Mediaperson injured

From our Correspondent
BOKAKHAT, April 26: Uttam Saikia, Bokakhat correspondent of the Asomiya Janasadharan, Dy 365 TV Channel and honorary Wildlife Warden of KNP today met with a road accident on NH-37. He was returning from Kohora in a bike and an NR Super hit him. He was immediately rushed to Golaghat. His one leg was broken in three places. Doctor announced him safe though advised to check up in Guwahati.

World May Day to be organized by ACMS
From our Correspondent
BOKAKHAT, April 26: Bokakhat ACMS branch is organizing to hold World May Day on May 1, with a day-long programme which includes hoisting of flag, Smriti tarpan, colourful procession and an open meeting.

In the open meeting, BN Bhuyan, secretary of the branch will be given a special honour for his long dedication to the branch as secretary for the last 50 years.

A tribute to Medhi

: Of all the prominent leaders of Asom, Bisnuram Medhi has a pre-eminent position as a leader imbued with burning patriotism, determined and firm, noble and principled, never ever compromising with what he thought was wrong. Embedded with these qualities, he was in the forefront in the freedom struggle and during the formative stage of the country’s independence, he held positions like Revenue Minister and then as a Chief Minister of Asom for a stormy period of seven years where he acquitted himself as a great political leader and an administrator. On many occasions, he incurred displeasure with the power in the centre and even with the Party high command and never ever compromised. He even offered to resign on the issue of Asom Refinery but at the insistence of the then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru, he withdrew his resignation and the issue was settled by the setting up of the Refinery at Guwahati, albeit not a large one. It is on record that at that time he said that he could not be a Chief Minister to compromise on the state’s interest and if that ever happens, he will not hesitate to lay down the office.

Traders’ stir against trade licence fee hike postponed

Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, April 21 – The Guwahati Traders’ Association (GTA) has decided to temporarily postpone its agitational programme following an assurance from the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) that it would scrap its decision of hiking the existing trade licence fee.

The trade licence fee was hiked by three times by the GMC recently, a decision which drew flak from different sections of the society, besides the traders.

Trust to be set up in memory of Ashok Saikia

Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI, April 17 – Late Ashok Saikia’s family has announced plans to set up a trust in his memory to carry forward his work for the society.

This was revealed by the late bureaucrat’s wife, Ranjana Saikia, while addressing a function organised to release a book, Ashok Saikia – Timeless Images a collection of photos taken by one of the most popular Assam-Meghalaya cadre officer of 1971 batch, who served in different departments of the State and Government of India including the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and international institutions with distinction.

Puspalata Das memorial lecture

GUWAHATI, April 12 – The Kamrup Mahanagar Zila Parishad of Sadou Asom Lekhika Samaroh Samiti is organising the first Padmabhusan Puspalata Das memorial lecture on May 3 from 2 pm at Sangeetacharja Lakhsiram Barua Sadan here.

Padmasree Dr Sheela Barthakur, president Suniti Sonowal, executive president Dr Sukha Barua, Jatin Hazarika, general secretary of Assam Sahitya Sabha and Dr Paramananda Rajbonshi will grace the occasion, stated a release. ASSAM TRIBUNE

Rift in UPA may affect poll outcome: PM

NEW DELHI, April 10 – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today conceded that the decision of some Congress allies to form a separate front could affect the electoral outcome and said the Left parties and the Third Front were ‘unwittingly’ helping the BJP, reports PTI. “I would like the Samajwadi Party and Lok Janshakti Party to work together (with Congress). This could affect the electoral outcome to some extent,” he told journalists of the Indian Women’s Press Corps at an interaction here.

Militants attack moving train in Assam, One dead

Haflong (Assam), Apr 10 (PTI) Militants attacked a moving train in Assam when they opened fire from a hilltop at the Badarpur-Lumding Barak Valley Express killing a CRPF man and critically injuring 14 passengers.

The attack was carried out by militants belonging to a group called Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel) ultras who used automatic weapons as the train left the Wadrengdisa station under Maibong police station, 60 km from here, in North Cachar hill district.

CRPF's Anil Tiwari, who was injured in the firing, died on the way to the hospital. The seriously injured passengers included three women.

The militants later escaped in nearby thick jungles.

Police reinforcements have been rushed from Haflong, the district headquarters and a manhunt launched to trace the militants.
PTI

Jamuguri police takes action against illicit liquor dens

CORRESPONDENT
JAMUGURIHAT, April 8 – Along with the licensed liquor shops, a large number of illicit liquor dens producing chulai are being having very profitable business in greater Jamugurihat area. Spurious liquor, from Arunachal Pradesh is not lagging behind in this respect. Taking advantage of the laxity of the excise department, old and young alike are wasting their lives. It is alleged that the excise department is raiding these dens periodically just to collect their regular contributions and doing precious little to stop the use of such wine. Naba Kumar Bora, who had joined recently as the officer in-charge, Jamuguri police station has taken initiative and interest in stopping this menace and has become successful to come extent, it is learnt.

Protest rally at Dhekiajuli over scribe killing

Correspondent
DHEKIAJULI, April 7 – Under the auspices of Dhekiajuli Press Club, a protest rally was held at Dhekiajuli on April 4 over the brutal killing of Anil Mazumdar, executive editor of Aji.

