bhawan on July 18, asked all his ministerial colleagues to take necessary steps for proper coordination among all the agencies involved in relief and rescue works. All the ministers have decided to donate a month's salary to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund following a request by Mr Gogoi.

Flood scene improving, rivers recede:

Guwahati: The overall flood situation in Assam showed signs of improvement as the Brahmaputra and its tributaries recorded a receding trend. With cessation of rain in the catchments areas the rivers were flowing with a receding trend although vast tracts of land was still under water.

Assam Govt sits on NEC fund, Dental College hit:

Guwahati: The State Government is standing as a hurdle in the process of modernization and restructuring of the Regional Dental College-cum-Hospital at Guwahati by blocking the funds meant for construction and purchase of equipment to provide better service to the students and patients. The State Government has not released an amount of Rs 70 lakh, which is part of the non-recurring component of the total amount released by the North Eastern Council (NEC) in the Ninth Five Year Plan. The NEC has to release the funds to any such institution through the respective State government where it is located. The NEC had released the amount to purchase equipment, journals, books and furniture.

GU English Dept to offer seats on payment:

Guwahati: The English Department of Guwahati University (GU) has proposed to have five seats reserved as 'payment seats' on payment of Rs 10,000 per student. The authorities have also decided to hike the admission fees of MBA, M Phil, LLM, MEd/MLIB, Computer Science and Journalism & Mass Communication, which will be effective from this session. The GU executive council has approved the recommendations of the financial Management Committee meeting held recently to raise the fees against these course.

ULFA 'lieutenant' killed in encounter:

Guwahati: A self-styled 'lieutenant' of the dreaded "Cobra Group" of the ULFA was killed in an encounter with the troops of the Red Horn Division of the Army at Nalbari district on July 17.

Recruit youths from NE: PLP to RRB

Guwahati: The Purbanchaliya Loka Parishad (PLP) has demanded 10 per cent recruitment of unemployed youths of Assam and the north-eastern region in all posts of NF Railway. In a memorandum to the chairman of the Railway recruitment Board (RRB), Guwahati, the PLP has demanded a halt to the ongoing process of recruiting youths from outside the region, failing which it threatened to start a vigorous movement against the NFR and RRB.

Movable properties attached by Bakijai:

Guwahati: Bakijai Officer of Co-operative Societies, Guwahati on July 18 attached movable properties of Khandakar Sahar Ahmed, Tirtha Nath Barman and am Krishna Medhi for their liabilities to the Assam co-operative Apex Bank Ltd.


Border management review

Assam favours Punjab-type fence, wants river police:

Guwahati: Poor management of the international borders with Bangladesh and Bhutan in the Assam sector is the root of a number of problems in the State. To tackle the problems, the State Government has proposed to the Centre to erect a Punjab-type fence along the State's border with Bangladesh, and raise a river police battalion as the complete sealing of the border, including the riverine tracts, is an impossible proposition.

Alert on, flood scene unchanged:

Guwahati: The overall flood situation in Assam remained unchanged on July 17 as vast tracts of human habitation and cropland remained under the waters of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries, as the death toll touched 24.

Red Cross team coming to assess Assam floods:

Guwahati: Indian Red Cross Society units in various flood-ravaged districts have sent SOS to its State headquarters here, seeking relief materials for the people displaced by the calamity.

Panel: shed workforce, restructure State PSUs

Guwahati: The Committee on State Public Sector Enterprises, constituted by the Public Enterprises Department, has recommended that majority of the enterprises are to be restructured, excess

workforce to be off loaded through voluntary retirement schemes or redeployed elsewhere for the revival of the sick public sector units (PSUs) in the State.

HSLC scripts' re-check shows errors:

Guwahati: Instances of irregularities in the recently announced High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) Examination have come to light. The results of the HSLC Examination 2003, conducted by the Board of Secondary Education (SEBA) were declared on June 24. After the results, 1902 candidates applied for re-examining of their answer scripts. The re-examination results were announced on July 15. It was found that the marks of 180 of these candidates got increased.

22 in Teok college forged papers: SEBA

Guwahati: The Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) on July 17 confirmed that 22 students currently pursuing plus 2 courses at the CKS College, Teok, in Jorhat district, have been accused of producing false mark sheets and certificates with forged seal and signature of the Board.

BJP refutes Gogoi charge on funds:

Guwahati: The BJP refuted the charges on July 17, made by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi blaming the Centre for turning a "blind eye" to the flood fury in the State.

AHRC directive to Govt on medical admission:

Guwahati: The Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) ordered the State Government on July 17 to submit a report on the reported anomalies in the selection of candidates for admission in the medical and engineering colleges in the State.

3 NDFB militants killed in encounter:

Tezpur: Three National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) militants were killed in an encounter with the troops of the 2nd Sikh regiment of the Army at Alubari area of Batachipur reserve Forest under Dhekiajuli in Sonitpur district on July 17.

16 dacoits held from Nagaon, Golaghat:

Nagaon: A joint team of Nagaon and Golaghat police arrested as many as 16 dreaded dacoits from Salmora in Golaghat district and Herapatty in Nagaon district in the morning on July 17.

Cong raps employees for burning manifesto:

Guwahati: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on July 17 said that the State Government employees did not have any right to burn the election manifesto of the Congress.

2-day Karbi Anglong bandh begins:

Diphu: All the police stations and the border outposts here have been kept in red alert as the two-day Karbi Anglong bandh begins from the morning of July 17.


Gogoi raps PM for backing out on flood funds:

Guwahati: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on July came down heavily on Prime Minister Atal Behari

Vajpayee for neglecting Assam's flood problem and making 'false promises' like providing Rs 500 crore as grant to control floods in the State. He said that the center is responsible for the miseries caused to the people of the State.

Rids in city against milk adulteration:

Guwahati: The Kamrup (Metro) district administration has started a campaign against milk adulteration in the capital city from July 16. The drive has been initiated following a Gauhati High Court order to the district administration to submit a report on milk adulteration in the city.

ADDSU seeks CBI probe on AMC land issue:

Dibrugarh: The All Dibrugarh District Students' Union (ADDSU) has urged the Revenue Department to clarify the State Government's stand on the land encroachment issue involving the Assam Medical College Hospital (AMCH). The student leaders demanded a CBI enquiry in this regard.

Govt against new OT at GMCH?

Guwahati: The State Government has not shown any interest in setting up a modern operation theatre at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) even after the North Eastern Council (NEC) had agreed to provide financial assistance in this regard.

Reliance faces NSUI ire, FINER moves TRAI:

Guwahati: Agitated members of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) on July 16 pelted stones at shops in the Bhangagarh area in the city during a procession to the office of the Reliance Telecom Ltd (RTL) located at Ulubari. The NSUI took out the procession demanding improvement of the Reliance mobile service and the networking of cell phones in the city. It has also sought a halt to the alleged black marketing of SIM cards. The NSUI also demanded 50 percent reduction of rates of the outgoing calls.

280 non-teaching AAU staff arrested:

Jorhat: The police arrested 280 non-teaching staff, include 42 women of Assam Agriculture University on July 16 when they were staging a dharna and picketing in front of the University's Administrative building in support of their eight-point charter of demands.

HC notice to Govt on MBBS aspirant's writ:

Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court has issued a notice to the Government of Assam and the Director of Technical Education (DTE), Assam in connection with a writ petition filed by Ms Sazia Ahmed asking them as to why her answer script of the recently-completed joint entrance examination conducted by the DTE should not be re-examined.

Sentinel, Ajir Asom awards announced:

Guwahati: Mr Anuj Rajkhowa, correspondent of Dainik Janambhumi from Geleki (Nazira) has been selected for The Sentinel and Sentinel (Hindi) Award for Investigate Journalism, 2001, while Mr Dhirendra Nath Barua, correspondent of the Dainik Asam from Udalguri has been selected for the Ajir Asom M L Kathbarua award for Rural Reporting.

3-day workshop for correspondents:

Guwahati: A three-day workshop for media correspondents will be held at the premises of the Institute of Mass Communication and Media at Rup Nagar in the city under the aegis of Media Trust, Assam,

from July 17.


Ageing bunds give way; floods worst in 50 yrs, says CM:

Guwahati: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on July 14 described the current wave of floods in Assam as the 'biggest' in the past 50 years and has sent as SOS to the Union Water Resources Minister ArjunCharan Sethi urging the Centre to consider the current situation as an 'emergency' and release funds as a 'special case' to enable the State Government to combat the calamity.

No respite in flood scene:

Guwahati: Over 35 lakh flood hit people appeared to have no respite from the month-long devastating deluge in Assam with river Brahmaputra and its tributaries continuing to be fed with rain waters flooding human habitation and cropland in 21 of the 23 districts.

CRPF on ACS officers' firing line:

Ivasagar: Sivasagar unit of the Assam Civil Service (ACS) on July 15 expressed concern at the misbehaviour meted out to Amguri Circle Officer by a CRPF personnel on July 8. In a memorandum submitted to the State Government through the Deputy Commissioner here, ACS members said that the CRPF person not only misbehaved, but also threatened to hit the Circle Officer with the butt of his gun even after the Circle officer disclosed his identity.

