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                         Vol.4, No.9 [*] February 15, 1999
                         ---------------------------------

                Private property began the instant somebody 
                           had a mind of his own.                        
                              - E E Cummings
   -------------------------------------------------------------------

1  PM HAS ACCEPTED THE CONCEPT OF A BODOLAND: ABSU       [S:15-FEB-99]
   -----------------------------------------------
   DOTMA (KOKRAJHAR):  The All Bodo Students Union  (ABSU)  president,
   Mr  Urkhao  Gwra  Brahma  claimed  that  Prime Minister Atal Behari
   Vajpayee has, in principle, accepted  the  concept  of  a  separate
   State  of  Bodoland,  and has asked the students' body to create an
   opinion in support of their demand throughout the country.

   Talking to mediapersons on February 14 at the meeting of  the  31st
   annual  conference  of  ABSU,  Mr  Brahma  informed  that the Prime
   Minister had intimated them in this regard after  the  creation  of
   Vananchal,  Chattisgarh  and  Uttarkhand. 
   
   `If  the  ABSU succeeds in creating a mass support for the creation
   of the Bodoland, then the Centre has  no  difficulty  conceding  to
   their demands,' the Prime Minister assured the ABSU delegation.  Mr
   Brahma  said  Mr Vajpayee had apprised the students' body about the
   constraints for immediate fulfillment of their demand.

2  AJYCP DEMANDS DECLARATION OF VACANT POSTS             [S:14-FEB-99]
   -----------------------------------------
   GUWAHATI:   The  Asom Jatiatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) will
   launch a movement from February 22  demanding  declaration  of  the
   vacant  posts  of  teachers  in  various  schools  in the State and
   filling up thereof.   A  press  statement  issued  by  the  general
   secretary, Apurba Kumar Bhattacharya alleged the Government to have
   swindled  hundreds  of thousand rupees as application fees from the
   unemployed youths.
   
   They  criticized  the  government  for  perpetuating  the  Congress
   policies of nepotism  and  corruption  in  appointment  instead  of
   initiating  drastic  steps  against  the  Congressmen against their
   anomalies in the field as promised before the election.
   
   It also criticized the Government's failure to maintain the correct
   statistics  of  the vacancies, lack of clear policy regarding those
   appointed illegally and continuing to work, its defencelessness  in
   matters  of  corruption even at the Assam Public Service Commission
   (APSC) level.
     
3  SPURT IN EXTORTIONS CREATES PANICKY IN SONITPUR       [S:14-FEB-99]
   -----------------------------------------------
   TEZPUR:   The  recent  spurt  in  cases  of  extortion  in  Tezpur,
   Dhekiajuli,  Rangapara,  Biswanath Chariali, Gohpur and other areas
   of Sonitpur district, has given rise to panicky situation among the
   traders and businessmen.    The  extortionists  use  telephones  to
   threaten the businessmen and fix up a deal.
   
   In almost all cases, educated youths, mostly college-going students
   are the culprits, who demand money in the name of ULFA.  The police
   and the army have been alerted by the people.  On February 12, Army
   laid an unsuccessful trap to nab two extortionists near Mahabhairab
   temple as they gave the jawans the slip.
   
   GUWAHATI:   The  Guwahati city police recovered three stolen Maruti
   cars from different locations on  February  13,  and  arrested  two
   college students  in  this  connection.   Both are higher secondary
   students of Cotton College and hailing  from  well-to-do  families.
   The  cars  include  one stolen from the parking lot of the on going
   Guwahati Trade Fair on February  11.    However,  the  third  youth
   involved in car lifting is absconding, police sources said.
   
4  OIL TO START SURVEY OF BRAHMAPUTRA FOR LIQUID GOLD    [S:13-FEB-99]
   --------------------------------------------------
   DULIAJAN:  `During  the  Ninth Plan period, Oil India Limited (OIL)
   will start seismic survey of the Brahmaputra  river  in  search  of
   liquid   gold',   said   Mr   B.B.Sarmah,   the   newly   appointed
   Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of OIL.  He  further  revealed
   that  OIL  will  also  soon  start explorative drilling of wells in
   Dhola, and Sadiya areas of Tinsukia district.
   
5  DHING PAPER MILL TO BE PRIVATIZED                     [S:13-FEB-99]
   ---------------------------------
   GUWAHATI:  The Assam Cabinet in its  meeting  on  February  13  has
   agreed  in  principle  to hand over the Dhing Craft paper Mill to a
   private organization.  The craft paper mill which was in bad  shape
   for a long time would now be reopened.
   
   The Cabinet also decided to redesignate the posts of upper division
   and  lower  division  assistants  of  the  district  administration
   services as senior and junior division assistants henceforth.
   
6  DR KAMALA KALITA ON VISIT TO THAILAND                 [S:14-FEB-99]
   -------------------------------------
   GUWAHATI:  Assam Health Minister Dr Kamala Kalita led a study  team
   to Thailand  on  February  13.    The  high-power team consisted of
   delegates from United Nations  AIDS  and  the  Central  Government.
   During  their  tour  of  Thailand, the team will study the measures
   taken by the Thai Government for controlling AIDS there.
   
7  COMPUTER SOFTWARE, HARDWARE AT SHIVARATRI FAIR        [S:14-FEB-99]
   ----------------------------------------------
   SIBSAGAR: A three-day-long fair at the  historic  Shiva  Temple  at
   Sibsagar  was  inaugurated  by  the  Sibsagar  Deputy  Commissioner
   Maninder Singh on February 13. Over  500  stalls  of  varied  items
   including  fruits,  computer software and hardware, dolls and toys,
   handicrafts, agricultural implements etc from  different  parts  of
   the nation have sprung up around the temple complex.

8  HIGHEST PRICE OF CTC TEA RECORDED AT GTC              [S:13-FEB-99]
   ----------------------------------------
   GUWAHATI:   A  line  of CTC tea of Bhukial Tea Estate has fetched a
   price of Rs.147 per kilo in the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre  (GTC).
   This  is  the  highest  price  ever  recorded  for CTC teas at this
   Centre.  The quality estate belongs to Williamson Magor  group  and
   the tea has been sold by M/s.  Carrit Moran and Company Pvt.  Ltd.
   
9  FREEDOM FIGHTER BIMAN CHANDRA BORA PASSES AWAY      [PTI:14-FEB-99]
   ----------------------------------------------
   GUWAHATI:    Eminent  freedom  fighter  and  former  Assam  Finance
   Secretary Biman Chandra  Bora  died  of  old  age  in  Guwahati  on
   February 13.    He  was 85 and is survived by his wife, two sons, a
   daughter and a grandchild.
   
   Bora, who was also the chairman of the Khadi and Village Industries
   Board has the credit  of  being  the  first  to  hoist  the  Indian
   national  flag  at  Sootea  police  station  during  the Quit India
   Movement.

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