Rally in protest against killing of child

Rally in protest against killing of child

From our CorrespondentBARPETA, Jan 21: Tension prevails over the brutal killing after kidnapping of a 12-year child Amrit Basak at Bhella area in Barpeta district. The killing has been strongly condemned and protested here. The people of Barpeta have demanded stringent punishment to the accused persons. In this connection, a protest rally was taken out today from Bhella to Barpeta. Around 1,000 people from various walks of life took part in the protest rally. The rally was joined by organizations like Bhella Anchalik ASSU, Sankardev Sishu Niketan, Barbila, Bhella HS School, Pub Barpeta Motor Shramik Union, Islamjyoti High School, Bhella Bazar Committee, Bhella Thela-Rickshaw Union, Bonboriya Khandakarpara Dargahpur Maszid, Bhella Gaon Panchayat, Bhella Yuba Samaj, Pub Barpeta District Auto Sramik Union and a few others. The rally moved to the DC office and submitted a memorandum to the DC in this regard demanding stringent punishment to the culprits. source: sentinel assam

Scrapping of IM(DT) Act made no change

Correspondent GUWAHATI, Jan 21 – Meghalaya Governor RS Mooshahary today stated that neither the new Assam Police Act nor the scrapping of the IM (DT) Act has brought in any change in Assam as they were expected to in the respective areas. The Meghalaya Governor stressed, “it is the inherent will of the people concerned be it the politicians or the policemen that makes a difference and not just merely having a law or an Act.”“A lot of hue and cry was made about the loopholes of the old Assam Police Act. But, has things improved after the new Assam Police Act came into being? I do not see any visible change,” said the former chief of NSG and BSF while speaking during the valedictory function of the 39th Indian Police Congress here today.“In order to pave way for a congenial atmosphere, we must ensure that the perpetrators of crime must know that he would not be able to move scot-free after committing a crime and once he is caught, he would be slapped with adequate punishment,” said Mooshahary.“Unfortunately, police has not done enough to force the criminals to think about these aspects. The police have more or less failed to infuse fear in the minds of the wrongdoers,” he pointed out.Referring to the scrapping of IM (DT) Act, the Meghalaya Governor rued, “The apex court scrapped the Act in 2005, which for many was safeguarding the interest of the illegal migrants in the State. But, did the verdict result in any thing concrete so far. Not a single case of detection of any illegal migrant has taken place in the State under the Foreigners’ Act.”Mooshahary stressing for a skilled training for the police personnel said, “Training in Assam Police has been the last priority but things has to change for better.”“The onus is on the top officials to keep the men motivated and close to the common man,” he reiterated, adding that the cleansing process should begin from top level. He also hoped that the Police University, which is coming up in the country, would help in doing intensive research work for the benefit of the men in khakis. source: assam tribune

Assam, Assamese will survive: Gogoi

Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, Jan 10 – The Assamese nationality and the State of Assam will survive in the days to come and nothing can pose threat to their existence, said Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in the State Assembly here today. He was taking part in the debate on the supplementary demand for grant of the Police Department.Gogoi said that there should not be any attempt at harping on corruption in the Police Department. For, this will send a wrong signal to the people. He however, admitted that corruption was there in the Department.Contrary to the allegations of the Opposition, he said that in the counrty, officers of the Assam Police were known as the most efficient ones.Asserting that there was no political interference in the functioning of the Police Department, he said that there was no formal complaint of such interferences. He also apprised the House that the State Government was going to introduce a bill limiting the tenure of the officers and personnel of the Department at a place to two years, going by an order of the Supreme Court of India.The Government is also setting up a police academy to train up the officers and personnel of the Department in a better manner and a committee has been set up to suggest measures to brighten up the image of the Department, he said.Commenting on the manpower shortage in the Department, he said that new police battalions were being set up, but, here, fund crunch was posing problems. The State Government wants that the Central Government should bear 50 per cent of the burden against the salaries of the officers and personnel employed in these battalions for the next ten years, he said.He reiterated that the State Government was keen on modernising the Police Department and much modernisation of the Department had taken place under the present regime. However, in containing terrorism, cooperation of the people is also needed and people should be made security conscious, he said and asserted that confidence of the people in police had been growing these days and more feed back on the movements of the terrorists were now received from the people.He also claimed that during the seven and half-a-year rule of the Congress 1,544 people were killed in terrorist attacks, whereas during the five-year rule of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) 1,535 people were killed. At present, the terrorists are taking recourse to bomb blasts.If things were allowed to go on as they were during the AGP rule, the number of persons killed during the past seven and half-a-year would have stood at around 2,300, he claimed.In all, he said, police recovered 2,550 bombs and grenades during the rule of the present Government, said Gogoi. The Chief Minister reiterated that his Government was determined to deport the aliens and claimed that his party had no vote bank politics as alleged by the Opposition. He announced his readiness to hold a discussion on secret killing in the Assembly and also agreed to the Opposition’s suggestion that such a discussion should cover the entire period since 1991.After the speech of the Chief Minister the demand of the Police Department for a supplementary grant of Rs 1,520. 65 lakh was passed by the House. source: assam tribune

