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                          Vol.3, No.37  [*]  June 9, 1998
                          -------------------------------

1  ATUL BORA, JATIN MALI SUSPENDED FROM AGP	         [S:9-JUN-98]
   ----------------------------------------
   
   The  executive  committee  meet  of the AGP on June 8 suspended Mr
   Atul Bora, former PWD Minister and party general secretary and  Mr
   Jatin Mali, former Education Minister from the party for indulging
   in  anti-party  activities. The meet also asked them to show cause
   as to why they should not be expelled from the primary  membership
   of the party.

2  SIPHUNG PASSENGER DERAILS: 2 KILLED, 22 INJURED      [S:9-JUN-98]
   -----------------------------------------------
  
   Two  persons  were  killed  and  22  others  were injured when the
   Guwahati-bound Siphung passenger train derailed and toppled into a
   shallow rivulet in lower Assam's Kokrajhar district on the morning
   of June 8  following  removal  of  five  pairs  of  fishplates  by
   suspected ultras.    About  1  km  of  the rail tracks and railway
   bridge have been damaged and the BG line `completely blocked.'
   
   Siphung passenger train that starts off from Fakiragram  early  in
   the  morning  and returns from Guwahati in the afternoon regularly
   carries employees, businessmen working at Guwahati and Nalbari and
   in other places.  It is not yet known whether the  target  of  the
   ultras was Siphung passenger or some other train.
   

3  TWELVE KILLED IN LANDSLIDE AT HALFLONG		[S:9-JUN-98]
   --------------------------------------
   
   At  least  12  persons  have  died  due  to  rain and landslide in
   Halflong and Harrangajao  area  in  North  Cachar  Hills  district
   during the last four days. Moreover, 150 persons have been injured
   in  the  district  in  landslide during this period. Road and Rail
   communication have been disrupted  in  many  places.  Bridge  over
   river  Diyung  on  Halfong-Lanka  road  is  in  critical condition
   threatening the only open road communication to the district.
   

4  PRINCIPAL OF TANGLA COLLEGE SHOT DEAD		[S:9-JUN-98]
   -------------------------------------
   
   The  principal  of  Tangla  College  Dr  Ganeswar  Saharia  by two
   cycle-borne armed youths at 3 pm on June 8. The  youths  shot  him
   from  point-blank  range  even  as  he  was  returning  home after
   attending office, about a 100 metre  away  from  the  college.  Dr
   Saharia died on the spot. Neither the killers have been identified
   nor  the  reason  for  the  killing  established. Dr Saharia was a
   founder teacher in the department  of  Political  Science  of  the
   college  and  took over as the principal in 1994. He leaves behind
   his wife, one son and two daughters. Several years ago he was shot
   at by unidentified  youths  allegedly  for  his  strict  vigilance
   during examinations.

5  DEMAND FOR BARAKLAND OPPOSED 		       [UNI:6-JUN-98]
   ----------------------------
   
   Assam  Panchayat  and  Rural  Development  Minister  Shaidul  Alam
   Choudhury  has  opposed  the  move  initiated  by a section of the
   people for the creation of a  separate  State  comprising  of  the
   Barak  Valley  districts  of  Cachar,  Karimganj and Hailakandi in
   Assam.  Addressing a meeting on  June  6  the  minister  said  the
   demand   of   the   Barak   Gana  Parishad  (BGP),  a  self-styled
   organization, which already has left  for  Delhi  to  press  their
   demand  before  the  Central  leaders was nothing but a `political
   blackmailing'.
   

6  JAWANS MISBEHAVE WITH MINISTER			[S:9-JUN-98]
   ------------------------------
   
   Mr Suren Medhi, the Law Minister of Assam had to flee when  jawans
   went berserk during a meeting at Bhabanipur in Barpeta district on
   June 6.   A jawan, Pradip Rajput while misbehaving with a lady was
   given a thrashing by the husband of the lady on the night of  June
   3.   The  next morning, BSF jawans ran amok in Bhabanipur, beating
   up innocent people and vandalizing shops and establishments.
   
