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                     Vol.I, No.87 [*] February 3, 1997
                     ---------------------------------

o  BANGLA BEGINS CRACKDOWN ON NE ULTRAS		[S:02-FEB-97]
   ------------------------------------
  
   In  a  major  countrywide  offensive  against  the  Indian  militants
   operating  from  their territory, Bangladesh security forces busted a
   handful of ULFA, NSCN(I-M) and PLA camps in different areas near  the
   international border  in  the  last  part  of  January.  Around eight
   low-ranking ULFA militants were wounded in  the  offensive  and  have
   reportedly been admitted to various hospitals.  However, NSCN and PLA
   cadres managed to flee their bases unharmed.
   
   Although  the  ULFA  is  said  to have shifted its command bases from
   Bangladesh to somewhere in Bhutan in  the  wake  of  improvements  in
   Indo-Bangla  relations,  a  sizeable  number of its cadres apparently
   stayed back in the camps in Bangladesh, presumably in the hope  of  a
   fresh deterioration in bilateral ties between the two countries and a
   consequent easing  of  Dhaka's  tough stand.  Mentionably, the Sheikh
   Hasina Government had recently  warned  the  Bangladesh-based  Indian
   militants to quit that country within a stipulated time-frame.
   
   UNI reports that the Army raided two ULFA hideouts and apprehended at
   least four hard-core activists, including a woman, besides recovering
   some arms and ammunition during the past few days in lower Assam.
   

o  TWO SOLDIERS DIE IN ULFA AMBUSH			[S:03-FEB-97]
   -------------------------------
  
   The ULFA ambushed on an Army patrol in the Buri-Dihing forest reserve
   area on February 1 led  to  the  death  of  two  soldiers  and  three
   civilians.
   

o  MINISTER INJURED IN ROAD MISHAP			[S:02-FEB-97]
   -------------------------------
  
   The  Minister  of State for Health, Bhaben Baruah and two others were
   injured when their car skidded off the  road  at  Rongagorah  on  the
   NH-37 at  about 4 pm (IST) on February 1.  Their injuries are said to
   be minor.  The Minister was admitted to a nursing home in Nagaon.
   

o  RIGHTS BODY FOR ENTIRE NE MOOTED		[S:02-FEB-97]
   --------------------------------
  
   The   Chairman   of   the  State  Human  Rights  Commission,  Justice
   S.N.Bhargava said on February 1 in Guwahati that he was holding talks
   with the Chief Ministers and the Governors of all the States  in  the
   region  for  the setting up of a Northeast Human Rights Commission to
   redress the genuine grievances of the people living in these parts.
   

o  PARLIAMENTARY TEAM TO VISIT ASSAM		[S:02-FEB-97]
   ---------------------------------
  
   Members  of  the Select Committee of Parliament on the Schedule Tribe
   Order (Amendment) Bill, 1996 pertaining  to  the  Koch-Rajbonshis  of
   Assam,  will visit Dibrugarh and Diphu between February 5 and 12. The
   committee members  will  hold  discussions  with  representatives  of
   different  organisations  on  the  issue of grant of ST status to the
   Koch-Rajbonshis.
   

o  INTERIM RELIEF FOR ASSAM GOVT STAFF		[S:02-FEB-97]
   -----------------------------------
  
   The State Government has sanctioned the third interim relief for  the
   State  Government employees with effect from January 1 at the rate of
   10% of the basic pay subject to a minimum of Rs.100 and a maximum  of
   Rs.250 according to a Government release.
   

o  NRIs PLAN TO SET UP HOSPITAL IN ASSAM		[S:03-FEB-97]
   -------------------------------------
  
   Seven  nonresident  Indians  have  decided  to  set   up   a   modern
   sophisticated  hospital  in the private sector in North Guwahati at a
   cost of Rs.250 to 450 million.  This was disclosed by  the  promoters
   of  the hospital to be known as Brahmaputra Hospital Ltd at a meeting
   in a hotel in Guwahati on February 2.
   
   The State Government has decided to provide  land  for  the  hospital
   which will  be  referral  centre  for cancer and heart diseases.  The
   Government  has  already  removed  the  technical  hurdles  for   the
   allotment  of  land  and the land will be handed over soon, the State
   Health Minister, Mr Ramendra Narayan Kalita, who was also present  in
   the meeting said.
   
   The  promoters  said though the hospital would not be able to provide
   treatment free of cost, there would be provisions  of  treatment  for
   poor patients.   At the initial stage, there would be 100 to 150 beds
   in the hospital and once the land  was  allotted  construction  works
   would start within four to five months, they said.
   
   Three of  the  promoters  of the hospital were from Assam.  They are:
   Mr Biraj Kumar Bhuyan, the chairman  of  the  company  promoting  the
   hospital  and  a  diamond  merchant  in  Pennsylvania, USA; Mr Aswini
   Choudhury, a doctor from Chaygaon who has been practising medicine in
   New York suburb for the last 20 years and Mr Nirod Das, also a doctor
   practising in the USA.  The other promoters are:  Dr Gopal Sinha from
   Bihar, Dr Naru Patel from Ahmedabad, Mr Mukesh Patel an engineer from
   Ahmedabad and Mr K.S.Abdul Aziz from Kerala.
   

o  UMAKANTA SARMA RECEIVES ASSAM VALLEY AWARD	[S:02-FEB-97]
   ------------------------------------------
  
   The seventh Assam  Valley  Award  for  literature  was  presented  to
   renowned  academic  and creative writer, Mr Umakanta Sarma at a brief
   and simple function at the Vivekananda Kendra in Guwahati on February
   1.  In his acceptance speech, Mr Sarma waxed eloquent about how poets
   and writers needed to plough back into society what they derived from
   it in the form of literature.  He described the day  as  a  memorable
   one, and would cherish these moments as a great treasure.
   
   The Assam Valley Literary Award, which carries a trophy  designed  by
   renowned  artist  Shobha Brahma, a scroll of honour and Rs.100,000 in
   cash, was launched at the Biswanath Chariali session of Axom  Xahitya
   Xabha and sponsored by Williamson Magor and Co. Ltd.
   

______________________________[Mozz-BG]_________________________________

Compiled from newspaper and agency reports for private circulation
only.
      [S=Sentinel, AT=Assam Tribune, Agencies = UNI, PTI, PIB]
              http://www.cyberspace.org/~mozz/aol.html  
  http://piglet.uccs.edu/~kalita/assam/news/news-from-assam-index.html
________________________________________________________________________