Assam pavilion at Indian Science Congress reaps laurels

Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Jan 9 – The Assam pavilion, planned and executed by the Assam Science, Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC), has been adjudged the best in the exhibition section of the 96th Indian Science Congress that concluded at the North East Hill University (NEHU) campus in Shillong on Wednesday.

There were 85 institutions, which took part in the exhibition section of the Congress, named the Pride of India Exhibition. The institutions included Department of Atomic Energy, ISRO, CSIR, DRDO and a host of other institutions and several states of the country.

ASTEC, an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of Assam, planned and executed the Assam pavilion that covered an area of 1,000 square feet.

The pavilion was designed as a prototype of the historical Rangghar. The pavilion included the stalls of the IIT-Guwahati— with the display of various designs the have produced so far, ASTEC— with the display of the Aryabhatta Science Centre activities and the GI on muga silk of Assam, Assam Energy Development Agency – with the various gadgets of non-conventional sources of energy and their activities, Centre for Plasma Physics—with real time generation of plasma for the common man’s knowledge with effective multi-media projections.

Many of the interesting and attractive innovations of Uddhab Bharali were also displayed in the pavilion.

Amtron –with their various IT-based services, Department of Handloom and Textile, Assam—with machines and natural dyes etc, Department of Sericulture – with the display of silk worm, life cycles of the worms, weaving machines, silk clothes with beautiful designs, Department of Fisheries—with the traditional system of fishing and with their latest activities, the Department of Tourism—with information on the existing and coming up tourism facilities of the State, also put up their stalls in the pavilion.

Besides, the Guwahati Planetarium – with the model of its own building, a prototype of a rocket and a satellite and two real telescopes, also put up their stall in the pavilion, said ASTEC sources.

It may be mentioned here that for the first time since its inception in 1914, the Indian Science Congress has held its congress in the NE region. source: assam tribune

Culling in 7 centres to be over soon

Staff reporter GUWAHATI, Jan 3 – The State Veterinary Department has issued sanitisation certificates against eleven epicentres of the dreaded bird flu to the Government of India. In the rest seven epicentres, culling and consecutive operations are expected to be over within a day or two. Official sources here said that the Government of India has asked the State Government to go for the post-operative surveillance programme (POSP) in the areas where culling and subsequent cleaning operations are over. The Deputy Commissioners of the district have been asked to conduct the POSPs in accordance with the World Organisation of Animal Health. POSPs are expected to start in the bird flu-hit areas at the earliest, said the sources.Culling operations are expected to be over in the 3 km radius areas around Chalchali Gaonburhachawk village in Nagaon district. Rangamati, Urput Maniari Tiniali and Manahkuchi in Kamrup district by tomorrow or day after tomorrow. However, due to resistance from the people, administration has to requisition the services of the police in Bardulipara area in Baksa district to launch culling operations, said the sources.In Nilibari area, culling operations are over and mopping operations are expected to be over there within a day or two.Meanwhile, cleaning and dis-infection operations are over in the Doloigaon Uzanpara areas in Bogaigaon district, said the sources.Government of India observers Dr D Biswas, Dr Sukumar Banerjee, Dr P P Pant, Dr S Manna, Dr K Ali and Dr Kalyan Roy are overseeing the operations in the bird flu-hit areas as Central Observers, said the sources.Till January 2 evening, the State Government has paid an amount of Rs 1,62,45,109 to the affected farmers as compensation. Till last evening, 4,83,883 poultry were culled and 1,62,724 eggs and 12,761 kgs of poultry feed were destroyed in the bird flu-hit areas, said the sources. source: assam tribune

