25 cops dismissed in Nagaland

KOHIMA, Jan 1: Twenty five Nagaland policemen have been dismissed on charges of forging their educational certificates during recruitment procedure, police said on Friday, reports PTI. [AT]

30 die of starvation in Bongaigaon relief camp GUWAHATI, Jan 20: The Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon district Muslim Sharanarthy Committee - a body of refugee camp inmates in these two districts-has alleged that at least 30 inmates of the Bhaoraguri relief camp in Bongaigaon district, have died due to starvation and for want of medical facilities during the past one-and-half year period. Meanwhile, the All Adi vasi Students' Association of Assam (Aasaa) has threatened to call a 24-hour lower Assam bandh on February 2 if the centre and the state government failed to initiate action to solve the problem of ration,relief,rehabilitation and security of the camp inmates by January 31. The Aasaa demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged corruption by district officials in distribution of relief materials. [NED]

Nalbari DC locks up DIS office

NALBARI, Jan 21: In a major development, Nalbari district Deputy Commissioner Ashish Bhutani today locked the office of the Deputy Inspector of Schools here and called for an explanation from the DIS and other employees concerned as to why large-scale irregularities had been committed in appoitment school teachers in the districtrecently. The DC's action came amid widespread reports about bribery and corruption in appointing schoolteachers. [S]

Governor institutes inquiry into NC Hills affairs

HAFLONG, Jan 21:To enquire into the allegation of corrupt practices levelled against the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, Halfong, by leading citizens on North Cachar Hills district in their representation before the Governor of Assam, the Governor has appointed a commission. [S]

Seven teachers suspended

JORHAT, Jan 25: The Sibsagar Primary Education Officer suspended seven teachers on the charge of negligence of duty today. There are three headmasters among the suspended teachers. [S]

Corruption responsible for backwardness of north-eastern states

GUWAHATI, Jan 30 (UNI): Corruption and gross misuse of public funds were some of the primary reasons found responsible for the backwardness of the North-east, and not the Centre's apathy. An opinion poll, conducted by the North-east Girl Students' Coordination Committee, also found that the inability of political leaders from the North-east to properly highlight the problems and convince the Centre for adequate funding was the second most important factor. [S]

ASPWU stage protest dharna

GUWAHATI, Jan 31: The Assam State Power Workers Union (ASPWU) offered dharna infront of the ASEB headquarters here protesting against the bifurcation of the ASEB, privatizing it and demanding higher productions, regular electric supply, preventing wastage and corruption in the Board, stated a press release. [S]

Corruption deeply entrenched

GUWAHATI, Feb 8: The extent to which corruption has entrenched in all spheres of or social life was manifested once again today when a lady from Karbi Anglong district tried to bribe Prof Deben Dutta, head of the department of English, Cotton College to allow her daughter, a student of the college, to fill up the form for the HS Final (Arts) Exams, creating all-round consternation in college. [S]

Appointment anomalies

KAITHALKUCHI, Feb 15: There was a time when deserving jobless youths got their appointment letters from different departments by post. It was a government rule. But it is most regretful that nowadays appointment letters are distributed through political leaders, party workers, on the road and even at public meetings. [AT]

Forgery at DIS office : Students demand probe

KAITHALKUCHI, Feb 15: Uttar Dharmapur Anchalik Students Union president Pradip Barman and secretary Arun Chakraborty have expressed strong resentment of the forgery case and anomalies at the office of the Deputy Inspector of Schools, Nalbari. [AT]

Nagaon DI office Dealing Assistant demands Rs 2,800 to get work done

NAGAON, Feb 18: Great sensation prevails in Nagaon over the reported bribery scandal of a dealing assistant of Nagaon deputy inspector of schools' office, who, it is alleged, takes upto Rs 2,800 from retired LP school teacher to get their work done. It is alleged that the said dealing assistant is demanding this huge money from about 40 deceased and retired teachers of LP school. [NED]

2 police officers, constables suspended

GOLAGHAT, Feb 18: The officer-in-charge of Golaghat police station, Mr Satyen Patowary, TSI Arun Kumar Sahu and several police constables were placed under suspension for their dereliction of duties. [S]

Anomalies alleged in tests

GOLAGHAT, Feb. 22: Irregularities were alleged to have made in conducting the physical test for filling up of 85 posts of police constables, at the 11th Assam Police Battalion campus on February 20. The Golaghat Subdivision Students' Union sent letters to the Chief Minister, the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police, Golaghat, alleging large-scale corruption in conducting the test. [S]

2 DRDA officials suspended

GUWAHATI, Feb 25: The Government of Assam has placed the Project Director, District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Darrang, Mangaldoi under suspension for largescale irregularities committed by him during his tenure as Project Director of DRDA as pointed out in the audit report of 1998-99, says a Janasanyog press release. [AT]

Darrang DRDA PD suspended

MANGALDOI, Feb 28: In a significant move, Government of Assam by its memo no 49/2000/35 placed under suspension the project director (PD) of Darrang DRDA, Sri Rohini Kanta Sarmah on February 24. It is also learnt that another official Sri Padma Kanta Nath, APO (Technical), arrested earlier on December '99, in connection with misappropriation of money from the construction of a wooden bridge, was also suspended the same day. [AT]

Dispur allowed pvt millers to profit by Rs 325 crore : CAG GUWAHATI, March 14: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India, in his report for the year ended March 31, 1999, has made the startling revelations that the State Food & Civil Supplies Department had, by its policy of allotment of PDS wheat to private roller flour and modern chakki mills, had allowed the latter to benefit to the extent of Rs 324.83 crore during the period 1992-93 to 1998-99. [S]

Dharna

GUWAHATI, March 15: All-Assam State Government Undertaking Workers Union will offer dharna on March 16 in front of the office of the chief engineer of PWD (Roads and Buildings) at Chandmari from 10 am to 12 noon as a part of its agitation programme. The union's demands include revival of sick government undertakings, including Assam Government Construction Corporation (AGCC), halt to corruption, integration of corporations with government departments etc, a press release issued by the workers union acting president Debendra Basumatari and general secretary Tirtha Nath Das said. [AT]

SEBA employees' ultimatum

GUWAHATI, March 15: The Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) Employees' Union today threatened to launch an agitation if the Government fails to reconstitute the Board within 15 days. In a memorandum to the Chief Minister, the SEBA Employees' Union held the Board authorities responsible for the anomalies in the ongoing High School Leaving Certificate Examination. [AT]

Glaring irregularitues in state PDS : CAG report

GUWAHATI, March 16: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has pointed out several glaring irregularities in the implementation of the public distribution system (PDS) in the State and observed that total lack of supervision and monitoring affected implementation of the PDS schemes. [AT]

Rs 44-lakh financial irregularity in ASEB?

