North East India

36 killed in two road mishaps in Assam

2011-05-30T21:48:00.000-07:00

GUWAHATI/GOLAGHAT: Thirty-six people were killed and 17 others injured in two road mishaps in Assam where a bus carrying a marriage party fell into a pond and an oil tanker caught fire this morning.

31 passengers, including 12 women, were killed and six persons critically injured when a bus carrying a marriage party fell into a pond in Kamrup (Rural) district last night.

The bus travelling from Guwahati to Dihu in Rangia sub-division of the district, fell into the 40 ft deep pond at Rajabari when a wooden bridge it was crossing gave in.

Among the killed were the bridegroom Naba Kumar Sarma, his parents and friends. Three children were also among the victims, police said.

Six passengers were rescued and admitted to Mukundo Kakoti Civil hospital in neighbouring Nalbari district, the police said.

toi

Rongali Bihu celebrations in Assam

2011-04-15T05:10:00.000-07:00

STAFF WRITER 17:2 HRS IST

Guwahati, Apr 15 (PTI) Mellifluous voice of the cuckoo, lilting Bihu songs and enchanting notes of flutes and buffalo horns heralded the spring festival of Rongali Bihu as Assam welcomed the new year with traditional gaiety today.

Replacing the strident cacophonous campaigning for the assembly elections that ended on April 11, the joyous Bihu songs with lyrics of youthful love played to the background as young men and women danced merrily.

Bihu pandals were seen at many places where cultural programmes will be held throughout the Assamese Bohag month.

Beginning with Goru Bihu yesterday when the cattle of the household were given a ceremonial bath at the village river or tank, this agrarian festival marks the new year today for the state.

75% turnout in Assam first phase poll

2011-04-04T21:52:00.000-07:00

GUWAHATI: An estimated 75% voters today exercised their franchise in the first phase of the Assam assembly election covering 62 of the 126 constituencies, which was by and large peaceful.

"The figure is likely to cross 75% as reports from remote areas are still coming in", Additional Chief Electoral Officer M C Sahu said.

Deputy Election Commissioner Alok Shukla told reporters in New Delhi that polling was "very, very peaceful today. No major incident of violence has taken place".

Today's poll in Assam marked the start of the democratic exercise that will also cover Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and Puducherry in April and May. While Assam will have two-phased poll, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry in one phase and West Bengal in six phases ending on May 10. The vote count is scheduled for May 13.

Polling was brisk and peaceful and by late afternoon the turnout figure was about 65% which is likely to increase and touch 75%, he said.

Polling personnel are yet to return from remote booths and then only the exact figure could be ascertained, he said.

Sahu said the election was by and large peaceful and there was one incident of clash between the polling agent of a political party and voters in a polling both in Karimganj constituency where polling was stopped for sometime.

"The matter has been reported to the Election Commission which will take a final decision and let us know", he said.

There are 85,09,011 voters in the first phase of polling while the second phase of election for the rest 64 constituencies will be held on April 11.

A report from Jeraigaon said the mother of absconding top Ulfa leader Paresh Baruah, who is opposed to peace talks with the government, cast her vote in Assam's Dibrugarh district today saying she had always reposed faith in democracy.

Her youngest son Bikul Baruah, a school teacher, with whom she lived, was on election duty as a polling officer. Her two older sons Bimal Baruah, an employee at the Army's supply depot at Panitola, and Pradip Baruah, also an armyman, voted along with five family members.

A report from Sibsagar/Dibrugarh said overground cadres of Ulfa will not exercise their franchise in Assam assembly polls though arrangements for postal ballots for them has been made by the Election Commission.

Ulfa Vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi told PTI that the outfit had already announced that it would boycott the polls but not disturb the poll process.

Shulka said there were a couple of minor incidents like a clash between supporters of two parties assaulted a polling personnel by some voters at a polling station where polling was interrupted.

In a polling station, the polling official did not press the button in the EVM leading to some discrepancy in the voting and polling was boycotted in some polling booths on developmental issues, Shukla said.

A decision on repolling in some of the polling stations after getting reports from the polling parties, he said.

TOI

EC grip keeps West Bengal peaceful

2011-03-29T05:03:00.000-07:00

The Election Commission bosses in New Delhi are maintaining a 'dawn to dawn' vigil on the law and order situation in Bengal with direct and daily liaison with the district administration, driving down the graph of political violence in the districts. EC is directly keeping a tab on the districts, through the chief electoral officer of the state. Reports are being sent from 6 am to 6 am for a period of 24 hours, daily to the EC office.

"We seek reports from each district of Bengal everyday. We have a detailed format, which records the smallest of incidents, apart from arms haul and executing non-bailable warrants. We are also keeping a watch on media reports on a daily basis," Vinod Zutshi, deputy chief election commissioner told HT over phone from Delhi.

EC's grip on the situation has come as a pleasant surprise in a state that was sliding down the violence graph fast in 2010 with a few deaths everyday from political violence.

In fact, the spectre of a blood bath before and during the elections was so widely felt that blood banks were advised to store blood in excess so that they could be used before and during the polls.

The turnaround has been so dramatic that the chief election commissioner S Y Quraishi lauded the administration on March 23 for the performance.

In early January Quraishi had met all the DMs and SPs and highlighted three points for emphasis – seizure of illegal weapons, preventive arrests and execution of non-bailable arrest warrants.

"Through sustained pressure EC has been able to instill a sense of fear among the political parties and administration for the first time in Bengal," said a bureacucrat in Writers' Buildings.

Already 200 companies (about 20,000) of central paramilitary forces were deployed in West Bengal more than a month ago. In January while the administration asked for about 20-25 companies, the EC ordered 100, and then added another 100 in the next month.

One such confidential report in the possession of HT highlights the details. The report of March 2, of Burdwan district report details the illegal arms and explosive seized, number of persons under preventive detention, execution of non-bailable warrants and the number pending.

The report also highlights incident of violence with full details. Each incident of violence in dealt in separate sheets. Even whether onlookers or others are injured has been recorded. Significantly, political and communal affiliations of the persons involved are also highlighted.

"EC officials are taking to tasks anyone, be it DM or SP if ones fails to carry out its directives. On regular occasions, a number of them have been pulled up. The Delhi officers are often getting directly in touch with us," said a police super of one of the South Bengal districts.

Recently, the Gautam Mohan Chakrabarti, Kolkata Police Commissioner was removed, after EC pointed out that he has spent over three years in the same post.

Before EC took the law and order situation in its grip, even Governor M K Narayanan had repeatedly expressed his concern for the deteriorating law and order.

ht

Land acquisition policy to be formulated: Mamata

2011-03-29T05:02:00.000-07:00

Kolkata: Confident of coming to power in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Saturday assured people to accord priority on setting up a land bank and formulating a separate land acquisition policy of the state till a national policy was framed replacing the existing Land Acquisition Act.

"We must set up a land bank and land acquisition policy of the state's own until a national policy is framed replacing the existing Land Acquisition Act," Mamata said in an interview to a local TV channel.

Speaking against forceful acquisition of land, Mamata said the Left Front government had failed to formulate its own land policy, unlike many other states.

Land acquisition policy to be formulated: Mamata

"The existing Land Acquisition Act is draconian. We have to wait till a new legislation comes replacing the existing one," she said.

Besides land bank, Mamata was also confident of setting up employment bank to create opportunities for the unemployed youth.

"For me agriculture is an inspiration and industry is a thrust with both dependent on each other," Mamata said.

To a question about a large number of political prisoners in the state, Mamata said she would review each and every case and take the help of Human Rights

organisations, if required, to initiate right steps on this issue.

Asserting the state should progress in every sphere, Mamata said that a 'knowledge mission' in Bengal is most essential for the development of the state, which have lost its growth momentum during LF regime.

Underscoring more power and prestige for the minorities, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and refugees, Mamata was confident of building a developed state with the participation of a cross section of people.

Though she nominated a sizable number of women as candidates for the upcoming Assembly poll in the state, Mamata described herself as "neutral" and "not a feminist".

"I am not a feminist, I am neutral", she said. Setting aside the ruling party slogan for "improved Left Front", she referred to LF government's "moribund financial condition."

Once in power, her government would first identify how funds of over two lakh crore were misused and the state turned into a bankrupt one, the TMC chief said.

"We will then take our own decision to make a turnaround in state's economy," she said, adding "discipline and work culture has to be restored for a true environment for development".

Mamata alleged that CPM and BJP have entered into a secret deal in a bid to defeat her candidates.

"They (CPM and BJP) have identified 18 constituencies including those in the border district of North 24 Paraganas in a bid to defeat the TMC," she said.

"As part of the understanding, BJP will campaign that they are the champions of Hindutva in a bid to woo the Hindus," she said.

Turning her guns on the Marxists, she said Karl Marx used to champion the cause of the have-nots. But the CPM here has been torturing the have-nots.

She claimed the CPM has been able to cling to power by resorting to 'scientific rigging' in previous assembly polls, but this time they would not succeed.

Mamata said the fact that a majority of CPM MLAs did not opt to contest this time was an expression of no-confidence to the party in power before the elections.

The TMC chief said those who did not want change, would vote for the Left. "But no vote should be wasted."

On the rebel Congress leaders threatening to contest as Independents, she said, "They are the like cuckoos who appear in spring and contest as independents when elections come just to help CPM."

Mamata entered into a seat-sharing deal with Congress on her terms, leaving Congress 65 seats out of the total 294 to Congress. But the release of the list of Congress candidates by the party high command in Delhi yesterday sparked dissent in the state Congress.

Shankar Singh, Congress district president of Nadia, has threatened to put up candidates in all 17 seats in the district against TMC candidates while Congress MP and Murshidabad district chief Adhir Chowdhury said he would not campaign for TMC candidates.

5 IPS, 2 IAS officers transferred in West Bengal

2011-03-29T04:59:00.002-07:00

Kolkata: Five IPS and two IAS officers in poll-bound West Bengal were transferred on the direction of the Election Commission, chief secretary Samar Ghosh said here on Monday. The transfer orders came 10 days after Kolkata Police Commissioner Gautam Mohan Chakraborty was removed on a similar EC direction.

An official source said Vineet Goel, Joint Commissioner of Traffic Police, Kolkata, was appointed DIG (Midnapore range) in place of Anil Kumar. Neeraj Kumar Singh, Joint Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, was appointed as DIG (Murshidabad range). The post was so long lying vacant.

K Jayaraman will replace Ajit Sarkar as Superintendent of Police, East Midnapore district, the source said. Ritesh Mohan was appointed Divisional Commissioner of Burdwan, while Pramal Kumar Samanta, District Magistrate of

Malda will be replaced by Rajesh Sinha.

5 IPS, 2 IAS officers transferred in West Bengal

The state will have a six-phase poll between April 18 and May 7.

ibn

New faces in Bengal candidate lists mark a departure

2011-03-29T04:59:00.001-07:00

KOLKATA: Political parties bracing for the crucial April-May Assembly polls in West Bengal have put up a number of new faces, marking a departure after many years in the composition of candidate lists.

The ruling Left Front, facing its toughest battle since 1977 when it came to power, leads the pack by injecting fresh blood in almost half of the total 294 constituencies, throwing out some prominent, but tainted names.

Veteran Left Front leader and general secretary of the state Forward Bloc Ashok Ghosh told PTI that some ministers against whom there was public resentment on account of their non-performance have been dropped.

''Similarly, some sitting MLAs of the Left Front and leaders against whom there were complaints of high-handedness, the opportunists and those who worked for personal aggrandisement at people's back were denied nomination,'' Ghosh said.

Ghosh, the senior most leader in the Left Front, however, pointed out that in some cases legislators faced with old age and health complications have been replaced by fresh blood.

CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat said recently the broad rule was that those who had two terms in the Assembly would not be put up again.

But, exceptions were made in the cases of Chief Ministers of West Bengal and Kerala Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and V S Achuthanandan respectively, taking into account their vast experience in running state governments.

The Left list has 149 new faces including Fuad Halim, son of outgoing Speaker Hasim Abdul Halim, in the prestigious Ballygunge constituency, and 25-year-old Shatarup Ghosh in Kasba constituency who is the Left front's youngest candidate.

As many as nine ministers, including four junior ministers, are among the 80 sitting MLAs who have been dropped from the candidate list. Of them, Forward Bloc's Rabindranath Ghosh and CPI`s Nandagopal Bhattacharjee have been denied tickets because of ill-health.

While senior CPI-M minister Partha De from Bankura volunteered to skip the polls, Tourism Minister Manab Mukherjee relinquished his claim on Beliaghata to make way for Anadi Sahu, the Labour Minister.

The changes are expected to blunt the sting of the opposition parties' campaign on the so-called lavish lifestyle of ruling Marxists, Left Front insiders said.

The Left Front introduced new faces in most of the 14 seats in Maoist-hit Jangalmahal. Controversial faces like former Haldia strongman Laxman Seth, Lagandeo Singh from Howrah and Majid Ali from Sashan in North 24-Parganas district were dropped.

By injecting new blood in 149 Assembly seats, the Left Front has conceded a moral defeat to the Trinamool Congress well before the coming Assembly polls, Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly and senior TMC leader Partha Chatterjee said .

The Trinamool Congress candidate list also contains not only new, but also exciting faces like FICCI Secretary General Amit Mitra, former chief secretary Manish Gupta, two former IPS officers Rachpal Singh and Sultan Singh as well as seasoned politicians like Subrata Mukherjee, ex-city mayor, and present mayor Sovan Chatterjee.

''Our list has more than 100 new faces. The idea is to infuse new blood,'' Trinamool Congress General Secretary Mukul Roy said.

Interestingly, Mukul Roy's son Subhrangsu Roy, a graduate in electrical engineering, is also in the fray.

The Trinamool Congress is contesting in 226 seats leaving 65 seats to its ally Congress, two to SUCI and one to NCP.

Another Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy said, ''People want to see fresh faces who are not tainted by politics. Accordingly, Mamata has brought in people who are new to politics, but otherwise established leaders in different walks of life.''

Making a comparison between the Left Front and the Trinamool Congress, Roy, who is the Union Minister of state for Urban Development said, ''Left Front's new faces are merely new faces having no identities except for their inclination to Leftist ideology.''

''The promise of 'Parivartan' or change for the better was reflected in the ideas of Mamata Banerjee and the list of candidates selected by Trinamool Congress had amply borne this out,'' Derek O'Brien, vice president of Trinamool Congress, and a well-known host of quiz shows, told PTI.

''I am delighted to be a soldier of change led by Mamata Banerjee. It will be a historic moment when Mamata becomes chief minister of West Bengal,'' said Mitra who is pitted against Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta in the Khardah assembly constituency.

Manish Gupta, who has been fielded in the Jadavpur seat against West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, was the Chief Secretary to both the late CPI-M leader Jyoti Basu and Bhattacherjee. He retired in 2001.

Three other former IPS officers - Abani Joardar, H A Safwi and former CBI Joint Director Upen Biswas - are also among the new faces in the Trinamool list besides Nure Alam Chowdhury, a former judge of Calcutta High Court and playwright Bratya Basu.

The state Congress Chief Manas Bhuniya said its candidate list contained 36 new faces.

''In 36 out of the 65 seats we are contesting, there are new faces,'' Bhuniya said.

toi

Manipur ex-Dy Speaker, 2 others acquitted

2011-03-29T04:58:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI, March 28 – The concept of eco-tourism which has found favour especially with the enterprising youth of the State is gradually changing rural economy, with many educated boys and girls getting involved with such tourism projects.

As this concept has been gaining ground, it has popularised ideas such as eco picnics, eco excursions etc amongst the nature lovers and students and to further propel ecotourism in the State, the Ecotourism Society of Northeast India has come up with a project of eco excursion for educational institutions of the region.

It needs to be mentioned here that another group of dedicated youths under the banner of Wave Ecotourism has been organising eco picnics for students regularly. As part of such eco picnic, the students learn to respond to nature and act as her sentinel.

According to functionaries of Ecotourism Society of Northeast India, the decision to launch eco excursions was taken in the backdrop of lack of exposure of the students to the rich treasures of the region.

“The times have changed. Gone are the days when excursions were just a fun outing. Now excursions are learning oriented, to understand the world around us, to find out the unexplored,” said Gautam Dutta, president of the society.

Dutta added that such eco excursion would introduce the young generation to the unexplored nooks and corner of their region and would go a long way in boosting the eco tourism efforts.

The main objectives of the eco excursions will be to highlight the eco tourism resources of North East India among the young generation, to create awareness among the students and motivate them towards the tourism industry.

Some of the destinations on such eco excursions will be Dibru Saikhowa National Park, Sivasagar, Tawang, Bomdilla, Bhalukpong, Manas National Park, Kaziranga National Park etc, informed Dutta.

asssam tribune

Manipur ex-Dy Speaker, 2 others acquitted

2011-03-29T04:57:00.003-07:00

NEW DELHI, March 28 – In an embarrassment to the Delhi Police and intelligence agencies, a Delhi Court has acquitted former Deputy Speaker of Manipur Assembly T Shaymkumar Singh and two others of charges of being involved in terror acts.

Additional Sessions Judge Satinder Kumar Gautam acquitted the three, who had been charged with various stringent provisions under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

He, however, convicted the two Manipuri youths, arrested along with the former Deputy Speaker in 2006, on charges of impersonation and carrying fake identity cards.

While convicting the two youths, who claimed to be human right activists, the court, however, freed them on March 18, setting off their sentences against the period of their detention in Tihar Jail.

The two had been languishing in Tihar jail since October 2006 after their arrest along with Singh outside the Indira Gandhi International Airport by the Delhi Police on a tip off by the Intelligence Bureau, which suspected them to be members of outlawed United National Liberation Front (UNLF).

Singh, who had been able to secure bail during his trial, was Deputy Speaker of Manipur Assembly between August 2007 and April 2009.

“The prosecution has been able to prove only the charges (of impersonation) under section 419 of Indian Penal Code against accused MJK Singh and PG Singh (the two Manipuri youths),” the court said.

It said, “Rest of the (terror-related) charges against accused TSK Singh, MJK Singh and P G Singh have not been proved beyond all reasonable doubts since the testimony of prosecution witnesses did not inspire confidence to bring home the guilt of the accused persons as per charges framed.

“The testimony of prosecution witnesses does not reflect with the frame-work of the administration of criminal law and justice delivery system. The testimony of prosecution witnesses in cross-examination have created several dents which reflect the manner in which the investigation has been conducted as their testimony failed to inspire confidence to the judicial scrutiny,” the court said.

It noted that only the identity cards recovered from the two youths were found to be fake.

In its order, the court, on basis of depositions by various prosecution witnesses, came to the conclusion that the three Manipuris had been arrested by the Delhi Police on the basis of a tip off from the Intelligence Bureau.

“Prosecution witness Ravinder Kumar Tyagi (a police officer) has admitted in his statement that during the probe, he came to know that accused Singh is a politician, contractor and social worker and he contested the Assembly election,” the court said.

It said, “In his cross-examination, Tyagi admitted that Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma (who arrested the three), has briefed them about the information received from the Intelligence Agency.”

Though the police had also booked them for allegedly colluding in their terror activities, the court found out that two other persons arrested by the police never knew the third and they could never hatch any criminal conspiracy jointly.

“So far as charge under section of 120 B of the IPC (criminal conspiracy) is concerned, the two accused persons did not know the third accused before the arrest and there is no prior meeting of mind,” the court said.

The court acquitted the three of the terror charges on the basis of its findings during the cross- examination of Special Cell’s Assistant Commissioner of Police Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, who had investigated the case.

“ACP Yadav specifically stated in cross-examination that no evidence could be collected against Singh to the effect that he was trying to help the two high ranking member of banned organisation UNLF to established their base in Delhi,” the court said.

“He further admitted that no separate evidence could be collected regarding harbouring of two other accused by T Shyamkumar Singh. There is no evidence on record to show that the accused persons had any intention set up to base camp at Delhi. – PTI

ASU adviser takes Govt to task over mega dams

2011-03-29T04:57:00.001-07:00

Correspondent

JAMUGURIHAT, March 28 – Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya, adviser of AASU and president of the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), has vehemently criticised the role played by the State Government on the issue of mega dams.

The AASU adviser’s reaction came at a press conference held at the Swahid Bhavan here recently after completion of the Jeevan Raksha Yatra. The press conference was attended by Anowar Ahmed, president of the Sonitpur AJU, Golap Kalita, president of the Jamuguri Press Club and other print and electronic media correspondents of the locality.

In order to generate awareness and protest against construction of mega dams, 26 ethnic organisations including the AASU and TMPK (Takam Mising Poring Kebang: All Mising Students’ Union) had organised the Jeevan Raksha Yatra and volunteers of the districts units of Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Sonitpur had taken out a huge bike rally from Jonai on the occasion.

The rally was attended by more than 200 motorcyclists led by Tolaram Gogoi, finance secretary of AASU, Arnold Taye, cultural secretary of AASU and Mahanta Doley, president of the Dhemaji unit of the TMPK. The motocyclists traversed 330 kilometres, resting at Gogamukh and Gohpur before reaching Jamugurihat. They were welcomed by people on their way.

In the meeting organised on the occasion in front of the Swahid Bhavan here which was conducted by Duldul Borkataky, central member of the AASU in the presence of vice president and organiser AASU, Tolaram Gogoi explained the aims and objectives of the Jeevan Raksha Yatra. Bhattacharya, participating as the speaker, said that the Central Government during the last 60 years had hardly given anything except politically neglecting and economically depriving the people of Assam.

Against the advice of the experts, the work on the mega dam in Lower Subansiri has been going on in full swing and another mega dam is in the offing in the Kameng river (Jiabharali) which will bring untold miseries to the people of Sonitpur like the one at Lakhimpur by Ranganadi mega dam, he said.

He also pointed out that through the Power Grid Corporation, a deep-rooted conspiracy had been hatched by the Central Government to take away electric power from Assam to North India, which must be objected to by the people of Assam. He cited the example of torture and reign of terror on the peaceful protesters of Assam such as the arrest and humiliation of Mohendra Hazarika, central member and district organiser of the Asom Sena and Dharmendra Nath, elder brother of Abhijit Nath, district general secretary of the AASU by police on fake charges and condemned such atrocities in the strongest terms.

He also appealed to the people to organise mass movements against mega dams and construction of electric towers in the collective interest of the people of Assam.

IIMC soon in Aizawl

2011-03-29T04:56:00.001-07:00

Newmai News

AIZAWL, March 28 – The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) will soon make its present felt in Mizoram when at least one course of study commences in July - August this year.