Students to talk live with Mike aboard ISS

Staff reporter GUWAHATI, Jan 3 – The Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters (FASS) is organising a live talk, through videoconference, between the students of the city-based Axam Jatiya Vidyalaya and astronaut Edward Michel Finke, popularly known as Mike Finke, the son-in-law of the State, who is now stationed at the International Space Station (ISS), 350 miles above the Earth’s surface. This is for the first time in the country that school students will talk live with an astronaut in space, said the FASS.According to FASS, Finke, NASA astronaut and commander of the expedition 18 mission of the ISS, will talk to the students of the city school live at 1.24 pm on January 7. Mike is in outer space for the last three months, said Bidyananda Barkakoty, secretary general of the FASS India.The FASS international headquarters located in the USA is co-ordinating the event with NASA and FASS India headquarters located in the city is coordinating the event with the Axam Jatiya Vidyalaya. The FASS has already organised such space talks at Dibrugarh University and Shillong St Anthony’s College, said Barkakoty.Chairman and Managing Director of the international committee of the FASS Rajen Barua has said that from the space talk events, students would learn about life on board the International Space Station and become aware of the substantial benefits of human space flight and the exploration and discoveries that occur on space flight missions.Mike Finke, who is married to Renita Saikia, daughter of Rupesh and Probha Saikia, is now learning Assamese on board the ISS using the set of Assamese flash cards he has carried along with him to space. He has also carried a silk gamocha given to him by the FASS on the eve of his flight to the space station. He will carry back the gamocha with the autographs of his co-astronauts and himself on it.Rajen Barua, who is now based in Houston, is the chief co-ordinator of the space talks programme, Barkakoty said. source: assam tribune

Hasina should act against NE ultras: PM

CORRESPONDENT SHILLONG, Jan 3 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said terrorists using Bangladesh to carry out attacks against India was a cause of worry and hoped Sheikh Hasinas new government would take appropriate measures in this regard. Singh who was here to inaugurate the 96th Indian Science Congress said that he hoped that the new government in Bangladesh would take appropriate measures and not allow terrorism to grow from its soil.Admitting that northeast based insurgents groups were sheltering in the neighboring country, the Prime Minister said that matter was brought to the notice of successive Bangladesh governments in the past without any much success.However, Indias hope was rekindled with Shiekh Hasina and her party, the Awami League and its allies wining a landslide victory in the general elections. Hasina has already said that Bangladesh was willing to cooperate with India to fight terrorism jointly. We hope that the new government in Bangladesh would ensure that its soil wont be allowed for acts of terror against India, especially the northeast, Singh said adding, India was committed to root out the growing menace of terrorism and Naxalism, despite initial setbacks.Ruling out talks with insurgent groups before they laid down arms, Singh asserted that the government would not compromise with those who have taken up guns to find solution. On the Mumbai terror attacks, Singh said war was no solution but reiterated that Pakistan must act against the perpetrators of the attack and hand over those involved behind the horrible terrorists to India.We have been pressing on Pakistan to hand over the terrorists responsible for the Mumbai attacks without success. We hope better sense will prevail on the Pakistani leadership and it will recognise that tackling terrorism is an area that needed mutual cooperation, Meanwhile, Singh also expressed concern over Bangladeshi infiltration into India and said the fencing work along the Indo-Bangla border needs to be expedited. The government is worried about infiltration and fencing work needs to expedited, Singh said. source: assam tribune