Defying the rainy weather several organisations including Dhekiajuli Sahitya Sabha, Bodo Sahitya Sabha, Koch Rajbongshi Chatra Santha, AASU, AYJCP, Dhekiajuli unit, Gorkha Chatra Santha, Bhojpuri Yuva-Chatra Parishad, Bengali Yuva-Chatra Parishad, AAASA, AATTSA, ABSU and members of the Dhekiajuli Press Club paraded the main roads of the town shouting slogans against Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Assam Police for their failure to nab the culprit. Pankaj Nath, general secretary, AAJU, also took part in the procession.

Later, a memorandum was submitted to the circle officer of Dhekiajuli addressed to the chief Minister. A protest meeting was also held at press club where Nirmal Das, president and Golok Bora, secretary, Dhekiajuli Press Club, Pankaj Nath. General secretary AAJU and Amit Banik of Bengali Yuva Chatra Parishad strongly criticised the apathy of the government and police and demanded security of journalists in the State.

PM to visit Assam for poll campaign

New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI) Notwithstanding bomb blasts in Assam today, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will undertake a visit there tomorrow to address a public meeting, marking his entry into the campaign trail.

Singh, who represents Assam in the Rajya Sabha, will address a public meeting in Dispur, PMO sources said.

He will also address a public meeting in Dibrugarh, about 400 kms from Guwahati.

At least seven people were killed and 61 others injured in two bomb blasts triggered by suspected ULFA militants in Maligaon area in Guwahati and Dhekiajuli near Tezpur.

The programme had been firmed up some time back and it remains unchanged, the sources said.

This is the first election meeting of Singh, who underwent a cardiac bypass surgery on January 24.

Singh, who has been projected as the Prime Ministerial candidate by the party, is also visiting Uttarakhand this week for campaigning.
PTI

killed, 62 injured in a spate of blasts in Assam

Guwahati, Apr 6 (PTI Terror struck Assam on the eve of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit when three blasts and a grenade attack rocked the state in the space of five hours today killing eight persons and injuring 62 with maximum casualties occuring in a crowded market in Maligaon here.

Singh is going ahead with his trip to the North-Eastern state tomorrow and will address public meetings in Dispur and in Dibrugarh as scheduled, PMO sources said in New Delhi. Singh represents Assam in the Rajya Sabha and the rallies mark his entry into the poll campaign trail.

The hand of militants from ULFA and another group is suspected for the spate of attacks which came a day before ULFA's 30th 'foundation day', police said.

Assam DGP G M Srivastav said seven people were killed and 56 injured when a powerful bomb blast went off in a crowded market in Maligaon in the state capital at around 2:00 pm. The explosion sparked a fire that set ablaze two cars and 20 motorcycles and spread to a three-storey building housing the area police station.

Six were killed at the blast site while one succumbed to injuries after jumping from an adjacent building which had caught fire. The bomb is suspected to have been hidden in a car or a motorcycle parked adjacent to the North-East Frontier railway headquarters.

"This is the handiwork of ULFA boys ahead of the outfit's 'Raising Day'," Srivastav said, adding the militants used hi-tech explosives.

In the evening around 7 PM, an unidentified youth lobbed a hand grenade at Mankachar police station in Dhubri district killing a police driver and injuring another.

Dhekiajuli in Northern Assam's Sonitpur district and Jengpha in Central Assam's Karci Anglong district were also hit by bomb explosions.
PTI

Rural healthcare in Tripura faces challenge

Correspondent
AGARTALA, April 5 – Despite efforts to improve healthcare facilities in rural areas, communicable diseases like meningitis, malaria and diarrhoea continue to haunt the tribal hamlets of Tripura.

According to official figures, as many as 58 tribal villagers died of meningitis, malaria and diarrhoea over the past three months. The deadly meningitis has so far claimed 46 lives in different parts of the State since January, this year, said Principal Secretary YP Singh. Altogether 170 meningitis patients are still receiving treatment in different government hospitals.

Failure to issue ceilings exposes red tape in Finance Department

GUWAHATI, April 1: Due to red tape in the Finance Department, to be specific, its Budget wing, many departments, contractors, school teachers and others have failed to get their funds on the last day of the financial year 2008-09. The Finance Department failed to issue ceilings of a number of departments, contractors and others on the last day of the fiscal 2008-09 yesterday. This incident has indeed punched holes in Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s tall claim on transparency in his administration. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is also the Finance Minister of the State.

Programme on pranayam held

GUWAHATI, April 1 – A 14-day programme on Surjya Namaskar and Pranayam was held in all Sankardev Sishu Vidya Niketans situated in and around greater Guwahati under the banner of Sishu Siksha Samiti, Assam. The closing ceremony of this programme was held at AEI playground, Chandmari, recently, said a press note.

The programme was inaugurated by Atulananda Goswami, president of Sishu Siksha Samiti, Assam. Inaugurating the programme, Goswami praised Vidya Bharati, the well-known national-level educational institution for the development of mental and spiritual well-being of the upcoming students.