GUWAHATI, March 16: Yet another financial irregularity in the Assam State Electricty Board (ASEB)? This time the amount involved is around Rs 44 lakh of the fund-starved ASEB. [AT]

JRY, EAS fund for goat-proof fencing

GUWAHATI, March 16: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has made a startling revelation that the State Government had siphoned off Rs 3.50 crore out of the Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) and Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS) during the Lok Sabha elections held in 1996 and 1998 to provide goat-proof fencing around polling stations. Terming the action of the Government as illegal, the CAG said, the funds under the JRY and the EAS are meant strictly for generation of employment and not for any other purpose. [S]

Police-politician nexus behind growing anti-social activities alleged

SILCHAR, March 16: Abduction, exploitation at gunpoint, forced selections of official tenders and other such criminal activities are on the rise in the Sonai Police Station area allegedly under protection of an influencial Asom Gana Parishad leader of the area. [S]

CAG report reveals anomaly in Flood Control Department

GUWAHATI, March 17: By keeping the central loan assistance of Rs 22.70 crore in the revenue deposit, the state flood control department has incurred an avoidable liability of interest payment of Rs 8.47 crore without utilising the money. This was stated in the Comptroller and Auditor General of India's (CAG) annual report for the year-ending March 31, 1999. [NED]

CAG pulls up DGP for purchasing sub-standard bullet-proof jackets

GUWAHATI, March 21 (PTI): The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has pulled up Assam's Director General of Police for purchasing sub-standard bullet-proof jackets at higher rates in spite of availability of jackets with the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). [S]

P & RD fails to deliver in rural employment generation : CAG report

GUWAHATI, March 21: Rural employment generation programmes -- key component of the strategy to eradicate rural poverty -- have taken a beating at the hands of state's department of panchatyat and rural development (P&RD) which is the nodal agency in Assam for planning and implementing these schemes. That has been mentioned by the comptroller and auditor general (CAG) report No 3 of 1999 (civil). [NED]

Severe financial anomalies rock DRDA, Morigaon

MORIGAON, March 23: Two Junior Engineers (JE) namely Deep Prasad Kakoti and Jahuruddin Chowdhury of Lahorighat Development Block under District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Morigaon are directly involved in serious financial offence causing grave concern among the local people. [S]

Corruption, mismanagement plague Nagaon ASTC division

NAGAON, March 24: The Nagaon division of ASTC comprising Nagaon, Marigaon, Karbi Anglong and NC Hills districts now faces acute financial hardship due to rampant corruption among the staff, mismanagement and a design to keep it in perpetual red to force its privatisation. [AT]

Severe anomalies at BTC unearthed

DERGAON, March 27: The Dergaon Basic Training Centre (BTC), established in 1962, is now not only in a deplorable condition owing to negligence of higher authorities, but also severe allegations of rampant corruption in its precincts have come to light, following the tabling of the audit report. [S]

Dilip Choudhury picked up by police

GUWAHATI, April 1: Retired director of Higher Education Department Sri Dilip Choudhury was picked up today for interrogation by Dispur police in connection with charges of corruption regarding appointment and promotion of teachers, informed Additional (City) SP PK Dutta here this evening. [AT]

Forets official suspended

NAGAON, April 2: Mr Arun Borah, a forest beat officer of Kondoli reserve forest, was placed under suspension by the DFO Nagaon, on March 31, for his alleged involvement on issue of false TP to traders. [S]

Five headmasters suspended

MORIGAON, April 3: As many as five headmasters of five LP and ME schools of Morigaon district have been suspended from service on charges of negligence of duty by the Deputy Commissioner, Morigaon today with immediate effect. [S]

CAG raps Meghalaya on lotteries

SHILLONG, April 13: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has slammed the Meghalaya Government for not organising the State lotteries in consonance with the requirements of the Supreme Court or on commercial considerations resulting in the state coffers receiving only crumbs out of the turnover of several thousand crore in the lottery business. [AT]

Study medicine in Assam? You can forge your way for a price

GUWAHATI, April 19: Gross irregularities in the admission procedure to the three medical colleges of Assam have come to light with the shocking revelations that top medical officials, with the alleged backing of state health minister Dr Kamala Kalita, had illegally admitted 12 candidates in the colleges last year. Official documents were allegedly forged and special regulations passed to get the said candidates admitted. [NED]

Encroached KNP land yet to be included in Park

JORHAT, May 3: Following the encroachment by people of suspected nationalities, as many as 50 small and big chars in the south bank of the Brahmaputra in Sonitpur district, which had been included in the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) by the sixth expansion ordinance of the park, could not be included in it. The people of suspected nationalities occupying the KNP land, are being protected by a group of politiciansfor reasons best known to them. [S]

'Politics spell doom for State education standards'

GUWAHATI, May 6: Former Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University, Dr NK Chaudhury has commented that 'unhealthy' practice in appointing teachers and outrageous interference by political party in power in affairs of educational institutions have spelt doom for standard of education in the State. He has observed that during the last two decades there has been regrettable decline in the standard of education at all levels in the State and educational institutions are plagued by a number of malaises which require urgent remedies. [AT]

