GUWAHATI, January 16: Non-receipt of salary and consequent heavy debt compelled Premadhar Gogoi, a Assam Plantation Crop Development Corporation Limited (APCDL) employee, to commit suicide on Saturday. Gogoi, who hanged himself to death at his residence, had not received salaries for the last 15 months. Sensation prevailed at the Hengerabari area of the city following his suicide. The police authorities, who are investigating the case, confirmed on Sunday that Gogoi's death was a case of suicide as there was no circumstantial evidence of murder. The local people and some of the family members of the deceased have also expressed similar views and said that Gogoi committed suicide compelled by financial difficulties. One of the family members said that Gogoi had not received his salary for the last 15 months, which had led to heavy debt. According to family members of the deceased, the body was found at 10 A.M. by Gogoi's son, Bhaskarjyoti, who was trying to locate his father as he had failed turn up in the morning. "My mother had told me to go and check out at the backyard house to see if my father was there and when I peeped in through the ventilator, I saw him hanging by his neck." Gogoi is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. (Staff Reporter; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; January 17, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 16 : The Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta inaugurated a cultural museum – Purbajyoti at the Sankardev Kalakshetra premises on Saturday during the ensuing Bhogali Bihu. In his inaugural address, Mahanta said that no nation can march forward by ignoring the cultural heritage. "For this there is a need of taking serious step for the preservation of the glorious culture of a state", he said. Mahanta appealed to the people in general and the youths in particular to take a concerted effort for the exposure of the state's culture to the outside world. The museum was the part of the Kalakshetra in its original plan and was constructed with the active help and cooperation of the National Museum, Calcutta. A fifteen member expert team from the Calcutta museum headed by Shyam Kanti Chakravorty have been camping here for the last two months to assist the Kalakshetra authorities in setting up the same. Henceforth, the erstwhile museum of the state industries department set up in the campus some time back will remain attach to the new one. Most of the items of Assamese culture including various dress items like Pat, Muga reha-mekhela-chadar others like Sarai, Durali, Maihang, Banbati, Hengdang, Jakoi, Khaloi have been placed in the museum. An art exhibition on the activities of the heroes of Ramayana and Mahabharata was held during the day in the campus. (Staff Reporter; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; January 17, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 17: The Assam government has decided to institute a corpus fund of Rs 10 crore for financing and production of regional films in Assam out of the interest accruing from the fund, said chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today. This fund would be managed by the Assam State Film (Financial and Development) Corporation. Speaking on the occasion of Silpi Divas at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra here, Mahanta also announced the government’s decision to take necessary steps towards setting up at least 150 mini cinema halls throughout the state for benefit of regional films. These decisions along with several others were recently taken up by a committee comprising artistes from various fields of the movie business. The committee amended the Assam State Film Policy, 1992 and Assam State Film Policy Rules, 1994 to incorporate these changes with immediate effect. A few other amendments include establishing a film archive at Jyoti Chitraban Film Society at Kahilipara, refund of amusement tax collected during the first two years after commercial release of a movie instead of earlier one year, a committee to be set up for advising the government in various issues relating to this sector among others. Mahanta called upon the people as well as the film artists, distributors, producers to strive towards developing the film industry in the state by taking advantage of these incentives. Bhabendranath Saikia, noted filmmaker, spoke on the possibility of constructing the proposed mini cinema halls with modern amenities for having facility of video shows, holding meetings if needed. As a first step towards this he called upon the government to begin film viewing on an experimental basis in the block-level community halls of the state. Saikia and Jogen Chetia, noted dramatist and head of the department of Assamese of Sibsagar College were felicitated on the occasion by the department of cultural affairs. They were given a scroll, a gamocha and Rs 25,000 in a draft each as recognition of their immense contribution to their respective fields. Several film artists including Abdul Majid, Pranjal Saikia, minister of tourism, Jagdish Bhuyan among others were present on the occasion. Majid in his speech spoke or the high-handedness of the eastern Indian Motion Pictures Association (EIMPA) in showing Assamese films in the halls of the state. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 18, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 17: The Special Court of Guwahati on Monday has granted bail to Prabhu Dayal Deorah – the prime accused in the Rs 4.27 crore palmolein oil scam in the state – on a bond of Rs 50,000. Judge KK Das while granting the bail to Deorah, laid down three conditions considering his age viz., that he would not be able to leave the city without prior permission of the court, that he would respond to the summoning of the Central Bureau of Investigation which is investigating the case and that he would not interfere in the investigation process. While opposing the bail petition CBI counsel S Chakravorty said that in spite of his old age, Deorah was physically fit and argued that he may try to temper evidences in the case if he is allowed to go on bail. However, the counsel of Deorah, JM Choudhury, in his arguments justified the bail application. The city-based businessman was arrested by the investigating agency on January 7 for his alleged involvement in lifting palmolein oil from the state Trading Corporation on fake allotment orders during the period 1994-'97. (Staff Reporter; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; January 18, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 17: After years of apathy, Assam’s cine industry is poised for a lift off with the Assam government announcing a new film policy and a set of rules on Monday by effecting various amendments to the policy which was formulated eight years back. The much awaited amendments are expected to give a boost to the regional cine industry. The new policy was announced by Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta while addressing a function held at Sankardeva Kalakshetra on the occasion of Silpi Divas. In accordance with the new policy, a corpus fund of Rs 10 crore to be managed by the Assam state Film (Finance and Development) Corporation (ASFDC), will be created for financing and production of regional films out of the interest money that will accrue to the corpus fund. The state government has also decided to set up a film archive at Jyoti Chitraban, the only film studio in the state. Mahanta also announced that the state government would provide all necessary support to the Film and Television Institute which has already been set up, to train local technicians towards enhancing the technical manpower. The Assam State Film Policy was formulated in 1992 and the necessary rules for implementation of the policy was framed in 1994. The current policy and the rules are metamorphosed form of the old version. Among various incentives for the regional films announced in the new package, the time limit for refund of the amusement tax has been extended from the first one year to first two years of commercial release of a film. For producers of regional films it often becomes very difficult to pay the amusement tax in one year due to adverse geographical and climatic conditions. To encourage the production of documentary films by private producers, the state government will support them with the release of grants to be allotted in instalments. The government has also decided to consider issuance of provisional licences for setting up of at least 150 mini cinema halls to reach a larger section of the populace. (Staff Reporter; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; January 18, 2000)