Eco-task force, incentives for staff likely

Assam plan to corner rebels, bring Manas Park back to life:

Guwahati: The Assam Government has proposed to raise an eco-task force and sensitize the police, the Army and other paramilitary forces to improve the security situation and end militant activities in the Manas National Park and its surrounding areas under the proposed Bodoland erritorial Council (BTC). These steps, a recent review meeting felt, were needed as forest officials have deserted a number of forest outposts due to militants' threat, besides the rampant tree felling and poaching by militants directly or through mafia gangs backed by them.

Bodo politics shifts to Delhi; legislative, legal battle on:

Guwahati: Bodo politics has moved to New Delhi with the warring factions converging on the legislative and judiciary front for an immediate resolution to the vexed Bodo problem. With the fate of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), hanging fire in the Supreme Court, pro-BTC Bodo leaders and anti-BTC non-Bodo leaders are lobbying hard for a legislative way to resolve the problem before the monsoon session of Parliament.

Neeva: 2.5 lakh signatures from Assam for Women's Bill

Guwahati: In support of 33 per cent reservation for women in the State Assemblies and the Parliament, the All India Mahila Congress Committee will take out a 'March to Parliament' in New Delhi on July 21. Ms Neeva Konwar, vice president of the All India Mahila Congress Committee, said that the committee has already collected more than 2.5 lakh signatures inAssam as part of its signature campaign throughout the country in support of the Women's reservation bill.

NDFB militants kill 3 Kokrajhar:

Kokrajhar: Suspected NDFB militants gunned down three persons including the gaonbura and the secretary of Village Defence Party (VDP) in three separate incidents in the district on July 14.

AAU killing: 2 cooks arrested

Jorhat: Jorhat Police arrested two cook of No.9 Boys' Hostel of Assam Agriculture University identified as Pulin Barua and Khiren Hazarika in connection with the alleged murder of the chief cook of the hostel, Jogen Kalita in the night on July 12. Although, the two have not confessed their involvement in the crime, police said their arrests were based on evidence.

Road blockade by AASAA:

Dibrugarh: The Dibrugarh district committee of the All Adivasi Students' association of Assam (AASAA), as part of its statewide agitation demanding ST status. Adivasis, on July 15 observed "road blockade" at Lahowal Tinali on National Highway 37 here. Police arrested more than 300 activists of the AASAA for violation of 144 CrPC promulgated in the town. They were, however released later.

Govt directive on using President's name:

Guwahati: The Assam Government directed all the deputy commissioners of the State to ensure that the President's name is not used by any one on July 15.The order has been issued following the receipt of an official communication from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, which stated that some individuals and organizations were reportedly naming buildings, roads, villages, community halls and other public institutions after the President.

Deepar Beel venue for Games water sports:

Guwahati: The demand of adventure sports in the State has been growing by the day. An advertisement about a mountaineering expedition programme is enough to pull 400 to 500 kids to the Stadium office for participation. But, because of lack of infrastructure and sufficient equipments, most of the kids do not get the opportunity to participate in such programmes. An action plan has been chalked out by the State Government for the development of infrastructure and training of the acquatic sports like rowing, kayaking and canoeing. The Kamrup (Metro) DC and the president of the Rowing Association AK Absar Hazarika said that the developmental works in this regard will commence from September. He also said that the Deepar Beel has been finalized as the venue for rowing, kayaking and canoeing in the forthcoming National Games, 2005. Coaching will be provided from the same month to the selected sports persons participating in the Games.


Flood fury rages on:

The Brahmaputra and its tributaries on July 12 submerged parts of the State capital while continued its large-scale devastation in 20 districts affecting more than 23 lakh people. The situation had been aggravated following heavy and incessant rains in the hills of neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh. The flood situation might further worsen if moderate to heavy rains continued in the catchments areas of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries for the next couple of days. There were incessant rains in the city for the third consecutive day and the water level of the Brahmaputra was maintaining a rising trend with the overall situation likely to worsen further.

Singh goes by Sinha's stance on IM(DT), influx:

Silchar: Assam Governor Lt Gen. Ajai Singh, who was on a four-day visit of Cachar, North Cachar Hills and Karimganj, blamed the external forces from Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura for the recent ethnic clash between the Dimasas and the Hmars. He did not agree

with the observation of the Union Minister, Swami Chinmayanda that the State Government had failed to stop the flare-up. On his assessment of the situation in Cachar and North Cachar Hills following the clash, he said that for restoration of peace and harmony in the troubled areas, he would submit a report with specific recommendations to the State Government. He however, refused to share his formula for peace with the media persons whom he met last night here in the circuit house.

Cases against Govt piling up:

Guwahati: Due to wrong recruitment policy of the government and deprivation of the employees from enjoying their rights cases filed by the victims in law courts are piling up. There are as man as 5,862 cases against the Education Department, most of which are related to posting, transfer and early termination of service. Similarly, against the Social Welfare department nearly 200 such cases were pending as of July 12 for non-regularization of service; transfer, posting and termination violating rules and regulations. Similar situation could be seen in other departments also.

Ambitious plan for computer education:

Guwahati: The Education department has taken an ambitious scheme to provide computer education to the students from Class VIII to Class XII in the State. In the first phase of the execution of the scheme, the department will set up a District Computer Centre each in all the district headquarters installing a total of 50 computers. The estimated cost of the scheme will be Rs 89 crore which has already been released by the Centre as the Eleventh Finance Commission award.

UPDS cadre killed in shoot-out:

Diphu: A cadre of the UPDS (anti-talk faction) was killed in an encounter with the police in Langlakso area under Howraghat police station at 2 a.m. on July 12. The police recovered an AK-56 rifle, a hand grenade, two magazines and 20 ammunition from the possession of the killed cadre.

Pregnant elephant killed by villagers:

Jorhat: A pregnant elephant was found dead at Matia Chapari in Numaligarh area on July 12. It is suspected that the elephant was killed by the villagers with peers. It may be mentioned here that a herd of about 60 elephants created havoc in the area recently. Earlier too, an elephant had been killed by the villagers in the area. The elephant herd had come from Nambor Reserve Forest.

Gogoi make aerial of flood-hit Assam on July 14

No one aware of Assam flood toll!

Guwahati: Floods, that have cut a swathe across Assam, have hit more people on July 13 with the number of those affected shooting up to 23 lakh in 20 of the State's 24 districts. The number of people killed in the floods so far in the different parts of the State is anybody's guess, as the Assam Government has made no effort to provide any compiled up to date figures to the media. While UNI news agency put the toll at 45 till evening, 20 people have been killed so far in the calamity.

Mute animals, nature's fury, killers & busy rangers:

Kaziranga National Park: Picking up his walkie-talkie set early in the morning on July 13,

N.K.Vasu, Director of this flooded rhino habitat in deluged Assam shouts instructions. The two tiny deer were knocked down by trucks on the busy National Highway before dawn on July 12 as they were moving out from the submerged Park to the hills across the road. The Golaghat district administration has clamped Section 144 CrPC on the strech of the Highway that runs alongside the Park. Around 50 vehicles have been fined for over speeding in the last few days. But, wildlife enthusiasts like Guatam Uzir, a lawyer, feel the district authorities have not done enough to enforce the speed restrictions along the Park.

Vigil along Bangladesh

AJYCP: Set up new border force with locals

Guwahati: The Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) has called for setting up of a border police force with indigenous people of Assam for deployment along the Indo-Bangladesh border. AJTCP president Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee said that the necessity of this force has arisen due to the inability of the BSF deployed in the border to check illegal migration.

Dibru Saikhowa National Park run by 43 people, villagers involved in illegal activities

No staff, Assam biodiversity hotspot in danger:

Guwahati: The "paradise" which has not been given due attention it deserves over a century and a decade is now at risk, though not "lost" yet. Since its declaration as a Reserve Forest on July 8, 1890 and then its re-christening as Dibru Saikhowa National Park and Biosphere reserve on March 5, 1999, little has been done for the development of the infrastructure of this biodiversity hot spot of Assam. The trees, the animals and the birds of the Park are not safe, and the sensitive and fragile eco-system has been threatened.

Kamrup NSUI unit dissolved:

Guwahati: The Assam unit general secretary of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), Mr Nasir Khan has dissolved the Kamrup district NSUI committee with immediate effect.

Gogoi assures small newspapers of all help:

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi assured the small newspaper in the State of all help from the State Government, on July 13 but made it clear that no newspaper could survive only with the earnings from Government advertisements.

Twelve women extortionists held:

Tezpur: Twelve women extortionists from Rajasthan were arrested from various places of Tezpur on July 13. Police said these women, hailing from Raipur district of Rajasthan, were forcibl collecting money in the name of proverty in Rajasthan. Police also suspected that the gang was involved in immoral trafficking. Later, the gang, including its leader Ms Reena Rawat, was produced before the chief Judicial Magistrate of Sonitpur.