This was stated by Sunil Tandon, Director General of IIMC, New Delhi when he called on Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla at his bungalow in Aizawl a couple of days back.

Sunil Tandon at the outset, applauded the Mizoram chief minister for his initiative in setting up IIMC Campus in Aizawl and extended happiness for his cordial cooperation at all levels with the Institute. Tandon apprised Lal Thahawla that the campus would require at least 10 acres of land for the setting up of the Institute in Aizawl adding that he had identified a suitable plot of land for the purpose. Tandon also stated that Aizawl will be one of the eigth All India Entrance Test Centres across the country, which he said, will be conducting the test on May 24 this year.

Lal Thanhawla on his part informed him that the Mizoram government steps up all out effort in hastening the establishment of the Institute in Aizawl.

To ensure the speedy setting up of the institute and accelerate the pace of progress, New Delhi has appointed L.R.Sailo, a retired I&PR Director who is currently the Press Secretary to Chief Minister as “Special Officer’ to undertake all essential for the purpose.

It may be recalled that it was Ambika Soni, Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting who had given a nod to go ahead with the institute at the request of Lal Thanhawla.

asssamtribune

Meghalaya okays environment schemes

2011-03-29T04:55:00.000-07:00

Correspondent

SHILLONG, March 28 – Exhibiting concern for environment, the Cabinet today approved implementation of several new schemes in Meghalaya, including the much-talked about Integrated Basin Development and livelihood (IBD&L) programme.

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said after the Cabinet meeting that an initial amount of Rs 15 crore has been earmarked for the IBD&L programme. Moreover, another ten crore has been earmarked for two other new programmes.

The IBD&L, he said, would help replenish the depleting ground water level, protect catchment areas and also integrate various development programmes for people living near water basins.

“Various agriculture, horticulture, tourism programmes would be introduced for people living near water basins and steps would be taken to protect the environment together with the stakeholders,” Sangma said. The IBD&L programme would be directly supervised by Sangma himself with the Chief Secretary, WMS Pariat and other ministers to assist him.

The Cabinet also approved the formation of Meghalaya Water Resource Agency that would help convergence of various State departments having linkages with water resource.

The agency would look into aspects of providing clean safe drinking water, protection of forest, issues related with industries and their effect on water bodies and similar other matters. Sangma said the government has set aside an initial fund of Rs 5 crore for the new agency.

The Cabinet also framed rules for enactment of the Meghalaya Cement Cess Act, 2010 that would eventually pave the way for collecting cess of Rs 20 per metric ton. The state government is likely to generate an additional Rs 12 crore annually from the cess.

“The Cement cess Act was there. Now the Cabinet approved rules to enact the Act so that cess can be levied on cement,” Sangma said. The annually cement production in the state is about six million metric ton.

Creation of Meghalaya Institute of Entrepreneurship (MIE) and Meghalaya Institute of Governance (MIG) was also approved by the Cabinet with an initial fund allotment of Rs. five crore each.

MIE would study employability of youth in the state and introduce new training and counselling programmes, while MIG would provide training to government officials to plug loopholes for better implementation of government programmes.

asssam tribune

48 pc rise in tiger population in NE

2011-03-29T04:54:00.000-07:00

NEW DELHI, March 28 – The rate of increase in the population of tiger in the North-east has surpassed the national estimate, with the region marking a 48 per cent increase against the all India average of 12 per cent. Population of the big cat has reached 143 in Assam, while in the rest of the North Eastern States, the population has remained stable.

The tiger population in the country has risen to 1706 compared to 1411 in 2006 – a 12 pc increase that excludes the big cats of Sundarbans, the latest Tiger Census said.

In comparison, the tiger population in the hills of North-east and Brahmaputra Flood Plains has increased to 148 from 100 recorded in 2006. Tiger Census is held every four years.

Thanks to the conservation efforts, the population has marked an increasing trend in Assam. Mizoram, the population of the endangered species has remained stable. Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh are the two States where the population of tigers has decreased.

According to the latest estimate, the total area occupied by tigers in Assam has increased to 2206 sq km from 1164 sq km in 2006. In Mizoram, the population of the big cat has remained stable at five, while there was no data available for Arunachal Pradesh.

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, however, waved the red flag, pointing out that the tiger population in the North-east was a matter of concern, while nationwide the over-all scenario was grim. In Assam, the famous Manas National Park has poor tiger density, the Minister said.

Ramesh was releasing the All India Tiger Estimation Exercise for 2010 here this afternoon in presence of Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Union Minister for Water Resources, Salman Khursid.

The census was released at the inaugural session of the three-day International Tiger Conference on Monday. The international conference on tiger conservation and global workshop on implementation of the Global Tiger Recovery Program (GTRP) is being addressed by vice president of World Bank, Isabel Guerrero, besides MP, former chairman of the Task Force for creating Project Tiger, Dr. Karan Singh.

The Minister further said that hydropower and irrigation projects posed a major threat to tiger conservation. He cited the example of hydropower projects in Bhutan, which have impacted tiger corridors in India.

Referring to Arunachal Pradesh, the Minister underlined the need to protect the biodiversity in the State, where maximum number of hydropower projects are coming up.

Earlier, releasing the ‘India Tiger Estimate 2010’ Jairam Ramesh said “the mid-point range” of tigers in the country is 1706. The previous census in 2006 did not cover Sundarbans

“This figure at 1636 is a 12 per cent increase of 1411 and is welcome news,” Ramesh said, admitting that there have been higher than normal tiger mortality figures in 2009 and 2010.

“The most positive news has been reported from Naxal-affected Nagarjuna Sagar Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradesh. We have estimated the number of tigers there to be 60,” the Minister said.

There is positive news from other Naxal-affected reserves including Indravati (Chattisgarh), Simlipal (Orissa), Valmiki (Bihar), Palamau (Jharkhand), he said.

India currently has 39 tiger reserves, representing around one-third of the country’s high density forest area.

The new finding of the 2010 National Tiger Assessment is that most of tiger source sites continue to maintain viable tiger population. There was evidence of new areas populated by tigers like Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary and Shivpuri National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

The assessment also points out that the area occupied by tigers outside protected areas has gone down considerably, highlighting the need for securing corridors for tigers to move between source sites.

assam tribune

New technology dominates poll campaign

2011-03-26T02:51:00.001-07:00

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, March 25 – A far cry from the days of wall writings and banners, poll campaigning in Assam this year is all set to piggy back on technology. Not just in urban areas, major political parties will spend time, effort, and money to influence voters through cell phones, internet, along with audio and video CDs even in rural hinterlands.

Penetration of electronic communication tools to the remote corners of the region is among the determining factors for the new trend.

A source in the Congress party mentioned that the reliance on technology will prove cost effective to reach out to a large number of people simultaneously. Plans are afoot to highlight the positive developments of the Tarun Gogoi led Government in varied formats suitable to different media.

The party is also contemplating whether to launch an sms campaign to reach out to young voters, and emails could be the other format that can be used in the run up to the elections.

Always willing to embrace technology to promote the party’s poll promise since the time of late Pramod Mahajan, the BJP too is planning to use technology to its advantage in Assam.

Party campaigners in the State while admitting the power of public meetings and person to person contact during campaigning said that professional media managers might be consulted in shaping its campaign strategy.

Amal Das, a supporter of AGP said that the regional party should seriously consider the use of sms and emails in carrying out a sustained campaign. He believes that it would save the party a lot of time in spreading its reach among the young voters who are tech savvy.

All the parties, however, are wary that the messages generated do not violate the strict code of conduct in any way, and which will create a boomerang effect.

Audio and VDO CDs with direct or oblique political messages are also being planned by parties as well as a few independent candidates. It would bring a windfall to local singers and composers, who are already getting ready for Rongali Bihu programmes.

assam tribuene

NSCN-K no to exploration in Nagaland oil field

2011-03-26T02:50:00.003-07:00

Correspondent

DIMAPUR, March 25 – Stating that all mineral reserves in Naga homeland belong to the Naga people, the NSCN-K has asked Indian or foreign companies be it Canoro, Spice Jet or any other company who have expressed desire to explore and extract crude oil from Champang oil field under Lotha region to halt all preparations immediately as it does not recognize any MoU between parties for exploration at the oil field.

In a release issued by its MIP, the NSCN-K said it will consider extraction of crude oil only if the interested company agrees to first install and run oil refinery in Nagaland, in which case at least a thousand jobs to Naga could be assured.

Any extraction of natural resources by any company in Naga soil will have to be done only if it benefits the people and future Naga generations, it said.

The outfit said no politician or group of the day has any right to grant permission to exploration companies to extract wealth of the Nagas.

Further, stating that exploration and transportation of crude oil from Nagaland to other States is unacceptable as that would mean zero employment opportunity for Naga youth, the release said a wealth for hundred years will not be allowed to run dry in ten years.

The NSCN-K further asserted it will strictly ensure that the national wealth of the Nagas is preserved.

Trinamool Cong final list released

2011-03-26T02:50:00.001-07:00

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, March 25 – The Assam Pradesh Trinamool Congress today released the final list of 14 candidates for the phase-II Assembly elections. The party also announced that the official candidates for Bilasipara West Constituency (constituency No. 26) would be Hatem Ali Choudhury, and for Lumding (constituency No. 92) the new official candidate would be Uma Bhowmick.

K D Singh, TMC Rajya Sabha MP and in-charge of the north-eastern States, while releasing the final list, said, “It is indeed a sad story that the red-tapist administrative system is so strong that often, the poor find it hard even to voice their grievances, let alone having any hope of solutions or justice. The fundamental rights that were guaranteed to every Indian citizen in the Constitution are being routinely and callously denied to those who need it most.”

‘For the People, By the People, of the People’ is a basic directive of the Indian Constitution. But with the passage of time, selfish interests took over and created circumstances and systems that are anti-poor and anti-underprivileged. Today a large number of people live below the poverty line and face hunger and starvation. Those who lack food to feed their children, scorn the talk of other ‘basic’ rights. It seems nobody has compassion and empathy for the poor any more, and all privileged sections are bent upon keeping the status quo, forcing these hapless masses to a life of inhuman slavery,” he said.

“The educated youth of the poor live a destitute life in the face of continued unemployment and poverty, and are forced to return to the lowest form of physical labour, which is so unfortunate,” Singh rued.

Himanta files papers from Jalukbari

2011-03-26T02:49:00.001-07:00

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, March 25 – State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today filed his nomination as a Congress candidate from Jalukbari constituency for the ensuing Assembly election in the State.

Sarma filed his nomination around noon in the office of the Returning Officer located in the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (Metro).

Prior to filing of nomination, thousands of supporters took part in a procession shouting pro-Congress slogans near Latasil playground which led to traffic snarls in the locality for hours.

The supporters also entered into a scuffle with some of the policemen regulating the vehicular traffic.

The political processions taken out prior to filing of nominations have been compounding the woes of the commuters for the last few days with movement of vehicles coming to a standstill for hours.

This has not gone down well with the citizens who feel that the politicians have no right to disrupt the people’s routine for the sake of showing their political strength before the polls.

assam tribune

Exhibition at State Art Gallery

2011-03-26T02:48:00.002-07:00

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, March 25 – The yearning of the child for a clean and idyllic environment was clear and loud at the ongoing exhibition of painting, sculpture and handicrafts at the State Art Gallery here organised by Shilpa Sadhana Chitrakala Vidyalaya. The six-day exhibition, which will conclude on March 26, has many paintings by artists as young as 6 and so on showcasing rural background and life revolving around it.

These paintings depict the greenery of a village far away from the hustle and bustle of city life, the simple rustic folks who go about their work in a leisurely manner and the birds and animals that bond with human beings.

A visitor to the exhibition Nitali Rajkhowa, who is also a teacher and presently a resident of the capital city, said that it is common for most of the children to express the longing for a green environment. “My child is very happy when he visits his grandparents in Upper Assam. He enjoys running on the narrow tracks in the tea gardens. I think the desire to breathe in a clean and green environment is inherent in a child,” she said.

A teacher of the art school Doree Devi said that young students despite being born and brought up in the capital city express the longing for a rural surrounding in their paintings. “All the works of our students exhibited here reflect their originality of ideas. We did not give them any hint on the thematic front,” said Devi adding that the exhibition has been an exposure for the young artists. For the first time, the school has organized an exhibition in the State Art Gallery.

It needs to be mentioned here that apart from the young artists, the exhibition also has works of citizens from various background. Right from housewives to astrologer and lawyer, all the participants have one common interest–that is utilize their spare time in creative works.
assam tribue

EC takes stock of security scene

2011-03-26T02:48:00.001-07:00

NEW DELHI, March 25 — The Election Commission (EC) today discussed sealing of borders and deployment of forces with the officials of Assam and West Bengal and their neighbouring States.

The meeting attended by Chief Secretaries and Director General of Police fine tuned the security related matters ahead of the Assembly Polls. Assam Government was represented by Chief Secretary Naba Kumar Das, Director General of Police, Shankar Barua, and CEO Hemanta Narzary among others.

The neighbouring States of Assam including Meghalaya, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram were represented by their DGPs. The meeting was also joined by DGs of Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, all neighbouring West Bengal, besides officials of the Home Ministry.

The meeting also took stock of the internal security situation and detention of wanted criminals. The possible threats from militant outfits including ULFA, NDFB and Left Wing extremists (LWEs) were also discussed, sources said.

With the campaign for the first phase gathering momentum, deployment of Central Para-military Forces, despatched for election duty was worked out, said sources.

ULFA calls strike against PM's Assam visit

2011-03-26T02:43:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI: The Paresh Baruah faction of ULFA has called a 12-hour Assam bandh this Monday to protest the visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to campaign in Assam for the Assembly polls.

The prime minister has "failed" to keep his written promise to discuss all the core issues for political solution of the Assam-India conflict, the outfit said in an e-mail to the media.

Accusing Dr Singh of "being the prime minister after acquiring his Assam residency documents without following rules", the ULFA alleged, "under his leadership a new conspiracy has been hatched to divide Assam and make the Assamese community extinct".

"Dr Singh has divided the ULFA to destroy the organisation," also asserted the e-mail signed by ULFA central publicity wing convener Arunudoy Dehotia.

The underground group also threatened to call such strikes even when other central ministers or leaders from any political parties come here as "colonial India has sown the seed of divisiveness among the indigenous people of Assam and the North-East region to continue its domination here".

"Till the rights of the indigenous people here is established, such bandh calls will continue," the ULFA warned.

Gauhati Law Reports goes online

2011-03-21T06:52:00.001-07:00

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, March 20 – Gauhati Law Reports, a 30-year-old law journal from the North-east, went online on the occasion of its pearl jubilee celebration recently.

The occasion was graced by a confluence of legal luminaries, including Justice Dalveer Bhandari of the Supreme Court, who launched the online edition of the journal.

Lauding the efforts of the team of Gauhati Law Reports, Justice Bhandari said that it required Herculean effort to regularly bring out a law journal that is characterized by accuracy of facts, quality

of presentation and timely publication.

He added that going online is another milestone in the journey of the law journal.

In a seminar organized on the occasion, there was a unanimous call from the legal experts for a judiciary closer to the hearts of people.

Speaking in a deliberation on the topic ‘Good governance-need for a change in approach of judiciary’, Justice Bhandari stated that the huge arrears in courts at all levels had become a major hurdle in the way of justice delivery system.

Justice Amitava Roy of Gauhati High Court, taking part in the deliberations, said that judiciary had a key role to play to keep under check the self-serving nature of man that often induces misuse of State power for personal gain.

Justice IA Ansari of Gauhati High Court said that justice delivery system was not only meant for maintaining law and order but also to ensure good governance in a welfare State, a press statement mentioned.

assam tribune

Super bugs threaten to eat into vitals of tea industry

2011-03-21T06:50:00.000-07:00

Ajit Patowary

GUWAHATI, March 20 – As if taking a leaf out of a science fiction novel, some bugs are transforming themselves into super bugs, thereby making the common pesticides worthless in the State’s tea estates.

Besides helopeltis—the Tea Mosquito Bug that has been keeping the tea planters of the State scary for the past several years- this list of the bugs turning into super bugs, also includes insects like looper caterpillar. Looper caterpillar is gradually attaining resistance against the common pesticides used in our tea estates.

Disclosing this, renowned consultant tea scientist P Bordoloi told this correspondent that helopeltis is found in some areas to be resistant to the common pesticides. The looper caterpillar has also attained such resistance against certain common pesticides in North Bengal tea estates and they are found to be gradually attaining such resistance in Assam too.

Constant use of the same kind of pesticides is leading to the transformation of these insects into super bugs much to the anxiety of the tea planters and the scientists as well, Bordoloi said. Repeated failure of pesticide at recommended dose to achieve the control of the targeted pest is reported almost regularly in the tea plantations.

Resistance develops through the overuse or misuse of a pesticide against a pest species and results in survival of resistant forms of the pest and the consequent evolution of populations that are resistant to that pesticide, he said.

He attributed this development to the lack of knowledge among the tea planters about the adverse impacts of the regular use of the same kind of chemicals to control the same species of insect, together with the less scientific research on the subject of Insect Resistance Management.

“Research work is less in tea in regards to control of the specific pests with respect to the resistance they develop,” said the noted tea scientist.

Moreover, he said, organic pest control methods are yet to become fully successful at commercial level, particularly in endemic condition and severe infestation.

On the prevailing pest-related scenario in the State’s tea estates, he said that so far helopeltis infestation is low but red spider is more active this time. However, the problem will arise from May next, when the export season starts.

As, he said, there are restrictions on the use of many pesticides in the importing countries. By and large all the tea estates here know the lists of maximum residual level (MRL) of the pesticides for the European Union (EU) countries.

But there is confusion due to discrepancies on large scale in the MRLs fixed by different countries. The updated lists of MRLs of the importers like Japan, USA and Russia are mostly not readily available at producers’ level here, he said.

assam tribune

MGNREGA wages not paid in Sikkim

2011-03-21T06:49:00.002-07:00

Correspondent

GANGTOK, March 20 – The villagers under Luing Perbing Gram Panchayat have complained of non-payment of wages under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act for the past three months.

The villagers have complained to the local media that the payment of the wages have been entrusted to a company “Calance”, which has failed to pay more than 200 workers since December.

The villagers have also accused the company of not returning their bank cards that were taken away two months back. “When we inquired about the payment in the meeting of the Chief Minister’s Financial Inclusion we were abused by the Project Manager of the company”, said a villager Padam Gautam today.

According to the villagers, a false FIR of manhandling was registered by the Project Manager Sunil Thakur, which led to the arrest of innocent villagers.

The Project Manager said that the payment has been delayed due to mismatch of the fingerprints. “The payment would be released soon as more than 340 default bank cards are yet to be re- issued”, Thakur told the media.

He termed the allegations baseless and said that few villagers manhandled him during the course of heated discussion.

assam tribune

‘Nagaland Govt delaying pension benefits’

2011-03-21T06:49:00.001-07:00

Correspondent

DIMAPUR, March 20 – Alleging that the State Government is deliberately delaying the process of their pension papers and all other benefits, the Nagaland Senior Government Employees Welfare Association asked the government departments to act according to the rules as they are governed by Service Rules.

Appealing to all the departments to expedite the process of their pension papers to enable them to get their due benefits, chairman of the Association Roko Pier and secretary Thunglamo Ovung in a release today warned that that if they fail to uphold the laid down rules and continue harassing the NSGEWA members, they will be forced to file a PIL against the defaulting departments and claim interest on pension money beyond three months as per relevant Pension Rules.

Stating that the government has not even spared the process of withdrawal of their GPF money which is the hard earned money of each individual employee, the senior employees said delaying payment of GPF money at retirement is against the rules governing provident fund.

Also, alleging that that the DAN Government is trying to politicise the issue, the Association said “The DAN Government’s intention is to see some of the NSWEGA members starve to death due to extreme poverty as they held up pension benefits after a lapse of 16 months of forced retirement.”

The senior employees also alleged that the DAN Government has completely deprived the NSGEWA members of the 6th ROP benefits and added that consequent upon the implementation of Nagaland Retirement from Public Employment (2nd Amendment) Act, 2009 and subsequent retirement under the Act upto 31-10-2010, the government has branded these retired employees as ‘antagonist’ and adopted a ‘punitive policy’ to victimise and punish the employees, particularly those who retired as per the retirement Act between 31-10-2009 and 31-03-2010 and punished them like law offenders/criminals.

Centre averse to 100 pc excise duty relief

2011-03-21T06:48:00.000-07:00

Kalyan Barooah

NEW DELHI, March 20 – Even as the four refineries in the North-east face financial meltdown, the demand for 100 percent Excise Duty concession from the current level of 50 per cent has few takers in the Union Finance Ministry.

Faced with resources crunch, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas took up the long-pending demand for concessions with the Department of Revenue of Ministry of Finance.

The Ministry has been informed the issue of 100 per cent concession to refineries of the North-east was examined in the past and it was not found advisable to support an unviable unit through fiscal instrument whose impact is always not transparent.

Further, it was felt that extending the North-east exemption to existing petroleum refineries would generate similar demands from other sectors.

“Therefore, it has been decided by the Ministry to extend a uniform concessional rate of 50 per cent of the effective rate of Excise Duty (basic, special, AED and special additional duty of excise) to all the four refineries in the North-east including Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), Indian Oil Corporation, Digboi and Guwahati and Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemical Limited (BRPL),” Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas said in its latest report submitted to the Parliament.

But the panel remarked that it noted with concern that no action has been taken by the Government on their earlier recommendation for excise duty concession from the current level of 50 per cent to 100 per cent. “The previous recommendation should be implemented and excise concession should be increased,” the committee recommended.

Meanwhile, deteriorating financial health of oil refineries in the North-east has led the Parliamentary panel to urge the Central Government to take corrective measures.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee has expressed its unhappiness and noted with concern the financial health of oil refineries in the Northeastern region due to high landed cost of imported crude oil and the entry tax on crude oil being charged by the State Governments, which is affecting the profitability of the refineries.

In its latest report submitted in the Parliament, the Standing Committee has urged the Ministry to scrupulously implement the recommendations of the expert committee in all the refineries of the region to make them economically viable and profit earning.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas told the committee that as part of the remedial measures, the Government had formed a committee to study ‘optimisation of capacity utilisation of the refineries in North-east’.

The committee had submitted its report to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and action has been taken to augment crude oil production in the region by offering acreages under the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) and also enhance oil recovery through Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) methods, the report said.

Meanwhile, both the public sector oil giants, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) and Oil India Limited (OIL) have failed to meet targets due to non-availability of drilling rigs both in on-land and off-land areas. As against the target of 274 on-land wells to be explored by ONGC during the first three years of 11th Plan, only 201 wells could be explored.