Chidambaram’s visitIt

Chidambaram’s visit It is a positive sign that soon after taking over as the Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram visited Assam and attended a meeting of the Unified Command to assess the situation on the ground as it is a fact that Assam and other parts of North East require more attention from the Central Government for the solution of the burning problems. Of course, a day long visit is not adequate to understand the gravity of the problems, but at least, the new Union Home Minister has made a good beginning and he should continue regular interactions not only with the Chief Minister but also with the security forces engaged in the counter-insurgency operations for a better understanding of the situation. The Centre has already decided to establish four hubs of the National Security Guards (NSG) to deal with terrorist attacks like the one in Mumbai, and so far the request of the Assam Government to establish such a hub in the State has not been acceded to. But on the positive side, Chidambaram must have realised the gravity of the situation after the meeting with the Unified Command as he announced immediately after the meeting that such hubs would be established in other states also in phased manner. If the Government of India indeed decides to establish NSG hubs, Assam should get first priority as the possibility of terror strikes like the one in Mumbai in the North East cannot be ruled out because of the fact that forces inimical to India managed to establish their roots in Bangladesh. The issue of the cease-fire agreement with the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) was one of the key issues discussed in the Unified Command meeting in presence of the Union Home Minister as the term of the agreement expired on December 31 and Chidambaram told the media before leaving for New Delhi that the final decision on whether to extend the agreement would be taken shortly. The Government must take a decision soon as keeping the problems hanging will only complicate them and at the same time, the new Union Home Minister must take personal initiative to expedite the peace talks with the militant groups, which have already signed cease-fire agreements with the Government. source: assam tribune

Paramilitary forces rush to Assam

Guwahati: Caught in the storm: A woman and her children take shelter at a relief camp in Kharupetiya, near Guwahati, yesterday. The death toll rose to 49, including 15 people shot by police. Around a lakh people have fled their homes. Pic/apAn additional 2,000 paramilitary troopers were yesterday rushed to Assam to quell clashes between Muslim migrants and tribal groups that forced locals to flee their homes. The death toll in weekend ethnic clashes in Assam that displaced more than 1 lakh people has mounted to 49. The authorities claimed the situation is slowly getting back to normal. "Since violence broke out on Friday, 49 people have died; 15 in police firing and the rest in separate incidents of clashes," said Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. Eight of the injured victims died yesterday in different hospitals. Curfew is still in force with shoot-on-sight orders issued to the security forces. The clashes between members of the Bodo tribal group and Muslim settlers, originally from Bangladesh, have witnessed raids on numerous villages by groups armed with bows and poison-tipped arrows, spears and machetes.Set ablaze"They set on fire a large a number of homes in my village," said Dipali Basumatary, who had taken shelter in a government-run relief camp.Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the root cause was a programme of "ethnic cleansing" implemented by the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), a rebel group fighting for an independent tribal homeland. They want to drive out all non-Bodos from the area.

Source: www.mid-day.com

Shoot-at-sight orders in Assam after clashes

GUWAHATI: Shoot-at-sight orders were issued on Saturday in Assam's curfew-bound district of Udalguri, where seven people were killed and more than 50
injured in clashes between two communities even as a cluster of villages were set ablaze, officials said. "We have asked police, paramilitary and Army soldiers to shoot anybody found indulging in violent activities," Inspector General of Assam Police (Law and Order) Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta said. Violence broke out Friday between two communities in Rowta in Udalguri district, about 100 km north of Guwahati. "The situation is tense with the violence spreading to new areas in the district even as five more bodies were recovered, all of them shot at with poison-tipped arrows and hit with crude sharp implements," a police official said, requesting anonymity. More than 50 people were wounded, some with bullets. "More than 200 houses were set ablaze in about six villages," the official said. Thousands of villagers have fled their homes and are now sheltering in makeshift relief camps set up the police. "There are an estimated 4,000 people of various ethnic communities sheltered in camps. These people had fled fearing attacks or belonged to villages where miscreants had torched their homes," the official said. The immediate provocation for the clashes was the attack on a group of Village Defence Party (VDP) volunteers early Friday by armed miscreants. "The VDP members belonged to the tribal Bodo community and were attacked by members of a religious minority group and that sparked off the clashes," the official said. In August, the area witnessed similar clashes between two communities in which about 10 people were killed and several injured.
Soruce: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/?in_leftnav

Assam Govt to oppose move for greater Nagaland: Gogoi

Guwahati (PTI): The Assam government will oppose any move for a greater Nagaland, state Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said Thursday.

Addressing a press conference here, Gogoi denied any knowledge of the reported claim of the Manipur (outer) MP that he had voted for the UPA government in the trust motion on the assurance that his demand for greater Nagaland, called "Nagalim", will be granted.

"I have no knowledge of this fact..the government is against any encroachment of the state's territory and the concept (of greater Nagaland)," he said.

Congratulating Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the "marvellous victory" (in the trust motion), the Chief Minister said this showed the people's confidence on the UPA government.