Anomalies by salt traders
State PDS suffers setback

GUWAHATI, May 7: Despite state food and civil supplies department's strict norms, public distribution system (PDS) has suffered a setback due to anomalies by some salt traders. [AT]

Irregularities in Nagaon telecom office alleged

JAGIROAD, May 9: Large-scale irregularities in the Nagaon Telecommunication Department have caused concern among the subscribers here. It has been alleged that despite having a subdivisional office of the department at Morigaon, the accounts section covering the Morigaon office has not been transferred causing great inconvenience to the subscribers who have to move to the Nagaon office, 65 km from here, for any complaint regarding telephone bills. [S]

bribery charge against GMCH doctors in post-mortem works

JAGIROAD, May 12 : There have been grave allegations that certain doctors in the Guwahati Medical College demand huge amount of money for issuing postmortem reports. And they delay the reports unless they receive any money. This is causing immense hardships for the next of the kin of the deceased. [NED]

CAG raps BRPL for causing loss to NALCO

NEW DELHI, May 14: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has severely reprimanded the Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (BRPL) for making an unrealistic supply commitment to National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) that resulted in an avoidable loss to the tune of Rs 3.19 crore. [AT]

Sports officer in Arunachal Pradesh suspended

ITANAGAR, May 17: A district sports officer of Arunachal Pradesh has been suspended following allegations of misappropriation of funds allocated to the sports department, states sports and youth affairs minister Padi Richo said, reports PTI. [AT]

Agitation against political transfer

NAGAON, May 18: The students of Dawson HS School, Nagaon have been continuing their class-boycott since May 15 against an order of Inspector of School, Nagaon, transferring their popular lady teacher Ms Bhanu Devi Goswami from the school to Haiborgaon High School on May 10. Against the post of Ms Goswami another lady teacher named Ms Gita Bora of Juria HS School has been posted. It may be mentioned here that Ms Gita Bora is the wife of Mr Prabhat Kalita, vice-president, AGP district committee. [S]

Fiscal anomalies in NE councils worry Centre

NEW DELHI, May 21: Gross discrepancies in accounts and financial transactions in the nine autonomous district councils of the North Eastern region, running into hundreds of crores of rupees, have made the Union Government see red, even as pressure has mounted on the Centre to enforce some accountability. [AT]

Anomalies come to light at Dergaon BTC

DERGAON, May 22: The Dergaon Basic Training Centre (BTC), established in 1962, is not only in a deplorable condition due to negligence of higher authorities, but allegations of rampant corruption in its precincts have come to light, following the tabling of the audit report. [S]

Large-scale anomalies in DRDA work allotment

NAGAON, May 22: The DRDA office in Nagaon, which is considered as the nerve centre of economic activities in the district has turned into a place of heightened corruptions in the recent years. The political interferences in the process of selection of beneficiaries are always a source of complaints from the poor village people. In order to get sanctions of any loans from this office, the poor people have to pay commissions to the officials concerned, otherwise they are forced to give up all their hopes and plans. [S]

Anomalies in answer script evaluation

NAGAON, May 25: Serious anomalies have been alleged in the evaluation of answer scripts of HSLC examination at Nagaon. According to the allegations, an Arts teacher of Kathiatoli HS School evaluated answer scripts of Mathematics. In another case, it has been alleged that another teacher from the same school, who had joined as a teacher of Education, evaluated answer scripts of Social Studies. [S]

Massive corruption in Education Dept

IMPHAL, May 27: Police have swung into action following the lodging of a formal complaint by the commissioner of the Education Department at the behest of the Minister of State for Higher and Technical Education Mr L Bhagyachandra. One contractor Ch Rajeswor in collusion with corrupt officials had misappropriated Rs 300,000 from the Directorate of Education (U) on the basis of the single sanction order. [S]

PHE wall collapse

NAGAON, May 28: A brickwall raised around a pond in the premises of the Executive Engineer's office, of the Public Health Engineering department, at Nagaon has collapsed exposing the corruption and the irregularities in the department. The wall costing Rs 2.5 lakh was built during March this year. [S]

Massive corruption in police transfers alleged

TEZPUR, May 31: Resentment prevails among the non-commissioned police officers in Sonitpur district following the recent internal transfer of sub inspectors (SIs) and assistant sub inspectors (ASIs) of police respectively. Talking to this correspondent on condition of anonymity, police officials here alleged that "money plays an important in deciding the transfer" and added that the tune of the money ranges from Rs 50,000 onwards which allegedly paid to the higher officers for their transfer in suitable places like bridge, outpost or officer in charge etc in subdivision towns in the district. [AT]

7 headmasters for a single primary school in Manipur!

IMPHAL, May 31: A team of Imphal based journalists, who had recently visited the Ukhrul district, adjacent to Burma (Myanmar), were amused to find that there were as many as seven headmasters in a nondescript primary school, in the tribal village of Viewland Phunggreithang. All the seven headmasters are from the nearby tribal villages. They have high political connections, with the result that the powerful Ministers had instructed the authority concerned to post them in the school. [S]

Darrang farmers body alleges diversion of DRDA fund

UDALGURI, June 1: The members of Darrang district unit of All India Kisan Sabha staged a dharna in front of the office of the Udalguri block development officer on May 24 last to protest against the alleged ongoing corruption in the DRDA of Darrang. [AT]

Dy Director arrested for corruption

IMPHAL, June 9: The Manipur vigilance police arrested Dr M Brajamani Mangang, on the evening of June 6, on the charge of swindling at least Rs 7,35,000 from the directorate of family welfare services, Government of Manipur, while he was the Deputy Director then. He was also the drawing ABD Disbursing Officer. [S]

HC admits writ petition seeking CBI probe into corruption charges

GUWAHATI, June 10: The Gauhati High Court has admitted a writ petition seeking the court's directives for instituting a CBI inquiry into alleged corruption and misuse of public money in procuring land for construction of Haflong House in New Delhi by North Cachar Hills Autonomous District Council. [AT]