Similarly, OIL has drilled only 33 wells during the same period. Non-availability of drilling rigs had also adversely affected Oil’s drilling programme, as out of 10 in-house drilling rigs, refurbishment of eight drilling rigs is reported to be in progress, the report said.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has reported back to the Parliamentary panel that non-availability of drilling rigs has severely affected OIL’s drilling programme.

OIL, at present, has 10 in-house rigs in operation in Assam, which are vintages varying from 20-30 years. In addition, one in-house drilling rig is deployed in Rajasthan. Due to its age, the performance of the rigs in Assam has deteriorated to a large extent, leading to frequent failures and operation downtime.

assamtribune

Mamata outfoxes Cong, names 228 candidates

2011-03-19T03:45:00.000-07:00

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today unilaterally announced candidates for 228 constituencies for the Assembly elections in West Bengal, leaving 64 seats for the Congress and two for ally Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI).

She also asked the Congress to announce its candidates for the 64 seats by Sunday, failing which she would name her party candidates for these seats as well.

“I have waited for 18 days since the talks started just because I am in favour of the alliance. Had there been no time limit, I would have waited till eternity — but a lot of paperwork is involved. If it was possible, I would have waited till the counting day on May 13. But we have certain limitations and, so, after waiting for a long time, I am announcing our list at the nick of time,” said Banerjee.

“The TMC is a very disciplined party and our list of 294 candidates has been ready for a long time. This list has the names of 228 candidates only. If the Congress does not come to ground level, then we will declare the names of 64 more candidates on Monday. With that, the number of minority community and women candidates from TMC will rise to 64 and 45 respectively,” said Mamata. The Trinamool’s list announced today has 42 candidates from the minority community and 34 women so far.

The Congress, on its part, said it would discuss the issue and decide whether to contest 64 seats or more. “The announcement of seats by Mamata is unilateral. We will discuss in the Congress and then decide whether to contest 64 or more seats,” said Shakil Ahmed, AICC member and the party’s observer for West Bengal.

WB polls: Displeased Congress to take a final call after Holi

2011-03-19T03:44:00.000-07:00

Expressing displeasure on Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee's list of 228 candidates for the upcoming West Bengal polls, the Congress on Saturday said the party will take a final decision over the issue after Holi.

"We wanted an alliance with Trinamool Congress in West Bengal...we still want an alliance with them to defeat the Left government in the state... this is the will of the people of West Bengal that that there should be an alliance between Congress and Trinamool Congress," AICC spokesman Shakeel Ahmed told a news channel.

"She announced the list unilaterally yesterday leaving 64 seats for us...we are not in agreement with the list announced. The Congress leadership will take a final call after Holi...we will consider her offer and take a final decision," he added.

Dictating terms to Congress, Trinamool Congress on Friday unilaterally announced its list of 228 candidates for the election to 294-member West Bengal Assembly and set a Monday deadline for Congress to accept the 64 seats allotted to it.

Besides the Congress, two seats were allotted to the Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI).

"On the basis of my talks with the Congress on Thursday, I have left 64 seats for Congress," Mamata told reporters in Kolkata.

Slamming the Congress for the delay in reaching a final conclusion in the seat sharing talks, Banerjee said: "We have waited for 18 days, but why is there still a cloud over it? I respect our alliance and therefore, I am leaving 64 seats."

She said that the TMC will wait till Monday for the Congress to come around or else she will declare the rest of the candidates with the party manifesto.

Both parties had reportedly reached an agreement over 68 seats. But the dispute is now over the quality or winnability of the seats.

The Congress wants three more winnable seats, which the TMC does not want to part with.

The differences between the Congress and the TMC appeared to have diminished following reports on Monday that both parties had softened their respective stances over the sharing the 294-member West Bengal State Assembly.

The state will have elections in six phases. The first phase of voting will take place on April 18, second phase on April 23, third phase on April 27, fourth phase on May 3, fifth phase on May 7 and sixth phase on May 10.

The total number of assembly constituencies in West Bengal is 294, of which 68 are reserved for the Scheduled Castes and 16 for the Scheduled Tribes.

The Election Commission has said that polling will take place at 51,919 polling stations. (ANI)

CAG unearths scam in Meghalaya

2011-03-19T03:42:00.001-07:00

Correspondent

SHILLONG, March 18 – Heard about the proverbial “fox in the chicken coop,” but never: “Speaker vacated residence in May 2008; but no trace of the Rs 11.81 lakh poultry coop!”

Sounds bizarre, but it is true. The Assembly Secretariat incurred a loss of Rs. 11.81 lakh due to submission of a ‘fictitious bill’ for construction of a poultry coop at the official residence of former Speaker, MM Dangoo.

But, what takes the cake is that when the Speaker vacated his official residence neither the coop nor a single chicken was present at the residence!

“Approval of such construction (poultry coop) at the official residence (Speaker) from the public money was not only unethical but also unauthorised,” the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report castigated.

This is not the first instance that the CAG has unearthed financial mismanagement during Dangoo’s tenure as a Speaker of the legislative Assembly.

Dangoo did not hand over goods installed in his residence before vacating his official residence in May 2008.

Included in the list of items were: two Sony LCD TV 50 inch worth Rs 7,87,500, one set of PIV Lenovo worth Rs 1,40,712, one air conditioner worth Rs 1,92,440, three wall fan worth Rs 23,400.

A cycling machine, tread mill, weight machine, pixna, TFT monitor, revolving chair (one each) were also purchased by the then speaker.

In all goods worth crores of rupees were missing after Dangoo vacated his official residence.

assam tribune

Crimes against women rising in Tripura

2011-03-19T03:41:00.001-07:00

Correspondent

AGARTALA, March 18 – Crimes against women continues to haunt the law enforcement agencies in Tripura with spiralling number of cases of rape, molestation and dowry death.

The State witnessed maximum number of rape cases in 2010 when compared to 2008 and 2009. According to statistics, while a total of 238 rape cases were recorded with police in 2010, the number was 204 in 2008 and 190 in 2009.

Out of total registered rape cases in 2010, investigation in 79 cases is still going on while chargesheet has been filed in 147 cases. However, Investigating Officers (IOs) could not crack the nut in 12 rape cases.

Of the total rape cases (190) in 2009, chargesheets have been filed in 198 cases while final reports were prepared for six cases. However, investigation of 204 rape cases which were registered in 2008 has been wrapped up.

In 2008, police could prepare chargesheets in 67 cases within three months of registration of rape charges while it was 56 in 2010, according to reports available with the crime branch of police.

According to reports, as many as 51 dowry-related cases were registered in January this year while nine rape cases were registered during the period.

“We are taking serious steps to ensure speedy disposal of crimes against women and some cases like Dilip Guha incident have been chargesheeted within three months of registration of complaint”, said a police official here on Thursday.

On being asked about the low percentage of conviction rate (3.5), he said, “Loopholes in investigation process, hostility of eye-witness and refusal to become witness at key stages of investigation, workload on police are among the main reason behind it”.

assam tribune

529 candidates file nomination

2011-03-19T03:39:00.001-07:00

Staff reporter

GUWAHATI, March 18 – A total of 529 candidates have filed their nominations for the first phase of the Assembly elections in the State. In the meantime, the Election Commission (EC) received 163 cases concerning violation of the model poll code of conduct, most of which have been disposed of.

Seventeen candidates have been disqualified by the EC from contesting the polls.

Revealing this at a press conference today, Chief Electoral Officer Hemanta Narzary said that of the 11,263 polling stations (including nine auxiliary ones) for the first phase of the polls scheduled for April 4, 2,093 had been identified as very sensitive and 2,985 as sensitive.

Following an EC directive to the effect, the police has been executing non-bailable warrants, with 3,035 non-bailable warrants having been executed since March 1. A total of 8,319 NBWs are pending as of now as against the original figure of over 14,000 initially, Narzary said, adding that 3,186 licensed arms had also been seized besides cash worth Rs 70 lakh.

Asserting that the polls would be a smooth and peaceful exercise, Narzary said that a hundred companies of Central paramilitary forces had arrived in the State to join the existing 96 companies.

“Another 150 companies are scheduled to arrive by March 28,” he said, adding that 60-75 per cent of the polling stations would be covered by the Central paramilitary forces.

Narzary said that the disqualification of the 17 candidates stemmed from their failure to show their election expense accounts.

Narzary said that the call centre with a toll-free number which is connected to all the districts had received 117 complaints from the public, of which 78 disposed of. “Most of the complaints have come from the Dispur constituency,” he said, adding that poll monitoring had witnessed several innovations, including the SMS-based system.

Centre yet to decide on Tea Board chief

2011-03-17T06:48:00.001-07:00

Spl Correspondent

NEW DELHI, March 16 – The Ministry of Commerce and Industry is still waiting for a panel of officers from the Department of Personnel and Training for appointment as chairman of Tea Board.

A panel of suitable officers is still awaited from Department of Personnel and Training for making regular appointment to the post of chairman of the Tea Board, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiradtiya M Scindia said in reply to a Rajya Sabha question by Kumar Deepak Das.

However, the Minister added that the post is not reserved for any officer from any State. Till then, the charge has been given to an officer, in addition to his own duties, Scindia said.

As reported, both Assam and West Bengal are lobbying hard for the post for one of their own officers. Assam claims that it is their turn, after a West Bengal cadre officer completed his term last year.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Union DoNER Minister Bijoy Krishna Handique have written to the Prime Minister reminding him that it is now the turn of Assam to have its man as the chairman.

Though a panel of officers was finalised by the Commerce and Industry Ministry, the process was abandoned and the selection process was started afresh.

16 candidates file papers in Dibrugarh

2011-03-17T06:47:00.001-07:00

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

DIBRUGARH, March 16 – All seven candidates of the Congress from the district submitted their nominations in the district’s election offices here for the ensuing Assembly polls, while five from the BJP, three from NCP and one from AGP also placed their nominations.

The Congress candidates include – Etuwa Munda (Ting-khong), Pranati Phukan (Naharkatia), Amiya Gogoi (Duliajan), Raju Sahu (Chabua), Prithibi Majhi (Lahoal), Dr KK Gogoi (Dibrugarh) and Jibontara Ghatowar (Moran).

The BJP candidates are Prasanta Phukan (Dibrugarh), Rameshwar Teli (Duliajan), Dipuranjan Markary (Ting-khong), Ranjit Konwar (Lahoal) and Sarnalata Saikia (Moran). The three NCP candidates include Bina Konwar Baruah (Duliajan), Karthik Tanti (Naharkatia) and Bipin Chetia (Chabua).

Before the submission of nomination papers, the parties, particularly BJP and NCP, took out huge processions but were stopped near the Chowkidinghee ground. Only the candidates along with a few party workers were allowed to proceed.

Arunachal Govt urged to talk with NSCN (K)

2011-03-17T06:46:00.002-07:00

ITANAGAR, March 16 – Concerned over the recent letter issued by NSCN (K) to all the legislators of insurgency-hit Tirap and Changlang districts in Arunachal Pradesh, an organisation has urged the State Government to start a dialogue process with various rebel outfits operating in these districts.

The letter, reportedly signed by NSCN (K) chief S S Khaplang, directed all the 12 MLAs to withdraw support from the Dorjee Khandu Government or else face dire consequences.

“The government cannot and must not continue to ignore the burgeoning problem for which developmental activities in the districts have come to a screeching halt,” the Society for Promotion of Nocte Indigenous Culture (SoPNIC) said in a communique.

It added, “Whenever there is firing between both the factions of NSCN or army operations, leaders of all hues and heads of work departments run away, leaving the common people to fend for themselves. Needless to say such practice only aggravates the problem as no one is left in the district to address them”. – PTI

They urged the NSCN (K) to withdraw the letter and requested it to resort to other democratic means to hammer out the differences amicably.

“This letter has done what killings, kidnappings, extortions, etc., in Tirap district for the last many years could not do. It has awakened the conscience of the people of the State at long last. The strongly worded letter has shaken and trampled the very foundation of our democratic setup,” it said. – PTI

Meghalaya to make asset declaration mandatory

2011-03-17T06:46:00.001-07:00

Correspondent

SHILLONG, March 16 – After Bihar, Meghalaya would also make it mandatory for politicians, bureaucrats and government servants to disclose their assets annually.

State Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said in the Assembly today that the government was working on a policy framework to make it mandatory for politicians, bureaucrats and government servants to declare their assets annually and the policy would be implemented at the earliest. This, he believed, would help in checking corruption.

Meghalaya would be one of the few States in the country to have such a policy. Recently, Bihar made national headlines after its Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar made it mandatory for politicians and bureaucrats to declare the assets annually.

The Meghalaya Government employees must also declare their assets annually because indigenous tribals are exempted from filing Income Tax returns, so declaration of assets annually is important.

“Filing of Income Tax return is a mechanism to check assets annually. Since the tribal population here are exempted from filing IT returns, the policy would ensure that declaration of assets is also mandatory for them,” the Chief Minister said.

Stating the State Government is serious in checking corruption, Sangma further promised to overhaul the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and make it an autonomous body. Now the Chief Secretary is the ex-officio State Vigilance Commissioner (SVC).

“The ACB is not an autonomous body. The ACB is further working with a skeletal staff of ten people,” he said while promising to strengthen the organisation’s structure to check corruption.

The opposition demanded that the selection of the SVC should be done by a select committee comprising of the Leader of Opposition and others from the House as its members, to which Sangma said that the suggestion would be taken in the right earnest.

Former Lok Sabha Speaker, Purno Sangma of the NCP suggested that every department must have a vigilance officer as a means to check corruption to which the Chief Minister agreed.

Manipur innovators make a mark in Delhi

2011-03-17T06:45:00.001-07:00

Correspondent

IMPHAL, March 16 – Manipur products have become crowd pullers in the ongoing National Innovation Foundation’s Grassroots Innovation Exhibition at Mughal Gardens in the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

The exhibition will conclude tomorrow, Manipur Information Centre, Delhi sources said.

President of India Pratibha Devisingh Patil inaugurated the exhibition on March 14. The exhibition features 45 stalls showcasing 32 innovations by rural persons. This year’s focus is the North East, with Manipur having six stalls. Special focus of the exhibition was handloom and handicraft machineries from Manipur. Five innovators from Manipur are participating in the exhibition.

A physically challenged innovator, Y Mangi Singh from Kakching, who had developed a ‘Kouna mat-making machine’, was the special attraction in the exhibition. The President spent some time watching the innovator weave the Kouna mat.

Ng Nabakumar Singh of Leingang in Bishnupur district, who had invented the ‘Double shuttle loom’ was also a crowd puller. The device was getting rave reviews from experts and visitors.

The ‘Improved mechanised loom’ of Salam Rajesh Singh which made bandages also received special attention in the exhibition. The innovator received many enquiries from prospective entrepreneurs from other States to purchase his machine.

The visitors were dazzled by the ‘Electric shock-free converter’ of Ksh Nicholson Singh, of Imphal, which converts all live electric current into ‘shock free’ current.

Kh Jina’s herbal soap was a big hit. It was a rare achievement that the only woman innovator who participated in the exhibition happened to be from Manipur.

Cong likely to review candidates’ list

2011-03-15T05:48:00.000-07:00

Spl Correspondent

NEW DELHI, March 14 – Under pressure from enraged party workers, the Assam Congress is mulling review of candidates in a few constituencies, even as Guwahati (West) and Sarbhog constituencies are still pending.

Of the eight pending constituencies, the party after a series of deliberations announced the candidates for six Legislative Assembly Constituencies (LACs). G C Langthasa has been selected for Haflong (ST), Rajen Borthakur (Tezpur), Monika Bora (Gohpur), Rejaul Laskar Choudhury (Jamunamukh), Abdur Rashid Mandal (Goalpara (West) and Etuwa Munda (Tingkhong) LACs.

Both Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi and PCC president, Bhubaneswar Kalita left for Assam today after taking part in a series of meetings to finalise the candidates for the remaining eight constituencies. Yesterday, till late in the evening the Chief Minister, Kalita and general secretary in-charge for Assam Digvijay Singh met but failed to finalise the candidates for Guwahati (West) and Sarbhog.

For Guwahati (West) several AICC bigwigs have put their weight behind the high-profile candidates. Aspirants have met the Congress president, political adviser to Congress president, Ahmed Patel, besides other senior leaders lobbying for nomination. Those in the fray included Hemanta Talukdar, who is being backed by PCC president, Dwijendranath Sarma, former AICC secretary, Juri Sarma Bordoloi, Chittaranjan Patowary amongst others.

In case of Sarbhog seat, party is in two minds over fielding Abdus Samad, who was with the AUDF and backed by a powerful State minister in Gogoi’s cabinet, sources said.

Meanwhile, sharp reactions have surfaced over the nomination of candidates, and in what appears to be first of a spate of resignations, three-time Lok Sabha MP, Abdul Hamid has quit the party. Hamid was an aspirant for Bilashipara (East) constituency but was denied nomination.

He faxed his resignation from the primary membership of the party to the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi on Monday.

He told this correspondent that he is planning to contest as an independent candidate from the constituency.

Meanwhile, the Congress is likely to change a few candidates following local pressure. Denial of nomination to president of State Mahila Congress Sarifa Begum has prompted the High Command to intervene and she is now likely to be fielded from Dhing LAC, where Dr Idris Ali was nominated.

The candidate for Jonai (ST) from where Bolin Kuli has been fielded is likely to be replaced by Pradan Barua. He is being backed by both Kalita and Lok Sabha MP Ranee Narah. Similarly, Bhabanipur candidate Dr Manjushree Pathak is likely to be replaced by Phani Talukdar, said sources.

Talking to newsmen, Digvijay Singh said that there may be few changes in the list of candidates but added that those mainly pertained to candidates in the second phase. He added that fresh reports from block and district Congress are being sought.

assamtribune

Brahmaputra Master Plan to cost Rs 32,410 cr

2011-03-15T05:47:00.002-07:00

Spl Correspondent

NEW DELHI, March 14 – The Master Plan for flood management of Brahmaputra river is estimated to cost Rs 32,410 crore at 1983 price level, Minister of State for Water Resources, Vicent H Pala said.

The Minister’s reply was to a question by Bhubaneswar Kalita, who wanted to know whether the Master Plan for flood management and integrated development of water resources is expected to cost Rs 54,750 crore.

The Brahmaputra Board has prepared a Master Plan for the Brahmaputra river and the approved Plan was sent to State Government for implementation. The flood control, anti-erosion and flood protection works are planned, implemented and funded by the State Government according to their own plan and priorities. The Central Government provides the assistance to the State Government for implementation of flood management programme, the Minister added.

The schemes undertaken by Brahmaputra Board have generally performed well. Concurrent evaluation of implementation of schemes in the reaches identified by the Master Plan and taken up by the State Government has indicated satisfactory performance, he said.

About protection of Majuli, Pala said that Phase II and III of the Plan is estimated to cost Rs 115.03 crore. About 21.95 per cent of the work taken up during last financial year have been completed till February. The Phase I of the Project was taken up in 2005 at an estimated cost of Rs 56.07 crore and 99.50 per cent of the work have been completed.

Emergent measures at the cost of Rs 4.99 crore as recommended by the standing committee of experts on Majuli was undertaken in May 2008 and completed in September 2008.

assam tribune

Assam on alert after militant strikes

2011-03-15T05:47:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI, March 15 (IANS) - A security alert was sounded in election-bound Assam Tuesday, a day after militants bombed the ruling Congress party's headquarters, injuring five party workers, and killed nine Border Security Force (BSF) troopers in separate attacks.

"A state of high alert was sounded across Assam with police, army and paramilitary troopers deployed in strength to foil any further militant attacks. We would be dealing with the militants with a very firm hand," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.

Army and paramilitary columns have started a massive anti-insurgency operation in militant strongholds amid intelligence reports of more rebel strikes in the run-up to the April 4 and 11 Assembly elections.

"The militants might try to strike, especially by targeting politicians, to make their presence felt," an Assam police official said requesting that he not be named.

On Monday night, militants of the anti-talk faction of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) led by the elusive Paresh Baruah allegedly triggered a powerful remote-controlled explosion at the Congress office in the heart of Assam's main city Guwahati.

Five Congress office-bearers were injured in the blast which resulted in the wall and roof of the building caving in.

In yet another attack late Monday, tribal separatists of the anti-talk faction of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) ambushed a bus carrying 20 BSF troopers near Ultapani in Kokrajhar district, about 220 km west of Guwahati.

Nine troopers were killed and five injured.

The anti-talk faction of the ULFA had in an email statement last month threatened to attack Congress leaders and warned people against participating in party rallies in the run up to the assembly elections.

The ULFA in the past has killed at least a dozen Congress leaders during elections since the 1996 Assembly polls.

The ULFA statement last month said the Congress party was responsible for dividing the outfit -- luring some leaders into holding peace talks with the government.

A faction of the NDFB too is in peace mode by entering into a ceasefire with New Delhi.

Both the ULFA and the NDFB are fighting for independent homelands outside the Indian union.

More than 10,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency in Assam during the past two decades.

BJP announces 4th list of candidates for Assam polls

2011-03-15T05:46:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI, March 15 (PTI) - The BJP today declared its fourth list of candidates for the two-phase Assembly elections in Assam.

The party is contesting all 126 constituencies in the state.

Among the seven contestants are Binita Brahma from Kokrajhar East, Hemanga Thakuria from Palasbari, Atul Sharma from Dharampur, Diganta Ghatowar from Biswanath and Banti Bania from Lakhimpur.

The candidates for Kalaigaon and Sootea, announced earlier, were changed to Mridul Deka and Rakesh Sharma, respectively, BJP spokesman Vijay Kumar Gupta said.

Announcing the list on behalf of BJP All India general secretary Anant Kumar, Gupta said that the list of candidates for the remaining five constituencies of Dhing, South Salmara, Samaguri, Majuli amd Chapaguri would be announced later.

Talks were on with alliance partner JD(U) for leaving some constituencies to it, but the names were not yet finalised, he said.

Policeman, 2 ULFA militants killed in encounter

2011-03-15T05:44:00.000-07:00

DIBRUGARH/TINSUKIA, March 15 (PTI) - A police officer and two ULFA militants were killed during an encounter in Assam's Tinsukia district today, police said.

Acting on a tip-off about the presence of ULFA militants in Tongona village under Kakopathar police station, the police launched a search operation in the village and were fired upon by the militants.

The police retaliated and a fierce encounter followed for more than two hours in which Second Officer Pranjal Saikia of Kakopathar police station was killed along with the two militants on the spot, the sources said.