'Deka had hand in Nagen's death'

City editor trying to kill me, says Mahanta:

Guwahati: Former Chief Minister and senior AGP leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta on July 14

accused veteran journalist and Editor of Assamese daily Dainik Agradoot, Kanak Sen Deka, of having a hand in the killing of former minister Nagen Sarma, and charged him with conspiring to kill him now.

Assam fails in PM's rural roads scheme, Delhi brakes likely:

Guwahati: The Centre is unlikely to approve the next phase of schemes for construction of roads in rural areas by the Assam Public Works Department under the Pradhan Mantry Gramin Sadak Yajana (PMGSY) for the latter's failure to complete the roads in the complete the roads in the stipulated time. This fact has indeed punched holes in the State PWD Minister Sarat Borkotoky's oft-repeated statement that his department is unable to repair or construct roads in the State due to acute cash crunch.

Strange but true

Hygiene alien to GMCH, toilet waste in open:

Guwahati: Health and hygiene appears to be words that are alien to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH). Go to the Gynaecology section of the GMCH, and you will feel as if you have arrived at a dirty slum with leaking pipes carrying septic tank waste and the likes. Careless movement on the verandahs of the department is risky, for sewage from the toilets, located at the first and the second floors drop continuously. This is the scene at the Gynaecology Department of this premier institution.

CM raps Centre on floods, says food stock enough:

Dibrugarh: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi made an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas of Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Sivasagar districts on July 13. He reviewed the situation with the deputy commissioners of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia and other officials during his brief halt at the Mohanbari Airport here. The Chief Minister asserted that the State Government would initiate all necessary measures to tackle the situation. He said that the State Government has sufficient food grains stock, and distribution of food relief to the marooned people has already been taken up. Admitting the scarcity of kerosene in the State, he said that the Centre was requested to allot more kerosene.

Ganja-puffing street kids thrilled with Zoo visit:

Guwahati: It was an experience with a difference for the 21 street children, aged between 4 and 10. "Today we had a great time with the animals. We've enjoyed like never before and want to have such trips again and again", said Bijoy on last week at the premises of the State Zoo in the city. This was their first-ever visit to the Zoo, and as such, their first face-to-face encounter with the tiger, the rhino, the naughty monkeys and the lonely hippopotamus, and a lot others. This has happened, thanks to the efforts of the Don Bosco Youth Mission and Educational Services (DBYES), a city-based NGO. For Bijoy, a neglected child worker at the Guwahati Railway Station, consuming dendrite, (yes, the adhesive paste), bidi, ganja, gutkha, alcohol, etc. are like chocolates or ice cream other children his age usually have. Jumir Ali, 8, came by a train from Kokrajhar and found himself as a sweeper at the Guwahati Railway Station two years back. "Everyday we earn around Rs100 and spend the major part in purchasing drugs. The old lady at the station yard supplies us with ganja on the sly", said 7-year-old Subhas, an abandoned child.

Court orders halt to GU council poll:

Guwahati: The court of the civil judge has directed the Guwahati University authorities to refrain from holding the election of the Academic Council of GU without amending the

electoral roll. The election was slated for July 31. The Assam College Teachers' Association had filed a case seeking an injunction to halt the council election, stating that the electoral roll published by the Registrar's Office of GU had left out 70 per cent of colleges affiliated under the University.

AAU hostel cook found dead:

Jorhat: The cook of hostel No.9 of Assam Agricultural University, Jogen Kalita (40) was found dead on July 13. Though it seems to be a case of suicide by hanging, the police suspects foul-play since the body of Kalita bore injury marks and blood stains. The body has been sent for post-mortem.

Khagorijan sr BDO arrested, in jail:

Nagaon: The senior Block Development Officer (BDO) of Khagorijan Development Block, Mr Debeswar Bora was arrested by the police from Dispur on July 13 ad produced before the court here on July 14. The court has sent him to judicial custody.

Rongpi moves parliamentary panel on BTC:

Guwahati: CPI-ML Mr Dr Jayanta Rongpi met the Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee of Home Affairs, Mr Pranab Mukhejee in New Delhi on July 13 and submitted a memorandum on the 'adverse impact' of the BTC Bill on various exclusive constitutional safeguards meant for the indigenous hill tribals of Karbi Anglong and NC Hills.

Bezboruah nominated to NBT:

Guwahati: The Government of India has nominated Mr D.N.Bezboruah, Editor of The Sentinel, as a member of the National Book Trust (NBT). Mr Bezboruah has been informed of his nomination through a letter by NBT Chairman B.K.Sharma. He is the only person nominated to the NBT from the North-east.


NRC alone can solve problem of identifying illegal migrants

AJYCP demands National Register of Citizens in Assam:

Guwahati: The Asom Jatiyabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) has in a letter to the Deputy Prime Minister, India, demanded a National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam. The AJYCP has stated in the letter, dated July 10, that the Constitution of India has defined the Indian citizens but unfortunately does not provide for maintenance of statutory records of these citizens. Although there was a move in 1951 to prepare a National Register of Citizens, it could not be continued due to the State and Central Government, the letter alleged.

ADYO raps Hmars for killings, torching of houses:

Maibang: The All Dimasa Youths' Organization (AYDO) condemned the recent incident of Berelang and Kapurchera villages in which a Dimasa woman was burnt alive and as many as 17 houses were torched by the Hmars. The HPC(D) also fired indiscriminately on a goods train near Mathur causing the death of two persons. The ADYO has also expressed deep shock at the violence taking place in different parts of NC Hills and Cachar districts.


Army out in flooded Assam

Uzanbazar, Kharghuli submerged:

Guwahati: Flood waters have entered the city submerging several parts, including the Steamer Colony in the Kharghuli area, the MC Road at Uzan Bazar, the Kachari Ghat and a few other places in the Noonmati area, forcing the authorities to be on high alert.

3,000 villages inundated, severe erosion in Majuli:

Guwahati: The Army has swung into action, moving into submerged villages in Nalbari and Sivasagar district to rescue marooned people even as the overall flood situation in Assam continued to be critical. Nearly two million people in 20 of the State's 24 districts have come under the fury of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries. Majuli, was reeling under the impact of the floods with vast areas submerged and large scale erosion was reported from several places.

Swami in Silchar, reviews security

'Jt strategy needed to combat influx, insurgency in NE':

Silchar: Swami Chinmayanda, Union Minister of State for Home, who is currently on a tour of the north-eastern states to assess the security scenario in the region, has expressed serious concern at the spectre of insurgency and the influx of Bangladeshis, and has advised the Chief Ministers concerned to adopt a common strategy to deal with the situation. The Union Minister said on July 10 that the situation in Assam is alarming with an unabated influx of Bangladeshis from across the border.

Assam students with less marks clueless about future:

Guwahati: Shashanka has passed the Higher Secondary (Science) examination, but is really worried. With just a IIIrd division to his credit, he is at a loss now as he broods over his future. The doors of most of the colleges are shut for him, and even if he gets an admission, he will have to be content with a simple pass course. He appears to be clueless on what career to aim for. Shashanka is not the only one who has not performed well and is now finding himself out of track in the academic super highway. Every year, lakhs of students securing IIIrd or IInd division with low percentage in the High School Leaving Certificate Examination and Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate Examination, have to experience a rough weather with an uncertain future.

Bijoya seeks early approval of schemes:

Guwahati: Union Minister of State for Water Resources, Bijoya Chakraborty, has urged the Deputy chairman of Planning Commission, Mr K.C.Pant for early approval of the flood control related programmes in Assam which have been waiting for approval of the Planning commission. Ms Chakraborty met the Deputy Chairman along with senior officials of her Ministry, following which the Minister was hopeful that an expeditious single window mechanism for releasing money to the Ministry to provide flood control relief to the State.

Embezzlement bid foiled:

Mangaldai: A bid to misappropriate government funds under the Irrigation Department by a junior engineer was foiled on July 10 due to the timely intervention of the district

administration. The junior engineer prepared and submitted a false bill amounting to 3 lakh separately against the Deochunga irrigation scheme under Harisingh Revenue Circle. He also prepared and submitted a bill amounting to Rs 50,000 in the name of his wife. The president, secretary and three other members of Deochunga Pani Yogan committee on July 10 submitted a written complaint to Subhas Buragohain, ADC, Darang and as per his instruction, the treasury officer of Mangaldai has stopped the bill. An enquiry also been ordered in this regard.

DDK Guwahati wins national award:

Guwahati: Kalyani, a biweekly health magazine serial produced and directed by Mukul Talukdar, assistant Station Director, Doordarshan Kendra, Guwahati has received the Doordarshan National Award for the month of May 2003. He had earlier bagged another national award for his documentary film entitled The World Beauty in March which focused on the orchids of Arunachal Pradesh.

