Back issues - November '03 - vedanti News/2003/11... · Web viewNews on 30th November '2003 Lever officials meet CM, Advani moved: Guwahati: Top officials of multinational giant Hindustan

Back issues - November '03

News on 30th November '2003

Lever officials meet CM, Advani moved:

Guwahati: Top officials of multinational giant Hindustan Lever Ltd (HLL) on Nov 28 met Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and discussed the security situation in the aftermath of the ULFA's rocket attack on the residence of a company executive in Doom Dooma on Nov 27. Meanwhile, the Assam, Government has sent a request to Union home Minister LK Advani for deployment of more paramilitary forces to tackle the law-and order situation in the State.

SEC defers Tinsukia civic polls to December 15

Top guns push party candidates:

Guwahati: Campaigning for the GMC elections, which had begun on a lacklustre note, has picked up stream, with heavyweights of Assam's political arena leading from the front, in displays of strength not usually seen in elections for bodies. In the process, the GMC elections are turning into a major proving ground for the principal political parties of Assam, including the AGP, BJP and Congress, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections next year.

Firm begins city Master Plan survey, 2005 target:

Guwahati: Survey works for preparation of the new Master Plan for the city has already been started by the Consulting Engineering Services (India) Pvt Ltd, the Delhi-based firm selected by the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA). The urban planning consultant of the firm JC Gambhir said that congestion in the central areas as well as environment will be the thrust areas of the Plan in view of the rapid movement of population to the city. "The draft for the Master Plan is almost ready, being prepared with the maximum public participation. We have consulted with professional, non-professional, Government and Non Government bodies before the preparation of the draft", said Mr Gambhir. He said that the target period taken for the completion of the Master Plan is 18 months, which about five to six months will be needed for the survey works. The Plan will be completed by mid 2005.

Borders must be sealed to corner rebels: Gogoi

Guwahati: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has said that New Delhi must take urgent steps to seal the international borders with Bhutan and Bangladesh in a bid to snap the trans-border movement of ULFA and NDFB rebels. Mr Gogoi said he would once again place this demand before the Union Home Ministry in view of the current attacks on Hindi speakers which, he added, had the full backing of these outlawed groups.

Probe into Green Belt: panel indicts GMC, Revenue Dept

Guwahati: The one-man enquiry commission that probed charges of violation of Green Belt norms in the city has blamed the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) as well as the State Revenue Department for issuing building permission and allotting land respectively in the Green Belt zone.

Water found in milk packet:

Guwahati: Strange but true. Customers of the city have found only water in packets of milk of the Amul Taza brand over the past few weeks. A customer, who had bought an Amul Taza milk packet from a shop on GS Road in the city on Nov 28, informed that he found only water in the sealed packet. When he complained to the shopkeeper of this, the latter assured him of taking up the matter with the whole-sellers.


Karbis in favour of scrapping of BTC Accord; Political parties' memo to Governor, Jacob's intervention sought

Call to protect Karbi Anglong territory:

Diphu: The leading citizens along with the various political parties here expressed serious concern over the atrocities on the Karbis living in Meghalaya Government along with the Meghalaya Governor Mr MM Jacob to intervene in the matter immediately. Blasting the activities of the Government including the other Khasi organisations, some leading organisations of the State namely the ASDC (P), CPI (ML), KSA and KNCA said, "Meghalaya Government at the behest of powerful forest contractors lobby have been demanding a vast area of forest land of Karbi Anglong in the name of re-transferring Block-I and II".

UPDS hawks call 120-hour bandh on BTC clause:

Diphu: The United People's democratic Solidarity (anti-tank) has called a 120-hour Karbi Anglong and NC Hills bandh from December 2 demanding immediate scrapping of Clause 8 of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Accord, even as the people in the two districts are yet to overcome the shock they had received during the recent Karbi-Kuki clashes.

HLL official escapes ULFA rocket attack, BJP refutes CM charge:

Dibrugarh: The volatile security situation in Upper Assam got a further blow with suspected ULFA militants lobbing rocket-propelled grenades at one of the executive residences of the personal products' division of multinational giant Hindustan Lever Ltd near Doom Dooma on Nov 26 in the night. The attack however is not related to the recent strikes by the proscribed against members of the Bihari community. Meanwhile, 3 ULFA cadres were shot dead in an encounter with the Army while they were attempting to enter Darrang district from Bhutan.

Tension at Karbi Anglong

Karbi body invites KSU to visit Karbi Anglong

KSU making sensational propaganda: KSA

Diphu: In an attempt to defuse the ongoing tension between the Karbis and the Khasi-Pnar communities, the representatives of All Meghalaya Karbi Association (AMKA) met the KSA leaders recently and requested the KSA to allow the return of the Khasi-Pnar people of Block-I of Karbi anglong who are taking shelter in Jaintia hills of Meghalaya. Clarifying its position, the KSA said that the association welcomes the return of the Khasi-Pnar people belonging to Block-I of Karbi Anglong district, as there is no enmity between the Karbi and Khasi-Pnar people.

Normalcy returns to Jorhat brick Kilns:

Jorhat: Normalcy has returned to all the brick kilns of the district in view of the stringent security measures being put into place by the district administration here. The labourers working in the 15 brick kilns here are housed insecure places at night to prevent any untoward incident. Brick Kilns, mostly

located in interior parts of the district, closed shop following the killing of 11 labourers at Bordubi in Tinsukia district in the current spate of violence against Hindi-speaking people in the State. With the return of normalcy, brick Kiln owners are having a sigh of relief at not having to face losses.


Truckers put brakes, ULFA ups ante

Assam moves Bihar, WB on truck stir:

Guwahati: The Assam Government has taken up the truck blockade threats made by Bihar and West Bengal transporters with the respective State governments, even as it got in touch with the Union Railway Ministry to help bring in essential commodities to the State. Assam Chief secretary, JP Rajkhowa on Nov 27 contacted his counterparts in West Bengal and Bihar and expressed the government's concern over the statements made by different truckers' associations in two State about blocking movement of trucks into Assam and the North-east.

AASU stages demo against TV coverage, warns parties:

Guwahati: The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) on Nov 27 staged a sit-in demonstration in the city in protest against the 'insensitive' coverage of the current situation in Assam by a section of the electronic media, and warned the political parties in the State, mainly the AGP, the BJP and the Congress against trying to score political mileage out of the prevailing situation.

Mundane problems, hi-tech campaign:

Guwahati: From digitally enhanced posters to text messages over cell-phones, political parties have taken their campaigns for the coming GMC elections to the hi-tech age. After the lull caused by the anti-Bihari unrest across the State, campaigning has picked up stream ahead of the polls on December 1. The ruling Congress party has booked a 90 minute slot on a local news channel, with 10-minute episodes highlighting the party's electoral promises and proposed activities in the 57 wards of the GMC where it has put up candidates. Audio-visual clipping of party leader and Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, exhorting citizens to "vote Congress", also appear during breaks between news programmes. The party is also banking on the burgeoning population of cell-phone users, with SMS messages doing the rounds, according to party spokesperson Bobita Sharma.

Students throng British education fair in city:

Guwahati: Mohibul Islam, a commerce graduate from the Guwahati Commerce College is really excited about doing his Masters in Business Administration in the United Kingdom. "I always had a desire to study in the UK, but was not able to get detailed information so far. I have rushed to this education fair to get a thorough idea in this respect", Mohibul told on Nov 27. Students and guardians thronged the first ever Study UK exhibition in the North-east, a two-day event that began on Nov 27 at Hotel Brahmaputra Ashok. Organised by the British Council, the educational fair is attended by ten education consultants and companies representing more than 50 British universities. "The response of the students from the North-east is no less positive than in other parts of the country", said Mr Kaushik Barua who is working with the Canam Consultants Ltd in its Guwahati branch. With a promise of high quality learning opportunities, the consultants from different parts of the country are meeting the students here who are planning to go for higher education in the UK.


BJP, Bajrang inciting Biharis against me: CM

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Nov 26 said that the BJP and the Bajrang Dal were behind yesterday's incident at Doomdooma where he was greeted with full-throated slogans like "Tarun

Gogoi go back, Tarun Gogoi murdabad" etc., during his visit to a refugee camp at Phulebari. It may be mentioned here that the angry sloganeering by the camp inmates had forced him not only to cut short his address in the camp, but also visits to other riot-affected areas in Tinsukia district. Besides stoning his convoy, the irate mob had also ransacked the Congress office there.

Truckers still refuse to ply:

Guwahati: The Assam Government was in touch with its counterparts in West Bengal and Bihar to ensure that trucks, carrying essential items, were allowed to ply in the State. "We are in touch with governments in Bihar and West Bengal to ensure that supply of must items is not affected in wake of the attack on Biharis and the threat by truck drivers not to ply vehicles in Assam", Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told. Denying that there was shortage of essential commodities in the market, Gogoi said that truck movement was normal along the inter-state border.

'NSUI extorting money from Hindi-speakers':

Guwahati: The Hindi-speaking people of Dhemaji district on Nov 26 alleged that some of the members of the NSUI, the youths wing of the Congress, have been forcibly collecting money for their organisation from the Hindi-speaking business community of the area.

Goswami opens NE Book Fair in city:

Guwahati: "The electronic media can never supplant books. The printed word makes us think. Only reading, writing and thinking make us human. Thinking produces art and culture. Literature is also an art," said Mr Golok Chandra Goswami, scholar and noted linguist, while inaugurating the 5th North East Book Fair organised by the All Assam Publishers and Booksellers association at the Judges' Field here in the evening on Nov 26.

Power consumers don't get to see guidelines on complaints:

Guwahati: More teeth have been added to the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) as its electricity consumer service is being extended to protect the rights of the consumers by setting "Guidelines for Redressal of Consumer Grievance". But, in view of the civic poll on December 1, the Commission's November 28 deadline for receiving comments from interested consumers or stakeholders on the Draft Guideline, has been too early.


