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                     Vol.I, No.89 [*] February 14, 1997
                     ----------------------------------

o  18 INDICTED BY CBI OVER HOWLI LOC SCAM		[S:14-FEB-97]
   -------------------------------------
  
   The  Central  Bureau of Investigations, filed the charge sheet in the
   Howli case of the LoC scam in the State, on  February  13  naming  18
   accused.   The  charge  sheet  submitted to the special court, stated
   that these people defrauded the exchequer of Rs.12,135,879 from  1991
   to 1992.    The  18  accused  are  former Directors of the Veterinary
   Department, Jugal Chandra Saikia and R.M.Shome; Dr M.Rehman,  officer
   in-charge  of  ICDP Howli; treasury officers of Barpeta, M.N.Nath and
   Janardan Misra (all these were arrested by the CBI on  February  12);
   Debabrat  Dutta,  senior  Finance  and  Accounts  officer, Veterinary
   Department; Harekrishna Das,  storekeeper,  ICDP,  Howli  (these  two
   persons  were  surrendered  to  the  court  on February 13); Jiauddin
   Ahmed,  former  Deputy  Secretary  of  the   Veterinary   Department;
   B.N.Sarma,  senior  Finance  and  Accounts officer of the department;
   T.B.Dutta, former Director of  the  Department  (these  persons  have
   sought  time  to  present themselves before the court); Dr R.K.Barua,
   former officer in-charge of ICDP  Howli;  M.Rehman,  accountant  ICDP
   Howli  (both  are  on bail); Jiban Chandra Das, accountant of Barpeta
   treasury office; U.N.Gogoi, Kamalesh Deka, Pallab Bordoloi (on bail);
   Arup Baishya and proprietor of Assam Drug House, Amar  Bezbarua  (all
   contractors).
   
   The  court  issued  a  non-bailable warrant against Amar Bezbarua and
   remanded the five  persons  arrested  by  CBI  to  14-days'  judicial
   custody.
   

o  NAGAS TORCH 20 HOUSES				[S:14-FEB-97]
   ---------------------
  
   Emblodened by the Assam Government's apathy towards the deteriorating
   situation in the Assam-Nagaland border area in the Golaghat district,
   Naga  miscreants  torched  20  houses belonging to 12 families in the
   Dayalpur area on the night of February 11.  According to report, four
   persons including two women, were injured in the incident as a result
   of random firing by the Naga marauders.  The  affected  families  and
   several other fear-stricken families have taken refuge in Rengma High
   School premises.
   
   Meanwhile  the Chief Minister, Mr Prafulla Kumar Mahanta reviewed the
   law-and-order situation in the areas along the Assam-Nagaland  border
   at  a meeting with senior police and civil officials at Janata Bhawan
   on February 13, according to an official release.  The Chief Minister
   instructed the officials to make coordinated efforts to maintain  law
   and  order,  quell disturbances and maintain peace and harmony in the
   Assam-Nagaland border.
   

o  2 SOLDIERS KILLED IN AMBUSH			[S:12-FEB-97]
   ---------------------------
  
   Two soldiers were killed in an ambush  by  the  ULFA  militants  near
   Rangiya on  February  11  night.   The Army convoy also retaliated by
   firing at the DCM Toyota vehicle used by the ultras.  Meanwhile in  a
   joint  operation  with police, the Army apprehended 17 suspected ULFA
   militants in connection with the ambush.
   

o  HUGE AMOUNT OF AK-47 SEIZED			[S:13-FEB-97]
   ---------------------------
  
   The Army has recovered a total of 3,921 rounds of AK-47 assault rifle
   ammunition buried underground in two separate raids in two houses  in
   Duliajan on February 11.
   

o  ARMY PEGS ULFA STRENGTH AT 1,250		[S:13-FEB-97]
   --------------------------------
  
   According  to  highly  placed  Army  sources, at present the ULFA has
   1,250 hard-core cadres and 450 out of these are staying  in  shelters
   in Bhutan.    Disclosing  this  at a press briefing, the sources said
   that the Army has been trying its best to  seal  all  the  routes  to
   Bhutan from our side.
   