Garrison engineer arrested for bribery:

Guwahati: One Garrison engineer of the Military Engineering Service was arrested on July 10 on bribery charges at Jorhat, according to Superintendent of Police of CBI Anti-Corruption Bureau Narayan Ojha. Mr Ojha said that Garrison engineer was arrested when he was receiving Rs 50,000 as illegal gratification in his office at Jorhat.

Secretariat Supdt caught red handed:

Guwahati: The Vigilance and Anti-corruption officials on July 10 nabbed one Satyendra Nath Borthakur, superintendent, PWD (Establishment) 'B' Branch of the PWD Secretariat while he was accepting cash of an amount of Rs 1,000 as illegal gratification from a complainant as demanded earlier. He was arrested under provisions of P.C Act, 1998.


14 lakh rendered homeless, 19 dists hit:

Guwahati: The flood situation in Assam continued to remain grim on July 10 as nearly 14 lakh people in 19 districts were affected by the waters of Brahmaputra and its tributaries. With one more person drowning in Morigaon district, the death toll in the flood rose to 15. The situation was serious in Dhemaji district in as the Brahmaputra dyke at Kareng Chapori breached and nearly 200 villages went under water.

Floods could wash away Kaziranga this time:

Guwahati: The devastating floods of 1998 that had given a body blow to the Kaziranga National Park (KNP), the home of world famous one-horned rhino, are still fresh in the memory of the people of Assam. Currently, the national park is on the verge of facing an even more devastating flood this year, since a portion of the embankment at Dhansirimukh has become vulnerable to breach by the swirling flood waters of the Dhansiri. Great apprehensions are being expressed by the people that the embankment may be washed away any moment. About 700 animals of the national park had died during the 1998 floods.

Cong ministers, MLAs unhappy over Anganwadi centres in State:

Guwahati: A section of Congress ministers and MLAs are unhappy over the anomalies in functioning of various Anganwadi Centres in the State. Many of them have openly

demanded improvement in the standard of these centres. Some of the ministers have expressed their concern over the Sub-standard nature of construction work of these centres after monitoring the work in their districts and constituencies.

Spectre of 1998 haunts city:

Guwahati: The swelling of the Brahmaputra has threatened the Guwahati city with an imminent flood for the first time in fifteen years. According to the Central Water Commission (CWC) report, the water level of the river Brahmaputra has crossed some 50.85 metre, nearly 1.17 high above the danger level. Already number of people living near the bank of the river at Kharguli area have been shifted to higher places. The Army has been monitoring the situation after request from the civil authorities to stand by for any eventuality. The busy Bharalu railway bridge was now just one feet above the water.

Mahanta denies charge of deal with tea planter:

Dibrugarh: Former Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has vehemently refuted the allegation that during the last AGP regime, the Jalan Group of Industries had transformed a large portion of leased land to miyadi patta with his blessings.

Centre cautions AH & Vety Dept against fund misuse:

Union Secretary for Animal Husbandry Binoo Sen on July 10 stressed the need for coordination between the State and the Centre in implementing various schemes so that optimum benefit could be achieved from such schemes. Addressing a regional conference for state secretaries of animal husbandry, diary and fishery departments of the north-eastern states organised here on July 10, Ms Sen said that if the States did not utilize the Central fund properly for the implementation of a project, the Centre would not release any fund next time.

Face-lift to city zoo:

Guwahati: The golden langor is now out of its cage in the State Zoo. The pair of golden langor in the Zoo seems quite happy jumping from one tree to another under the open sky in the island-like highland surrounded by water. This is the new closure constructed recently keeping in view the animals' comfort and to add to the beauty of the zoo. The State Zoo will take a different look in the coming winter.

Defaulter GL's tipper seized:

Guwahati: A contingent of police, staff and officials of the nazrat branch of the court of the Civil Judge (Senior Division) No.1, accompanied by the advocate of the Hindustan Paper Corporation (HPC) Ltd, Mr S.Munir, on July 10 seized a Tata Tipper truck (No. AS 01G 7958) from M/S G.L.Publications for failing to repay the HPC its dues of about Rs 9 lakh, as the court officials issued the ultimatum to the proprietor of the firm, G.L. Agarwala that he must pay the entire dues by August 2 failing which the seized tipper would be put to auction. The tipper is valued at Rs 6 lakh.

Bodo leaders flock to Delhi to lobby for BTC:

Kokrajhar: A 17-member Bodo delegation led by BLT secretary general Derhasat Basumatary has left for New Delhi on July 10 to put pressure on the Centre to pass the BTC Bill in the coming monsoon session of the Parliament. A team of the Bodoland Demand Legislature Party (BDLP) under the leadership of Pramila Rani Brahma is also

leaving for New Delhi on July 11 for the same purpose.

Neog killing: CBI brings ULFA cadre to city

Jorhat: CBI sleuth have taken dreaded ULFA cadre Amar Singh alias Arup Konwar to Guwahati for interrogation in connection with the killing of former Congress Minister Nagen Neog in 1996.

Islam reviews commodity stocks:

Guwahati: Food and Civil Supplies stock Minister Dr Nazrul Islam assessed the stock of commodities in the State and discussed with the Kamrup Chamber of Commerce and the Potato-Onion trade Union on July 10. He appealed to the traders to take necessary steps so that there would not be any short-fall of commodities in the State in this monsoon.

DU MA results declared:

Guwahati: The results of MA final examinations, 1002, held in February, 2003 under Dibrugarh University were declared on July 10. The results of TDC part-I (1+1+1), 2003 (Science and Commerce streams) of the University will be declared on July 12.

Woman, ULFA cadre shot dead:

Barpeta: A woman and an ULFA cadre were killed and two CRPF personnel injured during an encounter at Sonpoirabari under Barpeta Road police station in the morning on July 10.

Statewide stir by AASU against fee hike:

Guwahati: The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) on July 10 staged sit-in demonstrations in all the district headquarters in the State protesting against 100 per cent fee hike in higher secondary and degree courses.


Milk adulteration rampant in city:

Guwahati: Milk consumers of the city beware! A recent study conducted by a laboratory has found several samples collected from city vendors to be adulterated. The Kamrup metropolitan district administration had collected 31 milk samples from vendors in the city last month. These samples were tested at the State Public Health Laboratory. Of these samples, nine were found to be adulterated. The analysis revealed that there was a very low content of milk fat in the samples. The adulterated samples were also found to contain impure water.

Sandalwood consignment seized:

Guwahati: The seizure of as many as four trucks of two varieties of sandalwood in Guwahati on transit from Tamil Nadu to Myanmar, has created a great deal of concern in circles concerned here over fears that the international smugglers are using the North-east as a safe corridor for smuggling the valuable items to the South East Asian countries. It is interesting to note here that the Forest Department which had seized the valuable wood is itself in confused state whether the seizure is legal or not.

'Best Energy Man'

Award for RK Dutta:

Guwahati: Ranjit Kumar Dutta, Oil India Ltd (OIL) CMD has been selected for the prestigious award of the "Best Energy Man of the Year 2002" by the Foundation of Indian Industries and Economists in association with Price Waterhouse and Coopers.

Census unmasks Assam's poverty:

Guwahati: The 2001 Census of India has revealed that as many as 30.2 percent pf the households in Assam possess transistors, 18.3 per cent have television sets, 4.3 per cent have telephone connections. Conveyance such as bicycles is possessed by only 5.2 per cent. Only a mere 2 per cent of the households have cars, jeeps, vans, etc.

AIDC stress on dues recovery:

Guwahati: The Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) has yet to recover a total of Rs 37 crore including Rs 10 crore of interest from as many as 75 industrial units which was lent to these firms the industrial development of the State. AIDC chairman Hiranya Bora said that the AIDC has given full stress on recovering the entire money. The recovery of loan has accelerated during the past few years.

DD authorities' neglect of NE zone continues:

Guwahati: Even after the Information and Broadcasting Ministry asked that a full-fledged Chief Engineer's Office (North-east Zone) for All India Radio and Doordarshan, be created in Guwahati the multi-storeyed building here, which was hired for the purpose of opening the CE office, has remained unutilized for the purpose. Since the order dated June 5, 2003, the office is running for name sake only with the Chief Engineer's post remaining vacant. Some vested interests in the Ministry have deprived the people of the region by blocking the recruitment, transfer, posting and installation of project.

Govt hikes fees for college students:

Guwahati: After much debate and criticism from various circles, the Assam Government has revised the fee structure for college students with effect from 2003-2004.

6 hurt in grenade attack at Diphu:

Diphu: Six persons sustained injuries when suspected UPDS militants lobbed a dynamic hand grenade near Latika Cinema here at 7.30 in the evening on July 8. The condition of two of the injured is critical.

Rockybul given more powers:

Guwahati: In a minor reshuffle in the Assam Council of Ministers on July 9, Excise Minister Rameswar Dhanowar has been given the additional charge of Labour replacing Ms Rupam Kurmi, who has been given the charge of Craftsmen Training. Border area Development, Passport and Minority welfare Development Minister Rockybul Hussain has been given the additional charge of Political and Home portfolios.