Laloo spells magic on AASU, to be champion of Assam:

Guwahati: If Laloo Prasad Yadav's word given to AASU leaders is to be believed, the next session of Parliament will see him standing up to highlight the demands of the organisation. In his current avatar as a peacemaker, it took 45 minutes for the RJD supremo to win over AASU leaders, going by the latter's reaction after their meeting with him on Nov 24 in the evening. Laloo's declaration to champion their cause in Delhi also made leaders of the student body to compare him favourably with Assam's own politicians.

NDFB enters scene, Army unearths explosives:

Guwahati: The chief of the Army's Eastern Command Lt Gen J.S.Verma on Nov 25 told the Assam Government in no uncertain terms that the troops would go all out to neutralise the insurgents in the State to help contain the current spate of violence even as the outlawed NDFB has joined the ULFA in targeting Hindi speakers.

Assam students will be safe in Bihar, says Laloo:

Guwahati: On the second day of his two-day visit to Assam in the wake of attacks on the Bihari community here, RJD leader and former Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav on Nov 25 sought to equate his State with Assam, stating that both had "similar problems". He assured the public that all steps had been taken to provide security to train passengers from North-east in the State. He also assured that all people from Assam living in Bihar were safe from retaliatory attacks.

AGP to be neutral on PR demand: Brindaban

Guwahati: The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) will neither demand President's rule nor oppose its imposition in Assam as recommended by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). AGP president Brindaban Goswami said that when the AGP was in power in Assam the Congress has demanded imposition of President's rule evenon the 'slightest pretext'.

'MLA Sarkar got fake SC certificate':

Guwahati: Member of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes Tapir Gao has accused the MLA from Abhayapuri South constituency Chandan Kumar Sarkar of fraudulently obtaining an SC certificate to contest elections from the said Assembly seat. Mr Gao has also charged Mr Sarkar with getting his name enrolled in two states, on in Abhayapuri Assembly constituency of Assam and the other in No 13 Falakata Legislative assembly seat of west Bengal. When local people belonging to the scheduled caste complained of this, the matter was taken up by the Election Commission of in 1993. Mr Gao criticise the State Government for not taking any action against Mr Sarkar despite the directions of the Election Commission.

No water supply

Residents in city to boycott civic polls:

Guwahati: The voters of the Kharguli area in the city on Nov 25 decided to boycott the coming Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) elections to be held on December 1 in protest against the civic body's failure to restore water supply in the locality, which was snapped for technical faults a few days back.

Eight devotees carry miracle book on foot from Dergaon, to be taken back on Nov 26

235-year-old Vaishnavite holy book arrives in city:

Guwahati: Devotees thronged the Hengerabari residence of Amulya Hazarika to attend kirtan path of the famed Khanikoriya puthi. The 235-year-old manuscript has arrived for the first time in the city or anywhere in Lower Assam, transported on foot by eight devotees from its home in Misamora Khanikoriya Gaon near Dergaon. Eight young devotees carried the ornately carved woodenbox containing the manuscript on foot, resting overnight at the naam ghars on the way. The Khanikoriya puthi arrived here in the morning on Nov 24 and will be carried back on Nov 26.


Laloo arrives with peace mantra:

3 more gunned down, Gogoi to visit Upper Assam on Nov 25:

Guwahati: After a brief lull, suspected ULFA gunned down three persons of the Bihari community at Khangkhlabari, six k.m. from Udalguri at around 9.30 in the night on Nov 24. According to police sources, some houses were also torched during the attack. The Darrang DC and SP have rushed to the spot. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will tour the worst-hit Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts on Nov 25 to take stock of the situation. He would be accompanied by the State DGP P.V.Sumant, Chief Secretary P.V.Sumant, Chief Secretary J.P.Rajkhowa and Home commissioner K.D.Tripathi.

It's not without logic to seek Grade D jobs for locals, says Thakur:

Guwahati: The Centre on Nov 24 indicated that it could explore the possibility of amending the Constitution to reserve all Grade D posts in the Indian Railways to locals in state across the country. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, after being briefed about the situation in Assam in the night on Nov 23 by the visiting Union ministers upon their return to New Delhi, is thinking of calling an all-party meeting to discuss the possibilities in this regard.

Jobs for locals will be my slogan: Laloo

Guwahati: The Laloo bandwagon rolled into Assam on Nov 24, feinting the air with cries of "bihari-Assamese Bhai-Bhai", as the RJD supremo led a delegation of 9MPs on what he himself described as a "goodwill mission" in the wake of attacks on the Bihari community in Assam.

B'deshis behind unrest: RSS

Guwahati: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief KS Sudarshan on Nov 24 said the current backlash on people from Bihar in Assam was the handiwork of antisocial elements from Bangladesh who were out to create communal divide among the Hindus in Assam and the entire North-east.

Ghatowar: press must be cautious on statements from banned groups

Guwahati: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Nov 24 urged the State Government to find out a 'mechanism' to exercise control in the publication of statements in newspapers given by some of the banned organisations, including the ULFA, and the said, "these statements provoke the people to turn violent". APCC president Paban Singh Ghatowar blamed such provocative statements issued by the ULFA and published in a section of local newspapers for the recent spate of violence in the State.

Govt, FCI differ on food stock; Rlys moved for rakes:

Guwahati: The Assam Government on Nov 24 said that the State has sufficient stock of essential commodities to last 15 to 30 days, and food and civil supplies in the State will not be affected at any cost due to the present turmoil. However, sources from the Regional Offices of the Food Corporation of India said that the stocks are depleting, although fresh supplies are on the pipeline.

Killings and violence will hit investment climate in Assam: Madhab

'Economy gloomy, but light ahead':

Guwahati: "The economic liberalisation initiated in the early 1990s by the then Finance

Minister Manmohan Singh has failed to make much of an impact on the economy of Assam, with the State forced to depend on outside sources", said Dr Jayanta Madhab, economic adviser to the Chief Minister.


Assam tense, Delhi warns 'third force'

Four more dead, police nabs three 'gangs' of killers:

Guwahati: Sporadic incidents of violence on Biharis continued unabated as four more persons of the community were killed in the last 24 hours in Tinsukia district. Around a dozen towns are under night curfew imposed by the authorities to keep the situation under control with Army, police and the paramilitary on patrol. The Assam Police, meanwhile has arrested three 'gangs' involved in the recent arson and killings in Upper Assam. "These gangs- two from Dibrugarh and one from Tinsukia- were mixed gangs comprising people of various communities", DGP PV Sumant told.

Laloo, MPs to arrive city on Nov 24, meet AASU:

Guwahati: RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav is arriving here on Nov 24 to take stock of the situation in the wake of the anti-Bihari uprising in the State, sources said. AASU general secretary Amiyo Kumar Bhuyan told that Mr Yadav telephoned AASU advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya on Nov 23 and expressed his desire to meet with the student leaders in the city.

Mob attacks Assam Bhavan in New Delhi:

Guwahati: An irate mob of about 250 people led by Mr Pappu Yadav, an MP from Bihar, attacked the Assam Bhavan in New Delhi on Nov 23in protest against the ongoing backlash on Biharis and other Hindi-speaking people in Assam. There was no injury to anyone in the Bhavan.

ASDC contradicts Lapang's claim on Pnars:

Guwahati: Reacting to Meghalaya Chief Minister DD Lapang's statement in a section of the press on Nov 22 in which it was stated that majority of the people in Block-I and Block-II areas in Karbi Anglong are Khasi-Pnars the ASDC said on Nov 23 by its general secretary Chowang Kro that Mr. Lapang's claim was not correct. According to the ASDC, of the total 285 villages with about 46,000 voters in block-I and Block-II areas, only 46 villages are dominated by the Khasi-Pnars. The number of Khasi Pnars voters in the two areas, according to the ASDC, is 4,000.

SJSS calls 72-hr Assam bandh from Dec 6:

Guwahati: The Sanmilita Jana-Gosthiya Sangram Samity (SJSS) has called a 72-hour Assam bandh from December 6 in protest against the formation of BTC under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The decision was taken in an SJSS meeting held here today. The meeting was attended, among others, by SJSS chief convenor Phani Medhi and Brajen Mahanta.

Civic poll watch

Monthly deficit of GMC Rs 1.2 cr:

Guwahati: The civic poll campaign with luring promises by candidates and their supporters may not mean anything as the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) today is running with a monthly deficit of Rs 1.2 crore. Comprising a population of 8.47 lakh, with 103,000 registered households, besides 30,000 Government quarters, within the GMC area, the Corporation earns Rs 1.2 crore per month against its monthly expenditure of Rs 2.4 crore. Therefore, the GMC is going to see no dramatic change with a mere change in the administration.

SN Bezboruah trust

City girl bags merit scholarship:

Guwahati: The Serendra Nath Bezboruah Birth Centenary Trust Merit Scholarship for 2003-2004 was awarded at a function here on Nov 23 to Ms Gargi Phukan who has secured the highest mark in Assamese in the High School Leaving Certificate Examination this year from Axom Jatiya Vidyalaya. The award carries Rs 10,000 and a citation.

News on 23rd November '2003

Alien forces behind ULFA attacks: Thakur

Guwahati: The Union Government while pledging to work in co-operation with the Assam Government to put an end to the current bout of violence in the State, on Nov 22 sought to lay the blame for the incidents elsewhere, pointing at "outside forces" who were instigating the attacks against the Bihari community in the State.

ULFA guns down 11 in Tinsukia:

Guwahati: The last twenty-four hours of calm in Upper Assam proved deceptive, with ULFA gunmen mowing down 11 brick kiln labourers in two separate strikes in Tinsukia district this morning. Meanwhile, the continuing violence against the Bihari community claimed its first toll in Guwahati, with the death of one person in an arson incident. An agency report said, the ULFA has for the first time since the violence erupted in Assam, claimed that it had killed the hapless Bihari labourers in Tinsukia district.