While one slain ultra was identified as Tinku Mahanta alias Ilu while the identity of the other one was yet to be ascertained.

The security forces recovered one pistol, one AK-56 and an empty magazine from the encounter site.

8 BSF jawans killed in ambush by anti-talk faction of NDFB

2011-03-15T03:49:00.000-07:00

SHILLONG/GUWAHATI: At least eight BSF personnel were killed and the same number injured today in an ambush by the anti-talk faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland in Assam's Kokrajhar district.

According to official reports, the militants of the Ranjan Daimary-led faction used automatic weapons to ambush the convoy of the BSF in remote Ultapani forest area near the Indo-Bhutan border.

A BSF spokesman, at the force's frontier headquarters in Shillong, told PTI that while three jawans were killed on the spot, five others succumbed to their injuries on way to hospital.

Some of the eight injured jawans were taken to Lower Assam Hospital and Research Centre at Bongaigaon, while others were taken to Kokrajhar civil hospital for treatment.

Critically injured were referred to a hospital is Guwahati, the spokesperson said.

The deceased have been identified as Bijoy Kumar, S K Sharma, Arabinda Dere, Bolaram Lamba, Santa Ramthree, Naresh Kumar, Kuber Bora and Hira Singh.

A combing operation has been launched by the security forces, including the Army along the Indo-Bhutan border, to nab the culprits.

The patrol was on way from Bangladoba in Chirang district of Assam to Ultapani in Kokrajhar when it was ambushed.

The paramilitary vehicle came under heavy firing inside the Ultapani reserve forest, when it was about seven km from its camp.

NGO urges for creation of Patkai Council

2011-03-14T07:24:00.001-07:00

ITANAGAR, March 13 – A human rights group from insurgency-hit Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh has urged the State Government to expedite the process for early creation of Patkai Autonomous Council (PAC) for all-round development of these backward districts bordering Myanmar.

Tirap-Changlang Human Rights Organisation (TCHRO) appealed to the elected representatives of the two districts to pursue the demand for PAC besides initiating immediate steps to bring back peace and normalcy in the districts which of late witnessed intermittent gun battles between both the factions of NSCN for area dominance.

“The decision for creation of PAC comprising both the districts has already been passed by the State Assembly long back and it was the responsibility of the leaders of the districts and the government to pursue with the Centre but very little effort was being made in this regard till now,” TCHRO president K Longphi said in a press conference here recently.

He said that the elected legislators of the two districts were not doing enough for the development of these backward districts.

“Instead of being mute spectators they should initiate immediate steps to materialise the long pending demand of people of the areas”, he added.

Claiming that the job opportunities in various government departments for the youths of Tirap and Changlang were very limited due to the lack of development activities in the districts, Longphi urged the government to provide separate job quota to the youths.

“Though these two districts are the richest in the State from where the State Government draws out maximum revenue benefits, yet in terms of developmental activities both are lagging behind,” TCHRO general secretary T Aboh said. – PTI

6,000 youth from Garo Hills to get technical training

2011-03-14T07:23:00.002-07:00

6,000 youth from Garo Hills to get technical training
Correspondent

TURA, March13 – Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Agatha K Sangma, on Sunday inaugurated the first-ever Bosco Academy for Skills and Employment (BASE) at Tura Don Bosco School that will provide special technical training to as many as 6,000 youth from the rural areas of Garo Hills.

The programme is funded by the Union Ministry for Rural Development under the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) which aims to provide employment-linked, market-oriented training to youngsters in the age group of 18 to 35 years from below the poverty line families. Inaugurating the training academy, the Union Minister of State exhorted the youth to make full utilisation of the opportunity to avail the training programme.

“This training programme is funded by the Rural Development Ministry and is free of cost. I urge upon the youth to take advantage of it because we need to absorb the youth into the employment sector,” mentioned Agatha.

Mentioning in brief the importance of inclusive growth she said China is forging ahead due to its booming manufacturing industry. She added that our country has also taken up the challenge and has even diversified into other sectors of employment such as Business Processing and Outsourcings (BPOs), marketing, tourism and health sectors.

Under this SGSY special project, the Union Rural Development Ministry has granted four projects to Don Bosco Tech (DB Tech) to train several thousand youth of the country. In the east and North East sector Meghalaya is one of the eight States to get selected. Jowai, Shillong, Umran and Mendal are the centres which will be run by DB Tech.

Earlier, the Assistant Director of DB Tech, Fr Raju Philip, gave a brief report on the project. “The project will target the marginalised youth, the downtrodden who do not get an opportunity to avail any employment generation training,” he said. The assistant director further went on to mention that since the start of the project in May, last year, over 8,000 youth have been trained with 85 per cent of them getting employment through placements. He urged upon the rural youth to get themselves registered at the nearest Don Bosco Centre.

DB Tech will initially provide training in four categories of jobs – tourism, security, hospitality and marketing with basic skills in computers. In the hospitality sector detailed training will be given to the selected members in the food and beverages wing. Each course will be of three month duration with no provision of stipend or scholarship.

asssam tribune

NE Spring Fest from March 16

2011-03-14T07:23:00.001-07:00

KOHIMA, March 13 – Featuring dance troupes from Myanmar, a five-day North East Spring Festival would be kicked off at Dimapur on March 16.

Being organised by the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) at its complex at Dimapur, the festival would be a mega North East-centric carnival capturing the mood and brilliance of Spring time, said council director Som Kamei.

The event will also feature a book fair and seminars organised by National Book Trust at the same venue where Lou Majaw of Shillong is expected to add sheen to the carnival being participated by over 500 artistes.

The festival will showcase the biggest ensemble of folk dances, folk music, puppeteers, craftsmen, poets, choral singers, theatre groups, chefs and others from the region and other parts of the country. – PTI

Meteka products at NEDFi Haat

2011-03-14T07:21:00.002-07:00

GUWAHATI, March 13 – The eco-friendly handicraft products made from water hyacinth (meteka) are now available at the NEDFi Haat, Ambari, Guwahati. The Water Hyacinth Craft Gallery-cum-Demonstration Centre at NEDFi Haat was inaugurated recently by UK Sangma, Secretary, NEC in the presence of BP Muktieh, CMD, NEDFi.

The initiative, which was started by NEDFi in a small way in the year 2008, is now supported by the NEC under a three-year project commencing from the year 2010-11.

The project involves capacity building of 1000 artisans and facilitating them with the market linkage. During the year 2010-11, 200 artisans were trained through eight different programmes conducted in Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura. To facilitate advance training, a group of 25 people were deputed to the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad for a three- week programme in the month of December, 2010. The programme helped in incorporating better design and also in improving productivity. These 25 artisans are now facilitating handhold support to other artisans for improvement of their products, said a statement.

The Water Hyacinth Gallery at NEDFi Haat will facilitate display and sale of the products produced by the artisans. The customers can buy the products from the gallery and the price she/he pays will be forwarded to the artisans.

The centre is equipped with flattening machine, looms, stitching machine, colouring dyes apart from the moulds used for different products. A master artisan will man the centre who will also guide the artisans in respect to the quality and pricing of the products.

“The project is supporting the individual artisans to participate in different exhibitions, whether it is in small towns or in big cities. Exclusive exhibitions on water hyacinth are also held at NEDFi Haat from time to time to promote the craft. The participation has helped not only to sell the products but also to popularize the same among the customers, creating future market demand,” the statement mentioned.

The Water Hyacinth Craft Gallery at the 1st floor of NEDFi Haat is expected to provide a permanent platform for marketing of the products. The products displayed in the gallery include varieties of bags, baskets, laundry bins, caps among others, apart from the beautiful jewellery made from the water hyacinth.

assam tribune

Jyotirupa full-length drama festival concludes

2011-03-14T07:21:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI, March 13 – The curtains came down on the 3rd Jyotirupa Singha Purush Radha Govinda Baruah full-length drama festival on Saturday with staging of Abhisar, a play based on a poem of Rabindra Nath Tagore.

The four-day drama festival at Rabindra Bhawan here could entertain the theatre lovers and on all the days a sizeable number of Guwahatians made it to the auditorium. The bouquet of plays highlighting the complexities and the decay triggered by transitions across society went well with the spectators.

It needs to be mentioned here that a total of four selected plays were staged during this drama festival.

“I really enjoyed Aitijya. It reflected the problems of the contemporary society,” said Nandita Gogoi who was present on all the days of the festival. This play was directed by noted theatre personality Bhagirathi and staged on the first day of the festival. Bhagirathi’s powerful acting kept the audience mesmerised.

Dumukshi staged on the second day of the festival was appreciated by the theatre lovers, but some pointed out that the director missed the scope of improvement. This play was based on a Rabha myth depicting love and its tragic end and directed by Sukracharya Rabha. This young theatre artiste has earned laurels for taking theatre to the grassroots.

“The festival has been gaining its popularity over the years and this year we were really taken aback by the huge response of the theatre lovers,” said Bhuban Lahkar, secretary of Jyotirupa, a socio-cultural organisation. He further added that each play was experimental and directed by young theatre artistes.

The famed Charandas Chor by Habiv Tanveer, adapted to reflect the local ethos by Anup Hazarika and Bhagirathi was staged on the third day of the festival before a full house audience.

“We are grateful to the theatre lovers for making the festival a success and we hope to give a platform to more upcoming theatre artistes and groups,” said Lahkar.

On the last day of the festival, the organisers felicitated president of Asom Natya Sanmilon Abdul Mazid, CMD of Numaligarh Refinery Dr BK Das and General Manager of Oil India, Narengi D Phukan.

assamtribune

Security forces to adopt zero tolerance policy

2011-03-14T07:20:00.000-07:00

GUWAHATI, March 13 – Maintaining law and order in a state like Assam during the elections is always a tough proposition and police and security forces have been instructed to adopt a “zero-tolerance policy” against any militant found to be moving around with weapons. Though a number of militant outfits are under cease-fire agreement and some others have expressed desire to come for talks, no one is ready to take any chances.

Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that around 400 additional companies of central paramilitary force personnel would be deployed in Assam during the polls to ensure violence free elections. Sources said that 100 companies of central forces have already reached the state after the declaration of the dates of the polls and the rest would be deployed in phased manner soon. In fact, the State Government had sought 400 companies of additional forces for the polls and the Government of India has assured to provide it to meet the requirement.

Sources revealed that the police and security forces engaged in counter insurgency operations have been directed to deal with militants with strong hands to prevent them from indulging in any violence in the run up to the elections.

Replying to a question on the possibility of the militants under cease-fire with the government indulging in violence during the polls, sources said that anyone found to be moving around with weapons would be treated as a militant irrespective of whether the person is a member of an outfit under cease-fire. Same rule would be applied in case of members of the pro-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the forces have been directed to adopt zero tolerance policy in this regard.

The pro-talk group members of the ULFA will also be shifted to designated camps soon like members of the other militant groups under cease-fire agreement. But the process will take some time as setting up of the camps will take some time. Under the present circumstances, it is unlikely that the process of shifting of the pro-talk members of the ULFA to the designated camps will be completed before the elections, sources added.

Meanwhile, recent intelligence inputs of the field level members of the anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) requesting the leaders of the outfit staying in Bangladesh and Myanmar to send weapons to the cadres in Assam has created tension among the police and security forces.

On the other hand, security personnel are apprehensive of possibility of the anti-talk faction of the ULFA headed by commander-in-chief of the outfit Paresh Baruah indulging in violence in the run up to the polls. As the bond between the militant groups having bases in Myanmar is strengthened in recent times, the possibility of the ULFA hardliners engaging members of the other outfits also cannot be ruled out and a close watch is being maintained on the situation, security sources added.

the assamtribune

Blast rocks Congress office in Guwahati

2011-03-14T06:54:00.000-07:00

GUWAHATI: A blast rocked the Congress party headquarters in Guwahati at 6.50pm on Monday. Casualties are feared, police said.

2 Congress party workers were injured in the blast, Times Now reported. Police have reached the blast site and have cordoned off the blast area.

The elections for the Assam state assembly are scheduled to take place on April 4 and April 11.

toi

Mizo man has 39 wives, 94 children

2011-02-21T05:26:00.001-08:00

AIZAWL, Feb 20 – Believe it or not, a man in Mizoram has 39 wives, 94 children and 33 grandchildren – all living together under one roof in a picturesque village about 100 km from Baktawng in the north of the State.

The head of the family and leader of the “Chana” sect – which allows polygamy – is 66-year-old Ziona Chana who lives with his family in a 100-room, four-storyed house named ‘Chhuan That Run’ or the House of the New Generation.

Though all of Ziona’s family members live in different rooms in the building, they all share the kitchen where they cook for the entire family.

“Today I feel like God’s special child. He’s given me so many people to look after. I consider myself a lucky man to be the husband of 39 women and head of the world’s largest family,” says Ziona.

The sect believes in “Kum Sang Rorel” or the rule of 1,000 years by Jesus Christ on Earth as foretold in Bible’s Revelation Chapter 20 and that they would be soon ruling the world with Christ.

Previously known as Khuangtuaha Pawl, the sect was formed on June 12, 1942, after the followers of Khuangtuaha were evicted from Hmawngkawn village by the village chief for propagating “wrong and dangerous” theology.

The sect, till date, celebrates the “Bawkte Kut” or the festival of the hut on June 12 every year to commemorate the formal formation of the sect. – PTI

BJP demands reservation for Nepalis in Sikkim

2011-02-21T05:25:00.001-08:00

GANGTOK, Feb 20 – Sikkim unit BJP president, Padam Chettri has revived the issue of Limboo-Tamang (LT) seat reservation in the State Assembly.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Chettri said the LT community should demand reservation of seats as soon as possible, or else they would be deprived of this right until 2026.

He claimed that Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and his government are not in the mood to provide seats to LT community in the Assembly. The LT community is being kept away from their constitutional rights, Chettri alleged.

No special census has been conducted to find out the population of Limboo-Tamang people in Sikkim. That is the first and foremost step towards reservation of the seats, he said. He added that there is no provision of collecting data on LT population in the 2011 Census. However, the caste-wise population is likely to be enumerated after the completion of the data collection process of the census.

He alleged that the SDF Government has not even accepted the Limboo-Tamang population worked out by BJP, by extrapolation of voter list, at 15 per cent entitling them a minimum of five seats in the thirty-two member Assembly, as per Article 332 of the constitution of India.

The Sikkim Limboo-Tamang Tribal Forum seems to have claimed 17 percentage population and 10 seats, based on Article 371 f of the constitution; the same constitutional safeguard protecting the Bhutia-Lepcha (BL) seat reservation in the Assembly.

Chettri mentioned that the case filed by the BJP, regarding the Limboo-Tamang seat reservation is pending in the Supreme Court. On February 14, the Supreme has Court ordered to list the matter on non-miscellaneous days in the week, commencing from August 30.

The BJP feels that there should be reservation of seats for the entire Nepali community of the State as per the Article 371 f, and not only Limboo -Tamang as Scheduled Tribes, he asserted.

Arunachal celebrates 25th Statehood Day

2011-02-21T05:24:00.000-08:00

ITANAGAR, Feb 20 – Acknowledging the pressing needs of building infrastructure in border areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia today assured the State of all possible help from the Centre for all-round development of the land-locked mountainous State.

“Located in the northeastern most tip of the country, Arunachal, also known as the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’, is the first Indian State to greet the Sun at dawn. We, at the Centre and in Planning Commission, are putting all-out efforts to accelerate the development activities in all border areas of the State,” said Dr Ahluwalia while addressing a function that marked the silver jubilee celebrations of Arunachal’s Statehood Day at Indira Gandhi Park here.

Coinciding with the 25th Statehood Day celebrations, a three-day ‘Festival of Arunachal’ has also commenced at the venue which was later declared open by the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman amid thunderous applause from the huge gathering that also included State Governor Gen (Retd) J J Singh, Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu and Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, Justice Madan B Lakur, among others.

While admitting that Arunachal especially its remote border areas were yet to see modern developments, Dr Ahluwalia said that the mega developmental package announced at the same ground three years ago by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh would be of immense help in that direction.

“It’s the responsibility of the government – both at the Centre as well as in the State to speed up the pace of development and ensure developmental fruits reach out to those border areas,” said Ahluwalia, who earlier released a festival souvenir.

Further avowing that there will be no dearth of fund from Central Government’s end, he said the State Government should endeavour for speedy implementation of the projects and judicious utilisation of the developmental fund.

The Plan panel’s deputy chairman also promised to consider the project proposals submitted by the State Government for infrastructure development.

The State Government had earlier submitted several project proposals to the Centre that included providing road connectivity to 22 unconnected administrative centres in border areas, drinking water facilities in remote areas, construction of Trans-Arunachal Power Grid, and maintenance and construction of foot suspension bridges, porter tracks and log bridges in border areas for easy movement of Defence personnel.

Earlier in his speech, Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu pleaded the Centre to provide a special financial package to Arunachal Pradesh (which shares about 1,900 km border with China, Myanmar and Bhutan) for speedy infrastructure development in the State to match with developments taking place in other side of the international border.

Citing the Prime Minister’s January 31, 2008 commitment – “We will surely provide the required funds for providing drinking water facilities in remote villages and settlements of Arunachal Pradesh”, Khandu said, “We have accordingly identified 1087 habitations covering a population of 1,25,655 in the border blocks of the State which should be taken up on an accelerated basis under this project.

“I earnestly request that the project amount of Rs 377.76 crore may be sanctioned to the State over a three year period to execute this important project. The required DPRs have already been submitted to the Planning Commission by my government.”

TOI

Ulfa jitters for Congress ticket seekers

2011-02-21T05:22:00.001-08:00

GUWAHATI: The Ulfa hardliners' threat to punish Congress may force many party ticket aspirants to back out. Some of these aspiring MLAs hinted that they would be in the fray only if the government provided them with adequate security during the campaigning for the coming assembly elections.

Coinciding with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Assam, the anti-talks Ulfa hardliners, led by Paresh Baruah, had on Saturday threatened to punish the Congress with armed attacks for splitting their organisation. Though Singh hit out at the Ulfa hawks, saying that "people who are making such threats are living outside the country", many Congress ticket seekers appeared quite worried about their security.

"It's natural that those who want to fight the poll on a Congress ticket will be scared following the threat from the Ulfa hardliners. We appeal to the government to ensure that we have adequate security during campaign," said one of the aspirants, who has already filed his nomination for a Congress ticket.

"Security should be stepped up in the rural areas because the outfit may target these locations. Though security arrangements are more or less adequate in the urban areas, the government should review the system ahead of the elections," said another Congress ticket seeker.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi, however, made it clear that the ruling Congress would never be cowed down to threats by the Ulfa hardliners. "Threats to our leaders and workers by Ulfa are nothing new. Let me make it very clear that we shall never be cowed down by such threats of attacks on our lives," he said.

"In almost every election Ulfa threatened us and even called the people of Assam to reject the Congress. But despite such threats, the people of Assam rejected their call and voted us to power twice since 2001," Gogoi said.

In an e-mail sent to media houses here on Saturday, the Ulfa hardliners' publicity in-charge, Arunodoy Duhotia had warned to attack Congress during the election campaign. "We will protest with arms against the Congress's divide-and-rule-policy. We ask people to keep a safe distance from the party's poll meetings because we do not want to harm them," Duhotia said.

In another mail sent to the media on Sunday, the Ulfa hawks said some of the pro-talks cadres, who came for dialogue led by Arabinda Rajkhowa, were threatening the hardliners' kin in Sivasagar district.

TOI

Orissa govt contacts mediators chosen by Naxals

2011-02-18T05:37:00.001-08:00

Bhubaneswar, Feb 18 (PTI) Asking Maoists to extend their two-day deadline, Orissa government today said it has established contact with two mediators handpicked by the Naxals to negotiate the release of abducted Malkangiri District Collector R V Krishna and a junior engineer.

"They (Maoists) had given three names for negotiation. We have established contact with Prof Someswar Rao and Prof Hargopal (both from Andhra Pradesh). They are willing to mediate in the matter," Chief Secretary B K Patnaik told reporters in Bhubaneswar after a marathon meeting at the chief minister''s office here.

The two mediators have accepted the state government''s request to issue an appeal for extension of two-day deadline given by Naxals who kidnapped Krishna, a 30-year-old IAS officer, and the junior engineer Pabitra Majhi on Wednesday, the Chief Secretary said.

He said the state government has also contacted social activist Swami Agnivesh, who indicated that the Naxals were considering extending the time-frame of two days to meet their seven-point demands including halt to anti-Naxal joint operations, which has already been conceded, withdrawal of BSF, release of 700 tribal Naxals and scrapping of Polavaram water-sharing project with Andhra Pradesh.

Agnivesh said in New Delhi that he was willing to act as a negotiator if Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik himself talks to him and the state government is willing to release the jailed tribals.

The Chief Secretary said the government would consider the demands made by the Maoists. "Many demands may come up during discussions. We are open to discussions," he said.

Asked whether the state government would agree to the Maoist demand for release of seven persons, the chief secretary said, "Those will come up during the discussions with mediators."

The Chief Minister also appealed to the abductors to extend the deadline. "We have also appealed to them (Naxals) not to harm the collector and the junior engineer in their captivity," Patnaik said.

Meanwhile, social scientist Hargopal told a TV channel that the deadline set by the Maoists should be extended which is the first requirement for negotiations.

Similarly, the state government should adopt a positive approach and look into the demands of the Maoists, he said, adding it should not be difficult to release on bail some persons, including women, and it is in the government''s purview. .

BJP alleges Rs 63,000 cr scam in NE, meets President

2011-02-18T05:35:00.000-08:00

New Delhi, Feb 18 (PTI) Alleging a scam to the tune of Rs 63,000 crore in developmental works carried out in the North-East, BJP today appealed to President Pratibha Patil to direct the authorities to carry out a detailed investigation into the "loot".

BJP President Nitin Gadkari today led a delegation to Rashtrapati Bhawan to hand over to Patil a memorandum on the issue as also a copy of party''s report on scams in the North East.

The report claimed that if the level of corruption in the region was quantified, it could be to the tune of Rs 63,000 crore. Various scams in Assam, according to the report, have been quantified to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore.

Talking to media after submitting the memorandum, Gadkari said, "The scandals in the North East have broken all records...there is a scam in PDS due to which poor are not getting their quota of rice which is sold in Bangladesh."

The report of the BJP team was based on evidence collected using the Right to Information, he said.

BJP has demanded setting up of special courts to deal with the issue of corruption in the region to ensure speedy disposal of cases.