Flood scene worsens, Army kept standby:

Guwahati: The Army has been kept stand by to assist the civil administration as flood situation in Assam further worsened on July 9 with fresh areas being submerged in the 19 affected districts of the State.

Panel to settle border dispute:

Diphu: A fact-finding committee has been jointly constituted by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and the Jaintia Hills Autonomous Council for conducting a joint survey of the disputed areas along Assam-Meghalaya border. It would submit a report to the respective Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya within the next three months.

Governor reviews NC Hills scene:

Guwahati: Assam Governor Lt Gen. (retd) Ajai Singh visited Haflong and reviewed the law-and-order situation with Army, paramilitary and civil authorities there on July 9.


Tarani's nagara drifts away in flooded Pagladiya:

Charabori (Kamrup): Tarani Haloi will not play the nagara anymore. On July 8, his brother Hemanta released the instrument, that Tarani was so fond of playing, into the swirling, grey waters of the Pagladiya. As he watched strong current sweep it across, he recalled how his brother was almost addicted to the nagara, whose beats usually accompany religious rituals. This 25-year-old pan shop owner from this nondescript roadside village, near Hajo in Kamrup district, met his watery grave around 9.20 in the morning on July 7, along with another villager Deepamoni Baishya (17). Tarani's body was recovered a couple of hours later. From July 7, around 50 people in ten country boats are scanning the submerged area around Charabori to locate Deepamoni's body.

Arunachal anti-rebel drive

PM, Advani ignored our plea, pushed us to the brink: Mithi

Guwahati: Arunachal Chief Minister Mukut Mithi has said that everybody at the Centre, from the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Cabinet secretary and downwards, have ignored his government's persistent pleas for special security operation to flush out heavily armed Naga guerrillas from the State.

Sarkar: no cash, no flood control work

Guwahati: The Assam Government has informed the Centre that all flood management programmes in the State have come a number of vulnerable river embankments in the State are in a critical condition. In a letter dated July 3, Assam Water Resources Minister Nurjamal Sarkar informed Union Minister of Water Resources Arjun Charan Sethi that monsoon is in its fury in the State, and the two successive waves of floods have left a number of vulnerable embankments in the state in a critical condition. He said that due to failure on the part of the Water Resources Ministry to release funds for anti-erosion schemes in the State, the flood management programmes have come to a total halt. Sarkar requested Sethi to release the funds without further delay.

Rhino fleeing KNP shot dead by poachers:

Jorhat: A full-grown rhino fleeing the submerged Kaziranga National Park on July 8 become the first casualty at the hands of organised poacher gangs lying in wait to kill this rare

animal taking advantage of the floods. The rhino was shot dead in the Kukurakata hills along the Karbi Anglong-Nagaon border. The poachers have decamped with its horn. This is the first reported case of rhino killing after the start of the floods this year. The Forest Department has been taken aback by the incident, that took place despite the tight vigil by forest guards.

Floods on the rise, agri sector hit hard:

Guwahati: Floods have cut a swathe across Assam this year too, causing damage to life and property of lakhs of people. The worst hit sector, however, is agriculture, and it is the farmers who comprise the major part of the suffering population. According to the Directorate of Agriculture, Assam, 1,88,652 farmers' families have been affected in the current wave of floods in the State. Likewise, 61602 hectares of crop area and nearly 12 lakh people in 1985 villages have been affected by the flood fury, so far.

Rongpi calls meet in Diphu on BTC Bill:

Guwahati: Lok Sabha member Jayanta Rongpi has convened an all-party meet on July 12 in Diphu. The meeting is being organised to discuss, amongst the elected representatives of all political parties, the probable impact of certain clauses of the proposed BTC Bill on the ST-H list. Although the Central Government has decided not to go ahead with the implementation of Clause 8 of the BLT Accord, yet certain provisions of the BLT Bill could have a negative effect on the interest of indigenous hill people of Assam.

Gohain forms panel to streamline enrolment

BJP violates enrolment norms:

Guwahati: Allegations of rampant violation of party norms in the drive at enrolment for active membership of the State unit of the party has prompted Assam BJP President Rajen Gohain to form an active members' grievance committee with MLA Dinesh Sarkar as the chairman. Earlier, a similar committee was formed with senior party leader Kabindra Purkayastha as the chairman to inquire into the complaints of violation of norms in the party's drive for primary membership in Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Sivasagar and Morigaon districts.

No literacy drive in Govt 'homes'

AHRC raps Social Welfare Department:

Guwahati: The Assam Human rights Commission (AHRC) has expressed concerned over the fact that State government has taken any steps to make literate hundreds of inmates of the destitute and juvenile homes in the State. The AHRC has taken an initiative in this regard, and will ask the Education Department to implement the Sarba Siksa Avijan and adult education programmes in such institutions which are untouched till now.

Extortion bid by cops: ASP arrested

Guwahati: The absconding Additional Superintendent of Police (SB), Mr HK Medhi was arrested from the Advance Neurological Science and Nursing Home near Ganesh Mandir in the city on July 7 in the night. He was admitted to the hospital for spondylitis and hypertension.

3 PWD officials kidnapped in Karbi Anglong:

Diphu: Three Public Works Department (PWD) officials, including two engineers, were kidnapped by suspected UPDS militants in Karbi Anglong district in the night on July 8. The kidnappers, first fired two rounds in the air and then took away the three officials- executive engineer Dikendra Narayan Roy, assistant executive engineer Akshay Choudhury and sectional officer Subhash Chandra Roy- in an autorickshaw from Dokmoka PWD colony under Howraghat police station area at around 7.15 p.m. Search operation has been launched to rescue the three officials.

Cong MLAs trying to reopen checkgate?

Guwahati: Following a written complaint to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Goalpara district administration by Congress MLA Sadid Mazumdar about the running of two illegal checkgates on the national highway at Pancharatna and Dudhnoi, the Police evicted the gates, and arrested as many as six people manning them. But sources alleged that two Congress MLAs have been trying to run the checkgate at Pancharatna.

2 elephants electrocuted in Garo Hills:

Dhubri: Two elephants were electrocuted along the Assam-Meghalaya border at Bamondanga under Phulbari police station in Garo Hills in the night on July 7.

Assam governor inspects NEC work:

Guwahati: Assam Governor Lt Gen (retd) Ajai Singh inspected the construction work of the inter-state bus terminus at Ram Nagar near Silchar on July 8. An amount of Rs 7.14 crore has been allocated by the NEC, of which Singh is the chairman. The project was expected to be completed by December next year.


19 districts in grip of floods, death toll 12 -Two die in Hajo boat capsize:

Assam continued to be in the grip of unabated flood fury by river Brahmaputra and its tributaries with 12 persons dead and thousands rendered homeless in 19 districts. More than ten lakh people have been affected by the current wave of floods, which has wrecked crops and property. The situation in worst-hit Dhemaji deteriorated further following a breach of a vital Brahmaputra dyke at Karengchapori in the night of July 6 which led to the submergence of 80 villages and affected more than one lakh population. Meanwhile, in a tragic boat accident at 9.30 am on July 7 in Sarabori near Biglighat, under Hajo police station, two persons including a minor girl, were drowned in the Pagladiya river.

Police, admin must know of major Army ops: panel

Guwahati: A probe panel instituted by the Assam Government to inquire into the unprecedented clash that took place between the Army and civilians in Adhiyapara village, near Hajo last year, has recommended that in future, the Army should conduct operations jointly with the police and should inform the district level coordination committees, a structure under the Unified Command, of any major offensives.

Anti-crime moves

DNA test facility soon in Assam:

Guwahati: Within a year, the people of Assam will be able to avail the facility of DNA test without going outside the State. The Regional Forensic Laboratory, Kahilipara has recently

sent two of its employees to Hyderabad and Kolkata for advanced training in DNA testing.

Staff shortage, insecurity hit shelter for women & destitutes:

Guwahati: The State Home for Women and the Destitute Home located at the same campus in Jalukbari here are running into rough weather due to acute shortage of staff, coupled with other problems like insecurity of its inmates and water-logging at the premises. As many as six posts in these two shelters, out of a total of a 16, are lying vacant for years, hampering the smooth functioning of these homes run by the Social Welfare Department.

Fee hike: colleges await Govt order

Guwahati: College authorities in the State are waiting for the government notification regarding tuition fee hike in the higher secondary and degree courses. College authorities said that they have not yet received any notification from the Education Department regarding the hike of tuition fees. Some college officials said that they have received verbal instructions in this regard.

Forgery on fund drawal: Nagaon DI files 2 FIRs

Nagaon: Nagaon district Deputy Inspector of Schools, Yajna Hazarika on July 7 filled an FIR at Nagaon Sadar Police Station stating that the bill for arrears payment of an assistant teacher of Marwari Hindi Primary School at Nagaon town, Mr Ram Iqbal Humar was produced twice and the money was withdrawn successfully in both the cases. The Deputy Inspector also filed another FIR in the case of withdrawal of Rs 58,966 from the treasury as retirement benefit of a working primary school teacher, Ms Meera Dey producing forged documents.