Assam leads medals tally

Imphal, July 13: Hosts Manipur bagged six medals, including two gold, in the inaugural session of the 13th Northeast Powerlifting Championship held at Khuman Lampak Kangshang today.
The All-Manipur Powerlifting Association is organising the two-day event under the Indian Power Lifting Federation.

At present, Assam occupies the number one slot in the championship with three gold, two silver and a bronze medal, while Manipur takes second place with two gold, two silver and two bronze.
Nagaland is in third place with one gold and a bronze.

L. Ajit of Nagaland won the gold with a lift of 295kg in the men’s 52-kg category.
He lifted 120kg in squatting, 50kg in bench press and 125kg in death lift.
In the 65-kg event, Taluke Gogoi of Assam bagged the gold with a total lift of 422.5kg with 175kg in squatting, 72.5kg in bench press and 175kg in death lift.

Rajib Sonawal of Assam took the silver with 347.5kg with 130kg in squatting, 45.5kg in bench press and 130kg in death lift, while Md Rehman of Manipur won the bronze with 110kg in squatting, 57.5kg in bench press and 150kg in death lift.

L. Rosekumar Singh of Manipur won the gold in the 60-kg category with a total lift of 435kg, comprising 160kg in squatting, 80kg in bench press and 195kg in death lift.
Assam lifter Jintu Mech bagged the gold in the 67-kg event with a total lift of 472kg (180kg in squatting, 100kg in bench press and 190 in death lift), while W. Nelson Singh of Manipur took the silver with a total lift of 425kg.

Suren Deka of Assam claimed the bronze with a lift of 335kg.
In the 75kg category, A.B. Banu of Assam won the gold with a total lilt of 527.5kg with 217kg in squatting, 112.5kg in bench press and 197.5kg in death lift.

Compatriot Indrajit Sharma followed with a total lift of525kg with 185kg in squatting, 115kg in bench press and 225 in death lift and Md Aman of Manipur collected the bronze with 515kg with 190kg in squatting, 125kg in bench press and 200kg in death lift.

Manipur lifter Md Salez Hussain won the gold in the 82-kg category with a total lift of 510kg, while M. Gyaneshor Singh, also of Manipur, fetched the silver.

Dhiren of Nagaland took the bronze with 435kg with 170kg in squatting, 85kg in bench press and 180kg in death lift. source: http://www.telegraphindia.com

Assam leads medals tally

Imphal, July 13: Hosts Manipur bagged six medals, including two gold, in the inaugural session of the 13th Northeast Powerlifting Championship held at Khuman Lampak Kangshang today.
The All-Manipur Powerlifting Association is organising the two-day event under the Indian Power Lifting Federation.

At present, Assam occupies the number one slot in the championship with three gold, two silver and a bronze medal, while Manipur takes second place with two gold, two silver and two bronze.
Nagaland is in third place with one gold and a bronze.

L. Ajit of Nagaland won the gold with a lift of 295kg in the men’s 52-kg category.
He lifted 120kg in squatting, 50kg in bench press and 125kg in death lift.
In the 65-kg event, Taluke Gogoi of Assam bagged the gold with a total lift of 422.5kg with 175kg in squatting, 72.5kg in bench press and 175kg in death lift.

Rajib Sonawal of Assam took the silver with 347.5kg with 130kg in squatting, 45.5kg in bench press and 130kg in death lift, while Md Rehman of Manipur won the bronze with 110kg in squatting, 57.5kg in bench press and 150kg in death lift.

L. Rosekumar Singh of Manipur won the gold in the 60-kg category with a total lift of 435kg, comprising 160kg in squatting, 80kg in bench press and 195kg in death lift.
Assam lifter Jintu Mech bagged the gold in the 67-kg event with a total lift of 472kg (180kg in squatting, 100kg in bench press and 190 in death lift), while W. Nelson Singh of Manipur took the silver with a total lift of 425kg.

Suren Deka of Assam claimed the bronze with a lift of 335kg.
In the 75kg category, A.B. Banu of Assam won the gold with a total lilt of 527.5kg with 217kg in squatting, 112.5kg in bench press and 197.5kg in death lift.

Compatriot Indrajit Sharma followed with a total lift of525kg with 185kg in squatting, 115kg in bench press and 225 in death lift and Md Aman of Manipur collected the bronze with 515kg with 190kg in squatting, 125kg in bench press and 200kg in death lift.