Gogoi calls for additional security forces:

Guwahati: "The State Government has been crying for more forces but the Centre continues to give a deaf ear to it. We have only 110 companies of paramilitary forces, 21 companies left the State for elections, and today the State is in the immediate need of 50 more companies," Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said while addressing a peace march taken out by the Congress in the city on Nov 22.

Centre to consider AASU demand for 100% jobs:

Guwahati: The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) on Nov 22 reiterated its demand for hundred per cent job reservation in the Group C and D categories of the Railways for indigenous people.

NRL product pipeline to benefit BPCL:

Guwahati: Even though a great deal of hope was generated in the oil sector in Assam over the two oil majors, the BPCL and the OIL firming up an alliance to construct a product pipeline to evacuate the products of the Assam Accord refinery, NRL from the refinery premises to Siliguri, sources in the refinery have expressed apprehension that they would

be left with no right or say over the marketing of their own products, going by the manner in which the entire project has been envisaged.

News on 22nd November '2003

Assam quiet, under security net

Swami: ULFA factor behind Army aid, Assam scene better

Guwahati: The Centre on Nov 21 said that the Army has been called out in Assam specifically keeping in view the threat posed to the Hindi-speaking people across the State by the outlawed ULFA that has already struck at three places and killed around a dozen of the 26 people who have died in the current spate of violence.

Bring new job policy by Nov 29 or face stir: NESO

Guwahati: The North East Students' Organisation (NESO) on Nov 21 announced that it would launch a non-violence movement from the end of this month if the Centre fails to declare a separate recruitment policy for the region before November 29.

Swami invites AASU for talks:

Guwahati: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Chinmayanand has invited the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) for a discussion at the circuit house here on Nov 22 in the evening. Informing this, AASU general secretary Amiyo Kumar Bhuyan said that they will press for 100 percent job reservation and hope that an amicable solution is reached to defuse the current tension prevailing in Assam.

Science Academy Meet begins, Dr Kasturirangan talks about sat-based tech

Plans afoot for NE Net revolution:

Guwahati: "Assam will experience an unprecedented Internet revolution in the coming months, if the Government gets its act right and implements the road map which is being planned by us in collaboration with the IIT Guwahati. Our focus here is to find ways to connect the north-eastern region to the rest of India as well as the world," said Dr N Balakrishnan from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. Dr Balakrishnan is here to participate in the 69th Annual Meeting of the Indian Academy of Sciences, hosted by IIT Guwahati.

News on 21st November '2003

Delhi rattled by Assam tremor

PM speaks to Gogoi, MoS Home arriving Assam on Nov 22:

Guwahati: More than forty-eight hours after Assam was engulfed in an orgy of violence, a flurry of telephone calls heralded the Centre's awakening to the situation in the State, with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee taking stock of the situation from Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi this morning. Meanwhile, violence spread to other parts of the State, claiming three more lives, even as curfew was clamped on at least eleven towns, including Tinsukia.

ULFA gives new warning:

Guwahati: The banned ULFA has denied involvement in the ongoing violence against Biharis in Assam, but warned politicians not to protect the interests of the Hindi-speaking people in the State. "The situation would become serious and politicians should prepare themselves to face serious consequences if they pleaded for the cause of the Hindi-speaking people or protected them, the ULFA's self-styled commander-in-chief, Paresh Baruah, told a vernacular daily here.

Science Academy Meet: 300 scientists head for city

Guwahati: A galaxy of more than 300 top scientists from across the country will converge at the 69th Annual Meeting of the Indian Academy of Sciences in the city from Nov 21. The three-day meeting, which will also play host to nearly 100 scientists and researchers from the North-east, is being held for the first time in the region, under the aegis of IIT Guwahati.

KAAC office gheraoed:

Guwahati: Over 10,000 activists of the CPI(ML), the ASDC(P), the KSA and the KNCA gheraoed the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) headquarters till 12 noon on Nov 20 and submitted a charter of demands, according to a CPI (ML) are- adoption of a resolution by the KAAC in its next session urging the Centre to scrap Clause 8 of the BTC Accord, stopping eviction of Karbi and other people from their villages in the name of protection of wildlife, cancellation of the December 4 agreement signed between the ASDC and Kuki organisations for the creation of a Kuki hills regional council, and placing a demand before the Meghalaya Government to return Khanduli-Saisima belt to Karbi Anglong, etc.


Assam bleeds in orgy of hate

Tinsukia, Duliajan under curfew, cops open fire on mob:

Guwahati: The Assam Government on Nov 19 imposed indefinite curfew in Tinsukia after police opened fire to disperse a riotous mob that had attacked a magistrate, killing a person in the commercial hub. Meanwhile, in continuing violence from Nov 18, at least 24 people belonging to the Bihari community have been either hacked or shot dead. Stung by the string of attacks, Assam Chief Minister on Nov 19 disclosed that district administrations across the State have been asked to call in the Army to quell the anti Bihari uprising. Authorities have also clamped night curfew in the oil township of Duliajan from 7p.m to7a.m.

Army asked to help, ULFA backing violence: Gogoi

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the district and police administrations across the State have been asked to take the help of the Army to put an end to the current attacks on Hindi-speaking people. He said that the ULFA was directly or indirectly behind the current mod violence against Hindi-speaking people, and the State Government was fully prepared to foil the militants' design.

Army-ULFA shoot-out in Dhubri, two rebels die:

Guwahati: Two ULFA men were shot dead when an encounter of cadres of the banned outfit with the Army took place at Gaikhowa under Golokganj police station in Dhubri district in the morning on Nov 19. Official sources indicate the possibility of the involvement of the slain militants in the killing of four Hindi-speaking persons at Chagalia

under Boxirhat police station in the district at night on Nov 18. One Chinese-made hand grenade and an AK 56 assault from pistol was recovered from the site of the encounter. The slain militants are yet to be identified.

Singh, Jois' appeal

Assam, Bihar Governors urge for calm:

Guwahati: The Governors of Assam and Bihar, Lt Gen.(retd) Ajai Singh and M.Rama Jois respectively, on Nov 19 issued a joint appeal, urging for calm in the full text of the appeal.

AASU condemns violence in State:

Guwahati: The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) on Nov 19 condemned all kinds violence that had been rocking the entire State, and appealed to the people to keep vigil on antisocial elements and help restore peace and normalcy for the State's greater interest.

Engineers among 3 lakh candidates from outside NE:

Guwahati: In a State with more than 15 lakh educated unemployed youth, the economics of employment has forced postgraduates and engineering graduates to apply for Grade D posts in the Railways, such as gangman, trackman and pointman, where the minimum qualification is 8th standard pass. Surprisingly, with such a huge pool of unemployed youth in Assam, more than 54 per cent of the candidates who appeared for the Railway Recruitment Board(RRB) Exams for Grade D posts on November 9 and 16 were from outside the North-east. Of the 6,17,949 candidates who had applied for 2720 Grade D posts with RRB, more than 3 lakh were from outside the North-east, with candidates from Bihar numbering nearly 95,000. Incidentally, candidates from other States had also applied in significant numbers, with Uttar Pradesh (36,536) and Rajasthan (32,996) leading the pack. This leaves a mere 2,86,5000 that is 54 per cent of the candidates from Assam and the rest of the North-east. Incidentally, such is the unemployment situation in Assam, that a significant fraction of the candidates from the State were women, competing for jobs which were traditionally male domains.


4killed in ULFA strike, Assam unite on quota:

Guwahati: The outlawed ULFA struck in Assam's Dhubri district on Nov 18, killing four Hindi speaking persons and critically injuring at least seven others, triggering off panic in the area. Highly placed official sources told that a group of people were watching the cricket match at wayside dhaba at Chagalia, under Boxirhat police station in Dhubri district, in the evening, when a group of armed militants descended on the scene and sprayed bullets from automatic weapons.

All-party team to meet PM on jobs:

Guwahati: All the national and regional parties in Assam, barring the AGP, on Nov 18 unanimously adopted a resolution demanding preference for North-east candidates in recruitment to class III and class IV posts in Central Government departments in the region. The parties resolved to meet Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee soon to demand his intervention on the issue. In an al-party meeting held in the city, cutting across party lines, the leaders were of the opinion that the Centre should be pressurised for job reservation for local candidates in Central Government concerns in the North-east. The parties condemned the current attacks on innocent people both in Bihar and Assam, and

asked both the state governments to bring the situation under control.

AASU for new job policy:

Guwahati: The AASU has demanded that all exams for 3rd and 4th grade employees conducted by the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) should be cancelled instead of being postponed and a new recruitment policy should be formulated, in which youths from the North-east are given preference. "Exams should only be conducted after such a new recruitment policy is put into place," stated AASU general secretary Amiyo Kumar Bhuyan. The students' body has, however, said that the issue of local preference for 3rd and 4th grade posts is applicable in every State, and the Centre should frame its policies accordingly.

Nitish agrees to put off tests: CM

Guwahati: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Nov 18 called up Railway Minister Nitish Kumar to postpone the next examination for recruitment of group-D staff in which the Railway Minister has readily agreed. Informing this here on Nov 18, Mr Gogoi told editors of newspapers at a discussion on the prevailing situation arising out of the Railway recruitment tests that the Railway Ministry had set up 464 exam centres all over Assam without any consultation with the State Government.

Green belt land misused, says AGP:

Guwahati: The AGP president Brindaban Goswami has accused the Tarun Gogoi Government of illegally allotting land under the Green Belt to different groups, including Delhi Public School, for commercial purposes. The AGP has demanded a CBI inquiry into the scam involving several hundred crores of rupees, he said in the city on Nov 18.

College teachers, staff resume stir, plan protest cards to CM:

Guwahati: College teachers and other college employees in the State have resumed their agitational programme after a break since April this year. Four organisations, the Assam College Teachers' Association (ACTA), the Assam College Principals' Association, the Assam College Employees' Association and the Assam College Librarians' Association on Nov 18 expressed their anguish on the State Government's apathy towards the fulfilment of the long standing demands of the 190 deficit colleges across the state.