Political transfer deprives teacher of salary

NAGAON, June 13: Ms Bhanu Devi Goswami, a senior assistant teacher of Dawson HS School, here has been deprived of receiving salary for the first time in her 11 years of service only because of political interference on her post under the guidance of Mr Deba Kanta Mazee, Inspector of Schools, Nagaon. According to reports, Ms Goswami was transferred to Haiborgaon High School, Nagaon by the IS, Nagaon in a post reserved for NCC teacher. In place of Ms Goswami, another teacher Ms Gita Rani Devi, assistant teacher of Juria HS School, Nagaon was transferred by the IS, Nagaon vide order No. 9214/18 on May 10.
But after public criticism, the IS, Nagaon once again transferred Ms Bhanu Devi Goswami from Haiborgaon High School to Dawson HS School on May 25, vide order No. 10260/65, and absorbed Ms Goswami in a science post under Plan category. Since no salary was made available to this Plan post by the government, Ms Goswami could not receive her salary for the month of May, said the Principal of Dawson HS School. [S]

Gross anomalies by MCH doctos

MORIGAON, June 14: A Government doctor of Morigaon Civil Hospital was reportedly involved in a serious irregularity on May 20, causing widespread concern among the local people. The matter came to light only very recently. According to information received a doctor of the gynaecology branch of Morigaon Civil Hospital whimsically transferred a pregnant woman, admitted to the civil hospital, to a private nursing home located at Morigaon town and performed ceaserian operation. The Morigaon Civil Hospital authorities was quite in the dark about the incident. [S]

Two schoolteachers suspended

SIVASAGAR, June 14 (PTI): Two schoolteachers have been suspended by the Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner for alleged negligence of census duty, official sources said today. [S]

Irked by irregular doctors, villagers lock up hospital

JAMUGURIHAT, June 16: The people of Dhalaibil, who were being harrassed by the doctors of North Jamuguri 30-bedded hospital for the last few years, have locked the chambers of four doctors of the said hospital recently. The hospital exposes the poor state of health services provided by the Assam government. The expenditure being incurred by the state government on the salaries for these four doctors is undoubtedly unnecessary, the local people have said in anger. [NED]

Anomalies, mismanagement push Goalpara Civil Hospital into disarray

GOALPARA, June 18: The Goalpara Civil Hospital is fast moving towards a deluge of chaos and according to some doctors, has turned out to be the worst and the most depraved Civil Hospital, Assam has had the misfortune of ever having, it is reliably learnt. With all sorts of anomalies reigning supreme in the management of man-power coupled with acute shortages of medicines, instruments, equipments, accessories, furniture, non-completion of outdoor building and quarter for the nurses and 3rd and 4th grade employees, erratic supply of water and electricity and above all, thanks to the absence of an alternative water tank and a generator, together with a abominably dirty atmosphere prevailing in the complex makes the scene quite complete. [S]

A tale of how premier tea cos harass locals

DIBRUGARH, June 19: Just how vindictive can a premier tea company be to "teach a lesson" to an honest employee, who had the temerity to question his boss every time he detected an irregularity? Well, in this instant case, the provident fund cheque was kept concealed maliciously for three months, while the employee is yet to receive his gratuity dues, 11 months after he retired from service. [AT]

Golaghat sugar mill: a victim of petty politicking, mismanagement and corruption

GOLAGHAT, June 22: The first public sector sugar mill which came into existence in the cooperative basis, in the year 1957, is in a comatose state. Although shareholders of the mill, especially of the surrounding areas, are trying their level best to bring the mill back to life, no symptoms of any survival is seen as yet. A top functionary of the Government of Assam said that the fate of the mill was as good as that of a dying patient and none could breathe life back into it. [S]

Nagaland treasury officials suspended

KOHIMA, June 23: Altogether four senior treasury officers of the State were suspended and departmental inquiries instituted against them for releasing fraudulent pension claims amounting to Rs 30 lakh. [AT]

Nimatighat sinks for apathy and politicking

JORHAT, June 28: Erosion at Nimatighat, has become the issue of the day, for all political parties in the State. They have started clamouring only when there remains very little or no remedy left for retrival of Nimatighat. [S]

Raha OC sent to judicial custody

NAGAON, July 6: Mr Suresh Saikia, officer in-charge of Raha police station who had been arrested on July 4 for selling a motorcycle seized from ULFA militants without the prior permission of the court, was remanded to judicial custody by the Nagaon court yesterday. Mr Saikia was also placed under suspension by the Nagaon SP for showing disrespect to higher authorities on many occasions. [S]

Massive corruption alleged in IAY scheme

KACHUGAON, July 17: Massive corruption has been alleged in construction of houses under the Indira Awas Yojona for rehabilitation of the arson-affected families of Kokrajhar district. Despite efforts by the government to rehabilitate the riot-hit families of this district by constructing houses for their permanent settlement, the problem has more or less remained static. [AT]

8 Assam depts face fiscal bungling charges

GUWAHATI, July 18: The Assam government has charged eight key departments of abetting serious financial irregularities by their failure to initiate action on defects, omissions and irregularities pointed out from time to time by the accountant general, Assam. [NED]

AKDSU members gherao panchayat office

GUWAHATI, July 20: Members of the All Kamrup District Students' Union (AKDSU) gheraoed the office of the Director of Panchayat and Rural Development located at Bhangagarh today in protest against alleged ongoing corruption at different levels of the department. The irate members later ransacked the office demanding a high level enquiry into the 'rampant corruption'. [AT]

Activists of the All Kamrup District Students Union, who staged a dharna in front of the office of the Director of Panchayat and Rural Development in the city on July 20, seen shouting slogans against corruption in the department. The Sentinel photo.

