Many vulnerable spots still not covered by CCTV Camera

Even four years after the October 30 serial blasts that rocked the state and claimed more than a hundred lives, the state government's promise to bring the whole city under Close Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance remains incomplete as of now.

Soon after the blasts took place in 2008, the state government had announced a slew of security measures, including installation of 291 CCTV cameras at 91 vulnerable spots in the city, as recommended by the Enquiry Committee, headed by retired IPS officer D N Dutta, constituted by the government in the aftermath of the serial blasts. Despite the deadline to complete the installation of the CCTV cameras by September this year has gone by, only 50 CCTVs have been installed in only nine locations till now.

Disaster management exercise in Guwahati

With participation of national and international emergency experts, the Guwahati Emergency Management Exercise (GEMEx) - a joint emergency management programme - kicked off here on Monday.

The week-long programme, initiated by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with Assam State Disaster Management Authority and District Disaster Management Authority Kamrup (Metro) district, is the highest level of emergency management exercise ever conducted in the country after Mumbai and Chennai.

"According to the 2012 World Disaster Report, 15 million people across the world are displaced by natural and technical disasters every year. As many as 50,000 people are killed by earthquakes every year in the world. Flood affects the lives of 99 million people across the globe every year. Training to combat disasters has become crucial in view of such high number of causalities," said Margarita Tileva, the chief of emergencies, Unicef.

Private bus operators are likely to revise fares

After the Assam State Transportation Corporation (ASTC), the private tour operators are likely to revise the fares fixed by the state government from Thursday. This came while people of the state have just begun to feel the pinch of the 25 per cent hike in transport fares made by the state government after constant demand of the transporters amid hike in diesel prices.

"ASTC is already charging the revised rates from the passengers. But the private bus operators is likely to revise their fares from Thursday as they are waiting for the completion of some formalities," said Pranab Kumar Adhikary, bus division manager of Network Travels, a leading private tour operator of the state.

Guwahati blast 2008 - 4 years later, victims continue to struggle

It’s a day that makes scores of families weep, hundreds shudder and gives thousands goose bumps.

October 30, 2008, may go down as one of the darkest days in Assam history but Naresh Tumung, 35, does not even remember the horrific instant that changed his and his family’s life forever.

The one-time autorickshaw driver battled with death for eight months after the powerful blast at Ganeshguri maimed his left hand and left leg and damaged his brain. Though he won that battle, he lost much more.

Today, living with his mother, Gulapi, in a rickety bamboo hut provided by people of his locality at Hengerabari, he lives off his brother’s income and has no memory whatsoever of who he was before that fateful day. Even his wife was taken away by her family members on the day of the blast. His pastime — playing chess with neighbours who drop by every day to check his progress.

Traffic violation in Guwahati on rise

Over one lakh cases of traffic violations have been registered by cops in the city till August this year.

The figure points to the fact that large numbers of motorists in the city, “particularly a section of youths”, are showing utter disregard for traffic rules.

According to city traffic police records, altogether 1,01,342 cases of traffic violations were registered in the city till August this year and a whopping Rs 1,91,12,100 has been collected in fines.

“By the end of this year, these figures are likely to cross last year’s sum,” a source in the city police said. Last year, traffic police registered 1,27,660 cases and collected Rs 2,59,86,200 in fines.

Doctor's advice for stroke

Many people with hypertension and high cholesterol levels here are not meticulous in taking medicines regularly and not following medical advice which doubly increase their chances of suffering brain strokes. This was stated by doctors on World Stroke Day today.

The city hospitals receive a significant number of patients suffering from brain strokes very frequently. While some patients recover after surgeries, many become paralysed for life.

World Stroke Day is observed across the world to educate people on the causes of brain stoke and ways to prevent it.

World Stroke Day is part of World Stroke Campaign of the World Stroke Organisation.

Adda to hold seminars and workshops in the presence of eminent filmmakers

Adda is all set to organise the ninth edition of its short film festival, which has been providing aspiring filmmakers with a platform to showcase their creativity in front of a greater audience.

The organisers will celebrate the Ninth Adda Short Film Festival 2012 in a grand way. This time it will be a two-day event — December 8 and 9 at District Library — instead of a daylong one. Seminars and workshops in the presence of national award-winning film personalities will be held to encourage budding filmmakers.

Adda has been holding short film festival for more than a decade now to popularise short films. Through these festivals it not only tries to encourage short filmmakers but also makes people aware of short films.

CCITNO urges Dispur not to allow migrants to settle

The Coordination Committee of Indigenous Tribal National Organisation today accused Dispur of making an attempt to settle illegal migrants in Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD) in the name of rehabilitation of riot victims.

The allegation has assumed significance in view of tomorrow’s meeting of the group of ministers in Dispur to review the status of the process of rehabilitation of riot victims.

The committee members today met Prithibi Majhi, the chairman of the cabinet committee on rehabilitation of riot victims in the BTAD, and submitted a memorandum to him demanding that the government must not allow settlement of illegal migrants under any circumstances.

AGP writes EC to remove discrepancies from Voters List

The AGP today shot off a letter to the Election Commission of India alleging discrepancies in the draft photo electoral rolls, 2013.

The working president of the AGP, Atul Bora, said they had faxed a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, V.S. Sampath, today requesting him to take suitable measures to remove “discrepancies” in the draft electoral rolls of the state which were published on October 19.

“This issue was discussed during our steering committee meeting held on October 26 and we have moved the chief election commissioner today,” he said.

Bora said there was no mention of the word “draft” in the draft electoral rolls which had created doubts in the minds of the people. “Moreover, in the draft rolls, which were published on October 19, the date of publication was written as January 23, 2013, which was the date for publication of the final rolls. As a result of that there is no way for us to find out if any draft roll is sent to a polling station as the final list,” he said.

Influx facts are half truth, says AASU

The All Assam Students’ Union today described Dispur’s recent white paper on the foreigners issue as a “half truth” and alleged that important historical facts had been suppressed to mislead the people of Assam.

AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharyya told reporters at a news conference here today that though the Tarun Gogoi government had made an attempt to disclose some facts and figures about illegal migration, some important historical facts about the problem had not found place in such an important document. The student body also distributed a document on the history of the anti-foreigner movement in the state among the reporters.

“We are not rejecting the white paper but at the same time, it is not a foolproof document. It cannot be the basis for research and study on the illegal migration issue in the future,” Bhattacharyya said.

Dhubri Women lathicharged by police

Police today lathicharged a group of women who were demonstrating outside Dhubri police station demanding the release of nine persons who were detained by police last night.

The police action not only dampened the festive spirit on Lakshmi Puja but also caused deep resentment among the residents of Dhubri.

Last night, Dhubri police picked up nine persons from Bishnu Hall, Sluice Gate, Korai Patty and Nulia Patty areas in connection with clashes that took place few days ago. Six of them were arrested and the rest were later released. The protesters claimed that all them were innocent and the police arrested them without any inquiry on the basis of a false FIR lodged by some persons.