Sivasagar police raids ULFA hideout at Sonari

From our Correspondent

SIVASAGAR, April 16: As a counter-operation measure, the Sivasagar Police conducted a search operation at Bura Gaon Jabaka under Sonari Police Station in Charaideo sub-division of Sivasagar district, where some ULFA militants were reported to have been taking shelter. The police recovered  bomb making equipments, gelatin sticks, tarpaulin, one timer watch, some medicines and two extortion notes belonging to the banned outfit, the Additional Superintendent of Police Lamhao Doungel said on Monday. The operation, which began on Sunday evening at 4 pm, was led by him.

“Acting on information that ULFA rebels had infiltrated into Sivasagar district and taking shelter somewhere in Bura Gaon Jabaka under Sonari Police Station, we launched the operation to apprehend them. But before we reached the spot, they had managed to escape. The seizure, however foiled the group’s attempt to carry out subversive activities in Sivasagar district,” said Doungel.

Dehiram Arandhara, the owner of the house, is being interrogated.

“A group 5-10  ULFA cadres had entered the State a few days back, to carry out subversive activities. The group was led by senior leader of the outfit, Pradip Gogoi,” added Doungel.

Hagrama leaves for New Delhi to meet Chidambaram

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, April 16: The Chief of BTC, Hagrama Mohilary has flown to the National capital along with his senior party colleagues to meet Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on April 17 to discuss pending issues of the BTC.

The Mohilary-led delegation will also call on the Union Home Secretary on April 18 and where they will submit a reminder regarding the pending issues of BTC.

  Mohilary, while speaking to media persons today at Chandamari, Kokrajhar said he will raise the extension of Rs 500 crore special Central packages, direct funding pattern to BTC and implementation of the clauses of BTC accord signed in 2003 in letter and spirit. He also said, the inclusion of Bodos of Karbi Anglong in the ST list and withdrawal of cases would also be raised in their meeting.

     The BTC Chief said, he will also call on the Prime Minister, Dr Man Mohan Singh on April 20 during his visit to Assam and will submit a memorandum demanding setting up of higher educational institutions in BTC area. He said the proposal for setting up of IIM, IIT, medical and other technical and non-technical institutions would be given to the Prime Minister.

One dies in road mishap

From our Staff Reporter

DIBRUGARH, April 16: A person died following a collision of two vehicles at Tipling Chariali in Naharkatia last night.

The driver of the mini-truck (AS-01 DD 0198), Bubu Dutta alias Utpal Dutta of Mohmari Kothalguri, succumbed to his injuries after the accident. Drilling engineer of OIL, Kushewar Gogoi, his wife, Bibha Gogoi, their son, Moon and nephew, Abhiranjan Baruah, were traveling in the other vehicle (AS 23F 0164). They sustained minor injuries and were shifted to a private nursing home here after preliminary treatment at the OIL hospital in Duliajan.

Woman arrested for murdering husband

From our Staff Reporter

DIBRUGARH, April 16: Police arrested a woman of Sadachuk of Barbarua Borpothar Konwar Gaon here today on charges of murdering her husband.

According to police sources, Lakhi Konwar killed Joychandra Konwar with an axe last night. She initially claimed that unknown assailants had done the deed. Following a proper search in her residence, the murder weapon was discovered. Lakhi Konwar, who is the mother of two children, confessed her crime on interrogation. She said that her husband used to come home drunk and beat her.

Axam Xahitya Xabha felicitates fifteen senior personalities

From our Staff Reporter

DIBRUGARH, April 16: Fifteen senior personalities were felicitated during a meeting at the regional office of Axam Xahitya Xabha (AXX) here today.

The President of the district unit of AXX, Prahlad Chandra Tasa, chaired the function. The felicitated persons include Lakhinath Gogoi, Upen Konwar and Radheshyam Dhanuka. Earlier, Dibrugarh Xahitya Xabha, responding to a call made by AXX, felicitated 25 persons during a function held here on Sunday. The organizers also presented citations to 150 bihuwatis, who participated in a Bihu workshop held by DXX. Two hundred singers, who took part in the chorus under the direction of the Principal of Dibrugarh Music School, Bhuban Gogoi, also received citations in recognition of their talents. The public meeting held under the chairmanship of Lakhinath Gogoi, later opened with a performance by the husori group of Jiten Das. The function was hosted by Anil Singha.