City in grip of arsonists, houses burn around Dispur

Arson heats up bandh Assam:

Guwahati: The 24-hour Assam bandh called by the AASU heightened tension across the State on Nov 17 and passed off amidst stray incidents of arson and assaults in several areas of the city and elsewhere. The students' organisation had called the bandh in protest against mod assaults on train passengers from the North-east in Bihar. Normal life was brought to a standstill throughout Assam, with private vehicles staying off the roads, shops and business establishments down their shutters.

Singh against IMDT, for job quota: AASU

Guwahati: The All Assam Students' union on Nov 17 said that State Governor Lt. Gen.(retd) Ajai Singh is in favour of repeal of the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal)

Act and has agreed to push the Centre for a 100 per cent job reservation for locals in the State.

Nine bodies found, Karbi Anglong tense:

Guwahati: The Karbi Anglong Police has recovered nine bullet-riddled bodies of Kuki tribals in the inaccessible Singhason Hills ranges during the past 24 hours, indicating that the ongoing feud between Kuki and Karbi rebels has shown no signs of a let-up.

Of bank balance & civic polls:

Guwahati: Geeti Barua, a candidate for the post of councillor from Ward No. 35 of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), has total cash balance of Rs 75,167 and a bank balance of Rs 5.96 lakh, which is in addition to 7 tolas of gold ornaments possessed by her. In contrast, a candidate from Ward No.17, Monumati Swargiary has cash balance of Rs 300 and a bank balance of Rs 1,000. These were some of the striking differences in economic profiles to be seen from a survey of the lists of assets and bank balances filed by the candidates for the GMC elections.


Laloo hints at shoot orders for safe travel

Alert in Assam, NE students back bandh:

Guwahati: A red alert has been sounded throughout Assam in view of the AASU-sponsored 24-hour Assam bandh from 5 a.m. on Nov 17, and quit notice issued by the ULFA asking the Hindi-speaking people to leave the State immediately in protest against the assault on train passengers from the North-east in Bihar. The situation, on the other hand, is volatile with reports of stray attacks on Biharis and incidents of torching houses continuing to pour in from various parts in the State.

Army moves into Karbi hills, 17 arsonists held:

Guwahati: A column of the Army has been moved into the Singhason hills area in Karbi Anglong district on Nov 16 to quell the situation arising out of the ethnic feud between the warning anti-talk faction of the United Peoples' Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) and the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA). Two more Army columns are likely to be deployed in the next couple of days.

NE SSI units set to serve defence sector:

Guwahati: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is playing the role of a catalyst by pushing ahead with a hand-holding approach in preparing the ground for Small Scale Industry (SSI) units in the region to meet large requirements of the defence sector in the North-east. Although the defence sector is a big consumer of SSI products, majority of the purchase for this sector, besides the paramilitary forces in the region is routed from outside suppliers, leaving only a small chunk of this business for regional SSI units. A recent CII report says that some of the most important factors behind the inability of the SSI sector in the north-eastern region to make much headway into the defence procurement sector include, ignorance on the part of the entrepreneurs on the procedures and policies of purchase by the defence forces for their requirement, inadequate infrastructure for meeting huge demands and complying with the stringent quality norms of this sector.

'Brahmaputra basin study must before link-up':

Guwahati: Experts from all over the world have raised questions over the future utility of the massive river linking project proposed by the Centre in the wake of global warning. They are predicting that in 20 years, there will be no glaciers left in the Himalayas.

Seal B'desh border like the one with Pak: meet

Guwahati: If the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act is to be repealed, the Assam Accord too, has to be scrapped. Important issues like the sealing of the Assam-Bangladesh border and formation of vigilance committee to check illegal migration have been raised during a discussion on the IM(DT) Act and Assam here on Nov 16.

NIRD writes to Assam Chief Secretary, lauds lab-to-land knowhow transfer

Assam rural devp model a national hit:

Guwahati: The "Assam Model" of rural development intervention, presented recently in the 18th Colloquium of State Secretaries of Panchyat Raj (PR) and Rural Development (RD) and Heads of State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD), held at SIRD Jaipur, has received special appreciation from all quarters. The other participating states were, Karnataka and Rajasthan.


2,000 Bihari candidates sent back:

Guwahati: Stray incidents of retaliatory attacks on Bihari people in Assam against the recent attacks on Assamese passengers in trains in Bihar are pouring in from a number of places from Nov 14. This development came in the aftermath of the ULFA and the NDFB asking Biharis to leave the State immediately, and the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) calling a 24-hour Assam bandh from Nov 17. The bandh has been supported by the ABSU-BPAC and even the All Assam Behari Yuva Manch. As many as 4,000 candidates had come from Bihar and other States to appear in the examination, and about 2,000 of them have already left the State as the Railway authorities have already announced that candidates unable to appear in the examination will be allowed to sit for it later outside Assam.

National meet of Oil TUs in city on Nov 16:

Guwahati: Representatives of trade unions of oil giants will converging at the Noonmati Oil Refinery here on Nov 16 for a convention in protest against the privatisation of the oil sector. Swadesh Dev Roye, secretary the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) said, the convention, cutting across party lines, will aim at working out an agitation programme against the disinvestment moves of the Centre.

City cinemas defy ban on Hindi films:

Guwahati: despite the ban imposed on Hindi films by nine outlawed organisations, including the ULFA and the NDFB, all the cinema halls in the city have screened Hindi films on Nov 15 amidst tight security. The ban came into force from Nov 15. For the morning show, which starts from 11a.m., only 63 tickets were sold in Apsara hall. The seat capacity of the hall is 1,420. The situation was no different in other halls. In Vandana hall, only 121 tickets were sold . Dulal Das, manager of Anuradha cinema said that Assam Police and CRPF jawans have been manning the halls.


Army on alert, CM to visit Karbi hills on Nov 15:

Guwahati: The Assam Government on Nov 14 asked the Army to be in readiness to move into the violence-hit Singhason hills in Karbi Anglong, which is in the grip of an ethnic feud between the UPDS (anti-tank_ and the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA). The police and the paramilitary forces are already deployed in the area to quell the bloody feuding between the two outfits with innocent civilians being drawn into the vortex of the conflict. Already, seven Kuki villagers, including three children, have been killed in the clashes. Mr Gogoi will visit Karbi Anglong on Nov 15. He will be followed by Assam Governor Lt Gen(retd) Ajai Singh who will tour the area on Nov 16.

BLT men to get amnesty:

Guwahati: in a move that has further cleared the decks for the formation of the Interim Council of the Bodoland Territorial Council(BTC), the Assam government on Nov 14 decided to give general amnesty to the accused BLT and other Bodo leaders. The decision was taken at a sitting of the State Cabinet at Janata Bhawan on Nov 14.

Assault on trains, top NFR official in Bihar

Assam moves MHA, Bihar; AASU bandh on Nov 17:

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Nov 14 took up the matter of attacks on train passengers from the North-east in Bihar with RJD supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav and the State Chief Minister Rabri Devi. The Assam Government has also moved the Union Home Ministry and the Bihar government, expressing serious concern over the train attacks. Meanwhile, the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) has called for a 24-hour statewide bandh on Nov 17in protest against the attacks on passengers in trains coming in or moving out of the North-east in Bihar. The AASU has also demanded the resignation of Union Railway Minister Nitish Kumar.

Colleges with NAAC okay to get Rs 1 crore: UGC chief

Guwahati: In a measure aimed at streamlining the administrative structures of State colleges and to improve higher education standards across the country, the University Grant Commission has announced that colleges which obtain a National Assessment and Accredition Committee (NAAC) certification and begin functioning autonomously within the next year will be provided with grants of Rs 1 crore each. This was stated by the Chairman of the UGC Dr Arun Nigevekar, at a seminar held to observe the golden jubilee year of the UGC, which was inaugurated by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Nov 14.


Women stage demo before Dist Council, Peace committee formed

Karbi hills bleed, 4 more killed:

Guwahati: The ethnic feud between Karbis and Kukis in Singhason area in Karbi Anglong has worsened further as police on Nov 13 recovered bodies of four Kuki students, who were adducted on Nov 12. Karbi Anglong SP Abdul Quddus on Nov 13 said that they found the bodies of four Kuki students with their heads severed from near a river about 3k.m. from Manja area under Diphu Police Station. The bodies have been identified as those of Puomin Than, Mimin Tuboi, Mongboi and Thanabal. They were forcefully abducted by a

group of about 20 Karbi youths armed with sharp weapons from Hindim Teron village school examination centre under Diphu PS at about 4.30p.m. on Nov 12.

HC brake on Health Dept over official's transfer:

Guwahati: In a judicial rap on the knuckles of the Assam Government, the Gauhati High Court has ordered a stay on the transfer orders issued to a Medical and Health Officer (M & HO) by the Department of Health and Family welfare. The case has also exposed an intriguingly worded document which opens the question of whether governmental transfers are done in accordance with existing rules and regulations, framed by the State Government itself.

Hindi film ban: vigil up

Boost Assamese cinema: industry

Guwahati: With just a day left for the November 15 deadline set by nine extremist organisations in the region to stop screening of Hindi movies in the theatres across the North-east, artistes, producers, directors, exhibitors and workers of Assamese cinema on Nov 13 gathered together on the banks of the Dighali Pukhuri here and staged a six-hour hunger strike.

Assam to open skies after Air India fiasco:

Guwahati: Some good news on the aviation front in the State: the Union Civil Aviation Ministry is reportedly thinking of introducing an "open sky policy" for the Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, under which airlines from other nations will also be allowed to use the North-east air corridor and land at the airport. This was revealed by Assam Minister for Industries Bhubaneshwar Kalita in the city on Nov 13.

From base in Assam, OIL to turn global:

Guwahati: The Assam-based Oil India Limited (OIL), which has successfully taken advantage of the new liberalised policy framework of the Government of India to emerge as one of the leading players in exploration and production in the country's oil sector, is poised to go global in a big way very soon. The company has already opened shop in Iran and Syria, while it's negotiations with Sudan and Myanmar for lucrative exploration and production contracts are likely to be clinched soon.