UPDS calls bandh, DHD warns ASDC

GUWAHATI, July 22: The United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) has called for a 48-hour Karbi Anglong bandh from August 14 and 'black day' on August 15 against, what it termed, "Indian expansionism," even as the Dima Halam Daugah (DHD) has issued a strong warning to the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) against indulging in corrupt practices. [NED]

CAG detects gross anomalies in Manipur state departments

IMPHAL, July 22: Several irregularities in state departments resulted in the loss of few crores of rupees in Manipur, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) said in its report for the year ending in March 1999. [NED]

Large-scale irregularities in DRDA alleged

NALBARI, July 24: Strong resentment was expressed by the people of Nalbari District over the large-scale irregularities taking place in the office of District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Nalbari in the metaling and black-topping works of various rural roads covering all the development blocks of the district. [AT]

CAG slams Tripura for Rs 54-cr PDS leakage

GUWAHATI, July 27: The Tripura state audit report compiled by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) for the year ended March 31, 2000 has uncovered large scale malpractices and consequent leakage from the Public Distribution System (PDS) which it has pegged at Rs 54.22 crore. [NED]

The houses of the Assam state Govt officials Subhas Burhagohain (Bhaskar Nagar), Pradip Hazarika (Sarumataria) and DRDA contractor Arman Sheikh (Khristanbasti), where IT raids were conducted on July 20 in Guwahati. It may be mentioned that Burhagohain was kidnapped by ULFA in 1998 for his corruption, but later released after he allegedly paid several lakhs of Rs to the outfit. Asomiya Pratidin photo.

CRPF jawan suspended

DIBRUGARH, July 30: A CRPF jawan, Avtar Singh of 116 Battalion, has been suspended for demanding cash from a youth during duty hours today. [S]

Two engineers suspended

JAMUGURIHAT, July 30: Following the misappropriation of Rs 3 lakh, which had been sanctioned to build some cow sheds in flood-affected areas under Chariduar Block Development office, two engineers -- Mr Kuljit Chowdhury and Mr Surajit Pegu -- were suspended with immediate effect. [S]

AASU gheraoes offices

PATHSALA, July 31: The activists of the All Assam Students Union (AASU), Bajali unit today gheraoed four offices -- PWD, Treasury, Office of the Deputy Inspector of Schools and Office of the Primary Education Officer -- of the subdivision and warned the officers concerned that it would be compelled to take drastic action against the corruption going on unabated in these offices. The angry mob also ransacked the Offices of the Primary Education Officer and Deputy Inspector of Schools. [S]

Rs 3.61-lakh scam detected JORHAT, July 31: Financial anomalies amounting to Rs 3,61,998 in the implementation of the National Obstetric Welfare Scheme under the National Social Assistance Programme came to light when a magistrate, who had probed into the financial anomalies, submitted the report to the Jorhat DC. According to a source in the district administration, it was mentioned in the cash book that Rs 10,97,195 had been given as assistance to pregnant women at different times, but after the financial year 1995-96 the lists of beneficiaries were not received in the office. [S]

Loan of Sugar Mill
Ex-minister, officials behind duping Apex Bank of Rs 7.5 cr

GUWAHATI, Aug. 7: The Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Department has found a former minister and 23 other officials, most of them senior IAS officers, guilty of gross irregularities in the matter of siphoning out Rs 7.5 crore from the Assam Cooperative Apex Bank Ltd, and handing it over to the Mumbai-based Brahmaputra Sugar Manufacturing Company owned by one Giridharilal Seksaria during 1992-96, and in the process slapping a whopping Rs 12 crore outstanding dues on the bank. The bank is unable to recover the huge debt. [S]

'Road stolen'

SHILLONG, Aug 12: In a bizarre incident, a local contractor has lodged a complaint with the police that a road recently constructed by him has been stolen. To prove his innocence inthe matter, the contractor produced the bill for the work as also the cheque he had received on completion of the work. The 'incident' was narrated today by Union IT Minister Pramod Mahajan to highlight the level of corruption the country has sunk into. [AT]

Alleged anomalies in STW scheme

MORIGAON, Aug 12: Some anomalies in Shallow Tube Well (STW) scheme under Morigaon District Agriculture Office (DAO) were reported. According to information received, National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has undertaken schemes in Morigaon district to provide STW to marginal farmers through village level Pathar Parichalana Samiti (PPS). The Bhurbandha PPS alleged that the Bhurbandha Agriculture Extension Officer under Morigaon DAO was involved in gross anomalies in executing the scheme causing grave concern among the farmers. The PPS in a press release alleged that the Bhurbandha Agriculture Extension Officer forcibly collected Rs 1,000 to 1,500 as bribe from each PPS. Each PPS consists of eight marginal farmers. [S]

Politicians eating into vitals of Cotton College GUWAHATI, Aug 19: Noted academic and a professor in mathematics, Rhodes Island University, USA, Dr Dilip Dutta regretted yesterday that State's education system was heading to nowhere because of political interference. Similar allegations are made nowa days by the academics of the State also. To brush off the allegations, our politiciansand bureaucrats who are also at the receiving ends in some cases, have lots of excuses. But the reality speaks otherwise. Let us take the case of Cotton College, the 99-year old premier college of the NE region. Since 1990, the college has been facing an ignominious situation. It has been used by the politiciansand bureaucrats allegedly as an inspiration to satiate the desires of their relations, favourites for gratifiers with their postings in the college, in a growing manner since 1990. [AT]

Exe engineer plays havoc with public money

MANGALDOI, Aug 22: A lot of irregularities have been reported in the Mangaldai NT Road Division under the Public Works Department and already Mr Sanjoy Lohiya, Deputy Commissioner, Darrang has ordered for a magistrate-level inquiry regarding this. Ms Debala Devi Das, Extra Assistant Commissioner of Mangaldai has been asked to conduct the inquiry immediately. [S]

