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

Major arms haul in North Cachar Hills in Assam

Shillong: The BSF on Monday busted a hideout of the Black Widow group in Assam’s North Cachar Hills district and recovered a huge cache of arms.

A special operations team of the BSF and Assam Police carried out a search operation in the twin villages of Dimadao and Dithur in Umrangso, a BSF statement from the headquarters here said.
Around 10 suspected Black Widow rebels opened fire on the security personnel, prompting the latter to retaliate. While the rebels managed to escape, the troops found a huge cache of arms from a camp nearby. — PTI

Blood Donors’ Day

Blood Donors’ Day

HAILAKANDI, June 19: On the occasion of World Blood Donors' Day, a meeting was organized on the SK Roy Civil Hospital premises in Hailakandi on June 14. The meeting was presided over by the Joint Director of Health Services, Dr Samir Kumar Das. It was addressed by the Superintendent of the Hospital, Dr Nirendranath Bhuya, journalist Santosh Kumar Mazumdar, Manash Kanti Das, Pritikona Paul, Dr Mohan Lal Bhattacharjee among others. The speakers in the meeting highlighted the relevance of the day and urged all sections of the people of society to come forward for the voluntary blood donation for the survival of the others. In his presidential address, joint director, Dr Samir Kumar Das narrated the history of blood donation in India and abroad. — Our correspondent

Construction of Tezpur medical college to ready in two years

Construction of Tezpur medical college to ready in two years

From Our Correspondent TEZPUR, June 19 – The proposed Tezpur Medical College will be completed within the next two years. The fifth medical college of the State will fulfil the dream of the people of the North Bank. For the proposed college at Tumuki under Bihaguri development block, some 18 km away from Tezpur town of Sonitpur district, an amount of Rs 160 crore has already been allocated. Out of this, Rs 125 crore will be utilised for construction of the building and the remaining Rs 35 crore for the miscellaneous works.This was stated by Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday while addressing the land handover function organised at Tumuki under Bihagrui development block, the site for the proposed project. Attending the progrmame as the chief guest, the minister further asserted that it was a memorable day for the people of the area as well as for Sonitpur.Though the preliminary works of the proposed medical college for the north bank people will be started immediately, the foundation stone for the same will be laid in July-August by the Prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh, the minister said.He further added that the Congress-led Assam government has set a milestone through these projects for the benefit of the public reflecting the overall development in the health sector, which was not the case during the term of the AGP government.He mentioned in this context that after the establishment of the of the Silchar Medical College, no medical college was established in Assam during the last 30 years. “We expect that there will be no shortage of doctors in Assam if we can establish a medical college after every 10 years,” Dr Sarma added.He informed that the works of construction of medical college has been given to three reputed companies namely, M/s URL, M/s BCL and M/s UIL and that the main building will be of five storeyed one while the building for the medical college (for the class rooms) will have four stories.The dignitaries present at the day-long function included Fishery and Irrigation Minister, Nurjamal Sarkar, ex-MLA, Bhimananda Tanti, Kamal Goswami, DC, Sonitpur, Mohan Boro, commissioner, PWD and John Ingtee Kather, commissioner, North Assam and many others.

PMO directs Rlys to ensure train movement

PMO directs Rlys to ensure train movement

By R Dutta Choudhury GUWAHATI, June 19 – The Government of India is concerned with the probability of the Barak Valley districts of Assam as well as the states of Mizoram, Tripura and parts of Manipur facing shortage of food stuff due to disruption of train services between Lumding to Badarpur following militant attacks and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has directed the Railways to ensure movement of at least essentials. Train services in the Lumding-Badarpur section has been badly hit following a series of attacks by the militants belonging to the Black Widow group and the problem compounded as normally in this time of the year, additional food stuff are sent to the Barak Valley and Mizoram, Tripura and parts of Manipur as the hill section of the NF Railway is often affected because of landslides during the rainy season. Train running in the section was suspended for more than a week with effect from May 15 and though the NF Railways has started running of goods trains, it will take some time for the services to become normal.Official sources said that the PMO, in consultation with the Food Ministry, has asked the Railways to ensure movement of at least 3,500 tonnes of food stuff in the Lumding-Badarpur section per day to ensure that Barak Valley, Mizoram, Tripura and parts of Manipur do not face scarcity of essential commodities. Railway sources, on the other hand, said that efforts are on by the NF Railway to meet the requirement as given by the PMO by running four goods trains daily. It is learnt that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has also initiated steps to transport essentials by road to maintain the stock position, while, the traders have also started using the roadways to transport essentials. But the possibility of Barak Valley, Mizoram and Tripura facing shortage of petroleum products cannot be ruled out as no train carrying POL has moved in the section in recent times. Earlier, at least one train carrying POL products used to run from Lumding to Badarpur in a day.Sources said that before the trouble broke out in NC Hills, at least eight to ten goods trains and six passenger trains used to run in the Lumding-Badarpur section every day and now only five trains, including four goods trains and one security special are running in the section daily. Sources revealed that the efforts are on to reopen the stations that were closed after the suspension of operations in the area and so far 14 of 27 stations have been reopened. But the staff are not staying overnight in most of the stations and they proceed to their place of posting only by the security special train in the morning and come back to Lumding later in the evening. No decision has yet been taken to resume night running of trains.The Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi yesterday said that the State Government was insisting on resumption of passenger train services in the section as suspension of it caused hardship to the common people. However, the Railways are yet to take any decision as to when passenger train services would be resumed. Sources said that the Railways are keen on running of passenger trains as soon as the situation in the hill district is considered to be conducive. Following a series of attacks, the Railway employees were demanding posting of RPSF personnel on the stations, deployment of the Army in the vulnerable locations in the section and deployment of central paramilitary forces for track patrolling. The Railways started the process of deployment of RPSF personnel in the stations, while, the other two demands are yet to be fulfilled and the Railway employees are still apprehensive of their security.Meanwhile, the drivers of the trains have been provided with bullet proof vests available with the RPSF, but it is a tough task to wear the vests for long hours inside the engines. On the other hand, a decision has also been taken for making the engines bullet proof and the Railways held talks with several firms having the expertise in doing so, but the cost involved in doing so would be very high and extra funds would have to be made available to the NF Railways to do so. The process of making the engines bullet proof would also be a long one as at least 40 days would be required to modify one engine.