CM for report on Bihar train assaults:

Guwahati: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Nov 13 asked the Assam Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police for a detailed report on the beating up of Assamese passengers by a Bihari mob after stopping two trains at the Jamalpur railway station on the third day of protest against the alleged denial of Bihari students from appearing in Railway recruitment tests in Assam on Nov 9. Mr Gogoi said that after going through the report, he will take up the matter with the Bihar Chief minister Rabri Devi. He stated that there was no question of local candidates not being given priority for jobs in the Central offices located in the State, but this does not mean that students from outside the State will not be allowed to work here. He said that if necessary, he will approach the Prime Minister in this regard.

Rail, road blockade in State on Nov 18:

Guwahati: Opposing the State the Government's nod to form the interim BTC, the All

Assam Koch Rajbongshi Yuba Chatra Sanmilani (AAKRYCS) has given 24-hour rail and road blockade in Assam on Nov 18. The organisation has also demanded of the government to provide ST status to the Koch-Rajbongshis.

Haque new minority panel chief:

Guwahati: Justice Shafiqul Haque, has taken over charge as Chairperson, Assam State Commission for Minorities.


Rabhas want Council under Sixth Schedule:

Guwahati: In the wake of the State Government giving the go ahead to form the interim council for the Bodoand Territorial Council (BTC), the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) has come up with a fresh demand for constitution of a new administrative set-up for the Rabhas under the Sixth Schedule of the constitution. The RHAC also demanded of the government to implement the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) signed between the State Government, the Rabha Hasong Demand Committee and the All Rabha Students' Union on March 10, 1995, in letter and spirit.

New tariff may cool off ASEB, NEEPCO:

Guwahati: Charges and counter-charges by the ASEB and the NEEPCO about non-payment of dues and overpricing might become a thing of the past, with the Central electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC applying a new system of tariff for the region with effect from this month. The tariff is intended to regulate production capacity of the five regional grids of the country, reduce unscheduled drawal of energy and prompt payment of dues.

'Hindi film ban won't help regional films':

Guwahati: If some people come to believe that regional films can be developed by clamping a ban on Hindi cinema in the North-east, they "are living in a fool's paradise". As much as 90 percent of the Indian film market is dominated by Bollywood movies, in the same way as 90 per cent of the international movie market is dominated by Hollywood movies. The survival of rejection of the screening of Hindi cinema in the region. This was stated here on Nov 12 by top IPS officer Mr Hare Krishna Deka, who is also the president of the Guwahati Cine Club, while inaugurating the "Footprints Uttarpurva", a part of a series of national level media seminaries organised by the Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication (SIMC).

NE farmers may receive good price:

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Nov 12 stressed on the improvement of quality and level of output of agricultural products, storage and transportation facilities as well as ensuring that farmers of the State and the North-east got remunerative prices for their produce.


No govt push, Assam beaten in export, import:

Guwahati: At a time when the Assam Government has been talking of attracting foreign investment, including those from the United States, the State's export-import scenario has presented a dismal picture at present, mainly due to the total apathy of the State

Government in adopting concrete measures to boost foreign trade. The export-import scenario is bleak and is showing a declining trend. During 2002-2003, Assam exported goods worth Rs 25.90 crore, which is a mere 6.32 per cent of the total export from the North-east. On the other hand, the value of goods imported by Assam stood at just Rs 0.22 crore which forms a mere 1.11 per cent of the total import to the region. This has been stated in a report of the Commissionerate of Customs(preventive), North Eastern Region, which was presented here during the first meeting of the Permanent Trade Facilitation Committee held in September.

Assets, records on display, political troika eyes GMC:

Guwahati: For the first time in the history of civic elections in Assam, a list of the assets and property owned by the candidates as well as their legal antecedents and records are display openly at the offices of the DCs or SDOs. Members of the public can examine these lists and records and voice objections if any respective returning officers. A significant fallout of this move has been that after the submission of nomination papers ended on Nov 10, huge crowds could be seen at the offices of the DCs and SDOs. In Guwahati, the DC's office was under siege by party hopefuls who were denied tickets, or members of rival parties, eager to point out apparently disqualifying factors in the party candidates.

DGP: talks, commando ops on in Karbi hills

Guwahati: Tension continues to run high in Karbi Anglong district following the stand-off between two extremist groups, the anti-talk UPDS and the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) over the issue of kidnapping of people belonging to Karbi and Kuki communities. A red alert has been sounded in the district and the police are keeping a strict vigil to thwart any untoward incident in the area. It may be recalled that six Kuki villagers were kidnapped by the anti-talk UPDS rebels recently. In a retaliatory action, the KRA later abducted 9 UPDS activists. Director General of Police PV Sumant said the police have adopted a two-pronged strategy to tackle the situation. A commando operation and talks with local groups are on to secure the release of those kidnapped, and restore peace in the district, he added.

Deori bodies threaten mass stir:

Guwahati: Major Deori organisations, including the All Assam Deori Autonomous demand Committee (AADADC) and the All Assam Deori Students' Union (AADSU), on Nov 11 threatened to launch a mass movement in protest against the alleged move by some government officials to hijack the main issue of autonomy to the Deoris by inviting some 'fake' organisations for discussions.

Big boost soon for Khadi & village industries in NE:

Guwahati: The village-level industrial scene in the North-east is heading for a comprehensive restructuring, with the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) planning to set up training centres in the five states which do not have them. The Commission has also initiated measures to develop entrepreneural skills, expand industrial production capacity and bankroll initiatives of interested youth.


Rebel diktat on Hindi films

NE film industry to defy ban, will check vulgarity:

Guwahati: Film distributors and other bodies and individuals associated with the film industry in the North-east on Nov 10 decided to defy the ban on Hindi films imposed by nine extremist to screen them in theatres across the region. At a meeting held at the premises of the Jyoti Chitraban here on Nov 10, attended by representatives of 12 different associations including the Eastern Indian Motion Pictures Association (EIMPA), the All Assam Cinema Employees' Association, All Assam Producers' Association, All Assam Exhibitors' Forum, Cine Journalists, the Assam State Committee of the All India Trade Union Congress and others, it has been decided to continue the screening of Hindi movies by ignoring the militants' threat.

Cong full of promises, BJP for green Guwahati:

Guwahati: 10th Nov was the final day for nomination of candidates for elections to municipalities and town committees of the State, scheduled for December 1 and 2. In Guwahati, the poll fever was high. At the Kamrup Deputy Commissioner's office, supporters of candidates of various parties converged in support of their nominees. Flags and banners of the major national and regional parties were to be seen around the office of the DC, who is the returning officer for the civic elections in district. A total of 374 candidates from various parties and independents have filed nomination papers, of which 354 filed their papers on Nov 10 alone.

Gogoi: VDPs to be armed to combat insurgents

Guwahati: The Assam Government on Nov 10 announced plans to revamp community policing in rural areas by engaging local people, equipped with arms in tackling insurgents, including the ULFA and the NDFB. The plan aims at arming the village defence parties (VDP) in rural areas to prepare them to tackle militants on their own in view of the growing intolerance among the rural masses against the activities of militants.

NGO slams Forest Dept over claims:

Guwahati: In yet another episode of the ongoing spat between the NGO Nature's beckon and the State Forest Department, Soumyadeep Datta, the director of the NGO on Nov 10 alleged that despite massive infusion of funds by the Centre, the department had not undertaken any conservation and village development work in the reserve forests of Assam. Between June 2001 and February 2003, the Centre had sanctioned nearly Rs 10 crore for wildlife conservation and development of fringe villages in the reserve forests. However, despite the Department's official statements, no such work has been done so far, Datta alleged. He also denied several allegations levelled against him by Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury, Joint Secretary, Department of Forests.

Australian scribe pats City Police:

Guwahati: The Assam Police has shown that they can perform, and perform well. The orderly manner in which they carried out security and crowd control measures without indulging in excess whatsoever at on 9th November's One Day International math at the Nehru Stadium is a case in point.


Aussies drub Kiwis, city enjoyed cricket:

Guwahati: The Aussies seized what looked like the Kiwis' advantage in their match here on Nov 9, and eventually went on to drub the Black Caps by 44 runs to prove yet again that they are champion material. Ricky Ponting's boys woke up at daybreak, watched the majestic Brahmaputra flow by through the tall hotel rooms and were at breakfast by six.

At the Nehru Stadium, the atmosphere matched the game's spirit, despite a generally overcast sky. Guwahatians had turned up to enjoy the match. Aussies or the Kiwis? The didn't seem to bother and cheered for both teams.

Assam to activate 'dead' tribunals:

Guwahati: At a time when the Centre is debating over the repeal of the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act, the tribunals established to detect illegal migrants in the State are either inactive, understaffed or plagued by a slow rate of disposal of the cases. Of the 20 tribunals established under the Act, only 16 are active at present. Of these, six tribunals do not have the mandatory complement of one judge and two members. Karimganj district has an active tribunal in name only it has neither judge nor members. Other tribunals in Dibrugarh, North Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Dhubri and Silchar districts are presided over by a judge but do not have members.

Cong behind attack on BJP MLA: Singhal

Guwahati: The Assam unit of the BJP on Nov 9 charged the Ibobi Singh-led Congress Government of being responsible for the attack on its Manipur unit chief and MLA M Bhorot Singh. "The grenade attack on Nov 8 on Singh's residence and the subsequent recovery of two unexploded bomb within a span of three hours proved that the Government was in collusion with militants in that State", State unit BJP spokesman A Singhal said here.

Cremated with State honours

Pushpalata Das breathes her last:

Guwahati: Noted Gandhinian, freedom fighter, social activist and former parliamentarian Pushpalata Das breathed her last at the Woodland Nursing Home in Kolkata at 6.10 am in the morning on Nov 9. She was 88. Das, who was suffering from old age related ailments, was undergoing treatment in Kolkata and was on artificial respiration for the past few days. Her last rites were performed at the Chiriti electric crematorium at Tollygunge in Kolkata, with the Trade Adviser of the Assam Government representating the State. An Assam Police contingent based in the Assam House at Kolkata presented a guard of honour.