Leopard entrapped at Titabor

From a Correspondent

TITABOR, April 16: A leopard has been entrapped by the Forest Department at Kokojan tea garden under Titabor subdivision today.

The said leopard had attacked one woman, Kamali Gowala, a temporary tea labourer, at line number 23 in Kokojan tea garden on April 10 last and the woman died due to the tigers attack. After that incident, the Forest Department had been making efforts to entrap the leopard and their efforts finally met with success today.

ABSU observes open Rongjali Bwisagu

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, April 16: The All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) with an aim to bring love, peace, integrity and prosperity among all sections of the society observed an open Rongjali Bwisagu (Rongali Bihu) at Kokrajhar District Sports Association (KDSA) field on April 14. The student organization has been observing the open Bwisagu every year with message of peace and tranquility. The President of the ABSU, Promod Boro hoisted the organizational flag in the morning at the venue. Troupes from different villages, clubs, leaders and workers of social organizations and individuals participated in the programme. The Deputy Chief of BTC Kampa Borgoyary, former Rajya Sabha MP UG Brahma, General Secretary of the Dularai Boro Harimu Afat (DBHA) Jogeswar Brahma, Ex- President of Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS), Principals and Lecturers of different colleges also took part in the open Rongjali Bwisagu.

Adya shraddha of Promode Gogoi observed

From our Correspondent

SIVASAGAR, April 16: The adya shraddha of veteran Communist Party of India (CLI) leader and former Flood Control Minister of Assam Government, Promode Gogoi was observed here on Monday  with paying of floral tributes at the portrait of late comrade Promode Gogoi. A memorial meet was also organized on the occasion.

The programme was organized at his residence in Sivasagar town and attended by people from all walks of life, including party leaders and workers, public leaders and others.

Former MP Dhrupad Borgohain said that the death of Gogoi is a great loss to the party organization and the left movement as a whole.

Praying for eternal peace of the departed soul of Gogoi, Borgohain said he had dedicated himself to building the Left movement in the State and worked relentlessly for peasants, workers, the poor and the downtrodden since the day he joined CPI and maintained his principles all his life. “In all national issues including construction of big dams, foreigners issue, language movement, oil refinery movement, de-limitation of Assembly constituencies in Assam, preservation of archeological monuments of Ahom rulers, Gogoi had played a vital role,” said Borgohain.

Releasing a souvenir, brought out on the occasion, ‘Ashrumala’, edited by Dharma Baruah, noted litterateur Chitralata Phukon said, “Promode Gogoi had a great personality and relentlessly fought for the rights of the indigenous people and was successful in raising the burning problems of the State.” He added, “He was a patriot in the true sense of the term and his death, which has created a vacuum in the State politics, would be difficult to fill,” said Phukon.

Former Morigaon MLA Munin Mahanta, CPI leader Pikumoni Dutta, senior journalist Guno Baruah, Safikur Rahman, Umesh Gogoi, Prabha Devi, Madan Baruah, Mathura Mohan Sharma and noted social activist Rangnath Gogoi also spoke on the occasion  and described his death as an irreparable loss to the Left and democratic movement in the State.

Mohilary inaugurates school in Kokrajhar

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, April 16: BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary today formally inaugurated the new private school Reality Public School (RPS) at Chandamari 2 kms West of Kokrajhar town in the presence of State Transport and Tourism Minister Chandan Brahma and BTC Deputy Chief Kampa Borgoyary. The new RPS school is the only education institution in lower Assam that has equipped with all modern facilities.

  In his speech, BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary said, the BTC head quarter Kokrajhar, was lacking in good educational institutions and the RPS would be the first of its kind providing facilities for co-curricular activities with quality education. He said, the people of the region are fortunate to have CIT, University, Engineering College and Medical College in Kokrajhar for higher education.

“We are looking for setting up of IIM, IIT and other technical and non-technical institutions in Kokrajhar, he said adding that he will call on the Prime Minister Dr Man Mohan Singh and press him for more institutes of higher education for the BTC region. He hailed the efforts of the school management committee of RPS to provide quality education and said more such schools with modern facilities is needed in Kokrajhar.

Transport and Tourism Minister Chandan Brahma said the Reality Public School will bring a new dimension to the education sector, especially in lower Assam. Laying emphasis on quality education, Brahma said the people of Kokrajhar as well as lower Assam will need not go to Kalingpong, Siliguri, Darjeeling, Delhi, Channai etc. to get quality education and the guardians can save more money by admitting their children in the new school.