TANGLA, January 17: The next phase of shooting of Jiwni-Lwagawri, a Bodo film under the banner of Swargiary Bodosa Film Production, is being resumed very soon. Its shooting was stopped for several months due to financial crisis, according to Krishna Pathak, Secretary, Swargiary Bodosa Film Production. Meanwhile, he urged all its actors and actress to contact him in this regard on or before January 31 at Swahid Bhawan, Tangla. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 18, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 18: Finally, the much-awaited endeavour for wresting recognition to the Satriya dance form as classical form has begun with a four-day seminar on Satriya dance since 4 pm today at the Rabindra Bhawan here. The state directorate of cultural affairs is holding the seminar in collaboration with the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Calcutta, Northeast Zonal Cultural Centre, Dimapur and Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Society, Guwahati. Inaugurating the seminar, the governor, Lt Gen (Retd) SK Sinha described Satriya dance form as the rich dance forms peculiar to Assam. Unfortunately these dance forms are not accorded their due recognition, he said, adding, the handicap resulted from the lack of recognition by the dance experts and scholars would soon be overcome and the Satriya dance form would get their right place. This will enrich the Indian culture as a whole in the long run, he observed. Commenting that Assam has a potent and rich treasure of cultural heritage, he said that she has all the elements to get the cultural capital of the country blossomed within her. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 19, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 18: The Satriya dance does not need an official certificate of recognition to be called a national dance, and is already at par with any other national dance forms in its richness of style and tradition. Speaking at the inaugural function of a seminar on Satriya dance at the Rabindra Bhawan here on Tuesday, noted musician and president of Sangeet Natak Akademi, Bhupen Hazarika, pointed out that the Satriya dance form can be traced back to the 14th-15th century, adding that over the years it had acquired a style and grandeur that was in no way inferior to the other major dance forms of India. Hazarika stated that the major thrust for acceptance of Satriya as a national dance form, must come as a united effort from all the satras. Referring to the diverse styles of performing the dance in the different satras of Assam, he underlined the need for the satras to join hands for the evolution of a single dance form. Such a step would help the experts in recognising this rich dance form as one unit, and thereby expedite the recognition process of Satriya as a national dance form. (Staff Reporter; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; January 19, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 18: The salubrious commercial township of Tinsukia is wriggling to set the 14th Northeast Sports Festival into a radiant motion on January 29. The newly-constructed Sarbananda Singha stadium is almost ready for the gala event of the Northeast. The festival, first of the millennium, will usher in new sport event sepak takraw into its fold for the first time. "The festival organised by the Tinsukia District Sports Association in association with SAI, Guwahati, promises to be a grand affair," said Captain Bordoloi, OSD SAI regional centre, Guwahati in a press meet in the city on Tuesday. High dignitaries including the governor Lt Gen (Retd) SK Sinha, chief minister of Assam, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and even the Union minister of state for sports, Chaoba Singh has agreed to grace the four-day event. Eight states from the Northeast are expected to participate in the 12-event meet. Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh have already confirmed their participation. Surprise exclusion of event in this year's sports festival is basketball which had featured in each edition since its inception. "The SAI headquarter at Patiala has turned down our request and assured it would refeature next year," said the OSD. The twelve events are: athletics, archery, badminton, boxing (men's), football, handball (men's), hockey, judo, sepak takraw, taekwondo, table tennis and weightlifting. (Sports Reporter; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; January 19, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 19: Satriya dance has its own grammar and all the exquisite qualities to fascinate the dance critics for upholding its case for recognition as a classical dance form of the country. This was confirmed by Sunil Kothari, noted dance critic. Kothari who is in the city in connection with the four-day seminar on Satriya dance, that started yesterday at the Rabindra Bhawan here, exclaimed while viewing the demonstration made by the exponents of the dance form and the accompanists as part of the speeches delivered by Raseswar Saikia Barbayan and Jagannath Mahanta this morning — "Satriya dance is very rich and how brilliantly variegated it is. This rich tradition of the dance form must not be Sanskritised. I learnt many things about this particular dance form from the discussion and demonstrations here today." The utterances of Kothari have the relevance for our scholars and Satriya dance exponents. He has, in a very polite gesture warned us to be on guard against any attempt at Sanskritising our traditional art forms. We are rich in tradition. Moreover, we have not made any serious attempt so far to demonstrate our cultural treasures before the scholars and experts of other areas. We have been conferring ourselves within the cocoons of helplessness. Or else, critics like Kothari would have come to know what gems we have been preserving for centuries within the precincts of our Vaishnavite Satras long long back ! (Ajit Patowary; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 20, 2000)