Journey on in NE to codify customary laws:

Guwahati: Since April last, Athengo Ovungro has been travelling across many Naga villages with a mission. "In most of the villages, the residents mistook us for insurgents as we first approached them. Only after giving them a detailed explanation about the purpose of our visit, that is know their age-old customary laws so that the same could be put in written form that the villagers started co-operating with us", Ovungro told.

Dinosaur park in city soon:

Guwahati: Science enthusiasts in the region have another cause to celebrate: a dinosaur park, complete with life-size interactive models of the extinct reptiles, is coming up shortly at Regional Science Centre here.


Rain god permitting, city ready to host ODI

Security lifted for children, kin of city big guns to have field day in stadium on ODI-eve:

Guwahati: The city is set to witness the 11th one day international cricket match to be played at the Nehru stadium. Though big shots Bret Lee, Glen McGrath and Jason Gillespie of Australia and Shane Bond of New Zealand do not figure in the teams, yet the fans are hopeful of an explosive match with the Haydens and Gilchrists in the reckoning. But weather god must also play his part to ensure that the fans are not in for a massive disappointment. Local Met office sources said that weather on Nov 9 will be cloudy with morning fog or mist. Though rainfall is not expected, the sources however did not deny a few showers.

Mob beats 5 NDFB cadres to death, 4 public killed:

Guwahati: As many as nine people, including five suspected NDFB cadres, were killed and seven others injured in an unprecedented clash between militants and the public in Goalpara district on Nov 8.

Bora, Lahkar join issue with Mahanta:

Guwahati: The ongoing war of words between Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and his predecessor and AGP leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has reached its crescendo on Nov 8 with Assam Government spokesman Ripun Bora and the Chief Minister's Information and Public Relations Advisor Bhagawan Lahkar too joining the duel. Both Bora and Lahkar reacted sharply to Mahanta's comment at Jorhat yesterday that Gogoi was the "most non-performing Chief Minister" the State had ever had, and that he had always kept his voice low at the Parliament on issues related to Assam's interest. The two, however, failed to defend the government when mediamen raised questions like: would the State Government follow the legal course against the official who, according to Gogoi, had suggested him to resort to secret killing.

CM asks for time-bound action plan on Games:

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Nov 8 suggested a time-bound action plan with regard to all construction and infrastructure-related work for the National Games 2005. At a meeting of the governing body of the National Games secretariat, it was also resolved to avoid over-expenditure and peg the total budget for infrastructure development work at a maximum of Rs 135 crore.

RIL, BRPL sign deal for strategic alliance:

Guwahati: Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL has formed a strategic alliance with Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd.(BRPL), subsidiary company of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.

BJP, Sangma in nasty deal to grab NE: AICC

Guwahati: All India Congress Committee's North-east observer Sambhu Sharan Sreevastava has brought a number of serious charges against the BJP and PA Sangma on Nov 8 saying that they are hand-in-glove with militants, and are desperately out to grab power in the North-east, no matter how.


Kuki rebels seek justice, police vigil up:

Guwahati: The Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), a shadowy outfit operating in the Karbi Anglong district, has requested the Assam Government for justice to the Kuki tribes people and has warned that "otherwise the KRA would not hesitate to take its own course of action for the protection of the Kukis". Meanwhile, the district administration, which has already rushed police and paramilitary forces to the Singhason Hills area to flush out feuding KRA and UPDS (anti-talk) cadres, is also co-ordinating with police officials of border districts of neighbouring states to block logistic support to the ultras from their bases there.

Another bomb hoax in city school:

Guwahati: Mischief mongers are giving the city police a torrid time, calling up schools here and warning of bombs being planted within their premises. Purvanchal Vidyapith, a school in the city's Dispur area became a victim of such a bomb threat in the morning on Nov 7, becoming the second school to have received such a telephone call in less than a week. A few days ago, Hindustani Kendriya Vidyalaya located in Bhangagarh received a similar telephone call.

Identification camps infrequent

Physically challenged not listed in Assam:

Guwahati: At a time when State governments across the country have announced special provisions for the physically challenged, the minimum requirements of identification and certification of such individuals are not conducted regular camps to assess the degree of disability of these individuals and issue the necessary certificates and identity cards.

'We want clean councillors':

Guwahati: The largest city in the North-east and the 'gateway' to the region has been without a mayor for the past two years, even as rapid urbanisation and degradation of basic amenities have adversely affected the quality of life of its citizens. Now, elections to the Gauhati Municipal Corporation (GMC) are to be held on December 1, and the citizens are looking for councillors with a clean public image and an overriding sense of public service, to solve the civic problems of the city.

BJP names candidates for civic polls:

Guwahati: The State BJP unit has cleared its list of candidates for elections to be held on December 2 for 57 town committees and municipal boards. This was decided at a meeting of the core committee of the party here on Nov 7. For elections to the Guwahati Municipal Corporation on December 1, the core committee has conducted the preliminary round of discussions on the selection of the candidates, and the final list of candidates will be announced on Nov 8. The candidates will fight under the party symbol.


KRA 'excess': 10-hr Karbi bandh on Nov 10

Karbis flee homes as KRA, UPDS trade fire:

Guwahati: Armed policemen and commandos have fanned out in the Singhason Hills area of Karbi Anglong, currently in the grip of a bitter ethnic feud between Kuki and Karbi rebels. Karbi Anglong DC Anurag Goyal, said that vigil has also been mounted areas so as to avoid further clashes. There are reports that hundreds of Karbi men, women and

children are fleeing their homes and taking shelter in the nearby bokulia area from where they have been brought to the Silohi LP School in Longnit. The Kuki-Karbi clash has peaked after a long simmering tension between sections among the tribes. According to a UNI report, four political and non-political and non-political organisations have called a 10-hour Karbi Anglong district bandh on November 10 in protest against harassment of innocent villagers by Kuki extremists and failure of the Congress Government to protect lives and properly in the hill district.

Al Qaeda watch in 3-tier police net for city ODI:

Guwahati: the Assam Police has planned an unprecedented three-tier security ring around the Australian and New Zealand teams arriving in the city for the one day international match on Sunday. The security measures, which include a massive deployment of police and paramilitary forces, also cover traffic routes, besides parking and screening of the spectators at the match, according to senior police officials. "The department had been informed by Central Intelligence agencies of a significant threat to the Australian team by al Queda and other terrorist outfits, and we have made all possible arrangements to counter the threat," revealed DIG (CWR) Pallab Bhattacharjee and City CP Hiren Nath. "The Police Department is going to implement to the full the security guidelines issued by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)," they added.

Assam forms minorities commission, NCM lauds decision:

Guwahati: The State Government has formed a three-member Assam State commission for Minorities headed by Justice Safiqul Haque to safeguard the interest of the minorities in the State. This was disclosed by chairman of the National Commission for Minorities Tarlochan Singh here on Nov 6.other two members of the Commission will be selected later.

Delhi moved on China river plans

CM: Mahanta must take responsibility on 'secret killings':

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Nov 6 came down heavily on his predecessor and AGP leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta for the sensational 'secret killings' that had rocked the State during the last AGP regime. Gogoi lashed out at Mahanta for his recent comments that the 'secret killings' during his Government were because of a 'directive' from the Centre. He said that Mahanta was a spineless leader and Chief Minister. A chief Minister who cannot decide what is right and just by himself is not all fit for the post. The Centre may adopt dictatorial attitude towards a State, but the Chief Minister of the State should have the capacity to take the decision on his own in accordance with the ground situation that prevails in his or her State. The Chief Minister said that inquiry commissions instituted by his government have found prime facie evidence of the involvement of the state machinery during the AGP regime in some such killings.

Ghatowar on Minority Cell firing line:

Guwahati: On the crucial day on Nov 6 for the selection of candidates for the civic bodies' elections to be held on December 1 and 2, the office bearers of the minority department of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) expressed their dissatisfaction over the functioning of president Paban Singh Ghatowar and called for abolishing the department "if the leadership presumes that it is unless".

Interim BTC after civic polls: Gogoi

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the Interim Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) would be formed after the civic elections in the State, and although the Cabinet would shortly decide on withdrawal of cases against the BLT cadres, the actual withdrawal would be done according to the law. It may be mentioned that a team led by the BLT chief Hagrama Basumatary met the Chief Minister at Dispur in the morning on Nov 6 and discussed about the formation of Interim BTC as well as withdrawal of cases against BLT cadres. Mr Gogoi said that the State Government is preoccupied with the civic elections at the moment, and he suggested to defer the formation of the interim Council till the elections are over. They were agreeable to the suggestion.

Mumbai meet: fund flow to city cancer hospital on:

Guwahati: In a welcome development for the North-east, the B Barooah Cancer Institute will continue to receive financial assistance from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), the North Eastern Council (NEC) and the Assam Government. It was decided at a high-level meeting of the Board of Directors of the Institute in Mumbai on November 3 to continue for another five years with the tripartite fund-sharing arrangement which has been in operation since 1984.

Environ, health walk: Tezpur flag-off on Nov 7:

Guwahati: As a run up to the Year of Scientific Awareness, 2004, to be observed in 300 districts all over India, a pilot project named "Himalayan Vigyan Chetana Jatra, 2003" (HVCJ) will be formally flagged off tomorrow at the Chitralekha Udyan in Tezpur. District coordinators of 23 districts (including the undivided Kamrup district) will be present to carry flags to their respective districts and start Jatra or Jatha ( a procession or movement of people with a mission) programmes there.