BDO returns IAY funds on DC's order MANGALDOI, Aug 25: Md Nur Ali, the controversial BDO of Kalaigaon Development Block was forced to return Rs 2.40 lakh to DRDA, Darrang, as directed by the DC of Darrang, Sri S K Lohia recently. It is widely alleged that the BDO had allowed the construction of 95 standard houses under the IAY scheme for '99-2000 with substandard materials about which the public of Kalaigaon complained to the DC. The DC made an on-the-spot enquiry and found the allegation justified. He directed the BDO to return the amount of Rs 2.40 lakh to Darrang DRDA within seven days of his visit and the order was compiled with. Meanwhile, the DC, Sri Lohia had written a confidential report to the Govt of Assam urging, it is learnt, the suspension of the BDO which is yet to be effected. It has been a household talk in Kalaigaon that Md Nur Ali has been a close confident of the AGP MLA from Kalaigaon, Sri M M Raichoudhury. The MLA is alleged to be the "saviour" of the BDO. [AT]

5 suspended for tampering land records

DIBRUGARH, Aug 26: Dibrugarh Deputy Commissioner suspended five officials -- Mr Pitambar Bargohain, Mr Jogen Gogoi, Mr Lokeswar Sonowal and asupervisor kanungo -- all working in Tingkhong revenue circle and Mr Prabhat Dutta, a peon attached to the DC, with immediate effect on the charge of tampering land records in favour of a businessman under Tingkhong revenue circle. [S]

Probe ordered against executive engineer

MANGALDOI, Aug 28: Darrang DC, SK Lohia ordered a magisterial inquiry into allegations against the executive engineer, NH (roads) division, Mangaldoi. Md Mumtazuddin Ahmed's abuse of official position in terms of irregular payment of Rs 10 lakh to contractors for placement of roadside sign boards in Darrang. [AT]

CAU Students flee Manipur, foul play suspected

IMPHAL, Aug 30: The Central Agricultural University (CAU) at Ironishemba near Imphal has always been in the news since its inception. There had been allegations galore of misappropriation of university fund by some corrupt elements. Besides it was alleged that books worth several millions of rupees had been purchased in paper only. One or two vice chancellors had to leave the CAU when the students launched an ouster campaign. [S]

'Do not interfere in teacher appointments'

KOHIMA, Sept 4: The All Nagaland Teachers Association has urged politiciansnot to interfere in the appointment of teachers, reports PTI. The poiticians should not interfere in the transfer, posting of teachers and refrain from utilising some members of teaching community in their election campaigns, the association said on Saturday on the eve of the millennium's first teachers' day on September 5. [AT]

Power thefts on rise at Lumding

LUMDING, Sept 6: Irregular power supply in Lumding has become a regular feature. The prolong power-cuts load-shedding and fault in the main line have compounded the situation. Power supply to the adjacent village areas of Lumding remains a distance dream. [AT]

Manoharan Committee report
10,034 illegal appointments during '91-'96

GUWAHATI, Sept 7: There were altogether 10,034 illegal appointments of school teachers in the State between March 1991 and April 1996. There were altogether 14,544 irregular appointments too of teachers in State's schools, said the report of the enquiry committee, headed by Sri S Manoharan, IAS, which probed into the cases of illegal and irregular appointments of school teachers in the State during the period. [AT]

School murder reveals much more

DIBRUGARH, Sept 8: The murder of a Class-IX student of the Shishu Niketan school here on Teachers' Day by a classmate is the culmination of a series of anomalies perpetrated at the institution by the school's chairman of the management committee, Nila Kanta Saikia. On Teachers' Day this year, a group of four inebriated students of the Shishu Niketan school had a brawl with one of their classmates, Rajkumar Phukan, over a music cassette. [AT]

Rs 10 lakh embezzled

BIHPURIA, Sept 8: Bihpuria police today sealed two almirahs of Prerana cinema hall (Bihpuria United Industrial and Cooperative Society) following unearthing of large-scale anomalies indulged in by the society's secretary Jiuram Hazarika who, by using false chalans and seals, evaded entertainment taxes and embezzled a huge sum of money amounting to Rs 10 lakh. Mr Hazarika had defrauded the tax authorities to the tune of Rs 3 lakh by using false chalans since April 1, 1997. Mr Hazarika has been absconding. [S]

Home Ministry probe into politician-insurgent nexus

GUWAHATI, Sept 9: The Union Home Ministry is probing the alleged links of some politiciansof the North Eastern States with the insurgent outfits. This was disclosed by the Joint Secretary (North-East) of the Ministry, Sri G K Pillai. Talking to The Assam Tribune, Sri Pillai admitted that the Union Home Ministry is concerned over the allegations and counter allegations of the links between some political leaders of the region with the insurgents. However, he refused to go into the details of the probe being carried out by the Ministry. [AT]

Itanagar bandh hits normal life

ITANAGAR, Sept 12: Normal life was hit in the State capital and adjacent areas during the 12-hour "Itanagar bandh" on Tuesday. The bandh called by the All Nyishi Students Union (ANSU) from 6.00 am was against the State government's failure to publish the enquiry report on the Rs 1.24 crore Sports scam early this year and for not suspending the officials involved. [AT]

Financial anomalies detected in Nagaland depts

KOHIMA, Sept 24: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has detected a number of financial irregularities such as fund diversion, misappropriation, doubtful purchases, fiscal benefits to bogus farms in various government departments in Nagaland, reports PTI. The latest CAG report tabled in the State Assembly on Thursday observed that the public distribution system (PDS) in the State was quite inefficient, depriving below poverty line (BPL) families from subsidised foodgrains. [AT]

Cong jail bharo in State

GUWAHATI, Sept 26: Thousands of Congress workers all over the State today participated in the jail bharo programme alleging rampant corruption, skyrocketing prices of essential commodities, etc., and against the propaganda by the Chief Minister Mr Prafulla Kumar Mahanta alleging nexus between the banned ULFA and the Congress, unemployment, etc. About 300 workers of the Guwahati city and Kamrup district Congress committees staged the jail bharo programme in front of the Deputy Commissioner office and submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Assam through the Kamrup Deputy Commissioner. [AT]

Demonstration by Congress party workers in Guwahati on September 26. Asomiya Pratidin photo.