2 ULFA cadres shot dead in Goalpara:

Guwahati: The troops of the Red Horns Division of the Army shot dead two ULFA cadres in Rangjuli area in Goalpara district in the wee hours on July 7.

Sonia's assurance to Gogoi:

Guwahati: AICC president Sonia Gandhi assured Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi that she would put pressure on the NDA Government at the Centre to send more forces to Assam in view of the law-and-order situation in the State. During 45-minute discussion between Mr Gogoi and Ms Gandhi onboard a Chandigarh bound India Airlines flight on July 7, issues like law and order, development projects, panchayati raj, the current floods etc., in the State were discussed.

Dibrugarh bandh peaceful:

Dibrugarh: Dibrugarh Students' Union (ADSU)-sponsored 12 hour Dibrugarh district bandh passed off peacefully. The bandh call was given in protest against the apathy of Reliance Industries Ltd towards the setting up of the Gas Cracker Project, and demanding the authorities to free the encroached land of Assam Medical College.

Teachers' bid to gherao DEE foiled:

Guwahati: Members of the All Assam Recognized ME School Teachers' Association made an attempt to gherao the Director of Elementary Education in support of their various

demands on July 7.

Three highway robbers arrested:

Dhubri Three highway robbers have been arrested by Dhubri Police while they were travelling in a bus at Chagolia inter-state checkgate in the night in July 7.

Two militants shot dead in M'laya:

Guwahati: Two militants were killed at Rajasimla in Meghalaya near Assam-Meghlaya border in an encounter with the Army.


Planter shot dead in Karbi Anglong:

Diphu: A tea garden official was shot dead by miscreants in Karbi Anglong district on July 6. The official, Surendra Sarma (35), son of manager of Lengerijan tea estate KM Sarma, was inspecting work when unknown miscreants shot at him from close range around 12 noon, killing him on the spot.

Flood hit 10 lakh, erosion in Majuli:

Guwahati: The rising water of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries continued with its havoc on July 6 as nearly 10 lakh people are reeling under the impact of devastating floods in Assam. 19 districts of the State are reeling under the impact of the floods which have so far claimed nine lives and demaged nearly 35,000 hectares of crop area. In Majuli, the world's largest river island, heavy erosion was reported while road communication have been disrupted in several places and the situation in the border district of Dhubri was also critical with several villages inundated.

'Gang' withdraws pension cash

Working teacher shown as retired!

Guwahati: That there is corruption and rampant malpractice in the State Education Department can be gauged by the extent of charges levelled against it. During his visit to Nagaon on July 5, the Minister of State for education, Mr Rupam Singh Ronghang discovered just such a case which stands out as a glaring example of the open secret, that of corruption in the department. Mira Dey, who is working as a teacher in the Bengali Lower Primary School in Nagaon is supposed to retire from service on October 31, 2003. But, she was shown as having already retired and a part of her post-retirement dues were grabbed fraudulently by some of the employees of the District Inspector of Schools, Nagaon. This 'gang' was able to create false documents to create false documents to show Dey as having retired in 1999 and an amount of Rs 59,000 was withdrawn and embezzled by these people. The incident came to light during inspection of some money bills in the office. It was discovered that the money was drawn on March 20, 2003.

Statewide hunt absconding police officer:

Guwahati: A week has already elapsed, but the City Police is yet to trace Additional Superintendent of Police HK Medhi, who was accused of attempting to extort Rs 2 lakh from the Deputy General Manager of Guwahati Refinery, Mr Ajai Singh on June 27. A wireless message has already been sent to all the officers-in-charge of police stations in the State, and rewards have been announced for people who can provide information

regarding the absconding ASP to the police.

Transfer of power of 28 depts to Panchayats in Assam begins:

Guwahati: The Assam government has initiated the process of transferring power of 28 departments to the Panchayats that have already been vested with powers of the Panchayat and Rural Development Department.

IWAI makes mockery of night navigation in Brahmaputra:

Guwahati: Fifteen years have elapsed since the Brahmaputra was declared as the National Waterways No.2 in 1988. Now, there is no dearth of Central funds for the development of navigation. Every year, money flows from the Centre to the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) for the maintenance of the 891 km long river channel for the purpose of navigation, and yet little difference could be noticed during this period in the field of water transport in Assam. The story has remained the same over the years.

2 more arrested in city rape case:

Guwahati: Two more persons, Jawahar Kalita and Sajjal Das, both of Uzan Bazar area in the city, were arrested in the connection with the rape of a 13-year old girl of Karnachal of Chandmari in the city.

BJP Mahila Morcha plans stir in State:

Guwahati: The BJP Mahila Morcha has planned a series of agitation programmes in the State in protest against the rising crimes against women. The Morcha's national president Kanta Nalvade said that the programmes included dharnas, gherao of ministers, chakka bandhs, etc.

Engineer admits killing of son:

Sivasagar: Mr Pavan sarma, an ONGC engineer who had been arrested on the charge of killing his eldest son and making an attempt to kill his wife and the youngest son, confessed before the court on July 6 that he had committed the crime.

Man arrested for demanding dowry:

Dhubri: A State Government employee, Abdul Mazid of Dhubri was arrested on the charge of demanding Rs 50,000 as dowry from his wife Khurseeda Begum's parents even after 19 years of their marriage.

160 AGP, Cong workers join BJP:

Mirza: 160 AGP and Congress workers have joined the BJP in a function attended by Union Minister of State for Water Resources Bijoya Chakravarty at Sarpara gaon under Palasbari Revenue Circle on July 6.

IOC executive dies in road mishap:

Guwahati: A marketing executive of IOC (AOD) Dilip Kumar Bora was killed on the spot when the Maruti car he was travelling by collided with a bus near Dhupguri bus stoppage in Khetri on July 6 in the evening.


Assam Govt diverts central scheme, deprives poor girls:

Guwahati: Depriving thousands of under-privileged and malnourished girls from various benefits under the National Programme for Adolescent Girls (NPAG), the State Government, in an intra-departmental move, has diverted the scheme from the original complementing sector to the Prime Minister's Gramodyog yojna (PMGY) under the Social Welfare Department.

Rani Narah's 'excesses' irks Assam Cong members:

Guwahati: A large section of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) office bearers are unhappy with the attitude of Congress MP Rani Narah and have moved the APCC chief Paban Singh Ghatowar for his intervention.

AIDC in Hiranya Bora's grip, transparency goes for a six:

Guwahati: the functioning of the Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) which was set up in 1965 ostensibly to give a boost to industrialization in Assam, has been a matter of great concern not just for the entrepreneurs but also for the other sections of the people because the organization, as an agency of the State Government handles substantial funds which flow from the Centre and the State exchequer, but its performance profile has never been as encouraging.

NGOs 'selling signboards on consumer rights:

Guwahati: following the Kamrup district (Metropolitan) Administration's decision to make it mandatory to every shop to display a signboard to create awareness among the customer on their rights, a number of non governmental organizations, which were assigned for the implementation of the scheme, have allegedly been harassing the shopkeepers in the district. These NGOs have been trying to create a fear psychosis among the shopkeepers by showing an order of the DC in this regard.

CM to name Games 2005 venues on July 5:

Guwahati: The venues for the National Games 2005 will be formally announced on July 5 by the Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who is also the president of the Assam Olympic Association. The Government of Assam received a fax message on July 4 sent by the Indian Olympic Association stating that there will be two venues for the mega event, one in Guwahati and the other to be decided by the Government of Assam as well as the Assam Olympic Association.

Diphu pump owner killed in miscreants' attack:

Diphu: Suspected miscreants killed the manager of a petrol pump and injured another at Diphu town in Karbi Anglong district on July 5.

Gogoi seeks continuation of Bangkok flight:

Guwahati: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, has sought personal intervention of the Prime Minister for continuation of the Bangkok international flight from Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport here.

Women killed in NC Hills:

Guwahati: One woman was burned to death and a school and 25 dwelling houses of Dimasas and a Bihari family were set ablaze by suspected Hmar miscreants in two separate incidents in ethnic strife-ravaged North Cachar Hills district on July 4.


Leading Bodo women's body demands Vasava's ouster:

Kokrajhar: The All Bodo Women's Welfare Federation (ABWWF) has demanded immediate arrest of ex-BAC Principal Secretary JSL Vasava and Assistant Public Relation Officer of BAC Ms Sunity Brahma Choudhury for allegedly maintaining an 'illicit' relationship. At an emergent executive meeting held here on July 5, the ABWWF also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister Mr Tarun Gogoi through the Deputy Commissioner of Kokrajhar to take strict action against the two. The ABWWF mentioned that by this behaviour both Mr Vasava and Ms Brahma Choudhury have scandalised the reputation of the chair of the principal secretary of BAC.

PG Bank-Govt deal on SULFA loan money:

Guwahati: The Pragjyotish Gaonlia Bank, the primary regional rural bank in the State, is yet to get back a total of Rs 9.74 crore from the Assam Government which were released as loans to surrendered militants in 1994 after the government stood guarantor.