Arunachal undertrials live in misery: team

Guwahati: The Arunachal Pradesh Government has been accused of violating human rights of undertrial prisoners, who are languishing in an inhuman condition in 48 lock-ups and armed forces' quarter guards in the state which does not have any jail. A three member team from New Delhi comprising retired Jawaharlal nehru University (JNU) professor and sociologist Satish Saberwal, journalist Sabita Goswami and Delhi Special Correspondent of Radio Pacifica-USA Vinod K Jose, who visited Tirap and Changlang districts and Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh recently, said that the undertrial prisoners have to languish in the police lock-ups and armed forces' quarter guards in an inhuman condition without trials for years.

Solar power for 520 Assam villages:

Guwahati: the process has begun to electrify 520 villages across Assam through the photo voltaic system (direct conversion of solar light into electricity) out of the 2,500 villages which are not covered by the Assam State Electricity board. This has been stated by Mr Suresh Agarwal, who is in-charge of the village electrification programme in the North-east under the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy sources (MNES), here on Nov 5.

Don't harass Indian Muslims as foreigners, says NCM chief:

Guwahati: Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities Tarlochan Singh said here on Nov 5 that religious institution and organisations like the church should not be involved in politics. He also felt that Indian Muslims should not be harassed in the name of evicting

illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.

Reconsider ban on Hindi films: AJYCP

Guwahati: the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba-Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) on Nov 6 appealed to the ULFA, the NDFB and other outfits in the region to reconsider their decision to ban screening of Hindi movies in the North-east. The AJYCP said that the ban on Hindi films would make a number of local people out of their jobs, and in anyway, the move would not help protect the indigenous culture in the region.

Mahanta's plea to PM on erosion:

Guwahati: Former Assam Chief Minister and AGP leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta sent a letter to Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has sent a letter to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee requesting him to take up the matter of erosion by the Brahmaputra in Nagaon district. In his letter dated November 4, Mahanta told Vajpayee that Nagaon district was under a serious threat from the mighty river, and immediate action was needed.

KVIC plan to help NE artisans:

Guwahati: The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has undertaken a massive plan including tying up with the IITs to help generate employment among the youths and help generate employment among the youths and help the handloom and handicraft industries of the North-east. As a part of its massive plan this year, the KVIC, Assam office has taken up 1,601 projects to set up village industries in every districts of the State including other NE states, KVIC State unit Director PC Das said here on Nov 5.

Minor-shake-up in state admin:

Guwahati: The State Government in a minor reshuffle on Nov 5 appointed GAD Principal Secretary P.P.Varma as the Principal Secretary of the Forest Department. Finance Secretary S Nath has been transferred to the Cooperation department and B Bhattacharyya has been appointed as the Secretary of the Border Area Development.

FINER for localised business summit:

Guwahati: "Developing the confidence of the investors is something which business summits outside the State cannot achieve". This is the point of view echoed by the Federation of Industries and Commerce of the North Eastern region through a statement issued. According to FINER, the investors have to brought to the State so that the investors can see for themselves the infrastructure, security and incentives the State has to offer. Recently there have been a host of NE business summits which were held outside the State for reasons best known. The FINER release said that there has been a lot of hue and cry over the law and order situation in the region. But the truth is that most of the trouble is confined to some pockets in the State and by and large the state is quite peaceful, the release said. According to FINER the investors should be invited to the State and then it should be followed by a business summit within the region. Arrangements could be made to offer subsidised travel and accommodation and travel agencies can play a big role.


Assam tea group vows to spoil political troika:

Guwahati: The support of the tea tribes, long considered a vote-bank of the Congress,

appears to be slipping out of the hands of the party, with the Assam Tea Tribes Students Association (ATTSA) coming down heavily on it for "betraying" the aspirations of the community. The Association also declared to thwart the electoral plans of the Congress, BJP and AGP in the tea-growing areas.

MHA calls meet on NE border dispute:

Guwahati: In a development that might lead to the eventual solution of the long-festering border dispute between Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, the Centre has come forward to intervene in the dispute. Official sources informed that a meeting would be held in New Delhi on November 6 involving the Secretary in the Union Home Ministry, the secretary of the Border Management Department under the Home Ministry and Home Commissioners or Secretaries of the disputing States.

Secret killings: Mahanta flays CM

Guwahati: Former Chief Minister and AGP leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta on November 4 severely criticised the statements made by Assam Chief Minister Mr Tarun Gogoi regarding the "secret killings" which have occurred in the State. Mahanta said that the Chief Minister's comments on secret killings were totally irresponsible and against the law. He should have resigned before making such statements.

Now, Kolkata roadshow to market NE:

Guwahati: The end result is a different story, but the Centre and the country's top trade and industry bodies appear bent on pushing ahead with its efforts in breaking the zinx and usher in development and economic activity in the North-east. The Union Commerce Ministry is all set to conduct a two-day roadshow at Kolkata beginning December 6 to promote investment in the region and has named the campaign "Destination north-east".

CS sends inspection teams to Irrig Dept:

Guwahati: A high-level inspection team, led by senior bureaucrat S.Kabilan, on November 4 visited the Irrigation Department headquarters at Chandmari at 10.30am to see if the officers and staff were being punctual, and found hardly five percent of officers and staff present. The team, which came at the instance of the Chief Secretary, however, was later joined by the Secretary and other high-ranking officials of the Irrigation Department also, who were tipped off about the inspection. They went around the empty chairs and tables before huddling into a conference at the Secretary's chamber.

2 judges of Gauhati HC sworn in :

Guwahati: Two new judges of the Guwahati High Court were sworn in here on November 4. Justice Sunil Kumar Kar and Justice Iqbal Ahmed Ansari, both serving as additional judges earlier, were administered the oath by Chief justice PP Naolekar.

City ayurvedic college to set up Panchakarma Dept, gets NEC funds

Assam for Kerala-type eco-tourism:

Guwahati: The Guwahati Ayurvedic College here will soon set up a full-fledged Panchakarma department to work as a centre to produce trained persons for traditional treatments which has a tremendous potential to boost eco-tourism in the north-eastern region. The State Government is also laying stress on panchakarma, which comprises five different activities, along with massage, and getting popular in South India among

domestic as well as foreign tourists.


Civic elections notice out, Opp vows to corner Cong:

Guwahati: The battle lines are being drawn for the coming civic body elections in Assam, with the opposition AGP and the State unit of the BJP vowing to corner the ruling Congress over its alleged failure on several fronts. The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), on the other hand, has expressed confidence of repeating its feat in the last Panchayat elections, when it had romped home to victory across the State "on the basis of performance".

Bijoya concerned over China's river move:

Guwahati: Union Water Resources Minister Bijoya Chakraborty has expressed concern over the reported move of China to divert Brahmaputra. In a statement, Ms Chakraborty said that as China and India were already moving towards solving their bilateral problems step by step, marked by the reciprocity of gestures, the possible problems in the water sharing sector too would be resolved through proactive dialogue. As part of the recent trend of cooperation, she cited the exchange of information over hydrological data as a good starting point of furthering dialogue and cooperation in water resources sector between India and China.

Cobra rebels to be neutral on Bodo set-up:

Guwahati: Adivasi Cobra Militants of Assam (ACMA) secretary general Rimil Raj Kisku on Nov 3 said that his organisation had nothing to worry over the formation of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) in the State. "We are neither against nor in favour of the BTC formation," he said.

Two judges to be sworn in HC on Nov 4:

Guwahati: Justice Sunil Kumar Kar and Justice Iqbal Ahmed Ansari, both additional judges, will be sworn in as judges of the Gauhati high court on November 4 at the High Court building in the city. The Chief Justice of the High Court will administer the oath.

CII bid at quality education:

Guwahati: In a bid to increase the spirit of competition among the youth through quality in education, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has come up with a "Total Quality Management" (TQM) programme to be held in the city from November 10 to 11.

Deluxe bus permits to 50 jobless youths:

Guwahati: State Transport Minister Anjan Dutta on Nov 3 announced a slew of measures to streamline the operation of contract carriage and stage carriage busses in Assam. These measures include provision of All-Assam Super Deluxe permits to 50 unemployed youth of the state to operate busses.

FINER against move to remove NEC chief:

Guwahati: The Federation of Industries and commerce of North Eastern Region (FINER) has opposed the move to remove the governor of Assam from North Eastern Council (NEC) chairmanship as it is "totally politically motivated". "Certain vested interest groups

are contending that the Governor is not a member of either House of Parliament and as such is not answerable to Parliament, and it is on this plea that the attempt to curb his authority is being made," FINER secretary Prashanta Goswami said in a statement here. Goswami said the NEC is being reorganised and attempts were being made to reduce the "so-called hegemony" of the governors of the states of the region and to remove the Governor of Assam from holding the NEC chairmanship.

ACTA stages sit-in demo in city:

Guwahati: The Assam College Teachers' demonstration (ACTA) staged a sit-in demonstration in front of the office of the Director of Higher Education in the city from 11am on Nov 3 in protest against the State Government's failure to release teachers' salaries even after repeated assurances by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. It may be mentioned here that Mr Gogoi had given an assurance to the ACTA that the Government would release 12 months' salaries of college teachers immediately, but he has failed to keep the commitment.

News on 3rd November '2003

Railways recruitment

Outsiders facing locals' wrath:

Jorhat: Unidentified persons allegedly beat up and tore the call letters of candidates from outside the State who had come here to appear for the Northeast Frontier Railways Group D recruitment test held on Nov 9. Hundreds of candidates have arrived from Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh and filled up all the lodges and hotels in Jorhat and Mariani. Meanwhile, the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) has vehemently criticised the Union Railway Minister Nitish Kumar and the chairman of the Railway Board for "depriving" local candidates from getting jobs in the Railways. The AASU and AJYCP have been demanding that local people should be given preference in the NF Railway.

Rangiya civic poll process under way:

Rangiya: Preparations for Rangiya Municipal board election got under way. Mr Gunajit Das, in-charge election officer for the municipal polls, said that there were 14,193 voters in the 10 wards under Rangiya Municipal board. The last date for filling nomination papers is November 10 and polling on December 2. The election officer also informed that for the first time in this election, an affidavit with details about assets, criminal cases if any and educational qualifications had to be submitted by the candidates. There will be 18 polling stations for the municipal election and Ward No 2,3,5and 6 are kept reserved for women candidates. The Ward No 5 has been reserved for woman belonging to SC category.