Manipur lifter Md Salez Hussain won the gold in the 82-kg category with a total lift of 510kg, while M. Gyaneshor Singh, also of Manipur, fetched the silver.

Dhiren of Nagaland took the bronze with 435kg with 170kg in squatting, 85kg in bench press and 180kg in death lift. source: http://www.telegraphindia.com

4 petrol pumps in Cachar sealed

4 petrol pumps in Cachar sealed

SILCHAR, June 15 – Four petrol pumps, two of them of Silchar town, were sealed by a vigilance team recently.The two petrol pumps from Silchar town are Crosier Petrol Pump situated at Tarapur and Club Road. The other petrol pumps are SP and SR Filling Station at Katigorah and M/s Sharma Petrol Pump at Kalain. The vigilance team, which has been deployed by the Petroleum Ministry, sealed these petrol pumps due to adulteration of petrol and diesel.The vigilance agency, named AGS Private Agency, visited some petrol pumps in Cachar district. The team also served notices to four petrol pumps for adulteration.Meanwhile, the Barak Valley Petroleum Dealers’ Association approached the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar in this concern. The members said that pol items received by them often passed through several stages, hence the anomalies in consistent quality. Source: assam tribune

AGP leaders talk alliance with BJP

AGP leaders talk alliance with BJP

NISHIT DHOLABHAI

New Delhi, June 14: AGP legislators Chandramohan Patowary and Padma Hazarika met BJP president Rajnath Singh here today, ostensibly to work out the modalities of an alliance between the parties.

“It was a courtesy call,” said Patowary after over an hour of talks with Singh.
The two legislators met other senior BJP leaders later in the evening. BJP sources were tight-lipped about what transpired in the meeting, but did not rule out an alliance with the regional party.

AGP is part of the United National Progressive Alliance, comprising the Samajwadi Party and other smaller parties who, only a couple of months ago, wanted a third front to counter the BJP and the Congress.

For the BJP, it is a step ahead in breaking the UNPA and adding strength in Assam where it has not been able to make a dent into the Congress strongholds.

At present, the AGP and BJP have only two MPs each in the Lok Sabha from Assam.
The meeting comes at a time when talks are on for AGP’s merger with the party’s splinter groups, including the AGP (Pragatisheel).

AGP(P) leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has been camping in the same building as the two AGP leaders, but was absent from the meeting with the BJP leader.

Sources said Mahanta had met BJP leaders a month ago for the same reason. “We are yet to finalise,” Mahanta said. Source: telegraphindia

NEWS IN BRIEF

NEWS IN BRIEFNational convention HOJAI, June 11: A three-day national convention on indigenous ethnic people of North-east India is being organised from June 13 at Hojai Sahitya Sabha Bhavan. According to W Chandra Kumar, publicity secretary of the organising committee, delegation from entire North-east States including Sikkim are expected to participate. Among distinguished guests invites to the convention are Prof W Naba Kumar, Manipur University, PP Bhutia, Sikkim Lepcha Bhutia apex committee , JH Zorem Thanga, president CYM, Aziwal, Asom Ahom Sabha, Niglar Veo, presient Nyishi Students’ Union, Tulasi Bordoloi president Autonomy Demand Struggling Forum etc. – Our CorrespondentEnvironment Day UDALGURI, June 11: The World Enviornment Day was observed in many places in and around Rowta Chariali in Udalguri district on June 5 last. At Danda Sahariah HS School, the environment day was observed by students and teachers by planting the saplings. The programme of free plantation was initiated by Md Abdul Khalek Mazumdar, president of Danda Sahariah HS School students’ parliament while Md Bikash Ali, in-charge of eco-club of the school anchored the programme. Chakradhar Nath, Kedar Sarmah, subject teachers of the school outlined the significance of the day in view of alarming global warming. At Jharnagaon too, the World Environment Day was observed with plantation progrmame in association with Jhil Thrill Friendship Group, an NGO of Nagaon district. – Our CorrespondentPunishment demanded DULIAJAN, June11: Duliajan Press Club has demanded exemplary punishment to the city-based journalist, Mukul Pathak who was arrested along with sacked minister Ripun Bora by CBI for his indulgence in a bribery case to influence the outcome of the sensational murder case of the tea tribe leader Daniel Topno being investigated by CBI which has brought shame to the journalist fraternity of the State. The press club also urged the media personnel of the state to uphold the respect and ethics of the fourth estate of the nation while reporting besides appealing to the management of the publication houses to adopt some strict procedure while appointing reporters so that opportunists can be kept at bay from entering the noble profession. – Our CorrespondentCattle rescued HATSINGIMARI, June 11: In a joint operation by Assam and Meghalaya police headed by Gulzar Hussain, SDPO, Hatsingimari, O/C, Fulbari PS and CI of Tura 41 cattle were rescued from Assam-Meghalaya brodering area near Hazirhat while some smugglers were chasing the cows towards Banglaesh at about 2.30 pm on Tuesday. On seeing the police, the smugglers managed to escape from the spot. The police sources informed that the approximate market value of the cattle would be about Rs 3 lakh. – Our CorrespondentInaugurated GOLAGHAT, June 11: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi inaugurated the newly constructed sports auditorium complex at Golaghat general field and also the newly constructed district library building near circuit house, Golaghat on Tuesday. On the occasion of the completion of two years’ Congress(I) government, the Chief Minister also delivered a speech in the meeting held under the presidentship of Deepak Kumar Goswami, deputy commissioner, Golaghat. The meeting was attended by Deep Gogoi, MP Koliabor, Sanat Saikia MLA, Debeswar Bora, director AAMC and other officials. – Our Correspondent