IMPHAL, January 19: The High Court Bar Association, Manipur has decided to suspend the non-cooperation movement following the agreement reached between the striking group and the government. The court will resume normal works from January 24. The decision to suspend the ceasework was taken yesterday afternoon during an executive meeting held at the complex of the Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench. The meeting also thoroughly discussed the assurance given by the Union law minister Jethmalani. A six-member delegation of the High Court Bar Association also met the Union Law minister on January 14 last at New Delhi and submitted a memorandum of grievances to him. In course of the discussion, the delegation from the state apprised Union minister regarding the establishment of a separate High Court in the state. The Union minister reportedly assured to take up the matter within a short period. At the same time, the advocate-general of Manipur Tayenjam Nandakumar also assured the association to submit an effective representation to the government of India on behalf of the state government in connection with the setting up of separate high court. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 20, 2000)

SUALKUCHI, January 19: Louha Manab and former chief minister Bishnuram Medhi for his contribution in politics, Kaliram Medhi for his noble contribution to Assamese literature and Gobinda Deka, distinguished scientist were declared the man of the century of the region at a public meeting held under the aegis of Hajor Batori, a fortnightly published from Dalibari, on January 16. The people assembled at the meeting applauded the decision with claps while Paresh Baishya, the chief editor of the fortnightly, was reading out the decision. The management of the paper also felicitated 16 people for their contributions in different fields including social service, teaching, sports, journalism and arts and literature. Asok Hatkhowa for his service for modernisation of brass industry and Basudev Thakuria a distinguished sports organiser were selected winners of Hajor Batori awards. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 20, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 20: There should not be any dispute over the status of the Satriya form of dances. The question as to whether this form is classical or not is irrelevant today. The issue was settled long back. It is a magnificent art form. It’s time for it to prepare for facing the challenges of modern theatres. These were the opinions of noted Kathak exponent and Sangeet Natak Akademi secretary Jayant Kastuar. He was offering these opinions at the forenoon session of the four-day seminar on Satriya dance at the Rabindra Bhawan here today. Today was the third day of the seminar. Speaking at the seminar, after the presentation of a paper on Nritta in Satriya dance by Narayan Chandra Goswami, Satradhikar of Natun Kamalabari Satra, Kastuar said that Kathaka, Bharat Natyam and Kuchipudi were developed during the past decades for making them presentable in the modern theatres. Some elements of these dance forms were lost during the period, but their main elements could be preserved. Similarly, Satriya dance forms which have a different significance while performed inside the precincts of the Satras, should also get themselves developed as presentable performing art forms in the modern theatres, he said. (Ajit Patowary; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 21, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 20: The Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon district Muslim Sharanarthy Committee – a body of refugee camp inmates in these two districts – has alleged that at least 30 inmates of the Bhaoraguri relief camp in Bongaigaon district, have died due to starvation and for want of medical facilities during the past one-and-half year period. Meanwhile, the All Adivasi Students' Association of Assam (AASAA) has threatened to call a 24-hour lower Assam bandh on February 2 if the centre and the state government failed to initiate action to solve the problem of ration, relief, rehabilitation and security of the camp inmates by January 31. The AASAA demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged corruption by district officials in distribution of relief materials. The Sharanarthy committee apprehended that more inmates are facing starvation death as the district administration has stopped supply of ration since December 10. It said that they had brought the matter into the notice of the joint secretary (home affairs in-charge of NE) GK Pillai and other representatives of the home ministry in October last year, but nothing has been done till date. (By Our Staff Reporter) (Staff Reporter; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; January 21, 2000)

TEZPUR, January 21: A great sense of fear prevails amongst the people of West Kameng and Tawang districts of Arunachal Pradesh following the prediction of an earthquake either on March 13, 2000 or in May 2000. According to sources, the scientist have predicted that the worst affected areas of Arunachal Pradesh will be Tawang, West Kameng (Bomdila), Khonsa, Kimin, Ziro and Sagalee valley. Sources said the earthquake which is predicted is likely to be more dangerous than the earthquake which occurred in 1950 and the tremor of the intensity will be more than 8.6, on the Richter scale. Various tribal and non tribal peoples who are passing sleepless nights have started shifting to the plains areas, the sources said adding that various non governmental organisations (NGO’s) including the Arunachal Youth Society (AYS) has strongly urged the Arunachal Pradesh government to take immediate measures to protect the life and properties of the people from the predicted earthquake. The society has urged the government to conduct an early awareness campaign programmes in urban and rural areas of Arunachal Pradesh to make the people alert. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 22, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 21: From now on there will be no objection to describe Satriya form of dances as classical. The Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) will also be inviting Satriya troupes from Assam to the festivals of classical dances and music organised by it, or it is connected with. However, scholars and exponents of the Satriya form must design a strategy to make this form presentable in the modern theatres by keeping intact its inherent qualities handed down from the hoary past. The SNA has made a major thrust at the beginning of the millennium to make the Satriya performing art form a well accepted art form for the connoisseurs. These announcements were made by SNA chairman Bhupen Hazarika and SNA secretary Jayant Kastuar at a press conference held at the Kanaklal Barua Auditorium of the state Museum here after the conclusion of the four-day seminar on Satriya dance, organised by the state Directorate of Cultural Affairs at the Rabindra Bhawan here, this afternoon. The seminar was organised in collaboration with the SNA, Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Calcutta, Northeast Zone Cultural Centre, Dimapur and Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Society, Guwahati. (Ajit Patowary; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 22, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 21: The Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) chairman, Bhupen Hazarika, and its secretary, Jayant Kastua, on Friday said that there can be no second opinion that the Satriya dance is a classical form of dance like other Indian classical dance forms. They, however, said that experts, performing artistes and Satradhikars should work together to make the Satriya dance suitable for Indian theatres. Hazarika announced that the Akademi will take up a five-year long special project to promote, preserve and nurture Satriya dance. Speaking to newsmen after conclusion of the four-day long seminar on Satriya dance here in the city, he also announced that the Akademi would initiate steps for the interaction of famous performing artistes and exponents of other classical dance forms like Birju Maharaj with the Satradhikars and other scholars and performing artistes of the Satriya dance towards improving it as an art dance form suitable for stage performance. (Staff Reporter; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; January 22, 2000)