News on 2nd November '2003

'Meet to protect non-Bodos soon':

SJSS vows civil disobedience, 100-hour bandh:

Guwahati: At the time when the Bodos are celebrating the creation of the Bodoland territorial Council (BTC) following issuance of the notifications by the State Government on Oct 31, the Sanmilita Janagosthiya Sangram Samity (SJSS), the umbrella body of various non-Bodo organisations aimed at protecting their socio-political rights, on Nov 1 threatened to launch a series of fresh agitation against the new administrative set up.

NSCN-K warns Naga CM:

Guwahati: The NSCN (K) has warned that it would hold Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio " directly responsible for any untoward after-effects" in the event of a possible tripartite agreement between the Centre, the government of Nagaland and the NSCN (IM). In a statement signed by Seochem Sangtam, NSCN(K) spokesman, the outfit also accused the Chief Minister of not involving the other Naga groups in the ongoing negotiation process with the Centre.

Plea for 5th bridge over Brahmaputra;

Guwahati: A strong plea has been made for construction of a fifth bridge over the Brahmaputra connecting Gamiri and Dhansiri in Central Assam for rapid economic development and security of Assam and the north-eastern region. The committee constituted for implementing the project on Nov 1 submitted a memorandum to governor Lt Gen (retd) Ajai Singh urging him to take up the construction issue with the appropriate authorities.

Assam Industrial Policy amended:

Guwahati: The State government on Nov 1 amended a section of the Assam Industrial Policy, 1997 with immediate effect, an official notification said here. The amendment to the policy states that existing or any new industrial unit which is or was in commercial production at any time prior to April 1, 1997 shall be considered an existing unit. This amendment has done for the purpose of availing the 1997 incentive scheme, the notification said.

Gazette notification on BTC issued:

Guwahati: The Assam Government on Nov 1 issued a gazette notification for formation of the interim Bodoland Territorial Council(BTC) by giving an additional 25 villages to 3070 already included there.

Jan to Dec academic year may start from 2005: Govt

Guwahati: A day after the State Government, in principle agreed for a change in the academic session, Prof Dina Nath Barman, chairman of the Board of Secondary Education Assam (SEBA) firmly said that the decision could not be implemented from coming session on technical grounds. The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) insisted on its on its implementation from the coming session. "The SEBA has already notified all the schools to conduct the annual examinations from January 3, on the basis of the State Government's earlier notification. Instructions have also been given for paper setting. It is not possible now to withdraw this decision and issue fresh instructions to complete the examination process within December 31," Professor Barman said.

City celebrates Mother with pomp:

Guwahati: The Mother Teresa Festival got off to a colourful start at the Don Bosco High School in the city on Nov 1, commemorating her recent beatification by the Vatican and the 25th anniversary year of her first visit to the North-east. The festival, attended by thousands of school students, parents and Guwahatians, showcased colourful dances, skits, tableaux, songs and dance dramas on the life of the Mother, performed by students from 13 schools of the city.

CRPF ready to meet ultra threat in NE:

Guwahati: The CRPF on Oct 30 said that the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) was on a desperate fund-raising drive in upper Assam issuing extortion notes to tea planters, top officials of oil companies and organisations, according to CRPF, have approached security personnel regarding the extortion notes, some others have opted to not to go to the police," the CRPF said.

Gogoi flays Centre for Naga package:

Jorhat: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Oct 30 criticised the centre for announcing several special packages for Nagaland and accused it of adopting a step motherly attitude towards the State while releasing funds for developmental activities.

NE has vast scope for business with UK: Hall

Guwahati: "India is slowly emerging as a tourist destination and the north-eastern States must try to capitalise on this potential boom. The region has unique natural beauty which is still untouched. Assam itself has 21 golf courses and 13 wild life sanctuaries are renowned. With adequate infrastructural support and effective marketing, tourism can be one of the largest revenue earners in Eastern India".

US has lessons to take from India on terror: Cohen

Guwahati: "As far as the political response to the September 11 attacks is concerned, I believe in declaring a war on terrorism'. The language used by the Bush Administration in defining their policy on the issue of terrorism was actually not useful. Global and Islamic terrorism cannot be dealt with as a form of total war", said Profesor Stephen P Cohen, an internationally respected scholar on South Asia and top advisor to the US Government on foreign policy matters, while delivering a talk entitled "September 11: New Research Agendas", in the city on Oct 30.

FCI chief for better coordination with state Govt:

Guwahati: Mr V.K.Malhotra, managing director, FCI during his maiden visit to Guwahati recently met the officers of North-east. During the deliberations, he emphasized on the need to maintain close liaison and cordial relations with the State Government, as the Food Corporation of India is there to ensure food security in the States of the North-east.

AASAA no to Army deployment in TEs:

Guwahati: The All Adivasi Students' Association of Assam opposing the deployment of Army in Hindustan Lever Ltd tea gardens and Khobang has demanded withdrawal of the troops from the estates. The deployment of the Army was "further exploitation of the workers in the tea gardens in Assam," AASAA said on Oct 31. The AASAA also accused the Government of failing to provide compensation to the victims' families of Khobang, Paneri and Chapai police firing on irate garden workers.

GMC elections on December 1:

Guwahati: the Assam State Election commission on Oct 31 announced that the long awaited election to the Guwahati Municipal Corporation would be held on December 1. According to a notification issued here, the date of polling was fixed on December 1 while the last date of filing nomination is November 10. The date of scrutiny was fixed on November 12 while the last date of withdrawal of nomination was November 15. The

counting will take place on December 3. The announcement for the election was delayed as a case in this regard was pending at the Gauhati High Court on reservation of seats for members of the backward class and women which was disposed off recently.

News on 1st November '2003

Vigil up to stop rebel raid against BTC:

Guwahati: Assam Director General of Police (DGP) PV Sumant on Nov 2 said that the police have been asked to mount vigil in the State, specially in the districts sharing international borders, apprehending possible strike by the ULFA and the NDFB in the aftermath of the issuance of notification for BTC formation by the State Government, and the Sanmilita Janagosthiya Sangram Samity's (SJSS) threat to call a 100-hour bandh in the State.

SJSS undemocratic, cannot obstruct BTC: BLT leader

Guwahati: BLT secretary general Derhasat Basumatary on Nov 2 said the Sanmilita Janagosthiya Sangram Samity (SJSS) was not a force to reckon with, and, therefore, cannot obstruct the creation of the BTC which has the support of all democratic organisations in the State, besides the State Legislative Assembly and Parliament.

AGP moves President, PM against river linking:

Guwahati: The AGP has moved the President and the Prime Minister over the proposed inter-linking of major rivers in the country, saying that the Centre should not attempt to 'snatch away the natural resources from the people of the North-east for the benefit of the mainland India'. AGP MLA Dilip Kumar Saikia in a letter to President APJ Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has said that the project envisages such a massive exercise by attempting to redraw the geography of the country that it may be disastrous as no prior scientific study on such aspects is readily possible.

New trades to include computer hardware repairing & web designing

ITIs to begin on-job training:

Guwahati: In a move aimed at encouraging self-employment initiatives among the youth, several new service-oriented trades will be introduced in a new format in the different Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) across the State from this month, according to official sources at the Directorate of Employment and Craftsmen Training. The funds required obtained under the Rs 32.24crore Prime minister's package for the ITIs.

'Bridge Assamese, Manipuri culture':

Guwahati: "The ban on Hindi movies by the militants in the North-east is more a sort of revenge against outsiders not embracing the region's culture. Those demanding the ban are upset with the fact that since the outsiders do not welcome and embrace our culture, there was no reason for people here to accept the mainstream culture", said renowned theatre director from Manipur, H Kanhailal.

Gogoi demands package for Assam:

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi On Nov 2 demanded a special package from the Centre for development of the State. "We are not dissatisfied with Prime Minister's special package for Nagaland, a sister State of ours but the Centre should not hesitate to declare the same for Assam too," Gogoi said in a statement here. "Assam has full right to

claim financial assistance from the Centre and it is the legitimate right of the State to receive more funds for developmental activities", he said.

Bodos happy, meet on Nov 5 - Assam okays BTC with 4 districts, polls in 6 months:

Guwahati: In a major step towards a resolution of the Bodo issue, the Assam Government by a notification issued on Oct 31 formally created the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC). The Government also issued another notification to form a twelve-member interim council to administer the notified area till the appointment of members of the BTC after elections. There will be four districts under the BTC: Kokrajhar, Udalguri, Baska and Sirang. Whereas the headquarters of Kokrajhar and Udalguri districts will be located at Kokrajhar and Udalguri towns respectively, the headquarters of Baska will be at Masalpur and that of Sirang will be at Kajalgaon. Eight districts of Assam have been reconstituted to accommodate the Council, Dhubri, Nalbari, Barpeta, Kamrup, Darrang, Sonitpur, Bongaigaon and Kokrajhar.

Rs 200 crore medicine scam unearthed:

Guwahati: A Rs200 crore scam in the sale of medicines by suppliers to the Assam Health department leading to loss of revenue to the exchequer has been unearthed by the State Government.

Don't ban Hindi films, 50,000 to be hit: EIMPA

Guwahati: With the date of ban by militants on screening of Hindi films in the north-eastern region just a forthnight away, Eastern India Motion Picture Association (EIMPA) on Oct 31 appealed to the outfits not to implement it as it would jeopardize the livelihood of over 50,000 people.

New Guwahati Master Plan to have fixed road level:

Guwahati: Due to non-existence of proper guidelines, the road construction and repairing agencies have given little attention on the rising level of roads over the years. This has caused serious concern among the residents of the city as large number of houses are almost 'sinking', reducing their commercial importance, particularly of those houses located in commercial areas.

Documents

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