o  PROBE INTO ARMY KILLINGS ORDERED		[AT+S:11-FEB-97]
   --------------------------------
  
   The  State Government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the killing
   of Dilip Boro, an AGP worker by the Army, besides directing  the  the
   Deputy  Commissioners  of  the  Nalbari  and  Dibrugarh  districts to
   institute magisterial inquiries into the death of ULFA  cadres,  Ajit
   Kachari  at  Nalbari  and Madhurya Gohain at Duliajan, as a result of
   encounters with  the  armed  forces.    This  was  disclosed  by  the
   Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Home Secretary, Mr C.P.Misra
   at a press briefing at Guwahati on February 10.
   

o  TWO MORE UNITS FOR STATE POLICE			[S:12-FEB-97]
   -------------------------------
  
   The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has  given  green  signal  to  the
   State  Government  to go ahead with the proposed formation of two new
   battalions in addition to the existing 16, under  the  Assam  Police,
   according to a highly placed Government sources.  As there occurs lot
   of  delays  in  approaching  the  Central Government for paramilitary
   forces whenever the law-and-order  situation  deteriorates,  the  AGP
   Government contemplated this move right after taking charge.
   

o  ULTRAS HEADING FOR FRATRICIDE			[S:10-FEB-97]
   -----------------------------
  
   The  ULFA  and  Bodoland  Liberation  Tiger  Force seem to be heading
   toward fratricidal clashes, intelligence sources said.
   
   A few days ago, the publicity secretary of the BLTF declared that the
   BLTF had identified the ULFA as its enemy  because  of  the  latter's
   cordial relation with the Boro Security Force.  However, the ULFA had
   warned  the  BLTF leaders of launching an attack if the latter failed
   to restrain from attacking ULFA  cadres.    The  warning  was  issued
   following alleged killing of ULFA cadres by BLTF on February 4.


o  RAILWAYS SEEKS FUNDS FOR NE			[AT:14-FEB-97]
   ---------------------------
  
   The  Railway  Ministry has proposed to seek additional funds from the
   Centre for implementing developmental projects in the  Northeast  and
   backward areas of the country.  The decision to seek additional funds
   under  rural  developmental  schemes  from  the  Planning  Commission
   follows the inability of the Railway Ministry to foot  the  bill  for
   expanding  its  services  to  the  remote  and  backward  areas often
   considered economically enviable.  The Railway has  decided  to  seek
   over Rs.10 billion as budgetary support for the executing projects in
   the remote  areas.    The  majority  of  the funds were earmarked for
   development of Railway network in the Northeast.
   

o  PHARMACIES TO REMAIN CLOSE ON FEBRUARY 14	[AT:14-FEB-97]
   -----------------------------------------
  
   All the retail as well as the whole outlets of medicines in the State
   will  keep their shutters down on February 14 in response to day long
   bandh called by the Assam Drug Dealers Association in tandem with the
   nationwide bandh call given by the All India Organization of Chemists
   and Druggists to press for their 'one country, one price' demand.
   
   However,  the  ADDA has made arrangement for emergency service during
   the bandh hours. Accordingly, a few selected drug dealers  have  been
   asked  to  keep their shops open for the period. The ADDA asked seven
   Guwahati pharmacies to remain open to cater to emergency needs.
   

o  SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF PRIMATES IN GARO HILLS	[AT:14-FEB-97]
   -------------------------------------------
  
   Northeast  Centre  of  Indo-US  Primate  Program  (a joint venture of
   Minidry of Environment and Forests, Government of India and  US  Fish
   and  Wildlife Service, Department of Interiors, Government of USA) in
   collaboration  with  Forest  Department  of  Meghalaya,  undertook  a
   detailed  survey  of  monkeys and apes and other wildlife, inhabiting
   the forests of Garo Hills.
   

o  CENTRAL RICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE AT HAJO		[AT:14-FEB-97]
   ---------------------------------------
  
   The Central  Government  has  decided  to  set  up  a  Rice  Research
   Institute in the North-eastern region which is likely to be set up at
   Hathibhangi village  under Hajo revenue Circle in Kamrup district.  A
   six-member site selection committee of the Agriculture department  of
   the  Central  Government  visited the flood-prone village on February
   10.
   