The party also demanded a "coordinated investigation" by various investigation agencies, including the NIA and CBI.

"As the Constitutional Head, I would urge you to ask the concerned authorities to have a detailed investigation...such scandalous administration affects people''s faith in the democracy," the memorandum read.

The BJP leader alleged that when Congress leaders from the region realised that their counterparts in Delhi were indulging in "loot", they "decided not to lag behind".

Gadkari had recently said that he would urge senior party leader and PAC Chairman M M Joshi to take up the CAG report on North-East at the earliest.

Birdflu in Tripura, culling begins

2011-02-18T04:33:00.000-08:00

AGARTALE: At least 3,000 poultry, including chicken and ducks were today culled in a state-owned poultry here following an outbreak of birdflu in Tripura.

State animal resource minister Aghor Debbarma told newsmen over two thousand chicken and ducks have died in the area since February 3 last and blood samples of some of them, which were sent to Regional Animal Diseases Diagnostic Centre in Kolkata tested positive for H5N1 virus.

The administration has also banned selling of any poultry in and around R K Nagar Poultry, six kms from here.

Avian influenza was first reported from Kamalpur, a subdivision in Dhalai district bordering Moulavi bazar district of neighbouring Bangladesh in April 2008.

TOI

Fifth day of bandh in Darjeeling

2011-02-14T03:28:00.000-08:00

Normal life remained paralysed for the fifth day in the Darjeeling hills on Sunday because of the indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) in protest against the police firing on its supporters at Sipchu in the Dooars of north Bengal last week.

With a woman succumbing on Saturday to injuries sustained in the firing, the death toll in the incident has risen to three.

The bandh, however, in the Terai and the Dooars area in the north Bengal plains was lifted.

Meanwhile the GJM leadership has dismissed the draft proposal sent to it by the Centre a few days ago on the alternative administrative arrangement to the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council for the Darjeeling hills.

“The draft proposal sent by the Union government is a non-statement about nothing. If the Centre invites us for further talks, they should be on a permanent solution which will have to include the inclusion of the Gorkha-dominated areas in the Dooars and the Terai in any future discussions,” Harka Bahadur Chettri, senior GJM leader and a member of the party told The Hindu over telephone from Kalimpong sub-division.

“There can be a permanent solution only with the creation of a separate Gorkhaland State. But the option of a Union Territory is still open,” he added.

Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, however, yet again ruled out any division of the State.Speaking on the fresh wave of trouble in the Darjeeling hills, he said that his government has repeatedly been saying that the only way to break the political impasse is through talks and not violence.

“The Trinamool Congress has found a new friend in them (those behind the violence in Darjeeling hills) and that's why it is quiet (on the developments there)”, he added.

Ramdev to visit Arunachal

2011-02-14T03:24:00.000-08:00

ITANAGAR, Feb 13 – Renowned Yoga Guru, Swami Ramdevji Maharaj, widely known as Baba Ramdev, is arriving at Itanagar on February 15 next on a maiden five-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh to conduct yoga and public address, a press note said.

Baba Ramdev, presently on a North-east tour, will arrive at the State capital on Tuesday evening. He will hold a Yog Vigyan Shivir at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Naharlagun early next morning. Many distinguished persons including politicians, ministers, businessmen, professionals and government officials are expected to attend the yoga class.

This will be followed by a number of public functions, including interaction session with press persons, Karykarta Baithak of Patanjali Yog Samiti, Arunachal Pradesh (a sister organization affiliated to Patanjali Yog Peeth, Haridwar) at the State headquarters of Bharat Scouts & Guides at Polo Colony, foundation stone laying ceremony at Lingalaya Sewa Ashram and public address at Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya, Chimpu (Itanagar) ground.

Besides giving some yoga tips to school children, the spiritual leader will deliver a motivational speech at the VKV ground on Bharat Swabhiman, mainly focusing on India’s contributions and present day ‘deterioration’ of country’s politics and would suggest as to how India can emerge as a developed nation, according to organizers.

Before embarking on a Tawang trip on February 17, Baba Ramdev will have another yoga session at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Naharlagun in the morning. At Tawang, he will visit Tawang Monastery and War Memorial, and interact with officers of Army’s 5 Mountain Division prior to addressing a public meeting at Parade Ground, Tawang.

The same day, he will return to the State capital and pay a brief visit to Central Nyedar Namlo at Doimukh in Papum Pare district before proceeding to East Siang district where he will hold a Yog Vigyan Shivir at General Ground, Pasighat on February 19 morning. Visit to Dangoriya Baba Temple and Donyi-Polo Gangging at Pasighat and a public address at Rani village are also in his itinerary.

CM demands more rly projects for NE

2011-02-14T03:23:00.003-08:00

GUWAHATI, Feb 13 – Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has requested Minister for Railways Mamata Banerjee for inclusion of a slew of projects in the Railway Budget for the year 2011-12.

In a letter to the Railway Minister, Gogoi requested Banerjee for new lines for strengthening the Railway infrastructure in the Northeast and Assam, which include a new railway line from Salona to Khumtai and Jorhat to Sivasagar for creating the transport corridors along the bank of the Brahmaputra, hitherto not covered by railway service so far; completion of the 6 kilometer Tirap-Lekhapani railway line for efficient and economical functioning of the Lekhapani coal mines to feed the upcoming 750 MW Bongaingaon Thermal Power Station (BTPS) of NTPC at Salakati in Kokrajhar district; double tracking of the railway line stretch between new Bongaigaon and Kamakhya via Goalpara to decongest the present railway line as an extension to the double tracking of the railway line stretch between New Jalpaiguri and Samuktala via Coochbehar; a new railway line from Silghat to Tezpur with a railway bridge for strategic reason; gauge conversion of the only meter gauge stretch between Badaigram and Durlabcherra.

Gogoi requested Banerjee to declare those infrastructures as ‘national projects’ for ensuring smooth fund flow, an official statement mentioned.

The Chief Minister also pleaded with the Railway Minister for decongestion of goods terminal at New Guwahati by expanding the freight terminal at Azara and opening up of a new terminal at Amingaon for attracting more volume of good traffic to the Changsari goods terminal.

Gogoi further requested Banerjee to introduce a new daily express train (Duranta) to Kolkata; very fast daily express trains with limited stops from Dibrugarh-Guwahati to Mumbai-Pune in the West; Vellore-Chennai; Bangalore; Trivandram-Kochi in the South and Amritsar Jammu in the North.

BSF to boost presence along Bangla borde

2011-02-14T03:23:00.001-08:00

GUWAHATI, Feb 13 – Border management along the Assam-Bangladesh border is likely to see some major improvement in the days to come as the Government of India has decided to increase the strength of the Border Security Force (BSF) along the international border, while, a proposal has been mooted to increase police presence in the char areas with setting up of more char police stations.

Highly placed sources in the BSF told The Assam Tribune that the riverine international border in Dhubri district is always considered vulnerable as it is not easy to guard the border when the mighty river Brahmaputra is in full spate and smugglers and other anti-national elements always manage to take full advantage of the situation. But the situation will improve soon as the Government of India has decided to increase the strength of the border guarding force in the area.

BSF sources revealed that Assam has 134 kilometres of international border in Dhubri district, of which, 49 kilometres are riverine border, which is always considered the most vulnerable. Sources said that at present, three battalions of BSF are deployed in the Dhubri sector to guard the border there and one more battalion would be pressed into service shortly. The new battalion will be used mainly to guard the riverine international border, sources added.

The deployment of the new battalion along with additional boats will improve guarding of the riverine border, while, new border outposts in the chars located along the international border will also be established, which will reduce the gap between the existing outposts. The deployment of the new battalion is likely to be completed by March this year.

Meanwhile, commenting on the problems faced by the border guarding force in guarding the riverine border, BSF sources revealed that the riverine border is frequently used by smugglers, particularly cattle smugglers as there is no physical barrier in the area to prevent the same and it is impossible to guard every inch of the area round the clock. Though BSF personnel carry out regular patrolling by boats, that is not adequate while, the floating BOP concept was not very successful because of the fact that the water level of the Brahmaputra comes down during the dry season. Sources said that because of erosion, the char BOPs have to be shifted during the rainy season and there is very little presence of the administration in the chars located along the international border.

However, the situation is likely to see considerable improvement after the deployment of the new battalion and BSF is of the view that the Government should provide identity cards to Indian citizens living along the international border as soon as possible.

Kokrajhar Medical College foundation laid

2011-02-12T02:49:00.001-08:00

Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, Feb 11 – As per the clause of the historic Bodo Accord - 2003, the foundation stone for the Kokrajhar Medical College was laid formally on February 9 at Bodofa Nagar in Kokrajhar along with the Kokrajhar Nursing College and Udalguri Engineering College by the State Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Speaking on the occasion, Sarma said that a long-standing demand of Bodo people has come into reality for which it is a historic moment for this area and the State of Assam. He said that only the medical colleges in Dibrugarh, Guwahati and Silchar could not serve the purpose of the requirement of the State for medical practitioners and so the medical colleges at Barpeta, Jorhat and Tezpur are also getting needy, while two other medical colleges – one at Diphu and another at Kokrajhar have been planned by this Government.

He also assured that the Kokrajhar Medical College will be constructed at a cost of Rs 200 crore, and will be functional within a period of three years. This will create job opportunities for 1200 local youths of this region. He also said one IIM and one Agricultural University is also in the anvil in this area. At the same time he said to enhance better connectivity, the process is on to set up one airport at Kokrajhar.

Hagrama Mohilary, chief of the BTC, said that a series of developmental activities have been planned for this area for which the people have to assure a peaceful environment. He also praised Tarun Gogoi for his cooperation in the execution of developmental projects in BTC area. He also claimed that the Cong-BPF coalition will continue.

State Transport Minister Chandan Brahma in his welcome speech bestowed confidence on the leadership of Mohilary and said that quality education must proceed with quality institutions and infrastructure for the development of human resource in the area.

It may be mentioned here that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi was to attend as chief guest, but he had to return back due to bad weather as his helicopter could not land.

Science Express exhibition from Feb 14

2011-02-12T02:48:00.003-08:00

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 11 – Science Express, an innovative exhibition of technology and science will welcome visitors in four places of Assam from February 14 to February 25.

With an aim to nurture curiosity among youth and encourage them to pursue studies and careers in science, the flagship programme of Department of Science and Technology will be on its fourth phase of its tour of the country.

It will stay open for visitors from February 14-15 at Lumding Railway Station, will be stationed at Mariani station on February 16-18, and will stay open at Dibrugarh Railway Station on February 19, 20 and 21. The exhibition will finally reach Kamakhya station on February 23 and will conclude on February 25. The Centre for Environment Education N E is organising an essay contest for high school students on the topic – Impact of Chemicals on Biodiversity. Essays should be written in English or Assamese within 2,000 words. Entries with particulars of school and class may be submitted to Centre for Environment Education, House No 10, KK Bhatta Road, Chenikuthi, Guwahati 3 on or before February 20.

Sahityarathi’s Orissa house to be a museum

2011-02-12T02:48:00.001-08:00

GUWAHATI, Feb 11 – The State Government will convert the Sambalpur (Orissa) residence of Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbaruah into a museum. An amount of Rs 1 crore has already been sanctioned for the purpose.

Revealing this, Minister for Cultural Affairs Bharat Chandra Narah today told newsmen that the Sambalpur residence, where the doyen of Assamese literature spent a major part of his life, had a special place in the hearts of the people of Assam and the State Government would ensure that Bezbaruah’s legacy was preserved for posterity.

Narah also announced the names of the recipients of the Dr Bhabendra Nath Saikia Award-2009 (actor Biju Phukan), Bir Chilarai Award-2008 (educationist Ambika Charan Choudhury), Ganesh Gogoi Award-2010 (poet Ajit Baruah), and the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Award for 2008 and 2009 (journalist MJ Akbar and Gandhian Hem Bharali respectively). The awards will formally be presented this year.

Giving an account of the different awards instituted by the State Government in the field of art and culture, Narah said the Congress government was more ‘nationalistic’ in that it cared for regional sentiments more than the AGP.

“The Congress has been pursuing a nationalist agenda — so much so that the regional forces of the State have been rendered irrelevant. The AGP, which swears by the State’s nationalist stalwarts since Bir Chilarai and Lachit Barphukan, did absolutely nothing to honour their memory. In contrast, the Congress government has taken up a number of projects for this,” Narah said, adding that before the Congress assumed charge in 2001 there were just five awards but now in has increased to 18.

Giving an account of the steps taken by the Government to promote art and culture, the minister said that a number of cultural complexes (kalakshetras) would come up across the State, such as Chilarai Kalakshetra at Bongaigaon, Madhavdev Kalakshetra at Bongaigaon, Aniruddha Kalakshetra at Tinsukia, Sati Sadhani Kalakshetra at Golaghat, Sati Radhika Kalakshetra at Batadrawa, Sarat Sinha Kalakshetra at Chapar, etc.

Narah said that the Government had started a policy of financing films made under public-private project (PPP) under which films on cultural themes would receive heavy subsidy. “In addition, we have constituted a corpus fund of Rs 1 crore for helping poor folk artistes,” he added.

Parties in hurry to finalise list for State polls

2011-02-12T02:46:00.000-08:00

GUWAHATI, Feb 11– With the Assembly elections round the corner, major political parties of the State are in a hurry to finalise the list of their nominees. Nearly 700 aspirants have applied for Congress nominations so far, while around 650 aspirants have applied for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tickets and over 550 aspirants for the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) tickets in this connection. About 286 aspirants have sought All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) nominations.

According to the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) sources, the process of filing application for the Congress ticket is still on. The deadline for submission of applications for APCC nominations is February 15.

Those who have applied for the party tickets so far include former Chief Minister Anowara Taimur, Ministers Nurjamal Sarkar and Dr Nazrul Islam, MLAs Dr Rumi Nath and Dr Tara Das, among others. The Chief Minister is yet to submit his application form for the purpose, said the sources.

It needs mention here that Dr Nath was expelled from the BJP for going against the party whip in the latest Rajya Sabha elections, while Dr Das is an associate member of the Congress in the State Legislature

As of now, the Congress is to field its candidates from all the Assembly Constituencies. The final list, of the party nominees is expected to be published by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) by the second week of March, said the APCC sources.

BJP sources said that the process of filing applications for party tickets has ended some time back and the party is publishing its first list of nominees within the current month. The party has by this time decided to field candidates in almost all the Legislative Assembly Constituencies (LACs) of the State, said the sources.

The AGP has by this time published the first list of its nominees containing the names of candidates for 31 LACs. The second list of nominees of the party is expected shortly. The party is to contest in more than 84 LACs, said the party sources.

The AIUDF has started the process of finalizing its list of nominees and it is expected that the party would be able to finalise the list by the first week of the next month.

According to party working president HRA Choudhury, they have received 286 applications for party tickets in 79 LACs. The party election committee decided yesterday that a 13-member committee will interact with the applicants and this interaction is likely to take some time.

The AIUDF is hopeful that it would be able to perform better this time, as, it is now an organized party, said Choudhury.

Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) leaders could not be contacted, despite repeated attempts, to know their electoral preparations.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Anowara Taimur told this newspaper that she is aspiring to contest from the Dalgaon LAC. She had earlier represented the LAC for five terms and rose to the position of the Chief Minister of the State, besides holding other Cabinet portfolios like education, PWD, agriculture, tourism etc, she said.

GJM bandh hits normal life in Darjeeling for third day

2011-02-11T03:15:00.000-08:00

DARJEELING: Normal life was hit for the third day in Darjeeling Hills on Friday in response to the indefinite bandh called by the GJM to protest police firing at Sipchu in Jalpaiguri district that left two persons dead.

Shops, business establishments and markets were closed while vehicles were off the roads. Attendance was thin in government offices.

All the tea gardens in the hills were closed in response to the bandh.

The GJM has exempted the census work and students appearing for examinations from the purview of the indefinite bandh which it called after two persons were killed in police firing at Sipchu on Tuesday.

Official sources said the situation in the hills was now under control and no major untoward incident has been reported from anywhere since Wednesday.

The BSF had on Thursday conducted flag marches in Darjeeling town and Kalimpong sub-division, they said.

Top GJM leaders, including GJM president Bimal Gurung, would hold a meeting in the evening to decide the future course of action including whether the bandh would continue or not, GJM sources said.

The last rites of the two persons killed in the police firing was conducted on Thursday.

GJM general secretary Roshan Giri had on Thursday reiterated the demand for a CBI inquiry into the police firing at Sipchu and had stated that outfit would not return to the talks table if Gorkhaland was not the issue of discussion.

TOI

Ulfa holds talks with Centre, meets PC

2011-02-10T21:40:00.000-08:00

NEW DELHI: Historic talks with the banned outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) got underway as an "ice-breaker" on Thursday with the government getting the insurgent group on board to work for reaching a "just and honourable solution" within the framework of the Indian Constitution.

Both sides agreed to set up a seven-member committee -- comprising three Ulfa members and two officers each from the Centre and Assam government -- to look into the issues of the outfit's camps, its locations, cadres, status of their arms, surrender policy and detailed modalities for discussions before the "substantive" round of talks begin after the assembly polls in May.

The outlawed group made it clear that it would not take part in the election, and also would not become an obstacle before "desire and aspiration of the people of Assam". The eight-member Ulfa delegation -- some of whom are out on bail -- was led by its chairman Arbinda Rajkhowa during the talks.

Terming Thursday's formal parleys as a "confidence building round", Ulfa `foreign secretary' Shashadhar Choudhury later said, "We did not raise any demand today. We will discuss broader issues when we meet next".

After the group's discussion with a team of officials comprising home secretary Gopal K Pillai and secretary (internal security) U K Bansal, Choudhury also made it clear that though the outfit had been in constant touch with its commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah, his (Baruah) absence would not cast any shadow over the talks. Ulfa opted for the talks after the `General Council' -- the group's highest decision making body -- gave its assent.

Choudhury maintained that "Baruah is still our commander-in-chief". But, security agencies believe that the stance might have been taken just to give an impression that the outfit's C-in-C may bounce back in case talks fail at a later stage.

Stating that the outfit is hopeful that the insurgency problem in Assam can be solved through an amendment in the Constitution, Choudhury -- flanked by `vice-chairman' Pradip Gogoi and `finance secretary' Chitraban Hazarika -- said, "We have noted a recent statement of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the Indian Constitution is flexible enough to accommodate the desire and aspirations of all people."

He added, "Through the talks, therefore, we proposed to evaluate various facets of the Constitution and to explore the viability of protection and enrichment of the sovereignty of the people of Assam in all its dimensions -- political, social and cultural, within the flexibility as mentioned by the prime minister."

Declaring that the agenda of the future talks with the government and ULFA's demands would be decided by the "people of Assam", he said it was necessary to amend the Constitution to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the people.

On the possibility of declaring a ceasefire, Choudhury said the initiative has to come from the government. "Anyway, we have not indulged in violence in last one year,"he said, adding that Ulfa is still a banned group. He said though the members were still outlawed, they were trying to be "good citizen" to bring a lasting solution to the "conflict".

Before the delegation went for first formal talks, home minister P Chidambaram, whom the Ulfa leaders met, said, "I assured them that the government of India and government of Assam will engage them in sincere and meaningful talks and I am confident that we will find a just and honourable solution". The outfit's delegation will meet the PM here on Monday.

TOI

East India Hill Stations

2011-02-08T21:56:00.000-08:00

Darjeeling Hill Station:

Darjeeling , the queen of all hill stations,famous for its natural beauty, clean fresh air,year round plesent weather and above all, the ever smiling and welcoming local people.The 3rd highest pick in the world,mount Kanchenjunga is very close to this lpece and also gives the clearest view.Darjeeling is widely known as visitors paradise because every day it offers something new to everyone ,may be the first time visitoe and may be the regular one.The morning bell comes to the vewers when the firts ray of sun touchesthe mountaina pick.This is tiger hill,a steep ride of five kilometers from Ghoom, is the place where one can witness this hevenly feelings.Here the air is chilly ,but unique to get an experience.Here the new day starts with the world famous blend of tea,foggy and smokky weather,mountain view and smiling face of local Gorkhi people.

Darjeeling is also a place to know Tibetan culture,Himalayan Tribal Life, and to see the Tibetian Monasteries, Pine Trees,Tea garden etc.very closely.

Gangtok Hill Station:

Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim with a population of approximately 50,000 has emerged into the mainstream of the Tourism Industry, with more and more tourist visiting this little Himalayan state every year. Gangtok has developed into a cosmopolitan flavour where old-world charm and hospitality exist along with the Internet Age.

With different cultures and religion existing in perfect harmony, Gangtok has shown that "Unity in Diversity" exists in Sikkim. Sikkimese have strong bonding with their age-old traditions and customs. However, a quick survey of Gangtok shows that the bubble of modernization has burst with a bang in the town. The capital is definitely not behind the rest of the world in terms of urbanization - Broad roads, flyovers, posh markets, state-of-art hospital, educational institutes, fast food outlets, discothèques, and all other modern amenities that the heart can desire for. One imposing manmade landmark of the town is the 200 ft-high TV tower which overlooks the town and is situated near the Enchey Monastry below Ganesh Tok. A stroll along the Mahatma Gandhi Marg is shopper's delight- Hotels, restaurants, curios, footwear and almost everything is available. Be here to experience the magic.

Kalimpong Hill Station:

The first thing that strikes the traveler visiting Kalimpong is its quiet atmosphere. The peaceful ambience that pervades is heightened by the presence of monasteries and churches across the town.

Mirik Hill Station:

Mirik, the youngest hill station of India, is built around a 1.25 km long natural lake. The magical hill resort lies close to Siliguri in the West Benga l state of India. The peaceful and tranquil hill resort of Mirik boasts of several nature spots. The wild flowers, lovely lake and flourishing forests of Cryptomaria Japanica trees make Mirik appear as a tropical paradise. Mirik is surrounded by tea estates, orange orchards and cardamom plantations. There is a floating fountain in the middle of the lake and a quaint little footbridge connecting the flower garden on the eastern bank to the heavily forested ridge on the west. The lake is provided with boating facilities.

The place is only 49km from Darjeeling and 52km from Siliguri and can be reached from either place quite easily. This place is 1767 meters above the sea level and has a relatively thin population of 15,000 people. A relatively new tourist destination, Mirik came in the tourist map of Darjeeling District only in the 1970s. Mirik has all that it takes to attract tourists; it is surrounded by forests, flowers and is a very peaceful place, which attracts the tourists automatically.