PWD (R), Morigaon steeped in financial anomalies

MORIGAON, Sept 27: Gross financial irregularities were reported in Public Work Department (PWD) (Road), Morigaon division causing widespread concern among the local people. As per information received, in the (1999-2000) financial year, Rs 63 lakh was sanctioned to PWD(R), Morigaon division as flood damage repairing (FDR), while Rs 26 lakh was given to the same division by the State Government as general repairing fund. Now, the allegation by the local people is that without utilizing the full fund the completion report has been submitted by the PWD(R), Morigaon division. [S]

Handique Girls' College principal suspended

GUWAHATI, Sept 30: The city's Handique Girls' College principal Dr Gagan Chandra Baruah has been placed under suspension by the special body of the college today on charges of misappropriating college funds. It may be mentioned here that the Director of Public Instruction (Higher), Assam, had requested the president of the special body of Handique Girls' College MAD Minister Biraj Kumar Sarma, to initiate legal action against Dr Baruah and some members of the office staff of the college for misappropriating public money. [AT]

Misuse of funds in AAU alleged
PM, Fernandes urged to institute probe

GUWAHATI, Oct 2: MLA Dilip Kumar Saikia, who is also the chairman of the Committee of Estimate of the State Assembly and a member of the Board of Management, Assam Agricultural University (AAU), on Saturday urged Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Defence Minister George Fernandes to institute a commission of inquiry to probe into the allegations of financial and administrative irregularities which took place in the Agricultural University during the tenure of Dr AN Mukhopadhaya as its Vice-Chancellor. Saikia in two separate letters faxed to the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister alleged that lots of financial and administrative corruptions, including misappropriation of the Kargil Fund raised to express solidarity with the Army jawans fighting Pakistani forces in Kargil front, took place in the AAU during Dr Mukhopadhaya's tenure (May 1997 to May 2000). Saikia personally enquired into the allegations and submitted a report to the Governor of Assam, who is Vice-Chancellor of the AAU, on August 30 last. [AT]

Tamuly's transfer order stayed

SIVASAGAR, Oct 10: On a writ petition (public interest) No. 5754 filed by Sivasagar Citizens Forum challenging the transfer order of Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner LN Tamuly by Assam Government's order dated September 27, the vacation bench of Gauhati High Court directed the Assam Government not to give effect to the transfer order of LN Tamuly, IAS and allowed Tamuly to continue as Deputy Commissioner, Sivasagar till the matter is disposed of by a Division Bench of the court after reopening of the vacation. Tamuly was transferred within a short period of nine months on account of the pressure of two political big guns of Sivasagar as he refused to dance to the tunes set by these two political leaders. After the transfer, there has been unprecedented public resentment as there has been appreciable improvement in the administration in the district including prevalence of complete peaceful atmosphere. [AT]

Assistant teacher suspended

JORHAT, Oct 11: The Inspector of Schools of Jorhat suspended an assistant teacher of Gitarthi High School here for remaining absent for three consecutive days in September. [S]

Two Govt employees arrested, suspended

NAGAON, Oct 17: Two employees of the office of the Inspector of Schools, Nagaon -- Dulal Basumatary and Bhuban Bora -- were arrested by Nagaon police last night on the charge of misappropriation of CPF money of the teachers of the district. The two employees were placed under suspension. According to sources, the two employees had misappropriated about Rs 15 lakh CPF money. [S]

Health deptt blissfully unaware of affairs at Bezera Hospital

BAIHATA CHARIALI, Oct 20: Investigations made into the severe allegations, by the seven organizations, revealed startling records of large-scale absenteeism of doctors in the 30-bed Bezera Hospital, under Kamlpur Revenue Circle of Guwahati subdivision. Mysteriously enough, the Health Department of the State Government has remained blind to such gross irregularities for years together. [S]

Public representation against school teacher

HATSINGIMARI, Oct 25: In a written public representation submitted to the DEEO, Dhubri with 91 signatories in all, the villagers and other leading members of Charbari area decried the involvement of Nur Islam Farazi, head teacher of Charbari ME, Madrassa in corruption and various other anti-school and anti-social activities. Alleging that the Madrassa head teacher concerned had misused school properties, the representation said that the teacher removed all the school furniture to his own house and illegally occupied 2 bighas of school land meant for school playground. [AT]

Why is AGP Govt afraid to probe Rs 402-cr scandal?

GUWAHATI, Oct 30: A great deal of speculation is going on in political circles here over the total silence of the AGP-led Government on the Assam Legislative Assembly committee's report that not less than Rs 402 crore had been fraudulently withdrawn from as many as nine departments of the government during the tenure of the previous Congress Government. [S]

PHE engineer posted at same place for 14 yrs

BARPETA, Oct 30: A serious allegation has been raised against an engineer of Public Health Engineering who has managed to remain in a same subdivision for the last 14 years, taking advantage of the extreme weak and ineffective administration inaction of the high officials in the department, said a local source. Several transfer orders were given to the officer during the last 14 years. But with the help of political pressure the officer has been able to cancel all the transfer orders and managed to stay at Barpeta for all these years. [S]

Two doctors suspended for negligence of duty

GUWAHATI, Nov 1: The Friday night massacre in Nalbari district once again exposed the shortcomings in the healthcare system in Assam and the State Government yesterday suspended two senior doctors of the district on charges of negligence of duty. It was alleged that only one doctor was present in the Nalbari Civil Hospital on Friday evening when the persons injured in the shoot-out were taken there for treatment. [AT]

Lahe Lahe bureaucracy lands up in city 'canals'

GUWAHATI, Nov 2: Our celebrated bureaucrats and politicianshave long been known as being squarely responsible for turning Assam into a land of lahe lahe -- a land where everything related to the vital interests of the State and its people moves at a snail's pace -- even though it is just the opposite when it comes to serving the vital interests of their own material well-being at the cost of the exchequer and the people. No wonder, therefore, most of the activities that our bureaucrats and politiciansperform "in the interest of public service," end up as just rituals, having nothing to do with the objectives with which they are undertaken in the first place. [S]

Factors responsible for drop in forest cover

GOLAKGANJ, Nov 4: Active political patronage and lack lustre attitude of the Forest department have allegedly accelerated deforestation in reserve forests of the state. Encroachment and illegal settlement inside forest areas have led to the alarming rate of loss of green cover endangering many species of birds and animals. [AT]

Why is Mahanta flouting rules to promote officers?