KOHIMA, January 21: Twenty five Nagaland policemen have been dismissed on charges of forging their educational certificates during recruitment procedure, police said on Friday. The 25 constable, working under special branch of state police department, had already been dismissed after due verification of their certificates, a statement signed by a senior police official said. During verification of certificates, it was found that most of these 25 constables had joined service during 1998 by submitting forged matriculate certificates, the statement said. The inspector-general of police (intelligence) C Kikon said there is likelihood of more such cases coming to light. (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 22, 2000)

AIZAWL, January 21: The Northeast Students’ Organisation (NESO), comprising student bodies of northeastern States, has blamed the Centre for harbouring an "apathetic attitude towards solving the foreigners problem in the Northeast.." "While the Centre fought with a few foreign intruders in Kargil.... it neglected massive influx of foreigners in the Northeast," NESO said in a resolution after its meeting on Thursday night. The NESO also demanded establishment of central universities in all the capitals of northeastern states and hostel facilities for students from the region in all the metros. The newly elected NESO office bearers were chairman Samujjal Bhattacharyya (All Assam Students Union) and general secretary Paul Lyngdoh (Khasi Students Union). (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 22, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 22: From truncheon to AK series rifles – the Assam Police has come a long way since its formation by the British rulers after Assam came under the British following the Yandaboo treaty. At the initial stages, the role of the Assam Police was limited to protecting the interests of the British rulers and looking after minor thefts and land disputes. But over the years, the role of the police has been diversified and now the police force has to look after even corruption and economic offence cases as well as fighting insurgency. Till recently the Assam Police did not have proper history since its inception, but recently a working group headed by inspector-general DN Dutta has been formed to prepare a book – Assam Police through the years. The book will be published next month. (R Dutta Choudhury; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 23, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 22: The regional newspapers which are close to the heart of the people, will survive the onslaught of the electronic media as happenings in the regions of a country are not extensively covered by the latter. This was stated by minister of information and broadcasting, Arun Jaitley, while delivering the Sixth Prof VV Rao Memorial Lecture on ‘The information revolution: a global perspective’ at BKB Auditorium, Gauhati University today. But the print media in national stream all over the world is facing a serious threat in view of growing popularity of electronic media including the internet. Diversion of advertisements to the electronic media is posing a commercial threat to survival of the print media. Jaitley said, "the print media has to change its characters to survive. New content must be reduced while analysis of news, features and comments must be increased." (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 23, 2000)

Though Eksarana Namadharma, the Vaishnava faith propagated by Mahapurush Sankardeva in the 15th-16th century, was basically a movement for spiritual regeneration among the Assamese masses, it simultaneously led to a cultural renaissance, particularly in the Brahmaputra valley. The saint and his disciples, well aware that they could touch the minds and hearts of the people through music, dance and drama, utilised these modes to popularise the tenets of bhakti. In the process evolved, among other cultural facets, a tradition of classical music and dancing, with the Satras established by the Vaishnavites acting as repositories for these arts. The classical dance form, or Satriya Nritya, has a distinctive identity of its own, a number of hastas (hand gestures) and bharimans (movements of the feet), an intricate and developed choreography, and costumes and