Shillong Hill Station:

It is named after the "Shillong Peak" overlooking the city. There are many legends about the name Shillong.One of the many legends run that the name Shillong was derived from U Shylong, a supernatural half-deity born of a virgin human mother. In another legend, it is told that the name Shillong originated from the name of Shillong Deity who lived in a cave known as Krem Marai near Shillong Peak.The city was founded by Col. Henry Hopkinson, Commissioner of Assam in 1864.In that very year the headquaters of the District Officer of the khasi Hills were transferred from Cherrapunjee to Shillong.Shillong's picturesque setting and salubrious climate were found very suitable for sanatoria and holiday home of the British civilians, who were tormented by heat in the plains. It was also considered an ideal situation for the establishment of a military cantonment to keep vigil on the entire North East.Termed as "Scotland of the East", Shillong is situated at a height of 5,000 feet on the plateau of gentle hills. Cool colonnades of tall pine trees clad with whispering green leaves glistening in the sun surround the city. On its bosom lie several lovely waterfalls - Spread Eagle falls, Elephant Falls, Beadon Falls etc. sprightly dancing down from their hilly heights.

Shillong with its veritable beauty spots like Ward's Lake, the Lady Hydari Park with its mini zoo, and its 18-hole Golf Course, one of the oldest and best in the country, is a great tourist center, attracting people from far and near.

In the mini-zoo, various species of birds, such as, hornbills, pheasants, pelicans, and storks can be seen besides the animals like antelope, slow loris, clouded leopard, leopard cat, golden cat and golden langur.

Tawang Hill Station:

Tawang, perched at a height of over 10,000 ft, is world-renowned for its 400-year-old Buddhist Monastery, one of the biggest in India.

The Monastery was founded by the monk Mera Lama, a contemporary of the fifth Dalai Lama. The sixth Dalai Lama was born here. The Tawang Monastery has an interesting collection of Thangkas (Tibetan painting on cloth) and a large gilded statue of Sakyamuni (the historical Buddha) in the prayer hall. The Tawang Monastery, also known as the 'Galden Namgyal Lhatse', is beautifully situated on a spur about 2 km from the heart of the town. Before the establishment of the Monastery, Tawang was a centre of Tantric religion.

2 GJM supporters dead in Kolkata police clash

2011-02-08T04:20:00.000-08:00

JALPAIGURI: Two Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters, including a woman, were killed and scores injured as police and central paramilitary forces opened fire at protesters from the Darjeeling Hills who were trying to defy prohibitory orders and force their way into Doors on Tuesday morning. The incident occured at Sibchu tea garden in the Nagrakata area of Jalpaiguri district.

Several policemen were also injured as Morcha supporters rained brickbats at police. Police alleged that a female home guard — Karuna Tigga — had been critically injured after being attacked by a khukri.

The incident immediately spurred Morcha supporters to set a district judge's car on fire in Darjeeling and set ablaze two NBSTC buses in Kalimpong. Road blockades were reported in Birpara and Nimchu, both known GJM strongholds. School and colleges remained closed.

The district administration were quick to declare a curfew in the hills. The state director general of police Naparajit Mukherjee said the situation was volatile.

Nordem Lama, GJM central committee member, alleged police had resorted to unprovoked fire and lathicharge. "Our relay hunger strike was going on peacefully. There was no violation of any prohibitory order. We will not budge from here. Let police do what they want."

SP Jalpaiguri Anand Kumar said police had initially tried to disperse the protesters. "The mob attacked police in a planned way. They had brutally attacked a female home guard," said Kumar. The SP also alleged that a few gunshots were fired at the police. It was only then, he said, police had to resort to firing.

The violence was a result of the simmering tension brewing over the GJM's avowed stance to set foot in Doors and the district administration's reluctance to let them do so. The Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad had threatened to stop GJM from setting foot in Doors. The administration, sources said, had clamped down the prohibitory orders sensing the proposed agitation.

For the past week, several hundred Morcha supporters, mostly comprising members of their women's wing (Nari Morcha), have been camping in Kumai, seven kilometers from Sibchu and along Darjeeling-Jalpaiguri border, staging a relay hunger strike.

GJM president Bimal Gurung had also frequented the place. For the past few days, supporters had making steady progress towards Jaigaon in a bid to enter the Doors. A few days ago, Joigaon had witnessed a bloody retaliation against GJM supporters by various splinter opposition groups forcing GJM to beat a retreat.

On Monday, based on reports that GJM supporters have already set base in Sibchu tea garden, police and CRPF forces reached the spot. Citing the prohibitory orders, police had given the Morcha supporters half-an-hour to disperse from their makeshift base. When protesters paid no heed, police resorted to lathicharge and forcibly dismantled around 25 tents. This led to an impromptu blockade by Nari Morcha supporters trying to stop police from returning.

This morning, the same place witnessed an influx of nearly 1,200 GJM supporters. Roads leading to Sibchu were dug up to prevent police and CRPF vehicles from entering. Trees were felled and lay strewn across the road. As police entered the area, they were surrounded by GJM supporters from all sides. When police tried to break free, they were attacked. It was in this melee that nearly 20 policemen, including the female officer, were injured. After a deputy magistrate from Malbazar, who was accompanying the police party, failed to reign in the protestors, police resorted to firing.

TOI

Festivals of Assam

2011-02-08T04:18:00.001-08:00

Festivals of Assam

Assam is a land of fairs and festivals. Most of the festivals celebrated in Assam characterize the spirit of accommodation and togetherness in the diverse faith and belief of her inhabitants. This perfect fusion of heritage of her numerous races has made Assam the home of the most colorful festivals reflecting the true spirit, tradition and lifestlye of the people of Assam.

The major festivals celebrated in Assam are Bihu, Baishagu, Ali-Ai-Ligang, Baikho, Rongker, Rajini Gabra Harni Gabra, Bohaggiyo Bishu, Ambubashi Mela and Jonbill Mela and so on.

The people of Assam also celebrate Holi, Durga Puja, Diwali, Swaraswati Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Kali Puja, Idd, Muharram, Me-Dam-Me-Phi, the birth and death anniversaries of Vaishnava Saints Srimanta Sankardev and Madhabdev.

The tribals of Assam have their own colourful festivals like the Kherai Puja of the Bodos, the Baikhu and Pharkantis of the Rabhas, Ali-ai-ligang and Parag of the Mishing tribe, the Sagra-misawa wansawa and laghun of the Tiwas.

Bihu

Bihu is the most important festival of Assam. It is celebrated with joy and abundance by all Assamese people irrespective of caste, creed, religion, faith and belief.

Three Bihus are celebrated in a year: Bohag Bihu which augurs the wish for a good harvest because this is the time when farmers start sowing, Kaati Bihu which is observed to mark the cutting and binding of grains and Magh Bihu which marks the season of harvesting of grains.

Me-Dum-Me-Phi

The most important Ahom festival which deserves mention is the Me-Dum-Me-Phi, i.e., the ancestor worship festival which is observed by the whole Ahom community. This is performed annually on the 31st of January and helps to develop social contacts and community feelings among the Ahoms. Colourful processions with devotees in traditional finery are also taken out on the occasion.

Baishagu
Famous for its myriad colours and merriment, 'Baishagu' is generally celebrated by the Bodo Kacharis during mid April. It is the most cherished festival of the Bodo tribe. The Bodos also celebrate it as a springtime festival at the advent of the new year.

Ambubachi Mela

Is the most important festival of Kamakhya temple of Guwahati and is held every year during monsoon (mid-June). It is a ritual of austerities celebrated with 'Tantric rites'.
During Ambubashi the doors of the temple remain closed for three days. It is believed that the earth becomes impure for three days. During this time no farming work is undertaken.
Ambubachi mela is held at the Kamakhya temple, after being closed for the afore-mentioned three days. On the fourth day only the devotees are allowed to enter inside the temple for worship. Thousands of devotees from all over the country and abroad visit this mela.

Assam Culture & Dances

2011-02-08T04:16:00.000-08:00

Assam Culture & Dances

Assam is an intermixture of various racial stocks such as Mongoloid, Indo-Burmese, Indo-Iranian and Aryan. The Assamese culture is a rich and exotic tapestry of all these races evolved through a long assimilative process. The natives of the state of Assam are known as "Asomiya" (Assamese), which is also the state language of Assam.

The state has a large number of tribes, each unique in it's tradition, culture, dresse and exotic way of life. Diverse tribes like Bodo, Kachari, Karbi, Miri, Mishimi, Rabha, etc co-exist in Assam, most tribes have their own languages though Assamese is the principal language of the state.

A majority of the Assamese is the Vaishnavas (a sect of Hinduism). The Vaishnavas do not believe in idol worshiping and perform Namkirtana where the glory of

Lord Vishnu is recited. The two important cultural and religious institutions that influence the cultural fabric of Assam: the Satras, the site of religious and cultural practice which have been in existence for over 400 years and and the Naamghar, the house of prayers.

Villagers generally associate on the basis of membership of a local center of devotional worship called "Naamghar". Villages are usually made up of families from a number of distinct castes. In Assam, the caste system, although it exists, is not as prominent as in other parts of India.

Other religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam etc. are also practiced in Assam. The national festival of Assam is the Bihu which is celebrated in three parts during a year with great pomp and grandeur by all Assamese, irrespective of caste, creed or religion.

Bengali-speaking Hindus and Muslims represent the largest minorities, followed by Nepalis and populations from neighboring regions of India.

The most important social and cultural celebrations are the three Bihu festivals observed with great enthusiasm irrespective of caste, creed and religious affinity.

From time immemorial, the people of Assam have traditionally been craftsmen. Artists, sculptors, masons, weavers, spinners, potters, goldsmiths, artisans of ivory, wood, bamboo, cane and hide have flourished in Assam from ancient times.

Weaving is one traditional craft that every Assamese woman takes pride in. The Assamese women produce silk and cotton clothes of exquisite designs in their looms. Assam is renowned for its exquisite silks namely Eri, Pat and the world famous Muga silk. Gandhiji complimented the Assamese weavers as artists who could weave dreams in their looms.
The Gamocha is one of the most easily recognizable cultural symbols of the Assamese people besides the tamol-paan (areca nut & betel leaf) which is an integral part of almost all socio-religious ceremonies.

The Gamocha, a white rectangular piece of cotton hand woven cloth with primarily a red border on three sides and red woven motifs on the fourth (in addition to red, other colors are also used) is put to many uses. It is used as a towel, as a waistcloth or a loincloth; a Bihu dancer wraps it around the head in a knot, it is also hung around the neck at the prayer hall and thrown over the shoulder to signify social
status or respect. Gamochas, also known as bihuwaans, are offered during Bihu as a token of love.

Significantly the gamocha is used equally by all, irrespective of religious and ethnic backgrounds.

DANCES

Bihu
Bihu is the most popular folk dance of Assam. Bihu dances are performed by young boys and girls during the Bihu festivities which represent youthful passion, reproductive urge and joy. The dances are accompanied by musical instruments like dhol(dholak), penpa, gagana, banhi(flute) etc.

Satriya Nritya
Satriya Nritya is the classic dance form of Assam which represents the Satriya culture, the basis of the religious and cultural fabric of Assam.

Barpeta's Bhortal Nritya

Bhortal Nritya of Barpeta district is an extension of Sankari culture.

Tea Folk's Jhumur Dance
The tea tribes have a synthesized form of dance called "Jhumur Nach", performed by girls and boys together, or, sometimes by the girls alone, with precision of footwork while clasping tightly each other's waist.

Bagurumba
Bagurumba is the most attractive dance of the Bodo community. Girls dressed in colourful attires perform this dance in tune of Bodo traditional musical instruments.

Deodhani
The Deodhani dance is associated with the worship of the snake goddess Manasa. A Deodhani girl, in a inspired state, goes on dancing to the accompaniment of Kham (drum) and Ciphung (flute) propitiating many a deity beginning with Shiva and ending with Lakshmi.

Bihu Festival

2011-02-04T04:59:00.001-08:00

Origin of Festival

Originating in the pre-Aryan days around 3500 b.c., the festival of Bihu used to last for a whole month, though nowadays work pressure has reduced it to a week. A no holds barred dancing session is the most intriguing part of the festival and symbolises the fertility rites of the original inhabitants of the hilly regions of the northeast in India. The farmers fancied that the erotic content of the songs would sexually arouse the earth’s body, leading to an abundant harvest.

Bihag Bihu or Rangoli Bihu, the first of the three Bihus, is celebrated in the month of April on the dates coinciding with the sankranti, chait or baisak (13, 14 and 15 April).

Festival Celebration During The Assamese New Year

According to the solar calendar that the Assamese follow, the New Year usually falls on 14th April. Brilliantly-coloured flowers and luxuriant foliage dress the whole of Assam in all the hues of the rainbow during the month of April. An abundance of kopoful (orchids), mostly purple in colour, in unusual shapes and sizes dot the trees, and the bhebel creepers are in full bloom creating an enchanting kaleidoscope of colours. No one can fault the Assamese his choice of seasons for the Bihu festivals.

The vivid attire of the Assamese youth and the colourful accessories like kopoful adorning the hair of the young lasses blend with the hues of nature, spreading joy and good cheer. The day is marked with dancing, though restricted exclusively to men, who participate with unbridled enthusiasm and energy. But the winds of change have blown through this remote state also. Surrendering to contemporary trends, youngsters gather in the town centre and learn the steps from an old hand much in demand on this day.

Gomacha Weaving for Dance

Assamese women are experts at weaving the gomacha, a towel with intricately woven designs, ceremonially presented as any bihu (bihu presents) to the men of the family. A young girl too may gift these beautiful souvenirs to her beau as a token of love. Young lads love to flaunt their prizes by tying them around their waist or as headbands while dancing. But things start warming up as the Bihu Dals

approach. Now a few words about the bihu dals. They are wandering minstrels who come visiting through the week, dancing and singing devotional songs (hosari) in praise of Lord Krishna (the black god of the Hindus), invoking his blessings for health, wealth and happiness. They sing to the accompaniment of an eclectic collection of musical instruments like the dhol (drum), pepa (made of buffalo horn), gogona (made from bamboo and held between the teeth) and small cymbals. Bihu dals along with other groups gather in open grounds called bihu tolis where dancing competitions and beauty pageants are held, and the winners get to see their names in print in the local newspapers.

Garur Bihu

The first day or garur bihu also called uraka falls on the day of sankranti and is devoted to the cow that is considered to be a sacred animal in India. The rationale behind the worshipping of cows is very simple. They are the greatest assets of a farmer because not only do they produce milk but also help plough fields, transport men, crop and so on. A lot of tender, loving care is showered on cows on this day, starting with bathing them in the pond. The horns and hooves are brushed with whisks made from deegloti or makheatr (lilsoca salocrfolea). A mixture of twigs, turmeric and moong dal (pulses) acts as a disinfectant, and is applied as a paste. A hearty meal of gourd and brinjal is fed to the cows after which their foreheads are marked with vermilion. As the night falls, the tired but satiated cows are led back to their sheds and thoroughly cleansed. Only then does the household sit down for a sumptuous meal of assorted preparations of chirwa (flat rice) and a mind-boggling array of sweets.

The following day is welcomed as manuhor bihu or the bihu of human beings. The Assamese celebrate their New Year on this day. A lavish feast called bihu kabo loi is laid out for the day and married daughters along with other relatives are invited to partake of the meal. On this day, delicacies such as pitha (made from rice and coconut), laddoo (made from shredded coconut) and til laddoo (made from sesame seed) are prepared. of course, no festival in India is complete without buying new clothes and Bihu is no exception. Everyone receives gomachas as presents from the ladies of the house. Women look very graceful in their new mekhele chadar, woven with the golden-coloured muga silk that is indigenous to Assam. The chic look is completed with the accessories like gumkham bracelets made from an alloy of silver and gold nuggets found in the rivers.

Gabhori Bihu

Gabhori bihu falls on the third day of the festival and is earmarked as the day for young ladies. The fair maidens of Assam look gorgeous in their muga silk wear and ornate gumkham bracelets. The orchids adorning the hair of the ladies add a whimsical touch to the formality of the outfit. Swaying to the beat of the toka (drum) and gogona (made from bamboo held between the teeth), the women dance the night away under the gentle breeze of banyan trees. Couplets are created spontaneously. Starting with a slow tempo, the rhythm builds up to a crescendo. Once the merrymaking is over, it is customary to present fermented betel leaves over a gomacha to the dancers. On the final day, the festivities end on a religious note wherein families inscribe a mantra (religious hymn of the Hindus) on the leaves of nahar pat (Indian ironwood tree). Through this mantra, Lord Shiva (the Destroyer in the Holy Hindu Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer) is invoked to protect everyone against disease, storms and rain, and to bring peace and prosperity in the forthcoming year.

Kati Bihu

The second bihu named kati bihu or kangali bihu is held in the month of kartik (September or October). But there is a world of difference in the celebration of this bihu from the former.

This is a solemn occasion as people worship the deities for a rich harvest. The young learn to value hard work so that they do not squander money away.

Predictably enough, this bihu is dedicated to the worship of none other than Goddess Lakshmi who is the dispenser of wealth to mortals. As night falls, lamps are lit in the paddy fields where farmers have toiled through the day. At the end of a hard day’s work, all the members of a family pray to the benign Goddess for the well-being of their crop and cattle.
Sacred to the Hindus, the tulsi (basil) tree is planted or pruned in the courtyard of each household. Water is poured over the plant with great reverence after puja is performed every day.
The medicinal properties of tulsi are well known the world over; the age-old recipe of tulsi leaves mixed with a few grains of black pepper and misri (sugar in the form of crystals) is a surefire way to stay in good health.

Magh Bihu

The Magh bihu that generally falls on 14th January on the sankranti of the month, is the third bihu that calls for a grand celebration in Assamese homes. This is again a joyous occasion as the granaries are stocked with the recently harvested crop. Seven days of non-stop fun and frolic mark this festival. But the best thing about this bihu is the elaborate and sumptious cuisine that is prepared. This grand feast known as bhog is held on the night of the first day of the festival that is also called uruka.

Khel Dhemali-(Fun Games)

If you are an outdoor person who enjoys sports of all kinds, Assam is the place to be in at this time of the year. Everyone indulges in khel dhemali (fun and games). Each village holds its share of fights between various creatures, big and small including cockfights and buffalo fights, for the entertainment of the locals. An inexpensive way to have fun, though the poor animals might beg to differ. The chilly winters offer the best excuse to light bonfires in the great outdoors and dance around them with gay abandon. All this is reminiscent of the festivals of Lohri in Punjab, Pongal in Tamil Nadu and Goopi in Andhra Pradesh, which is not surprising as sankranti is a time for festivals all over India.

The Bihu Festival of Assam

2011-02-04T04:54:00.000-08:00

Bihu is the National Festival of Assam, one of the most beautiful states of India, known for its tea gardens, lush green forests and the mighty Brahmaputra river. The origin of the word ‘Bihu" is said to be from the Sanskrit word ‘Vishu’.

The Assamese celebrate three types of Bihu in a year - Rongaali Bihu or ‘Bohaag Bihu’, Kati Bihu or Kongaali Bihu and the last but not the least Magh Bihu or Bhogaali Bihu’. The Bihus mark three distinct phases of the farming calendar for the native crop of Assam i.e. paddy. Bohaag Bihu marks the advent of the seeding time, the Kati Bihu marks the completion of sowing of paddy and transplantation of the saplings (‘Kothia’) and finally Magh Bihu marks the culmination of the harvesting period.

‘Rongaali Bihu’, the most important Bihu of all the three, is celebrated in the month of Bohaag (middle of April), the first month of the Assamese calendar and thus marks the advent of the Assamese New Year. This Bihu is also known as Rongaali ( ‘Rong’ denoting joy in Assamese) Bihu due to the merriment that predominates the celebrations. This festival also coincides with the advent of the spring season in the state. Bihu Dance and Bihu Songs are the main features of this Bihu. Bohaag Bihu is celebrated over a period of several days. The first day of the Bihu is known as ‘Goru Bihu’ on which day the cows and bulls are given a ritual bath with ‘halodhi’, ‘maah’ with the accompanying song "Lao Kha, Bengena Kha, Bochore Bochore Badhi Ja".

The next day is the main Bihu Day on which people greet each other and pay their respect to the elders in the family by presenting with a new ‘Gamosa’ ( a traditional Assamese hand-woven cotton towel with red designs with a white background). Gamosa forms an integral part of the Bohaag Bihu celebrations as the male danseuse wears them on the head as well as on the body. The tradition of presenting a Gamosa is also practised while welcoming any guest during anytime of the year.

Another item which forms an integral part of the Bihu celebrations and is also symbolic of Assamese Culture is the Japi – a traditional Bamboo hat with colorful designs. A more simple bamboo Japi is normally worn by the farmer while cultivating in the field protecting oneself from the sun and rain.

The folk songs associated with Bohaag Bihu are known as ‘Bihu Geet’; Bihu Geet is symbolic of communication of love and romance among the village youth and the village belles. The dances are accompanied by traditional Assamese instruments like the Dhol (the Drum), Pepa, Gagana, Toka etc..

Traditionally Bihu has been celebrated with Bihu dance and Bihu Geets in the village fields and courtyards, with groups of youths going from house to house, singing Bihu songs which is known as Husori. The same practice slowly got transformed to holding community functions mainly in towns and cities where cultural functions are held; such functions are based on Bihu dance and Bihu geets which depict mainly Bihu dances and songs.

The end of the Bohaag Bihu is marked by the celebration of Bohagi Bidaai, i.e. farewell to Bohaag.

Kati Bihu is the most quiet Bihu of the three without any funfare unlike the other two. Held in the beginning of the Kati (7th month of the Assamese calendar) (middle of October), the Bihu marks silent prayer in the form of lighting of earthen lamps in the paddy fields and also near Tulasi tree for the success of the crop.

Bhogaali Bihu is celebrated in January, immediately after the traditional paddy cultivation is harvested. An overnight community function is held in temporary thatched houses (made with thatch and dry plantation leaves/ trunk) known as Bhela Ghar or Meji Ghar) specially erected for the purpose mainly in the barren paddy fields from where the crop has already been harvested. A Community feast is one of the main features of this Bihu which is held near the Bhela Ghar. People spent the night of the community feast in the Bhela Ghar and early in the morning the same is lit with fire, culminating the function. A variety of traditional Assamese sweets and cakes like the Laru, Pitha etc. are prepared on the occasion in every home. The next day is spent by visiting relatives and friends to convey and exchange the Bihu greetings; the guests, neighbours and relatives are treated with the snacks prepared for the occasion.

One important aspect of the Bihu festival is that the entire Assamese Community irrespective caste, creed and religious followings celebrate it.