Swami to assess NC Hills scene:

Guwahati: To assess the ground situation in the ethnic strife-ravaged Cachar and North Cachar Hills districts, Union Minister of State for Home and in charge of North-east Swami Chindmayanda will visit Silchar on July 10. The centre has taken the matter of the Hmar-Dimasa conflict seriously as the State has not been able to stop it even after three months since the clashes broke out. During his visit to Silchar, he will review the situation with high level government officials. He will meet different organizations of the both the Dimasas and the Hmars. He will submit a report on the situation to the government.

Kedarnath Award for Bhagawati:

Itakhola: Senior journalist and Editor of the Ajir Asom and the Sentinel (Hindi) Radhika Mohan Bhagawati has been selected for the Kedarnath Goswami Memorial Best Editor Award, 2003 by Moran Press Club, under whose aegis the birth centenary of Journalist Kedarnath is being organized.


Tea industry scene reviewed

CM asks Assam tea industry to change mindset:

Guwahati: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi asked the management of the tea companies in the State to change their attitude, management style vis-a-vis the garden workers on July 3. He said this while presiding over a high-level meeting at the Janata Bhavan with tea officials, including Indian Tea Association (ITA) chairman NK DAS, and other representatives of tea related sectors to take stock of the current situation faced by the industry.

2 kids drowned in Dhemaji, floods rise:

Guwahati: The flood situation in Assam worsened as two children drowned in Dhemaji and more than five lakh people were affected in 14 districts due to the rising of river Brahmaputra and its tributaries on July 3.

Python, deer crushed along KNP:

Guwahati: Aboard their little wooden rowboats, up to 300 game watchers armed with rifles are patrolling the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) that has been submerged by flood waters, forcing rare animals to move out of the reserve to higher grounds. Two hog deer and a python have been knocked down and killed by speeding vehicles on the highway. These animals were escaping the floods inside the Park.

NC Hills opp meets Singh

'Deploy army, seal inter-state borders'

Guwahati: An eight-member Opposition delegation from the trouble torn NC Hills district comprising representatives from the ASDC, AGP, DRDC and BJP met Governor Lt gen.(retd) Ajai Singh on July 3, and demanded Amy operations to flush out militants who had entered NC Hills and Cachar districts from neighbouring states like Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram. The delegation said that if the militants were not pushed back to their home states, the current ethnic heat in the two districts would refuse to die down, and all peace initiatives from the Government and other quarters would fail to achieve the desired results.

Pramathesh kin want culture centre in Assam:

Guwahati: Family members of the legendary filmmaker Pramathesh Baruah have demanded of the government to set up a film and cultural complex in Guwahati in the name of Jyotiprasad Agarwalla and Pramathesh Baruah.

'Distressed' bridges under NFR repaired, several still unsafe:

Guwahati: Railway safety has become a matter of serious concern as several major train accidents have taken place in the past few weeks. Due to recurrent floods and landslides in the North-east, the region has been dubbed as vulnerable from the point of view of railway safety. The railway network in the region is one of the most strategic link to the rest of the country. The Northeast Frontier Railway has a total of 25 important bridges, 1,055 major bridges another 5,073 minor bridges along its 3,949 km long track.

SJSS flays Rajen Gohain:

Guwahati: Coming down heavily on the BJP State unit president Rajen Gohain, the Sangram Sanmilita Janagosthiya Sangram Samiti (SJSS) threatened on July 3, to launch a mass campaign against the party if Mr Gohain fails to prove his allegation against the SJSS that it has a soft-corner for illegal migrants in Assam.

Frequent allocation nod soon, say Reliance; BSNL blames it on Erricsson

Reliance as bad, BSNL misses date in NE:

Guwahati: The Telecommunication Ministry has been missing its date in so far as BSNL's mobile service in the North-east is concerned. It is set to miss its August deadline too to provide BSNL's mobile telephony in all the districts in the region. The Chief General Manager of the BSNL, assam

Circle, Mr BK Sinha said that due to some "issues": related to the contract between the machine provider Erricsson and the BSNL, the work has not been executed yet. "But as soon as the issues are sorted out, work for construction of towers etc will begin which will take three to four months for completion. BSNL mobile service would come up definitely by March next year", he said.

Govt okays vigilance case on ex-APSC chief:

Guwahati: The Assam Government has given its nod to the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Cell to go ahead with its decision to register a regular case against former Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) Chairman and Independent MLA from Sarupathar Tarapad Das for amassing property disproportionate to his known sources of income. The Income Tax department had seized Rs 71 lakh from the residence of the Mr Das during a raid in 2001, and handed over the case to the Chief Minister's Vigilance Cell. In its turn, the CM's Vigilance Cell handed over the case to the V & AC when it found evidences against Das. After a thorough investigation, the V & AC sought the permission of the State Government to file a regular case against the former APSC chief when it found sufficient evidences against him.

Five P & RD officials suspended:

Guwahati: The Assam Government suspended five Panchyat and Rural Development officials on July 3, for alleged misappropriation of fund in the Majuli Development Block in upper assam. This decision was taken by Panchyat and Rural Development minister Ripun Bora after receiving the inquiry report from the Jorhat Deputy Commissioner following a public complaint.

Vasava transferred to Tezpur:

Guwahati: The Assam Government, in a quick against unprecedented incident held on July 3, in the State Secretariat Administration Department JSL Vasava to Tezpur as the Commissioner of the North Assam with immediate effect.


Bora to review rural dev schemes:

Guwahati: state-level vigilance and monitoring committee chairman Ripun Bora will review the implementation of rural development schemes at a meeting in the city on July 16. The meeting will be attended by members of the committee, representatives from political parties and government officials.

Governor's upper Assam visit cancelled:

Jorhat: Assam Governor Lt Gen. Ajai Singh had to cancel his two-day official visit to upper Assam scheduled from July 4 due to bad weather. The Governor was supposed to inspect the developmental works in Titabor on July 4.

Assam to focus on Manas eco-tourism with Rs 90 lakh Central fund

UK tourist may clean up Manas' dark past:

Guwahati: Extending over an area of 2837 sq km from Dhansiri Sankosh river in the west to Dhansiri river in the east, the Manas National Park will receive 200 tourists from Britain in the coming season, from November to April. Lack of tourists has been a major setback for the Park, which had remained closed for a considerable period, from 1989 to 1994, due to the unrest caused by Bodo insurgents. It has been found that tourists are taking more interest in the unique biodiversity of Manas, one of the first reserves included in the

network of tiger reserve under Project Tiger in 1973. The Park was declared as site of international importance under UNESCO's World Heritage Convention in 1988 as well as Biosphere Reserve in 1989.

Remove Langthasa, seal borders: Holiram

Guwahati: Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) president Holiram Terang demanded of thye State Government on July 2 to remove Hill Area Development Minister GC Langthasa from ministership and post as chief executive member of the NC Hills Autonomous Council. The ASDC chief wants a senior Cabinet Minister to be put in-charge of NC Hills and Cachar districts.

2 planes must be in city: NEC

Hub not feasible in Guwahati, says Alliance Air MD

Guwahati: The managing director of Alliance Air Mr Monet Paes said on July 2 that setting up of a hub for their planes in the north-east is not feasible despite four ATR-42 aircrafts being put into operation in the region. Mr Paes said that an engineering hub will, however, be set up soon at Guwahati for night halting.

File report on land encroachment: Gogoi

Guwahati: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi asked the department concerned to submit a report soon on the total areas of the government land in the city and the area of land under encroachment on July2.

SJSS sit-in front of Parliament House:

Guwahati: To mobilize support against the creation of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), the Sanmilita Janagosthiya Sangram samiti (SJSS) will send a team to New Delhi to call on the members of the Standing Committee on BTC and other parliamentarians. SJSS deputy convenor Brajen Mahanta said that the team would leave for New Delhi on July 5 and stage a sit-in demonstration in front of the Parliament House on July 25.

Six arrested in city rape case:

Guwahati: The City Police arrested six persons on July 2, including two women in a rape case. A 13-year-old girl has allegedly been raped over and over again in eleven days. The victim, a Class VIII student and a resident of Karnachal under Chandmari police station was missing since June 22. The family members lodged an FIR at the police station on June 30.

APCC hits out at Mahanta, Goswami:

Guwahati: Coming down heavily on former Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta for the "secret killings" in the State during the AGP regime, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) said on July 2 that the regional party could never stage a comeback for the third time.

Brahmaputra Mail rescheduled:

Guwahati: The 4055 Dn Brahmaputra Mail scheduled to leave Dibrugarh town at 8 p.m. on July 2 has been rescheduled to leave at 12 noon on July 3 due to abnormal late running of

the corresponding Up train.

Accusted ASP yet to be nabbed:

Guwahati: The City Police has intensified the search operation to arrest Additional SP HK Medhi, and announced the non-bailable section to nab him. He is absconding to evade arrest by the police on the charge of his alleged attempt to extort Rs 2 lakh from Guwahati Refinery's deputy General Manager Ajay Singh. Police has already arrested two persons in this connection.

