Assam serial blasts victims remembered
Guwahati:The anniversary of the serial blasts that had rocked Assam six years ago, killing nearly 100 people, was observed in a solemn manner across the state. Memorial meets were organised at most of the nine blast sites, including three in Guwahati, and other areas. Homage was paid to the victims at a function at the Ganeshguri blast site here, organized by the state government. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi was, however, absent on the occasion as he is away in New Delhi. Cabinet ministers Nilamani Sen Deka and Akon Bora attended the memorial meet, along with other officials. A memorial function was also organized by the lawyers’ association at the CJM court premise here, another blast site. Victims’ families joined the people in paying homage to the deceased. All-faith prayer meets were organized at various places on the occasion.Nearly 100 people were killed and over 500 injured in nine syncronised blasts that rocked the state on October 30 in 2008.(UNI)
Minor girl drowns in Chathe River near Dimapur
Kohima:A minor girl of about 16 years drowned old was found drowned at Chathe River, near Patkai Bridge under Dimapur district last evening. According to Police Women Cell of Dimapur, who fished out the body from the River, said that the victim known by the name as Bolika alias Alika was employed as a manager at the Amenity Center in Chumukedima, only five days back after she herself found a job at the Center, however, her house address was not known. Police also said the victim and her friend, who is in-charge of the kitchen of the Center, went to the river for bathing and washing clothes, while in the process the victim fell down into the water and was drowned despite efforts by the friend to rescue her. The Police Women Cell personnel later retrieved the body in the evening and the body is being kept at District Hospital Dimapur (DHD) morgue for identification of relatives. (UNI)
ACS launches campaign against stapled visa by China
Itanagar:The Arunachal Civil Society (ACS) has launched a signature campaign against issuance of stapled visa by China to the people of the state and said the Centre should resolve the issue by December 31. Launching the campaign here yesterday, ACS Chairman Patey Tayum said they have already submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other union ministers seeking a solution to the issue by December 31. “If the authority fails to respond to our demands within the time frame, ACS will be compelled to resort to democratic movement by boycotting the forthcoming Republic Day,” he told reporters here. He said since the last 33 years the Centre as well the state government had never bothered to solve the issue of stapled visa with the Chinese authority despite pleas by various sections of the people of the state. (PTI)
Jehadi links: AIUDF MLAs seek Governor’s intervention
Guwahati:Faced with allegations of supporting jehadi activities in Assam in a purported intelligence report, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), the state’s largest Opposition party, on Thursday sought the governor’s intervention in this regard. A day after party chief and perfume baron Badruddin Ajmal denied the allegations, a delegation of AIUDF legislators today called on Governor JB Patnaik at the Raj Bhawan. The legislators met the governor’s representative in his absence and presented their case, seeking the governor’s intervention. Speaking to media persons later, the MLAs questioned the authenticity of the purported IB report and said, as per their information, the purported report was submitted by a BSF official based on his information and had no official standing. The party is also contemplating filing a defamatory case against a national news channel which had first aired the purported IB report, the MLAs added. A national news channel had flashed a purported IB report, which claimed that the AIUDF was supporting jehadi activities in Assam and also recruiting youths for the purpose. (UNI)
Nagaland Social Welfare Board bags SCA award
Kohima:Nagaland State Social Welfare Board (NSSWB) has been awarded the best performing State Channelizing Agency (SCA) in the country by the National Minorities Development Finance Cooperation (NMDFC)of the Union Minority Affairs Ministry. The award was given at the annual conference of SCAs on October 8, in New Delhi. According to an official release on Thursday, P Daisy Mezhur Secretary of the NSSWB, said the Board was honoured for its performance during the year 2009-2014, while the Kerala State Backward Class Development Cooperation and Jammu and Kashmir’s Women Development Cooperation were second and third respectively. Union Minister for Minority Affairs Najma Heptulla, who inaugurated the annual conference, gave away cash awards to the three best performing SCAs. Applauding the efficiency of the SCAs who were awarded, the Minister hoped that this will motivate other SCAs in the different states. (UNI)
Assam to have 50,000 IAY houses this fiscal
Guwahati:Fifty thousand new houses would be constructed in Assam during the current financial year under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY), out of which 5,000 houses would be constructed in Sivasagar district. Speaking at an awareness meeting held at Sivasagar on Wednesday, Assistant Planning Officer of DRDA, Sivasagar, Krishna Kamal Saikia said foundation stone of 2950 houses under IAY scheme would be laid tomorrow. Mr Saikia said 25 houses have been allotted in each of the 118 gram panchayats of the district. The houses would be constructed with an amount of Rs. 75000 each and the amount would be released in three installments, which would be deposited directly in the beneficiary’s bank accounts. Mr Kumud Ranjan Hazarika, Assistant Executive Engineer, PHE, detailing about the schemes under the department, spoke about the Swacha Bharat Abhiyan and relating to use of septic toilet, sanitized water and cleanliness of homes and neighbouring areas.(UNI )