Sikkim Momos

2011-02-04T04:50:00.000-08:00

Sikkim is India’s second-smallest (Goa is the smallest) and least populated state. That said, it also represents a confluence of diverse peoples and cultures. It is home to the indigenous Lepcha tribe, thought to be Sikkim’s original inhabitants; the Bhutias who migrated from Tibet in the 14th century; and the more recent migrant Nepalese (now almost 80% of the populace). Sikkimese cuisine is a reflection of this diversity.

Momos and thukpa (gya thuk in Sikkimese) are ubiquitous. Although I wanted to skip the Tibetan stuff and explore more traditional delicacies,

Cuisines of North East India

2011-02-04T04:47:00.000-08:00

Assamese Cuisine
Assamese food is mainly based on rice and fish. For dessert, or for those with a sweet tooth, there is a wide range in "pithas" (cakes).

Rice is the staple diet in Assam and is eaten in various forms throughout the day. The Assamese eat a huge variety of rice-based breakfast cereals with milk, yoghurt or thick creamakhoi (puffed rice), chira (chura), muri, komal chaul (a specially processed rice which doesn’t require cooking but just an hour’s soak in cold water) and hurum to name but a few. Normally jaggery or sugar is added but for those who prefer savoury items, salt can be added. Also there are the various kinds of pitha that are prepared from rice powder.

Authentic Assamese cuisine is bland and yet very delicious. Very little oil is used and practically no spices. All Assamese people are non-vegetarian. Chicken is taboo in orthodox families and there are some, who may not eat meat. But it’s difficult to find anyone who does not eat fish and duck’s eggs. Mustard oil is used for cooking and occasionally clarified butter or ghee.

Arunachali Cuisine
Traditional north-east delicacies, Chinese food and local food are available here. Poeple here generally take non-vegetarian diets. Most of their cuisines include non-vegetarian meals. Apong (local drinks made from rice or millet) is also take by the people here.

Manipuri Cuisine
The traditional Manipuri fine dining was a literally 'sit-down' affair with banana-leaf plates. Their love for rice can be seen in every household here. Some take rice with meat, and some others prefer a fish delicacy along with the main dish. In fact Kabok, a traditional speciality, is mostly fried rice with a world of vegetables added in. The Iromba, an eclectic combination of fish, vegetables and bamboo shoots is served fermented.

Meghalayan Cuisine
The Meghalayan cuisine is heavily tilted in favour of meat, particularly pork. Jadoh - a spicy dish of rice and pork is eaten almost any time. Besides, the local pork delicacies cooked Khasi-style, Shillong is also the Mecca of authentic Chinese food. Kyat, the local brew made from rice, adds zing to all the local celebrations. You can taste it at any of the bars spread all over Shillong Meghalaya.

Mizoram Cuisine
The people of Mizoram are basically non-vegetarian and love meat. The food is not spicy and is cooked in such a way that the nutritive value is actually retained. The locally made wine is a great favourite. "Zu" (tea) is a popular drink. Both men and women are fond of smoking.

Sikkimese CuisineSikkimese Cuisine
Sikkim has its own unique dietary culture with specific cuisine and food recipes. You can get a variety of food in Sikkim, but specialities like the Tibetan Thupka and Momos are very popular here. A beverage to be sampled is the local 'Tchang', a beer made of millet and served in a bamboo mug. You can find this at small restaurants serving Sikkimese cuisine.

Sikkimese are essentially rice-eaters. Alcoholic drinks are popular both amongst men and women. Various traditional fermented foods and beverages is very common. Beef eating is common amongst the Bhutias. Some of the common traditional cuisine with their food recipes are - Momos, Gya Thuk or Thukpa, Ningro with Churpi, Gundruk, Phagshapa, Sael Roti.

Tripuri Cuisine
The large Bengali community in Tripura makes for a non-vegetarian favoured cuisine, with fish being an integral part of the menu. Most of the household here serves authentic Bengali delicacies.

Naga youths visit Dhubri district

2011-02-04T04:43:00.001-08:00

DHUBRI, Feb 3 – Under the Youth Club Exchange Programme (YCEP), a new Government of India programme being implemented by the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) under the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, a 10-member team of youths from Zonheboto district of Nagaland visited Dhubri district for 10 days as guests of a host youth club selected by the NYK, Dhubri, recently.

The visiting team led by Unice H Achand comprised seven boys and three girls. The NYK, Dhubri, entrusted ASHROM (A Society for Human Resource Overall Management), a local youth club of Nayahat under Bilasipara subdivision, with hosting the visiting youths from Nagaland. The guests camped at Suryakhata in Bilasipara town under the supervision of Sankar Sarkar, YC, NYK, Dhubri.

The Youth Club Exchange Programme is aimed at helping the youths to appreciate the living conditions of people living in other States, their day-to-day life, customs and traditions and emulate whatever progressive they find in them. Besides mutual understanding through interactions, the tour programme also includes sightseeing which may cover religious places, historical places, tourist spots, etc.

According to sources at the Nehru Yuva Kendra, Dhubri, the Naga youths were taken to the Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary, Dudhnath Temple, Brahmaputra Char, Florican Garden, Mahamaya Temple, Snanghat Temple, Panbari Mosque and various other places in Dhubri town. The Naga youths were also introduced to top officers of the Dhubri district administration before they were given a warm welcome at the NYK office.

ULFA-Govt talks on Feb 10

2011-02-04T04:41:00.000-08:00

NEW DELHI, Feb 3 – The first rounds of talks between the Government and the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) will be held here on February 10, highly placed sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said.

Sources said that the modalities for the talks, to be held at the Home Secretary level, are being worked out. If the Union Home Minister stays in Delhi at that time, the leaders of the ULFA will also meet him, sources added.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=feb0411/city04

Opposition protests in Assam Assembly

2011-02-04T04:39:00.001-08:00

Guwahati, Feb 4 (IANS): From cymbals to placards, many things made an unusual appearance in the Assam Assembly today as part of vociferous Opposition protests to demand the dismissal of ministers allegedly involved in the multi-crore rupee scam in North Cachar Hills district.

The only thing missing was the names of the allegedly corrupt ministers.

"We don't want to name the ministers, although we know their names," Chandra Mohan Patowary, president of main Opposition party Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), told IANS.

Assembly proceedings for the past four days have been stalled with the Opposition demanding that the corrupt ministers be dropped from the Cabinet. "Everybody knows who the corrupt ministers are and so there is no need to take names," said Bhuban Pegu, another vocal legislator belonging to the Gana Shakti Party.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Rameshwar Teli said, "No, no, I don't want to take their names as it is all known to the people of Assam."

It was no different with the Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF). Aditya Langthasa, a legislator of AUDF, said, "The government should know who the corrupt ministers are. In fact, ministers of all departments where corruption has taken place in the North Cachar Hills district should be dropped."

The financial scam in the North Cachar Hills is currently under probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation, the enquiry having been referred to the apex investigating agency by the Assam government in 2008.

"How can I simply drop a minister or some ministers without any charge? No ministers in my Cabinet have so far been interrogated or named by any investigating agency. The Opposition demand is simply obnoxious and nothing but politics," Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told IANS. "If the Opposition knows the names of the ministers, they should on their own lodge a complaint with the CBI or hand over the list of corrupt ministers to me."

"This is election season in Assam and the Opposition is simply making this ruckus to draw the attention of the media and politicise the issue without any hard evidence," Gogoi said.

A politician-militant-bureaucrat-contractor nexus involving government funds siphoned off in the North Cachar Hills district was unravelled by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2009 after the State government asked for a probe. During investigations it was found that crores of development funds were channelised to a militant group, the Dima Haolam Daogah. The case was later handed over to the CBI since it involved politicians and bureaucrats.

CBI to has not named or interrogated any ministers so far.

One Horned Rhino Wildlife Tours

2011-02-04T04:36:00.000-08:00

The Great one horned rhino is commonly found in Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and in Assam, India. It is confined to the tall grasslands and forests in the foothills of the Himalayas. The Indian Rhinoceros can run at speeds of up to 25 mph (40 km/h) for short periods of time and is also an excellent swimmer. It has excellent senses of hearing and smell, but relatively poor eyesight.

However, no more than 2,000 remain in the wild, with only two populations containing more than 100 rhinos: Kaziranga National Park in Assam, India (1,200) and Chitwan National Park (CNP), Nepal (600). Despite joint efforts between Bhutan and India, the survival of a small population of rhinos living along the Indo-Bhutan border in Manas still remains doubtful (Jnawali et.at, 2000)

The Indian Rhinoceros, internationally known as the Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros is a massively built beast of truly gigantic proportions that is next only to the Indian Elephant. A single One -Horned Rhino weighs about 1800 kg and is about 1.5 to 1.8 m tall. Though it could once be found throughout India in the grassy flood plains of the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers, it is now restricted to the banks of the Brahmaputra, for its natural habitat of marshes, grassland and swamps has gradually been turned into farmland.

The one-horned rhino is solitary in nature and spends hours wallowing in mud and water, or feeding on grasses. It usually confines its movements to within an area of 5 km sq, though the males may sometimes wander further in search of mates. One of their special features is the long noisy fights that occur between a male and a female at the time of courtship. Violent encounters ensue in a series of displays and postures involving curling of lips, and snorts and grunts. Rhinos can be amazingly agile despite their bulk and growth, and can charge at speeds of 4 to 8 km per hour.

The population of the one-horned rhino has decreased due to destruction of their natural habitat as well as unchecked and merciless poaching, for the mythical aphrodisiacal properties of its horn, as well as mythical medicinal properties of other parts of its body. One rhino horn can fetch as much as 20,000 US dollars, and even more in the international markets.

Indian Wildlife Authorities are now making a determined effort at rhino conservation. Translocation Projects are under operation, and the survival of the rhinos at all odds is the final goal. The Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros can be found in the national reserves of Kaziranga, Manas and Jaldapara.

# Asiatic Lion

# Indian Elephant

# King Cobra

# One-Horned Rhino

# Royal Bengal Tiger

Assam Tea Garden

2011-02-03T04:53:00.000-08:00

Assam is one of the world`s largest tea producing areas yielding roughly 200,000 tons of tea per year.Generally speaking in the world of tea,the best teas are grown higher up the mountains of Darjeeling and Sikkim.

The Assam Valley is an exception to this rule,producing excellent black teas at lower altitudes. Assam tea is known for its strength,dark color and rich malty flavour.

The Assam Valley floods every year during the monsoon season when the heat and humidity turn the entire region into a giant greenhouse.It`s a challenging environment due to hot weather and flooding,but is a perfect place to grow tea.The climate, the rich soil and the indigenous tea plants give Assam tea its characteristic strong,full bodied taste and flavour

History of Assam tea
Assam Tea Garden Wake up at morning and a sip of tea, perhaps it is one of the most rejuvenating experience one could have imagined and with Assam tea refreshment will be double. Assam is popular around the world for it's refreshing, full bodied malty tea. Assam tea had been cultured long back (about 2000 years ago) when tea was only consumed as a health drink or medicine by the tribes but it was the first time when Bodos, brought tea in the limelight. After the world recognition of this amazing beverage, geographical and economical configuration had been altered dramatically. Vast wild forest metamorphosed into beautiful embracing tea gardens.

Present scenario
Once neglected beverage is now the most prominent drink of world and India is the largest producer. About 400 millions kgs of tea per year comes from Assam. It contribute more than half of total countries tea production. Tea is an integral part of the amiable Assamese people as well as world. People starts their day with a steaming cup of brew and take it in a regular interval for refreshing mood. In India guests are welcomed by offering a cup of tea. In Assam the traditional way to taste the brew is in Bell Matel Bowl called "Banbati".

Production of Tea
Production of tea is much like wine. Most of tea undergoes fermentation process, green tea is only exception. Shape of leaf, climate, method of production and soil are causes to give its characteristics flavor. Tea is of three types- Black tea, which is most consumed (more than 90% in the world). Unfermented Green tea, which is important beverage of Chinese and now these days researchers find many medicinal values in it and Ooglong tea, which is partially fermented. Assam is number one production center of black tea. Popularly known as "tippy teas", which is black tea with golden tips. Black tea usually of two types a) orthodox, which more export and have a high demand in the International market. b)Indians are mostly consume CTC (crush-tear-curl) tea because it is less bitter and produce a red rich color when they are boiled. Mainly, Assam is popular for black tea and Darjeeling is for CTC.

Life at Tea Garden
Life at tea garden is oblivion to most of the outsiders.Trees are grown in bushes,the tea bushes are about 3 feet in height with an even surface from the top of which the pluckers pluck the tea leaves. The lay of the land in a tea garden is waving so that excess rainwater or irrigation water does not remain standing at the roots but flows away after watering the soil. Unfortunately, life of tea workers is worsening day by day, at least 700 tea workers have died from diseases linked with malnutrition over the past year after closure of tea estates. Daily wages of tea workers are much lower than tea workers in Kerala and other states.

ATTRACTIONS OF NORTH EAST

2011-02-03T04:47:00.000-08:00

ATTRACTIONS OF NORTH EAST

Assam Tea Garden
Assam tea gardens are just an another feather in the cap of North East India.

one horned rhino
A corporal colossus, is one horned rhino, narrowed to the tall grassland and foothills.

Bihu Festival
Winds of Bihu festival warms up the atmosphere of whole Assam.Come and See

Trekking in Sikkim
Trekking in Sikkim is marked with beautiful gompas, hamlets and fascinating forest.

Nagaland Tribes
An iconic instance of tribe tradition, fond of embellishments distinguishes the Nagaland Tribes.
Kaziranga National Park
A dwelling for one horned rhino, the park is mustered in World Heritage Sites

Cuisines & Momos
A platter of redolent dishes is ready to flatter your taste buds.

Mighty Kanchenjunga

Is a classic virgin peak offering spectacular mountain view.

Opp stalls House over corruption

2011-02-03T04:43:00.000-08:00

GUWAHATI, Feb 2 – The opposition members today stalled the proceedings of the Assam Legislative Assembly with noisy protests on the issue of corruption, forcing the Speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai to adjourn the House thrice, the last time for the entire day.

As soon as the House assembled for the day at 9 am, Leader of the Opposition Prafulla Kumar Mahanta demanded that the Ministers suspected to be involved in the financial scam in North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council should be removed in the interest of impartial probe and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should be entrusted with the responsibility of probing into all the financial irregularities in the Council.

However, the Speaker requested the Opposition members to allow the Question Hour to continue. But the Opposition members demanded that their demand should be fulfilled first before the House starts transacting normal business and all the Opposition members jumped to their feet to start vociferous protests. The Opposition members pointed out that the speech of the Governor did not mention the issue of corruption at all. Dr Kamala Kalita (AGP) alleged that the Speaker, with his action, was indirectly supporting corruption, while, Ananta Deka (CPM) said that the Government remained silent after a special audit by the Accountant General revealed large scale corruption in NC Hills. The Opposition members also started slogans displaying placards, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House at 9. 10 am and the Question Hour passed without transacting any business.

As soon as the House re-assembled at 10 am, the Opposition members continued their protests and the House was adjourned for the second time for half an hour. Similar situation continued as the House re-assembled for the third time and the Opposition members demanded that they did not want any more discussion on corruption and they only wanted action from the Government on their demands.

As the Opposition members did not raise their call attention motions, the Speaker asked Binanda Saikia (Congress) to start the discussion on the motion of thanks on the Governor’s address amidst slogan shouting and thumping of desks by the Opposition members. Saikia continued and finished his speech but nothing could be heard in the din and finally the Speaker adjourned the House for the day.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=feb0311/at08

Tripura asks for repatriation of tribals, Mizoram cites fund crisis

2011-02-03T04:42:00.000-08:00

AGARTALA/AIZAWL, Feb 3 (IANS) - The Tripura government has again asked the central government to take steps to send back to Mizoram Reang tribal refugees, who have been in the state for 14 years. The Mizoram government, on its part, cites non-availability of funds from New Delhi.

The issue was brought up again when Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar visited New Delhi for the conference on internal security Tuesday and met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P. Chidambaram.

"He requested the prime minister and home minister to ask the Mizoram government to take back the refugees," a senior Tripura government official told reporters in Agartala Thursday.

"The presence of over 34,000 tribal refugees for more than 14 years has been a matter of concern. The long presence of these Reang tribals creates serious financial, social and law and order related problems," the official said, quoting the chief minister.

The Reang tribals, locally called Bru, have been living in six camps in north Tripura's Kanchanpur sub-division since 1997. They fled western Mizoram after ethnic clashes with the majority Mizos following the killing of a Mizo forest official.

The Mizoram government says it has its own problems.

"The process of repatriation of the refugees could not be started by the Mizoram government due to non-availability of funds from the centre," a Mizoram home department official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

The Union Home Ministry had sanctioned funds for the repatriation and resettlement of the refugees in their villages in Mamit district of western Mizoram, but the central grant was yet to be released to the state government, he said.

"The state and district officials have completed the identification process in the relief camps in Tripura but we could not proceed with the repatriation process due to non-availability of funds for the purpose," the official stated.

He added that the Mizoram government would push back the refugees to Tripura if they failed to prove they were bona fide residents of Mizoram.

The home ministry last month broadened the economic package for homebound refugees following mediation by the New Delhi-based rights group Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR).

ACHR director Suhas Chakma told IANS on phone from New Delhi: "Apart from Rs.80,000 cash assistance to each refugee family and free rations for one year, the home ministry will support self-employment schemes to be initiated by the Reang tribals."

A special development project for the western region of Mizoram where the Reang refugees are to be resettled is also under consideration of the Mizoram government and the development of north eastern region (DoNER) ministry, Chakma said.

Bangladesh wants to redraw sea border with India

2011-02-03T04:41:00.000-08:00

DHAKA, Feb 3 (IANS) - Bangladesh will approach the UN seeking to delineate its maritime borders in the Bay of Bengal with India and Myanmar.

Bangladesh claims over 450 nautical miles from its coastline in the Bay of Bengal.

The country has long-standing problems with India and Myanmar on the issue of "starting point" to mark its marine boundary.

There are overlapping claims by all three neighbouring countries because of the funnel-like coastline of the Bay of Bengal, New Age newspaper said Thursday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday approved her cabinet's "position paper" which will be sent to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in New York later this month.

M. Khurshed Alam, the foreign ministry's additional secretary for the UNCLOS wing, said: "The document was prepared following the Gardiner method under Article 76 of the UNCLOS."

Under the UN provision, no claims submitted by a country should be taken for final consideration before settling the overlapping claims.

A country is supposed to enjoy its rights to fishing and exploring and extracting other marine resources in 12-24 nautical miles of territorial sea from the coastline, 200 nautical miles of exclusive economic zone and maximum of 350 nautical miles of continental shelf.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=feb0311/at026

FCI proposes 10 godowns in Arunachal

2011-02-03T04:40:00.000-08:00

ITANAGAR, Feb 2 – The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has proposed constructing 10 godowns in different district headquarters of Arunachal Pradesh soon for storing foodgrains in order to overcome various impediments while supplying PDS items to remote areas of the State.

“Land allocation process for the proposed godowns in seven districts have been completed but in Tawang, Aalo and Anini, the process is in progress,” FCI Deputy General Manager (Arunachal Pradesh region) Harish Chander told the first meeting of the State Consultative Committee of FCI here today.

He said, altogether 197 posts have been sanctioned by the authority to fill up the vacancies under Arunachal Pradesh region of FCI, which would provide employment opportunities to the eligible youths of the State. “The FCI has already released an amount of Rs 21.69 crore to the State government as second installment of payment for the PDS contractors,” he added.

Chander further disclosed that due to difficult topography, the FCI was facing problem to reach every nook and corner of the State. – PTI

Arunachal an integral part of India: PM

2011-02-03T04:39:00.000-08:00

NEW DELHI, Feb 3 (PTI) - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that Arunachal Pradesh has always been an integral part of India and will remain so and the Chinese map showing the northeastern state as its part will not change the reality.

This "simple fact" was conveyed by the Prime Minister to a delegation of All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union which met him here yesterday, AAPSU president Takam Tatung said.

"Arunachal Pradesh has always been an integral part of India and will remain so," Tatung quoted Singh as saying.

On the issue of China issuing stapled visa to residents of Arunachal Pradesh, Singh said the Centre was putting its sincere efforts to solve the problem at the earliest.

The Prime Minister said Arunachal Pradesh cannot remain in isolation and the fruit of development should reach there like the rest of the country.

Dergaon Sahitya Sabha session begins today

2011-01-31T21:00:00.000-08:00

DERGAON, Jan 31 – The 71st session of Asam Sahitya Sabha will get under way at the Hemchandra Baruah Kshetra here tomorrow.

The reception committee has completed all the necessary preparations for the mega event. According to Dr Parag Thakur, general secretary of the reception committee, the main pandal for the session measuring 45,000 square feet has been erected at the Hemchandra Baruah Khsetra at the historic Rajabahar. A dining hall having a capacity to accommodate 2000 people has also been built. A total of 185 bookstalls have been set up at the book fair site. Similarly, 200 stalls each for the trade fair and the exhibition etc have also been completed.

According to the general secretary of the committee, delegates camps have also been kept ready. The camps have been arranged at DKD College, Dergaon HS School, Dergaon Girls’ HS school, Indranee Devi HS School, Kuralguri HS School, Dergaon Town High School, Dergaon Basic Training Centre and Amar Sarmah Girls’ High School. The Marwary Dharamshala and Golaghat Circuit House have also been readied.

The session will start at 8 am on February 1 with the plantation of saplings by Kanak Sarmah, vice-president of Asam Sahitya Sabha. It will be followed by registration of delegates’ names, unveiling of the memorial pillar, inauguration of art mela, opening of a book fair by Imran Shah, inauguration of an exhibition by Ajanta Neog, and inauguration of the trade fair by Kashi Nath Hazarika. The souvenir Disoi-daria, edited by Sarat Rana Bora and Gunin Sarmah, will be released by Gautam Bora.

The ‘Matri Bhasa’ conferrence will be held at 12.30 pm. The delegates’ camps will be opened by Debo Kumar Borah, press adviser to the State Chief Minister.

In the evening, the ‘Ganesh Pegu and Kamini Narzary memorial cultural nite’ will be inaugurated by Dulal Roy.

On February 2, the Sabha flag will be hoisted by Sabha president Rong Bong Terang. Another seventy one flags will be hoisted simultaneousely. This will be followed by smriti tarpan, which will be initiated by Dr Krishna Kr Mishra. The inauguration of namghar will be done by Dr Naren Kalita.