   On June 6, the people assembled in front  of  the  AGP  office  to
   appraise  the  Minister of the atrocities committed by the jawans,
   and also demanded the ouster of the BSF battalion from  the  area.
   Just  then the jawans appeared on the scene and started beating up
   everyone in the presence of the Minister.   They  also  misbehaved
   even with the Minister and the local MLA who had to flee the scene
   immediately.
   

7  FLOODS IN DHEMAJI AND DIBRUGARH		         [S:9-JUN-98]
   -------------------------------
   
   As  many  as  200 villages have fallen under the grip of floods in
   Dhemaji and North Lakhimpur districts of northern Assam  following
   incessant  rains  over the last three-four days as the monsoon set
   in to region.  The Brahmaputra and all its tributaries were rising
   alarmingly, specifically the  rivers  Gai,  Jiadhal  and  Kumatia,
   Dikrong, Dropang Pisala etc were flowing above the danger level.
   
   Dibrugarh town and its adjoining areas reeled under a  deluge  for
   72 hours  of pre-monsoon's rain pouring since Saturday night.  All
   low-lying areas including parts of Assam Medical  College,  Police
   Reserve   campus,   residents  of  SP,  Kanoi  College  and  other
   educational institutions, all  in  the  heart  of  the  town  were
   submerged in  waist-deep  water.   Educational institutions remain
   closed due to the floods.
   

8  `TEA MUSEUM' TO BE SET UP			         [S:9-JUN-98]
   -------------------------
   
   The  Consultative  Committee  of Planters Association (CCPA), in a
   meeting held with the Chief Minister P.K.Mahanta  in  Guwahati  on
   June  8, assured the State Government of setting up a `Tea Museum'
   in Guwahati with donations  from  various  tea  companies  of  the
   State.   the  Chief  Minister,  on  his  part, assured the CCPA of
   giving the required land for construction of the museum.
   

9  POLYETHYLENE BAG BANNED IN KAMRUP		       [UNI:7-JUN-98]
   ---------------------------------
   
   The  Kamrup  district  administration  has  prohibited  the use of
   polyethylene bags in the district with immediate effect.   Several
   social and non-governmental organizations involved in the field of
   environmental   pollution   have   raised   their  voices  against
   polyethylene bags  for  protection  of  environment  and  hygienic
   condition of public life.
   

10 POTATOES SOLD AT RS.12 A KG			         [S:9-JUN-98]
   ---------------------------
   
   Potatoes  are  being sold at Rs.12 per kilo in the market in spite
   of the notification issued from the Ministry  of  Food  and  civil
   Supplies which  fixed  its price at Rs.8 per kilo.  According to a
   retail seller, they are unable to sell  potatoes  at  Rs.8.50  per
   kilo  unless  the  wholesale  price  of  potatoes is brought down.
   There are potatoes in the market which are being sold at Rs.8  per
   kilo, but  almost half of them are rotten.  This has compelled the
   common people to buy potatoes at Rs.12 per kilo.   (Potatoes  were
   sold at Rs.4 to Rs.5 per kilo a few months ago.  - Mozz)
   

11 BOOK ON STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE 		        [S:8-JUN-98]
   ------------------------------
   
   A  collection  of  Assamese  and  English  articles  mainly on the
   struggle for existence of the Assamese  people  written  by  noted
   leader of the Language Movement and the Assam Movement, late Aroop
   Bordoloy  will  be published on the first death anniversary of the
   departed leader.  Write-ups  highlighting  many  aspects  of  late
   Bordoloy's  life from well wishers will be gratefully accepted and
   published in the collection.    Articles  can  be  sent  to  Azury
   Communications,  Jaswanta  Road,  Panbazar, Guwahati 781001, (Tel:
   523197, 572659, 511225) by June 16.

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