Govt Bans Book on Sankardev

The State Government today imposed a ban on the sale of controversial book Sankar Bibrat throughout the state. Official sources said that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi decided to impose the ban on sale of the book after receiving complaints from different quarters. The Chief Minister also directed all concerned officials to take necessary action in this regard. Asom Satra Mahashabha has hailed the decision.

Notice Served to NDFB by Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal

The unlawful activities (Prevention) Tribunal has served notice to National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) to show cause as to why it should not be declared as an unlawful association and why order should not be made conferming the declaration, said an official press release here today. The unlawful activities (Prevention) Tribunal was constituted by the Central Government with Justice SN Agarwal, Judge of Delhi High Court for the purpose of adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause declaring the National Democratic Front of Bodoland as unlawful association.Mention can be made that the Central Government has already declared the NDFB as unlawful association under the provision of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal, which was also constituted as per provision of the aforesaid act has now served the show cause notice to NDFB, which may file its submission to registrar of the Tribunal at Delhi High Court Building and may also appear through a duly authorised person or lawyer on or before February 25 next.

Serial blasts rock Guwahati : scores injured

Four serial bomb blasts rocked Guwahati on Thursday. The blast sites are reported as Pan bazar, Fancy bazaar and Ganeshguri. Two of these occurred in the crowded market of Pan Bazar area. All of these are busy commercial areas of the city and as of now more scores of people are reported to be injured in the blasts.

The blasts took place within 10 minutes of each other. One blast reportedly occurred near the Chief Minister's residence.

Three more blasts are reported in Barpeta, Bongaigaon and Kokrajhar districts in Lower Assam.
Reports of at least 6 more blasts in upper Assam are also coming in but they can't be confirmed as of yet.

There are also reports of blasts at Barpeta, Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon districts. Nature of explosives still unknown. More details awaited.

Update :

Eleven serial blasts rocked several districts of Assam on Thursday, including three in Guwahati, killing at least ten persons and injuring over 50 others.
The powerful bombs went off simultaneously at around 1130 IST, one of them exploding in front of the Kamrup district deputy commissioner's office in Guwahati, official sources said.
Two other bombs exploded at Ganeshguri, near the capital complex where five persons were killed, and Fancy Bazar area, they said.
There were three blasts also in Barpeta district, while two explosions occurred in Bongaigaon. Two persons were killed in twin blasts in Kokrajhar districts, the sources added.
Casualty figures are likely to rise as many of the injured are reported to be critical. The wounded included many women and children.
The first blast in Guwahati occurred at a vegetable and fruit market at Ganeshguri, near the flyover adjacent to the high security secretariat and Assembly.
The blast caused a major fire in the area, the smoke engulfing the entire market and nearby places.
The next blast occurred in front of the DC's office, injuring many and destroying several cars parked there.
The third explosion rocked areas near the police station of the busy Fancy Bazar, triggering panic among shoppers, many of whom were injured, the sources said.
Guwahati Superintendent of Police G P Singh said the police and fire brigade are engaged in controlling the fire.
In Kokrajhar, the explosives were suspected to have been planted on a two-wheelers.
Thick smoke billowed after the high intensity blasts which turned a number of cars, cycles and two wheelers into mangled heaps of metal.
Some roadside restaurants were among the worst hit.

Durga Puja in Guwahati 2008

Janata Bhawan gutted by devastating fire

A devastating fire destroyed a large part of heritage building Janata Bhawan that housed State Secretariat between 1975 and 2006. The fire started at around 6 pm yesterday and quickly engulfed office of the Information Commissioner and at least six other rooms. This is the third consecutive time in the past few years that a fire broke out in this building. Fortunately, there was none injured.

According to Information Commissioner seven Computers were gutted along with furniture worth Rs. 2.5 Lakh. He said that around 6,000 files in his office were damaged but most of them could be reconstructed from the concerned departments. A short circuit has been suspected as the cause of the fire, he added. Chief Secretary PC Sharma visited the place to take spot assessment.

Ordering an enquiry into the incident Chief Minister expressed deep concern over the inferno. He warned, anyone found to be guilty would not be spared.
Meanwhile the Kamrup Metro District Administration has ordered a magisterial enquiry into the incident. Additional District Magistrate Dimbeswar Kalita has been asked to probe the incident right from today.

It took more than an hour and fifteen fire tenders to douse the flames. A section of the employees of Janata Bhawan alleged that poor maintenance and faulty electrical system caused this incident.