A programme named ‘Ramdhenu’, which will be ianugurated by Yese Dorje Thongsi, will be chaired by Manikuntal Bhattacharya. The programme ‘Akash’ will be inaugurated by Dr Rita Choudhury and it will be chaired by Anuradha Sarmah Pujari. A Darsan Sanmilan will be held in the evening.

The Rekibuddin Ahmed, Dr Upen Kakoti and Amar Sarmah memorial cultural nite will be held in the evening, which will be inaugurated by Jatin Goswami.

On February 3, a cultural procession will be taken out with Rong Bong Terang, which will be flagged off by Dr Sarat Phukan.

In the afternoon the first open session will be held, which will be presided over by Terang and inaugurated by Ratan Singh while Alok Ranjan Dasgupta will be the chief guest. In the meeting, Satish Kaleskar and P Jakaria will be the invited guests.

The Rajen Pam and Mohan Bhaira memorial cultural nite will be held in the evening

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=feb0111/state05

Centre may extend ULFA Ban

2011-01-31T20:59:00.000-08:00

NEW DELHI, Jan 31 – Even as the decks are being cleared to hold peace dialogue with ULFA, the Centre is all set to extend the ban on the militant outfit for another two years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

An Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal today issued notices to Chief Secretaries of Meghalaya and Nagaland

Government to make submissions. The case is now scheduled to come up for hearing on February 14. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal sought the opinion of Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, besides Assam on the Centre’s proposal.

The case had last come up for hearing on December 24, when all the parties were asked to submit their opinion within a month. ULFA, too, has been given one month time to submit their opinion before the Tribunal. The militant outfit has so far not given their opinion though it has time till February 13 to do so.

The case came up for hearing today in Mukta Gupta Tribunal, when Assam Government sought some time to submit a few documents in support of its bid to extend the ban. The Counsel for Arunachal Pradesh was also present, while the Union Government represented by its Counsel, additional Solicitor General AS Chandok.

All the four States are expected to seek further extension of the ban on ULFA. The dreaded outfit was first banned in 1979. The ban was last extended in April 2009, when all the States sought further ban on the outfit. The same year neighbouring States were for the first time asked to give their opinion.

The Union Government supports classifying ULFA as a “terrorist group” due to its “terrorist skills”, which is posing a challenge to the security of Assam and other neighbouring States, the Tribunal was told.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had last year decided to extend the ban on ULFA taking note of the activities of the outfit and refusal of its military chief Paresh Barua to come on board and sit for talks.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=feb0111/state07

NE excellence award presented

2011-01-31T20:58:00.000-08:00

GUWAHATI, Jan 31 – The Indian Chamber of Commerce conferred Dr NK Dutta, who is the founder and Principal of city-based premier residential school Miles Bronson, with the 2nd North East Excellence Award at the 6th North East Business Summit in the Large Entrepreneur Category for charting the course of the school to be a frontal organisation with amenities in human and material infrastructure and redefining the course, quality and content of education from mere rote learning to the globally accepted and universally popular experiential learning, a press release said.

The award, presented at Mumbai’s Lalit Inter Continental appreciated the herculean effort of Dr NK Dutta, who built the school from scratch with a handful of students at a rented house.

The jury members of the awards which included a galaxy of experts and intellectuals from different fields also took a positive note of the fact that the school could herald a sea change in innovation by being the first school in the North East to introduce experiential learning along with a host of new age learning methodologies.

The award was conferred by DoNER Minister Bijoy Krishna Handique and was attended by the CM of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio and other dignitaries.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=feb0111/city05

Vote bank politics to blame for influx

2011-01-31T20:57:00.002-08:00

SHILLONG, Jan 31 – Holding vote bank politics responsible for the illegal infiltration from Bangladesh, outgoing Meghalaya Director General of Police Sibabrata Kakati has said that politicians are reluctant to solve the “serious” issue, reports PTI.

“It is a serious problem. Demographic changes are rapid. Political parties are not keen on solving the issue. It is because of political patronage and vote bank politics that the problem has assumed such serious proportions,” Kakati told PTI in an interview.

Kakati, a 1976 IPS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre who retires today, said that though the rate of present influx is not as threatening as before, but “people were still coming from across the border”.

“The solution to the problem is economic. You have to have your own labour force. Now, when more and more enterprises are coming up, unless you fill up that vacuun of required manpower the problem would persist. Assam will be swamped if it goes on like this,” he said.

On the insurgency scenario in the region, the senior IPS officer who has served in various branches of the security apparatus in the Northeast, said it is difficult to take out the roots of militancy from the region.

“If you satisfy one group, another outfit comes up. The futility of armed movement is yet to be understood by the youth. They are not enlightened. We will have to keep on facing the menace,” Kakati said, pointing to the “war cries given by an ULFA faction led by Paresh Barua at a time when another group is readying for the talks”.

He, however, described the militancy as a “money making business” taken up by some “opportunists”.

“Many outfits have realised that armed revolution is not possible because of the might of the state and so they have come overground. But small groups will keep on surfacing. The history of the region speaks for it,” the outgoing DGP, who also had a stint with the paramilitary BSF, said.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=feb0111/at096

State Budget session begins today

2011-01-31T20:57:00.001-08:00

GUWAHATI, Jan 31 – The Budget Session of the Assam Legislative Assembly, which begins tomorrow, is likely to be a stormy one as both the ruling and Opposition parties will try to gain maximum possible advantage of the session, which will be the last before the ensuing elections to the Assembly.

However, in view of the elections, the Government will only present Vote on Account for three months instead of a full Budget for the entire financial year. The session will start with the customary address by Governor JB Patnaik while Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who is also in charge of the Finance Department, will present the Vote on Account on the first day of the session itself.

The session, which will continue up to February 8, will have six working days. The Government is planning to introduce 13 Bills in the session, of which three will be new Bills. The new Bills to be introduced in the session include the Kumar Bhaskar Barma Sanskrit and Ancient Studies University Bill, Assam Urban Areas Land Control Bill and the Assam Molasses Control Bill, said Assam Assembly sources.

Meanwhile, both the ruling and Opposition parties are gearing up for the session. A meeting of the Congress Legislature Party was held this evening to discuss the party’s strategies for the Assembly session, while a meeting of the State Cabinet will be held just before the commencement of the session tomorrow morning.

The Opposition parties are planning to maintain floor coordination on the common issues to put the Government on the back foot.

Talking to The Assam Tribune, Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said that corruption would be one of the major issues for the Opposition. He pointed out that the Government is hoodwinking people on the financial scam in NC Hills Autonomous Council. He said that though the Chief Minister assured to entrust the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with the responsibility of probing into all the financial irregularities, only nine specific cases were handed over to the Central agency. He said that the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has pointed out a number of major irregularities by the Government and the Opposition would strongly raise the issues in the floor of the House.

Mahanta said that on the issue of peace talks, the AGP is of the view that efforts should be made to find permanent solution to the problem of insurgency by involving all militants and the peace talks should not be treated as an election gimmick by the ruling party.

The Opposition Leader further said that price rise of all essential commodities, failure of the Government to rehabilitate flood and erosion affected people, etc, would be the other major issues for the Opposition in the Assembly session.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=feb0111/at08

Hydel projects to thwart Chinese designs

2011-01-31T20:56:00.001-08:00

GUWAHATI, Jan 31 – The Union Ministry of Power (MoP) has argued that the timely grant of environment and forest clearances for the proposed hydel projects in Arunachal Pradesh is crucial to ensure India’s right over the Brahmaputra, which is facing a grave danger of being diverted by China. This has been reported by the energyline india.com, an Internet portal on the country’s power sector in its latest issue.

In a recent communication to the Cabinet Secretariat, the MoP has demanded that the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) act fast on consideration of projects being proposed in the Siang river basin of Brahmaputra to facilitate their speedy execution.

Besides, quick green approvals for projects in this hydropower rich State are also required if the country is to achieve its target of nearly 1,50,000 to 2,00,000 MW of fresh capacity addition over the 12th and 13th Plan periods, so as to sustain an annual growth rate of nine per cent for the economy, said the MoP communication, as quoted by the power sector portal.

In another report, the portal said that the MoP also brushed aside the apprehensions expressed by the Arunachal Pradesh Government regarding the safety of the dam at NHPC’s 2,000 MW Subansiri Lower project, claiming that all the relevant recognized institutes of the country were consulted to set the design parameters for the project.

The MoP maintains that the Central Water Commission (CWC), Geological Survey of India (GSI), Central Soil & Materials Research Station, Delhi and Central Water and Power Research Station, Pune as well as IIT Roorkee, have all checked and approved the project parameters, with regards to all safety aspects as well.

Besides, considering the fact that the entire Himalayas lie in a Seismic Zone-V, extensive survey and investigation activities are carried out post allocation for all the hydel projects, to prepare their Detailed Project Reports (DPR), which are then vetted by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) for concurrence.

While doing so, the CEA also examines various technical aspects, including the dam safety and design of various structures in consultation with CWC and GSI.

Further, site specific seismic studies are also carried out for all the hydel projects and put up before the National Committee on Seismic Design Parameters for their recommendations, thereby leaving no room for any potential danger, said the repot of the portal referring to the claims the MoP.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=feb0111/at05

Arunachal Guv discusses Tirap situation with army officials

2011-01-29T02:57:00.000-08:00

Itanagar, Jan 29 (PTI) Arunachal Pradesh Governor J J Singh today said he has spoken to top army officials on improving the situation in Tirap district, rocked by the ongoing turf war between cadre of two NSCN factions.

The former army chief told PTI here that he has spoken to the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 4 Corps, Lt General Gyan Bhushan and Army Commander, Eastern Command, Lt General V K Singh with reference to improving the ground situation and instill a sense of security in the minds of people.

"There cannot be any compromise with the security and safety of the people," Singh said referring to reports about insurgents roaming freely in Tirap district.

The infighting is going on for the last one month, apparently for area dominance in the wake of Eastern Nagaland People''s Organisation (ENPO) having called for a separate state comprising four districts of Nagaland besides Tirap and Changlang of Arunachal Pradesh.

Gen (retd) Singh, an advocate of "iron fists for insurgents and velvet gloves for civilians" principle, earlier had expressed concern over the prevailing situation in his Republic Day address.

He had said people of the district were living in fear psychosis with headquarters Khonsa witnessing intermittent gun-battles having claimed two lives.

However, forces are patrolling and the situation is under control, Superintendent of Police Vikramjit Singh said.

In all the 36th battalion of CRPF, 19 Assam Rifles and 14 Rajput Regiment of Army besides the state police are deployed in the district, declared disturbed since September 17, 1991 under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

Declare financial emergency in Tripura, demands

2011-01-28T21:05:00.001-08:00

AGARTALA: Tripura's main opposition, Congress, on Tuesday urged the UPA-led Centre to declare a "financial emergency" in Left-ruled state as the state government has made itself bankrupt.

"Due to massive mismanagement and corruption, there is no financial stability in Tripura. Hence, under the Article 360 of the Indian constitution, the union government should declare urgent financial emergency," opposition leader Ratan Lal Nath told reporters here.

According to him, emergency audit by CAG is urgently required to save the people of Tripura.

Read more: Declare financial emergency in Tripura, demands - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Declare-financial-emergency-in-Tripura-demands/articleshow/7363699.cms#ixzz1COigHj9V

MOU signed to link Tripura with Bangladesh by train

2011-01-28T21:03:00.000-08:00

Agartala: India and Bangladesh will soon sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to link Agartala railway station with Akhaura in Bangladesh, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said on Friday.

"Railway ministry has placed the alignment report for the proposed rail connectivity seeking the state government?s opinion and we have readily agreed," Sarkar said after inaugurating the 21st Tripura Industries and Commerce Fair here.

A joint survey to prepare the alignment for the 16km Indo-Bangla rail link was carried out in September last and later it was placed before both the governments for a decision.

Sarkar said construction of a bridge on the river Feni in South Tripura district would also begin soon as the final alignment had already been made by a team of engineers of India and Bangladesh.

The bridge being built at a cost of Rs 12 crore would connect South Tripura with the Chittagong Port, 72 km away from the Indo-Bangladesh border at Sabroom, he said.

The chief minister also underlined the need to introduce Agartala-Dhaka-Guwahati air service to boost trade and commerce with the north eastern region.

PTI

Garo militant killed in Meghalaya, outfit ‘chairman’ escapes in encounter

2011-01-28T21:01:00.000-08:00

A militant of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) was killed, four others arrested while the outfit’s ‘chairman’ narrowly escaped in an pre-dawn encounter in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills district.

Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos of Meghalaya Police raided a GNLA hideout inside a forest at Rongrekgre where an unspecified number of cadres, including their chairman Champion Sangma, a deserter deputy superintendent of police, were hiding.

During the ensuing encounter, one GNLA militant ?" Washing Marak - was killed, while four others - Leting Marak, Paldil Marak, Mily Marak and Peper Marak - were arrested.

Police found one AK 47 rifle, one light machine gun, one pistol and a magazine from the busted camp.

One bullet proof jacket, suspected to be that of the chairman, was also found in the camp.

Earlier, police also recovered one of the two INSAS rifles stolen by a constable who has been missing since Friday and is believed to have joined the GNLA.

The rifle was recovered from a villager, Putin Marak, at Thaba Danengeni in the district. Putin, from whom police also found 17 rounds of ammunition and a magazine, has been arrested.

Constable Savio Marak had deserted his company deployed in the ethnic-violence hit Mendipathar area on Friday.

In another incident last night, Jaintia Hills district police arrested two cadres of the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) from a taxi at Jowai.

Two AK 47 rifles, 85 rounds and four loaded magazines were seized from the two militants - Rilang Dohlilng and Maianbor Tongseng.

PTI

Meghalaya orders probe into rebel's killing in 'staged' gunfight

2011-01-28T21:00:00.000-08:00

Shillong, Jan 28 (IANS) The Meghalaya government Friday ordered magisterial probe into the killing of a Garo rebel leader in an alleged staged gunfight by security forces.

'The deputy commissioner is issuing orders for a magisterial enquiry to ascertain the facts of the encounter and submit the report to the government in a time-bound manner for deciding further course of action on the demands of the NGOs of East Garo Hills,' Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told journalists.

Sangma hurriedly convened a cabinet meeting Friday to discuss the alleged fake gunfight.

On Thursday, thousands of angry villagers protested in front of Williamnagar police station against the killing of Washington N.Marak, 50, a suspected Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) rebel, in an alleged fake encounter at Rongrekgre village Wednesday.

Four suspected rebels were also arrested from Rongrekgre village. Police claimed to have recovered an AK rifle with four round of live ammunition from Washington's possession.

Claiming that Marak and the arrested people have no links with the GNLA, eight social groups termed the police claims as 'absurd' and demanded the immediate termination of service of Police Inspector T.C. Chacko and other police personnel who were involved in the killing.

The NGOs also demanded a compensation of Rs.50 lakh to the next of kin of Marak, besides immediate treatment of the released persons.

'The concerns of the public on the allegations made against certain police officers in connection with the encounter have to be balanced against our efforts to fight against anti-national and social groups,' Sangma said.

Sangma, however, said the government was committed to protection of human rights and life and property of the citizens. No innocent should be harassed and no let-up in the action against the extremist elements can be allowed under pressure from extraneous vested interest.

He also admitted that the GNLA is actively involved in extortions and abductions and trying to expand its base by recruiting cadres and developing nexus with other militant outfits in the region.

The GNLA, which is fighting for a 'sovereign Garoland' in the western area of Meghalaya, has links with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the NDFB.

AKRSU blockade cuts off northeast

2011-01-28T20:59:00.000-08:00

KOKRAJHAR: The entire northeast remained cut off from the rest of the country due to a 36-hour road and railway blockade called by the All Koch Rajbongshi Students' Union(AKRSU) beginning Thursday at Gossaigaon and Sagaliya inter-state border in Kokrajhar and Dhubri districts.

Train services came to a virtual halt in lower Assam during the day as about 2,000 AKRSU supporters staged a blockade on railway tracks near Salakati station.

NFR officials said the picketers were removed from the tracks and services resumed late in the afternoon. Railway authorities either regulated or controlled all movement of trains in various stations of West Bengal and Assam. Services of more than 10 passenger trains, including the Rajdhani Express, were affected.

About 1,000 AKRSU supporters blocked NH-31 C at Gossai-gaon and more than 2000 others stopped traffic at Sagaliay Inter-state gate, Golokganj, in Dhubri district, preventing movement of Assam-bound vehicles from West Bengal on both NH 31 C and NH 37.

Since a number of important highways in Assam like NH-31 C and 37 cut through Koch-Rajbongshi dominated areas, the blockade also choked the state's supply routes.

Although the district administration of Kokrajhar led by SP PK Dutta tried to thwart rail blockade, the union led by Biswajit Roy is firm on enforcing it till Friday evening. AKRSU president Biswajit Roy said the state government was engaged in a conspiracy to eliminating the community from Assam.

Read more: AKRSU blockade cuts off northeast - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/AKRSU-blockade-cuts-off-northeast/articleshow/7375271.cms#ixzz1COhDvFtP

Assam govt refers nine cases for CBI in NC hill district scam

2011-01-28T20:53:00.000-08:00

Guwahati, Jan 27 (PTI) The Assam government has referred nine cases related to misappropriation of development funds in NC Hills district to the union Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) so that CBI can probe them.DoPT has given its consent for inquiry and investigation into five cases by CBI but is yet to give its consent for the remaining four cases, an official release here today said.The state government government had referred one case each relating to the public works department, public health and engineering, agriculture, soil conservation, forest, health, panchayat and rural department and two to the social welfare department, the release said.The state government is further examining all cases of misappropriation mentioned in the special audit report of Accountant General for referring it to the CBI, it said.The CAG had detected anomalies in development fund management of North Cachar Hills district. The issue has rocked the state with opposition parties demanding dismissal of the ruling Congress government on the issue.

Assamese trying to revive age-old ties through Indo-Bhutan friendship fair

2011-01-28T20:51:00.000-08:00

With the decline of militancy in Assam, the people here are trying to revive the age-old ties with neighbouring countries, and one such initiative was the 'Indo-Bhutan Mela' organized here recently.

On the eve of Magh Bihu, Assam's Baksa District witnessed a huge influx of Bhutanese tourists and the traditional Magh mela held in the region, which was later renamed 'Indo-Bhutan Mela'.

Scores of tourists from Bhutan were present in Subankhata village to participate in the fair, which aimed to revive ties, promote peace and harmony and also boost the trade and commerce between the two nations.

The visitors were provided free lodging and transportation facilities.

"Since 1951, the people from Bhutan participate in huge numbers in Magh mela. But after the Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) started operating in the region this relationship was affected. We have taken this initiative to revive this age-old friendship," said Hem Narzary, Advisor, Subankhata Magh Mela.

"To promote trade and commerce between two countries we need to work hard and then strengthen our relationship. After that we can start working on promoting trade between both sides," added Bhutan-India Friendship Association (BIFA) Vice President Norbu Wangdi.

The cuisine and culture, which are the best ways to build bridges, played an important part in the Indo-Bhutan Mela. Stalls serving both Bhutanese and Assamese cuisine were set up for the visitors.

Traditional dances during the mela provided a window to the culture and traditions of both the countries.

A photo exhibition that showcased cordial relations that have existed between both nations was also held during the fair.

"We have come here for the first time. It is a great experience. We watch a lot of Hindi movies there and we are enjoying ourselves here," said Bhutia, a tourist.

"It's not only about Subankhata area but the entire Baksa district. We can sell rice, potatoes and many other things to the Bhutanese people and they can sell their products here in our market and both can benefit from it," added Binjoy Boro, a local. (ANI)

SSC expects more applicants from the northeast

2011-01-28T20:50:00.000-08:00

GUWAHATI: The Staff Selection Commission (SSC), which was established by the Union government for recruitment of Group B non-gazetted staff and Group C staff to various central government departments and ministries, has seen very few applicants from the northeastern region over the years.

But with the Union ministry of home affairs announcing the recruitment of more than 55,000 candidates in central paramilitary forces (CPMF) through the SSC, this year officials are expecting more applicants from the region. Among these, 4,713 vacancies are available in the northeastern region with Assam having 3,063 posts.

"The number of applicants from this region has remained more or less static, whereas there has been an increase in the all India figure. Assam, in particular has not done well, both in terms of the number of applicants as well as the success rate," said SSC chairman N K Raghupathy.

The Northeast regional office of SSC has received 60,075 applications in the open examination till January this year against 64,371 applications received during 2009-10.

"One possible reason for the poor representation of Assam is lack of awareness among the students about different examinations being conducted, the syllabi and requisite educational qualifications," Raghupathy rued adding that these exams are great opportunities for employment seekers in government sector where the remuneration are very lucrative.

"The SSC chairman also said, "The CPMF has state wise vacancies to be filled by the candidates domiciled in respective states or union territories. It's a wonderful opportunity for the candidates." He urged the youths of northeast to come forward and grab the opportunity with both hands.

Read more: SSC expects more applicants from the northeast - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/SSC-expects-more-applicants-from-the-northeast/articleshow/7375254.cms#ixzz1COf4ruA1

No dearth of talent in northeast India: Tripura governor

2011-01-28T20:48:00.002-08:00

Agartala/Aizawl, Jan 26 (IANS) The success of tennis player Somdev Devvarman, who won a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games, shows that 'there is no dearth of talent in northeast India', said Tripura Governor D.Y. Patil Wednesday.

'Somdev has become an immense source of motivation for all the sportspersons in India as well as Tripura. The people of Tripura along with the rest of the country are extremely happy following his success and feat in the international sports arena,' Patil said after unfurling the national flag at the Assam Rifles ground here on the occasion of Republic Day.

'Somdev's success proves... that there is no dearth of talent in northeast India and that all these bright youngsters need a platform or an opening to prove their capability,' the governor said.

The tennis sensation, who belongs to Tripura's erstwhile royal family, won two gold medals at the Guangzhou Asian Games in China and a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi last year.

'Terrorism seems to be in its last throes in Tripura which bodes well for faster development of this land-locked bordering state.

'We all must reiterate our resolve today to banish militancy with courage, vigour and determination and share the commitment of our government to bring the fruits of development to every home of the state,' Patil said.

People came out in large numbers across the state to participate in the 62nd Republic Day celebrations, defying the boycott call by militant group, the Tripura People's Democratic Front.

In Mizoram, Governor M.M. Lakhera unfurled the tricolour at the Assam Rifles ground at Aizawl.

Lakhera said: 'As many as seven sports persons from Mizoram took part in the recently concluded 16th Asian Games at Guangzhou.'