Rhino crusader goes international

Rhino crusader goes international

One of the most visible faces of “save the rhino” campaign in Assam is ready to take his crusade beyond Indian shores.
Bibhab Talukdar, who waged a relentless battle against poachers, has been offered a position in the Internat ional Rhino Foundation, and needless to say, he has accepted it.
Talukdar, in fact, will be the first person from India to the join the international foundation dedicated to conser vation and research on the endangered species.
“It is my pleasure to announce that Talukdar will join the Interna tional Rhino Foundation as the Asian rhino co-ordinator this month. The position has been slightly reconfigured to include both Southeast and South Asian rhino range states,” Susie Ellis, executive director of International Rhino Foundation, said in a statement.
She said Talukdar would split his time between Indonesia and India, working full time in Indonesia for four months a year and the other eight months in India.
Of course, he will continue to support Aaranyak, an NGO dealing with environment, where he worked as the secretary general.
Talukdar, in fact, had always helped the state by bringing in funds from across the world to save rhinos.
“The new position with the foundation will give me an opportunity to increase my area of work in the international arena. This is an added responsibility and not to mention the challenges of working with Javan and Sumatran rhino conservation in Southeast Asia. I have accepted the position to offer my contribution towards conservation of three Asian rhino species,” he said.

Asom bandh, chakka bandh on June 9

Asom bandh, chakka bandh on June 9 By our Staff ReporterGUWAHATI, June 6:

The Asom Gana Parishad has called a 12-hour Asom bandh from 5 am on June 9 in protest against hike in prices of oil and LPG. The party took the decision at a meeting in the AGPLP office at Dispur today. Meanwhile, the All India Road Transport Workers’ Federation, Assam State Committee, has also called a Statewide Chakka bandh on June 9 on the same issue.

Water scarcity parches ward

Water scarcity parches ward
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Hailakandi
June 3: The public health engineering department of Hailakandi has admitted its failure to supply water to a number of wards for shortage of electricity.
Gaurangapally area under ward number one of Hailakandi town has been deprived of clean drinking water for the past few years.
The residents have been paying Rs 50 every month to the local municipal board as water tax but don’t receive a drop in return.
Residents said they are forced to buy drinking water from nearby localities and use dirty water from the ponds for household chores.
They met the chairman of the municipal board several times, but that did not help matters much.
The residents of the area are also annoyed with the ward commissioner.
“This is not happening in a rural area but in a town where the basic facilities should be made available to the people,” a resident said. The ward commissioner, Shivani Paul, when contacted, refused to comment.
If scarcity of water was not bad enough, the people of the area have alleged that the municipality does not clear the drains.
Garbage and gutter water inundates the houses after every shower. The Hailakandi unit of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) have also alleged that the PHE is supplying the dirty and impure water in other parts of the town too. Source: Telegraph India