masks. The Satriya dance of Assam too is a testimony to the essential inter-relatedness of all art forms, integral as it is to the Ankiya Nats (Vaishnava dramas), where dance rendered to classical music played so dominant a role. The types of dance performances within the genre, of the sutradhar, Krishna or Rama, — the gopis, as also other dance features such as dhemali and the war-dances, indeed add up to one of the most varied dance forms within the rich repertoire of Indian classical dance. It is a telling commentary on the character of the Assamese society that such a unique dance form has yet to win recognition at the all India level as a classical dance form. In contrast can be cited the graceful and aesthetically pleasing Manipuri style, which too was an offshoot of the Vaishnava movement in that region, evolved much later than the Satriya dance of Assam. Similarly, though not considered to belong to the original four all India classical schools, dance forms such as Odissi, Kuchipudi and Chhau have wrested such recognition for themselves. If the Satriya dance has failed to attain recognition as a classic, we ourselves are to blame. Rather than bewail the disinclination of others to invest it with a classical status, we must introspect on our shortcomings. Assamese society in the recent past has displayed a woeful apathy towards aspects of our historical and cultural legacy, and Satriya dance has been one of the casualties of this neglect. In the past this dance form, as also other items of Vaishnava culture, had been a vibrant part of the people’s cultural lives. Today, neglected by the multitude and confined mostly within the cloistered ambience of the Satras, Satriya dance has almost been reduced to a museum piece. Moreover, sectarian differences in interpretation among its practitioners has robbed it of its pristine purity, thereby hindering unanimous acceptance. It is in such a context that the seminar on Satriya dance held recently in Guwahati assumes significance. Such seminars can render signal service in diverse ways. By focussing on this unique dance form, they can acquaint experts from outside with its nuances, and to a great extent break the barriers of ignorance. Simultaneously, they can inspire proponents to work towards popularising the art and making it once more a vibrant and intrinsic part of the cultural life of the people. Most important, they can bring together the exponents into meaningful and constructive interaction, whereby might evolve a common choreographic idiom for the dance form and a common curriculum for its teaching. As the Assamese musical maestro and the Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Academy, Bhupen Hazarika, has so rightly pointed out, recognition as a classical dance form is not a sine qua non for it to flourish. Conversely, aesthetic unanimity as well as a more dynamic role in the cultural life of the people would surely fetch it the recognition it so richly deserves. (Editorial; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 23, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 23: The sports fraternity in the state received a severe jolt as one of its most luminous stars, Nilimoy Choudhury, breathed his last succumbing to a massive cardiac arrest here at his Uzan Bazar residence at around 2.00 p.m. on Sunday. He was 66. Lovers of sports will be remember him as a great visionary sportsperson with an immaculate acumen, who aspired to take Assam sports into a different pedestal. Himself a player of tremendous skill and potential, Choudhury could hardly alienate himself from sports after he stopped playing. He served as an organiser, a director and whatever capacity he could just to improve the sports scenario in Assam. A former Ranji cricketer of class, he was the first official cricketer of the state to have taken a six-week cricket coaching course in Rajkot, under late Duleep Singhji in India's first coaching scheme sponsored by the education department of India in 1955. He represented the Assam Ranji team against Orissa in 1955 and against Bengal in 1958 and also held the coveted post of national selector of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for junior cricket in 1991-92. (Sports Reporter; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; January 24, 2000)