Reduce man-forest conflict: Gogoi

Chhaygaon: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has called upon the people to reduce man-forest conflict and restore ecological balance. Inaugurating the 54th week-long Van Mahotsav at Jawaharlal Nehru College at Boko on July 1, Gogoi said that denudation of forest cover is a loss for the mankind as it would cause massive erosion, environmental pollution, health hazards, floods etc.

Ministers' plea to CM on fee hike:

Guwahati: Almost all the ministers present on the 1st July's Cabinet meeting have requested Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for a two-fold hike in the fees for higher education. The meeting has resolved to prepare the new fee structure and the final decision would be taken in the next sitting.

NRL denies forest royalty evasion:

Golaghat: the NRL authorities denied the allegation that it had evaded forest royalty. The NRL authorities said that Rs 1.25 crore had been collected as forest department because of an interim order from the Guwahati High Court following a suit filed by two contractors on the issue of forest royalty. The NRL would complete the formalities as soon as the HC gives its ruling.

Justice (retd) Phukan to probe NC Hills clash:

Guwahati: The Assam Government instituted a one-man inquiry commission with Justice (retd) P.C.Phukan of the Guwahati High Court on July 1 to inquire into the ethnic clashes between the Hmars and Dimasas in NC Hills and Cachar districts.

News on 3rd July '2003

NCP stand boosts cornered Mahanta

Sinha for law to book people aiding B'deshis:

Guwahati: former Chief Minister and NCP leader Sarat Chandra Sinha does have differences with former Chief minister and AGP leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta on a number of issues. But on the foreigners' issue as well as the illegal infiltration into the State from Bangladesh, Mr Sinha fully supported Mahanta's view on July 2 that there should be a legal provision to take action against people giving shelter and harbouring Bangladeshis by giving them employment.

46%pass HS Arts, 67% clear Commerce:

Guwahati: The results of the Higher Secondary (Arts and Commerce) examination, 2003, conducted by the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) have been declared on July 2. While the

pass percentage in the Arts stream is 46.47, as much as 60.47 percent of the students have passed out successfully in the Commerce stream.

Assam top gun on wife's firing line!

Guwahati: The usually sedate Janata Bhawan or the State Secretariat at Dispur witnessed some heated exchanges of a different variety on July 2. At the receiving end was a top bureaucrat, Mr JSL Vasava, Commissioner, Secretariat Administration Department. The person who was spitting fire at him was none other than his wife Indira.

Quit notices to 50,000 B'deshis in Arunachal:

Guwahati: A powerful tribal group of Arunachal Pradesh issued "quit" noticesto some 50,000 Buddhist refuges from Bangladesh to leave the region within a month on July 2.

High fluoride in GMC water:

Guwahati: An alarmingly high proportion of fluoride has been found in a sample of water collected from a deep tube well in the Bashishthapur are of the city, causing concern among the residents.

News on 2nd July '2003

No deadline set; we're on dialogue track, but rebels not responding: foreign Secy

ULFA cool to Bhutan exit efforts:

Guwahati: On July 1 Bhutan regretted that the ULFA and NDFB rebels based in the kingdom have not responded satisfactorily to Thimphu's plea for fresh dialogue to pave the way for their withdrawal from the country. The Royal Government has, however, said efforts were on to ensure a peaceful exit of the Indian separatist rebels from the kingdom.

SULFA men default loan repayment, BLT to pay price:

Guwahati: The unhealthy precedence set by former ULFA militants, who had surrendered during the Hiteswar Saikia regime, by not refunding cores of rupees of bank loans they had taken for their rehabilitation, has proved to be costly for the BLT cadres who are on a surrender mode now. On the other hand, the cash-starved State Government, which had stood as guarantor for the surrendered militants, is made to cough up the Rs 200 crore 'SULFA loan', including interest. The RBI has sent a directive to the Centre to deduct the loan amount at source from allocations to the State.

City garbage

PCB may drag GMC to court:

Guwahati: The Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCB), may soon take legal action against the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) for violation of norms in the disposal of garbage produced in the city.

CM reviews flood scene, 4 lakh people hit:

Guwahati: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi reviewed the flood situation on July 1 and relief operations being carried out by various departments. Mr Gogoi has instructed the Health

Department to supply adequate medicines to the civil hospitals in all the districts, which are affected in the second wave of floods. The Public Health Engineering Department has also been ordered to take measures to prevent the outbreak of epidemics in the flood-affected areas.

NE air link: funds from NEC, Hub in Kolkata!

Guwahati: Major tea companies have their plantations in Assam, but their head offices are in Kolkata. The result: loss revenue is crores by the Assam government. Now, the same old story has been repeated by Alliance air (AA), a subsidiary of Indian Airlines, in the North-eastern region without setting up the hub here, depriving the locals of getting indirect benefits. As many four ATR-42 planes have been pressed into service in the region by Alliance Air. The North Eastern Council (NEC) has given financial assistance to AA to provide better air connectivity within the region. It is providing services to Agartala, Silchar, Dimapur and Lilabari. Surprisingly, despite these services in the North-east, AA has not set up a hub in the region.


Cong must expose anti-Assam stance NDA Govt: CM

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on June 30 aired his displeasure over the failure on the part of Congress workers at all levels in the State in exposing the 'anti-Assam stance' of the NDA Government at the Centre. He appealed to the party workers to launch a vigorous campaign to make the people at the grass-root level aware of the Centre's 'step-motherly attitude' towards the state.

'Bodos restive, silent political parties will be responsible for BTC delay'

Bodo show in city for BTC push:

Guwahati: The Coordination Committee for Bodoland Movement (CCBM), an umbrella organization of Bodo groups, organized a mass rally at the Judges' Field here on June 30 to mount pressure on the state as well as the center to implement the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Accord clause to clause.

AHRC raps cops, DC in Nalbari 'porn' case:

Guwahati: The Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) in its 14-page judgement on June 30 on the alleged porn film case in Nalbari has blamed the police for lapses in the preliminary course of investigation and has rapped the then deputy Commissioner of Nalbari B Kalyan Chakraborty for his interference on the matter.

Rains push rivers above red mark, city flooded:

Guwahati: Incessant rains during the past 36 hours from June 30 have led the Brahmaputra and its tributaries to rise alarmingly, with the rivers flowing above the danger level by over one metre at several places. Fresh areas in the worst hit-Dhemaji and Hailkandi districts have been inundated, forcing residents to build and stay atop bamboo stilts.

Status quo in Assam-Naga dispute zone:

Golaghat: The Assamese and the Nagas are at loggerheads at the Assam-nagaland border, near Merapani in golaghat district, as the people from both the States are claiming

the rights to land of the Daldali (No. 3) reserve forest, which actually belongs to Assam.

Extortion attempt by cops: ASP absconding:

Guwahati: Additional Superintendent of Police (SB) HK Medhi is absconding to evade arrest by the City Police on the charge of his alleged attempt to extort Rs 2 lakh from Guwahati Refinery's Deputy General Manager Ajay Singh. Equipped with the DGP's go-ahead signal in the case against the ASP, the City Police raided the residence of the police officer at Hatigaon in the city on June 30 only to discover that he is absconding, City SP H Nath said.

Students ransack Titabor block office:

Jorhat: At the call of the AASU on June 30, a group of students went to submit a memorandum to the Titabor Block Development office in protest against the alleged misappropriation of rural development funds. However, 20 of the students, who entered the office to submit the memorandum, went berserk, ransacked the office and broken three chairs and some windows. The BDO was, however not present in the office at that time.

Woman ULFA cadre killed, 2 held in M'laya:

Guwahati: A woman ULFA cadre was killed and two of her colleagues identified as - Lakheswar Moran and Tarani Das - were arrested by a joint team of the Assam Police, Meghalaya Police and the CRPF at Setukona under Mehendipathar police station in Meghalaya in the wee hours on June 30.

River patrolling intensified around city:

Guwahati: The banned ULFA may use the riverine route to enter the city, police has intensified river patrolling to foil any such attempt.

Gogoi's plea to people on small savings:

Guwahati: One Dhaneswar Deka received a Maruti Alto car and s Pranati Choudhury received a Maruti Alto car and Ms Pranati Choudhury received a Maruti SD car as first and second priozes respectively of the "Incentive to the Investors through the Gift Coupon Scheme" of the Directorate of Small Savings, Assam on June 30.

Sarat Mahanta new AHRC member:

Guwahati: The retired Head of Department of History of Sivsagar College, Mr Sarat Mahanta has joined the Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) as a member on June 30. The post was lying vacant since the death of Kumud Sarma a few months back.

CISF jawan dies in accidental firing:

Nazira: A CISF jawan, N.K.Singh died on the spot when a bullet accidently wentoff from the rifle fo another CISF jawan, S.R.Das and hit him at Lakua oil field here on June 29. Simaluguri police arrested S.R.Das, and he is in the jail now.

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