Guwahati student makes it to Times Scholars list

Ajitesh Gogoi loves gadgets and keeps abreast with anything latest in the world of technology. He loves his computer which is the window for him to explore the world of technology around him.

A student of Class XII at DPS Guwahati, Ajitesh has a dream that one day he will become a top-notch IT professional in the country. Ajitesh, a resident of Beltola Survey area of Guwahati, was born on December 14, 1994. His father, Dibya Dhar Gogoi, is a forest department officer and is currently posted at Kaziranga National Park. His mother, Mouchumi Saikia Gogoi, passed away last year. Ajitesh has a younger sister, Namrata, who studies in Class VII in the same school.

When he was selected for Times Scholars, Ajitesh's joy knew no bounds as he started dreaming that he is moving in the right direction in fulfilling his aspirations.

'Times Scholars' is an initiative by The Times of India to recognize and reward the brightest young minds, 45,000 of whom applied for the scholarship this year. The final round for the top 100 - 105, to be precise - is slated for November 3 in Delhi.

Poacher who killed two Kaziranga rhinos caught

A rhino poacher, who killed two rhinos at Kaziranga National Park, was arrested by police early on Tuesday. A .303 rifle, a .32 pistol, a silencer and six rounds of live ammunition were found on him.

Police said based on some intelligence inputs, security forces including the army, CRPF and police launched a joint operation in the hills of Karbi Anglong on Monday night. But the poacher managed to flee to Bokakhat, where they caught him later.

Superintendent of police (Karbi Anglong) B B Chetry said, "An overnight joint operation of police, CRPF and army was launched in the Karbi hills last night. But, the poacher, along with his weapons, managed to flee from his hideout in the hills and arrived in Bokakhat at around 4.30 am. Our staff chased him away from the hills and caught him at Palashguri area in Bokakhat where he trying to hide."

Project to improve water supply - Assam among four states selected for $1bn World Bank scheme

Assam will get a slice of the proposed $1 billion World Bank loan to improve piped water and sanitation in rural areas.

Official sources said the Union ministry of drinking water and sanitation has identified Assam as the only state from the Northeast, which will benefit from the six-year assistance.

The project information document published by the bank on Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project for Low-income States says the ministry has requested for $1 billion loan for Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh for improving piped water and sanitation. The project is likely to be approved by May next year.

Assam has been selected on the basis of having very low indicators for piped water and sanitation coverage. Only 6.8 per cent of households in the state have access to piped water and with regard to toilets, though 60 per cent houses have access to them, about half are not fit for use.

Tribute to blast victims : Candles, tears for wounds still raw

Colours formed a myriad images on canvases under Ganeshguri flyover this morning as painters paid tribute to victims of the October 30 blasts in their way.

One artist was inspired to paint a dove and another painted a flyover joining two human bodies. These paintings today stood at the same spot, where four years ago, blood stained the ground and ominous clouds of acrid, black smoke filled the air.

Veteran artist Gauri Barman painted a bloodstained bird. “The bird, the symbol of peace, lies dead instead of spreading its wings in the air. At the same time, I am also trying to say that we have failed to do anything for the families of the victims.”

A few metres away, stood the newly unveiled martyrs’ memorial. Sculptor Biren Singha’s installation is a reminder that like the fallen leaves of the tree, many lives were snuffed out before their time. The diya at the centre is waiting for a time of peace when it will be lit, Singha said.

Trafficked girls relive trauma

They may have been rescued and their lives changed, but the trauma of their horrific experiences is yet to fade away.

The three teenaged girls — one from Kamrup (metro) and the other two from Myanmar who had come to Calcutta to get their mother treated for some ailment — were trafficked to different locations in the country before their were rescued by anti-human trafficking organisations.

These girls today came forward to share their ordeal during a workshop on trafficking organised by Global Organisation for Life Development (GOLD) in the city today. The workshop focused on how to rehabilitate victims of human trafficking and the laws governing the trade in India.