 BTC Deputy Chief Kampa Borgoyary said the set-up of model school with modern facilities is a significant step. Hailing the noble endeavour, Borgoyary said the success of the school will depend on the administration and management committee of the school.

EM of BTC Reo Reoa Narzihary, BTC Principal Secretary MC Sahu, EMs Mono Kumar Brahma, James Basumatary, MCLA Doneswar Goyary and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. Earlier, the Principal of the RPS, Prabir Barman gave the brief speech on the school and its future plans.

 Talking to reporters, the Chairman of the Management Committee of the RPS SK Brahma said the school is affiliated to CBSE and classes from Pre-nursery to Class-V will be started from April 18. The classes from VI to VIII will start from the next academic session, while classes upto XII will start from 2015-16.

He said the school will have boarding facilities for all students from next year and air conditioned school bus services will be provided up to 20 km radius.

 The school has 45 bighas of land in the compound. It has extensive sand and water play areas with garden, a large playground with play equipments for all age groups and good sporting facilities apart from other state-of-the-art facilities.

Three leopards die in a week in Dergaon

Staff Reporter
JORHAT, April 16: Within only a week, three leopards lost their lives in Dergaon area with the third one having been found dead in Karunating tea garden on April 14 last. The other two leopards had earlier lost their lives at the hands of the villagers of Bahikhowa and Khakandguri on April 7 and April 9 respectively. The most unfortunate parts of the incidents were that the insensible villagers did not rest only on killing the animals but also chopped off their body parts and took away their flesh. It is noteworthy that during the last five years, 21 leopards lost their lives at the hands of people in Upper Assam. On the other hand, 26 leopards were found to be lying dead during the said period at various places of upper Assam. During the same period, 36 leopards could be encaged by Forest Department in Upper Assam districts.

Interactive lecture programme deferred

From our Staff Correspondent
Dibrugarh, April 16: The interactive lecture programme with former Union Panchayat Minister and member of Rajya Sabha, Mani Shankar Aiyar, slated to be held here on April 20 under the aegis of Policy Group for Peoples’ Rights (PGPR) was deferred to an unspecified period due to some unavoidable reasons. The president PGPR, Aradhana Kataki, in a press communiqué, stated that all would be notified as soon as the new scheduled date is fixed.

Two injured in Dibrugarh road mishap

From our Staff Correspondent
Dibrugarh, April 16: In a major road accident that took place on April 14 at National Highway-37 at Solong in Dibrugarh district, two brothers of Nitaiphukuri Bokpara village were critically injured. According to sources, Brojen Bora and his younger brother, Bubu Bora, were traveling to their sister’s house at Kachumari under Moran police station on the occasion of Bihu in their two-wheeler (Registration No. AS-04E-9008) and had a head-on collision with a Sivasagar bound auto rickshaw (No. AS-04-AS1835 ). Brajen lost his right hand while the latter sustained injuries in his knee. Eye witnesses claimed that one of the ankles of Bubu Bora was completely smashed while Brajen’s right arm was severed from the shoulder joint. The injured were initially rushed to a nearby hospital and later referred to Assam Medical College and Hospital for further advanced clinical treatment. The conditions of both the injured brothers are stable at present, sources claimed.

Five arrested for killing one and injuring two others

From our Staff Correspondent
Dibrugarh, April 16: Police arrested five persons today on charges of killing one person and injuring two others at Namrup in Dibrugarh district. The deceased was identified as one Pulen Gogoi.The injured Madan Gogoi and Aishwarya Gogoi have been shifted to Assam Medical College and Hospital. According to Police sources, the arrested persons, Agona Bag, Sona Bag, Niren Bag, Ajit Bag and Balen Bag had attacked Pullen, Madan and Aishwarya with lethal weapons at Hingrijan Tea Estate’s weekly market place on Sunday when they were returning home after demolishing some of illicit liquor shops at the Tea Estate. Critically injured Pulen Gogoi, later succumbed to his injury. Police sent the body of Pullen Gogoi to AMCH for post mortem. Police jumped into action immediately in order to avoid group clashes between irate members of two communities and arrested all five persons involved in the killing of Pullen Gogoi. A case has been registered at Namrup Police Station on Sunday. Investigation is on.