o  CIPET BRANCH TO BE SET UP IN ASSAM SOON		[AT:14-FEB-97]
   ----------------------------------------
  
   Mr Shees  Ram  Ola,  Union  Minister  for  Chemical  and  Fertilizers
   disclosed  at  Guwahati  on February 12 that the Centre will set up a
   branch of the Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology
   in Assam soon.  This assurance was given by  the  Union  Minister  in
   course  of  a  discussion  with the Chief Minister, Mr Prafulla Kumar
   Mahanta held at Janata Bhawan.
   

o  TEA GARDENS GRABBING 2 LAKH BIGHAS OF GOVT LAND	[AT:11-FEB-97]
   -----------------------------------------------
  
   About two lakh bighas of Government  land  in  the  State  are  under
   encroachment  by the tea gardens, said the State Revenue Minister, Mr
   Zoii Nath Sarma.  Talking to newsmen, Mr Sarma said that  immediately
   after  assuming  office, the present Government started an inquiry to
   find out the amount of Government land under encroachment of the  tea
   gardens  and till date the Government has managed to ascertained that
   176445 bighas of land is under encroachment by the tea gardens.
   

o  SECURITY STEPS IN KHANAPARA KV			[AT:11-FEB-97]
   ------------------------------
  
   Security measures in  Kendriya  Vidyalaya,  Khanapara,  Guwahati  are
   being  beefed up with the CPWD being entrusted the work of renovating
   boundary walls and the buildings.
   
   Parents and guardians of the school have been pressing  for  adequate
   security  in the school even since Abhisek Verma, son of Commissioner
   P.P.Verma was kidnapped from the school premises way back in March 8,
   1995.
   
   Principal N.D.Bhuyan who has taken over charge recently has urged the
   CPWD and KVS authorities to expedite the work in view of the  concern
   and apprehension  of  the  parents  and  guardians.    School and bus
   timings have also been changed to suit  the  academic  needs  of  the
   students.
   

o  NANDESWAR NATH KILLING:  EIGHT DECOITS NABBED	[AT:12-FEB-97]
   --------------------------------------------
  
   With the arrest of three more decoits from Fatasil area  of  Guwahati
   on  February  11,  the  Guwahati police has arrested altogether eight
   members of the gang of decoits in the killing of senior  ACS  officer
   Nandeswar  Nath  on  the  night  of  February  5  at his residence at
   Panjabari Sankerdev Nagar, Guwahati.
   

o  MISCREANTS BURNT DOWN SCHOOL FURNITURE		[AT:14-FEB-97]
   --------------------------------------
  
   Unknown miscreants burnt down some furniture of the  Gurukul  Grammer
   School, Guwahati  on  February  12  night.    However, according to a
   release issued by the School authorities, the miscreants tried to set
   the school building at Geetanagar (East) on fire.  A class room  with
   benches and desks inside it, was burnt into ashes as a result.
   
   A  largely  attended meeting of the guardians, teachers, students and
   local people, which was held in the school premises  on  February  13
   condemned the incident.
   

o  GAUTOM BARUA TO PRESIDE OVER POETRY SESSION	[S:14-FEB-97]
   -------------------------------------------
   Noted  Assamese  poet  Mr  Gautom  Barua has been invited by the Axom
   Xahitya Xabha to preside over the poetry session at the ensuing  63rd
   annual  conference  of  the Xabha to be held at Bilasipara, in Dhubri
   district.  A business economist by profession, Mr Barua has also been
   a travelogue writer and a columnist.  He was also  the  recipient  of
   the  Hem  Barua  Award  last year from AXX for excellence in creative
   writing of travelogues.
   

o  STADIUM COMPLEX AT MANGALDOI			[AT:14-FEB-97]
   ----------------------------
  
   Central Minister for Steel and  Mines,  Mr  Birendra  Prasad  Baishya
   would  lay  the  foundation  stone  of  stadium complex, Mangaldoi on
   February 16.  Meanwhile a  team  of  technical  experts  visited  the
   playground  of Mangaldoi Sports Association and has prepared a master
   plan.  The stadium complex estimated  to  cost  Rs.10  million  would
   provide facilities for cricket and football games besides opening two
   pavilions and space for other indoor games.
   

______________________________[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
________________________________________________________________________