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Eventful 2008

Shameful arrest: Assam education minister Ripun Bora was arrested by CBI in Delhi on June 3 while he was trying to bribe one of its officials who was probing into the sensational Danial Topno murder case.

The Second Coming: The breakaway group of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) along with PLP united to bolster the regional politics. Both the AGP factions reunited on October 4 at the regional party’s general convention at Golaghat.

Farewell to arms: The cadres of A and C companies of ULFA’s crack unit ie 28th battalion announced an unilateral ceasefire on June 24 citing their aim at ensuring talk between ULFA and government.

String of clash: At least 55 people were killed more than two lakh people rendered homeless at the height of a communal riot that rocked Udalguri and Darrang districts of lower Assam during the first week of October.

First time first chance: Kalpana Chaudhury of Assam wowed the Asian countries striking gold at the first ever Asian Women Boxing Championship in Guwahati kickstarted on September 24.

Shocking blast: At least 84 people were killed more than 200 have been injured when a series of blast rocked Guwahati, Bongaigaon, Barpeta Road and Kokrajhar.

Violence atop the hills: At least 35 people were killed by DHD(J) outfit in a string of attack in North Cachar hills district in the first week of June.

Pride of Assam: Sahitya Akedemy Award to Dr Rita Chaudhury and Vidyasagar Narzary in the third week of December.

Acknowledgment: Dada saheb phalke awardee Dr Bhupen Hazarika awarded the firs ever Assam Ratna award by the Assam government.

End of an era: Noted singer and cultural icon Dilip Sarma passed away in the first week of October.

Courtesy: Azad Gogoi, Freelance Journalist.
Photographs: UB Photos

Comments

Dhruba Das's picture

Happy, Healthy, Safe New Year to all!
Chinmay Chakravarty's picture

Wish all of you in Assam Times a Happy Peaceful and Safe New Year 2009. Let us all join hands for a terror free New Year 2009. From Mumbai
swapan sinha's picture

Assam Times keep up the good work going, excel as high as beyond the sky...........
dubai's picture

wish you a happy new year to all asomia in the world
upasana khound's picture

this is a very good initiative to circulate the news around the world and it is beneficial particularly for those who are living outside the state, keep up the good work and have a great year ahead!!

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In yet another tragic incident, the children met watery grave and five persons went missing after a boat manned by National Disaster Response Force personnel on a rescue mission to help flood-stranded people capsized at Makum in Tinsukia district on Sunday. According to reports, there were around 15 people in the boat, including Army and NDRF personnel when it capsized at around 4 in the afternoon in Barekuri area of Makum in the flood waters. An operation has been launched to search for the five missing persons.
Schools and colleges in Majuli have been closed indefinitely from Monday. The decision was taken in view of rising flood waters which have submerged over 70 per cent landmass of the river island. The district administration issued the ordered on Sunday afternoon. A nine-member SDRF team has been airlifted to the island to help rescue stranded people in the affected areas.
The United Liberation Font of Asom’s anti-talk faction on Sunday comes down heavily on BJP and its youth wing alleging that the proposed procession in Arunachal Pradesh would only provoke China. In an e-mail statement, the anti-talk faction of the outfit said that the proposed mid-October procession along Indo-China border would only provoke the neighbor. It further asked BJP’s youth wing not to make the people of Assam a scapegoat. Notably, BJP’s youth wing is gearing up to take out a procession in Arunachal Pradesh to offer tribute to the 1962 heroes.
The Kaziranga National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and Dibru-Saikhowa National Park have been reeling under floods and there is no hope of an immediate relief. Alert has been sounded in the Kaziranga National Park. At least 15 anti-poaching camps of Kaziranga have been submerged, forcing the security staff to shift to boats in order to keep an eye on poachers. The mighty Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level mark in Dibrugarh, Nimatighat, Dhemaji, Tezpur and Dhansirimukh in Kaziranga.
Dispur has deployed at least 16 teams of the National Disaster Response Force, 60 army teams and 18 teams of the State Disaster Response Force in relief and rescue efforts in worst flood affected districts. IAF has deployed four helicopters in the Sadia subdivision in Tinsukia district to air drop necessary food items and rescue marooned people. Ferry services have also been stopped at Sadia and Majuli in Jorhat district as the Brahmaputra river is over flowing. Several villages have been submerged in Sadia and Majuli.
The flood situation turns grim with over 800,000 people affected in at least 15 districts. According to information, seven people died during the past one week where over 700 villages have also been submerged in the affected areas. The worst-hit districts are Kamrup, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Sonitpur.
The devastating flood waters are posing serious threat to Guwahati where parts of the premier north eastern city have come under the surging waters of the Brahmaputra. Surging waters of the mighty river have spilled into Pandu where over 1000 houses have been inundated on Saturday midnight. Some more areas are feared to have been submerged in the city. If the water level of the mighty river continues to rise, then fancy bazaar, Lakhtakia, Maligaon and Panbazar would be submerged within the next 24 hours.
The Assam government deploys evacuation tram in the flood hit areas and announced relief measures. But those displaced have not yet received anything. Talking to assamtimes, affected people in Dhemaji and Majuli said that the relief measures are confined to som selected pockets. Thousands of people in he remote areas are still remaining trapped without any help.
The fourth flood wave continue to wreak havoc displacing nearly 5 lakh people during the last five days. The Brahmaputra and its tributaries are overflowing following the incessant rains in ArunachalPradesh. Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark and more than seven lakh people are said to be affected in the heavy and incessant rainfall over the past few days. Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Nagaon, Kamrup and Barpeta are worst-hit where surface communication remains heavily disrupted. Flood waters are posing serious threat to Majuli along with Kaziranga, Manah and Dibru saikhowa.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has strongly denied sending Koyu with money meant for AICC fund. In a statement, Tuki said that his name was unnecessarily dragged into the controversy. “I never asked any Koyu to send any money to party high command. Congress party doesn't transfer money like this”, he said. Meanwhile, Koyu who happens to be the president of All Arunachal Contractors Welfare Society has filed an FIR against Joshi. Papum Pare SP Hibu Tamang said that the Rs.1 crore has got nothing to do with the Congress party or the chief minister.