DHUBRI, January 23: Widespread criminal activities, mainly by some self-styled gangsters of illegal immigrants, have completely changed the original shape, features and natural beauty of Brahmaputra char areas in the last 20 years. The natural wealth, particularly forest, have also been almost wiped out, resulting in an ecological imbalance and threat to a healthy environment. Apart from a few small river islands, which occasionally emerge due to siltation in the flood season, there are almost 20 permanent and semi-permanent river islands, each 6 to 10 sq. km in area lying between the south and north banks of Brahmaputra. In the past, these islands were treasurers of luxuriant vegetation and various rare species of migratory birds. But they have now turned into safe havens for illegal infiltrators. During the last 50 years, these river islands witnessed a ceaseless flow of foreign nationals particularly from Bangladesh with the help and instigation of certain fundamentalists and political leaders. In course of this continuous process of migration, some persons have somehow acquired prominence in power and domination by organising their own gangs of criminals and posing as self-styled zamindar in different islands of Brahmaputra. They are now the acting rulers in their respective areas. These persons use to bring in Bangladeshi nationals in batches through their agents by crossing the open gates of the border to reach the char areas by different routes. They even allot cultivable lands among the new migrants and collect tolls and revenues at rates they deem fit. No one has any right to protest, and any body who dares to do it has to face serious consequences. (Correspondent; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; January 24, 2000)

IMPHAL, January 23: A Burmese national identified as Shang Win (26) of Yangon was arrested by the Manipur police for his illegal entry to the State. The arrested Burmese National was remanded to judicial custody till February 1 next. Police said Shang was picked up from Dewlahland, Imphal on January 17 without having any valid documents. In the meantime, personnel of the 7 Assam Rifles posted at Tamenglong in Chandel district seized petrol smuggled from Myanmar in two trucks at Tengnoupal check-post on January 19 last. The seized petrol along with the trucks were handed over to the customs officials at Moreh. (Editorial; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 24, 2000)

GOLAKGANJ, January 23: Some rare coins of ancient times were found at Gourangtari village under Salkocha area in Dhubri district recently. The shape of recovered coins are round and these are in silver form. These coins were first found by an old man of Chandiarkhal village while digging his land. No proper archaeological survey of the artefacts has not been conducted since the last few years. The people of Dhubri district urged the district administration to take up coordinated efforts for the development of the historical areas in the district in consultation with department of historical antiquarian studies of Assam. Meanwhile, a few other ancient manuscripts were also found in Bhatikhana of Bisondoi area under Golakganj revenue circle of Dhubri district. But due to lack of proper care, the manuscripts, could not be preserved in proper order. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 24, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 28 – AGP MLA Sirajul Haque Choudhury died here today after a protracted illness. He was 55. chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today paid floral tributes at the mortal remains of North Karimganj MLA who died at Guwahati Neurological Research Centre this morning. Choudhury was a very prominent leader of Asom Gana Parishad in Barak Valley. He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters, according to an official release. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 29, 2000)

SHILLONG, January 29: Explorers have stumbled across pre-historic tools and implements in areas covering several villages in West Garo Hills in Meghalaya. Official sources said here today that the discovery was made in December last year but the finds have been announced only now after scientific analysis of the discoveries. The treasuretrove of pre-historic artefacts comprising cleavers, choppers, short axes, axes, side scrappers, hand pick, blades, nose scrippers, points and borer, were uncovered during exploration work jointly conducted by the Anthropology department of Gauhati University and the Meghalaya arts and culture department, from December 2 to 10 last year. The artefacts, numbering fifty, are presently on display in arts and culture department’s office at Mawlai. The finds were discovered from Asanagre, Selbalgre, Misimagre, Rangsongre, Thebrongre, Ganolgre, Chibagiri and Rongram villages of West Garo Hills. (Special Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 30, 2000)

KOHIMA, January 30: Doordarshan will soon start a separate channel for the Northeast for better coverage of the region. This was informed by Information and Broadcasting minister Arun Jaitley to Lok Sabha MP from Nagaland K Asungba Sangtam, who is a member of the parliamentary standing committee on communications. Sangtam in a release here said he told the recent meeting of the committee that Doordarshan Kendras and Akashvani need to be upgraded especially in the border areas of Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 31, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 30: Assamese film ‘Baibhav’ has been voted the best film at the International Film Festival held at Dhaka, Bangladesh, recently. The festival, which concluded on Friday, saw the film triumph over several other foreign films in the fray. Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, today congratulated the director of the film Manju Bora as well as the rest of the crew and cast for winning the laurel. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 31, 2000)

SHILLONG, January 30: Kitdor Syiem, former Forest and Environment minister of Meghalaya, died of cerebral malaria at Woodlands Hospital here at 5 am on Sunday. Syiem, 45, was a minister till October 15 last year when Meghalaya chief minister had BB Lyngdoh dropped all the Congress members in the Council of ministers after having snapped ties with the party and forming a new coalition with the Nationalist Congress Party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and People’s Democratic Movement. Elected for the first time in 1983 to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Syiem was inducted into the ministry the same year. He was re-elected to the assembly in 1993 and 1998 and served as minister in both the terms. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 31, 2000)

HAILAKANDI, January 30: Security has been further tightened along the Indo-Bangla international border in Karimganj district following the killing of two infiltrators in the border. Border Security Force (BSF) sources informed that at about 10 pm on Thursday last a team of 6/7 persons tried to cross the border when BSF personnel fired upon them. Later, jawans have recovered two bodies from the Kushiara river. On Monday, a similar incident occurred and two persons from the same family were injured in the firing. Tension has prevailed in the entire Barak Valley following the frequent incidents in the border and the people fear that ISI and other anti-Indian activists may try to cross the border, which has no fencing. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; January 31, 2000)

GUWAHATI, January 31: Medum-Me-Phi, the solemn festival of the Tai-Ahoms to pay homage to their forefathers and seek their blessings for a prosperous future, was observed throughout the state on Monday. In Guwahati, the festival was held at Hengrabari, Panjabari, Dispur and Hatigaon among other places. As Sukaphanagar in Hatigaon, the day was observed with a day-long programme organised by the Greater Guwahati Medum-Me-Phi Celebration Committee. An open session, held on the occasion, was chaired by Sri Nabin Buragohain while Lakshyadhar Choudhury was the appointed speaker. Dr Arun Barua also spoke on the occasion. A commemorative souvenir was released by Indibor Konwar. Special rituals were performed and a community feast held. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; February 1, 2000)

TEZPUR, January 31: Apprehending environmental hazards in market and public places and danger to human health, the district magistrate of Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, by an order under Section 144 CrPC recently prohibited use, selling, buying and recycling of polythene bags and plastic disposable glasses with immediate effect throughout the Tawang district, informs a government release. The release stated that anybody found violating the order shall be dealt with as per the provision of law. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; February 1, 2000)