GUWAHATI, Nov 4: While there has been all-round chaos and confusion in the State administration -- courtesy our weak and unjustly happy AGP Government headed by Mr Prafulla Kumar Mahanta -- the frequent transfer of officers in the key posititions has further added to the present ineffeciency. On the other hand, the tendency of the AGP to patronize a favoured few, who are best known for their willingness to please their political bosses rather than impartial and apt handling of the administration, has come to such a stage where the State Government does not hesitate to flout the rules to keep the yes-men happy. [S]

One loses job for having extra-marital affair

TEZPUR, Nov 6: In a rare case of its nature, the district session judge, Sonitpur, Sri BD Agarwal, has dismissed a government employee from service for maintaining an extra-martial affair, after driving his wife out of his home without obtaining divorce. The dismissed employees Jayanta Kumar Das was working as a peon in the establishment of district judge, Tezpur. [AT]

About Assam's bhagyabidhata and his IAS officers (Part I)

GUWAHATI, Nov 6: In the "Aap ki Adalat" television programme, the anchor is once reported to have said -- Upar mein Ishwar, nichey Hiteswar. One wonders whether the present Chief Minister, Mr Prafulla Kumar Mahanta also began to think on the same lines where he could consider himself as the Axom bhagyavidhata, and ignore totally the interests of the people who voted him to power. [S]    Part II >>

About Assam's bhagyabidhata and his IAS officers (Part II)

GUWAHATI, Nov 7: Sidelining the honest : An honest officer is a stumbling block for the machinations of corrupt officers, politiciansand contractors. Recently, one such officer, Mr Himangshu Shekhar Das, Planning Commissioner, created a serious problems when he refused to approve a proposal for purchase of shallow tubewells at much higher rates, thereby scuttling a move to siphon off about Rs 60 crore by the Agriculture Department. Mr Subhas Das, as the Finance Commissioner, seems to have had the temerity to question the Chief Minister's trip to Japan. Mr J P Rajkhowa took a principled stand on the issue of schoolteachers and the Manoharan Committee report. Mr Alok Perti went on leave because he appears to have been unable to tolerate some ministerial actions in the Transport Department. [S]    << Part I

DRDA anomalies resented

MORIGAON, Nov 11: Gross anomalies in implementation of some Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS) under DRDA (District Rural Development Agency) Morigaon, were reportedly causing concern among rural people. As per records received, there is no Action Plan of Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS) during 1999-2000 financial year in DRDA, Morigaon. [S]

Major financial anomalies detected in DPEP, Morigaon

MORIGAON, Nov 14: Some major financial irregularities in District Primary Education Project (DPEP), Morigaon were detected by the District Advisory Committee (DAC) to DPEP at Morigaon. [S]

OC of Borsola outpost suspended

DHEKIAJULI, Nov 20: The officer-in-charge of Borsola police outpost, Mr Biswajit Choudhury, who had beaten up two fish traders severely in Borsola market following which a mob gheraoed the outpost, was suspended yesterday, Sonitpur SP Khabir Ahmed informed this correspondent. [S]

Acting sub-inspector of schools suspended

BIHPURIA, Nov 22:The acting sub-inspector of schools of Lakhimpur district, Mr Giridhar Rajkhowa was suspended with immediate effect on the charge of taking huge amount of cash through illegal appointment, etc. [S]

Assistant teacher suspended

MORIGAON, Dec 4: Mr Bhadra Kanta Bora, an assistant teacher of Morigaon Girls HS School, was suspended from service with immediate effect by the Inspector of Schools, Morigaon on the charge of his direct involvement in instigating unfair means to the students in the examinations (annual, test examinations). [S]

Two school teachers suspended

SIVASAGAR, Dec 5: The assistant teacher of Sivasagar Bhuban Chandra Gogoi Primary School, Ms Urfia Begum has been suspended by the District Education Officer for remaining absent from duty and drawing salary from April this year, despite staying with her husband in Mumbai during the period, said a local source. The source further said that the district authorities have also suspended Ms Minu Hazarika, the Headmistress of the school for not informing the officer concerned about the long absence of Ms Urfia Begum. [S]

ASCARD Bank issue blocks NABARD loans to PWD

GUWAHATI, Dec 7: Financial irregularities and corrupt practices committed by a coterie of officials, politiciansand businessmen have not only pushed the Assam State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank (ASCARD) to the verge of closure, but also made the National Agriculture Bank for Rural Development (NABARD) take some hard decisions in the matter of sanctioning further loans to the ASCARD as well as other departments concerned. Dissatisfied with the delay in repaying loans by the ASCARD Bank, the NABARD has not been releasing loans under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) amounting to Rs 9 crore to the Public Works Department (PWD) since the last eight months on the plea of the ASCARD Bank's failure to repay the huge amount of loans taken from the NABARD. [S]

Suspended

NAGAON, Dec 10 : Joint Director, Medical and Health Services of Nagaon was placed under suspension on Friday allegedly for giving illegal irregular appointment to 51 persons in the dept. Besides, three more persons at the Jt. Director Office, Nagaon have been placed under suspension with immediate effect, according to an official source. [AT]

OC and ASI of Samaguri PS suspended

NAGAON, Dec 12: The Superintendent of Police (SP) of Nagaon suspended the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Samaguri police station, and Mr Sankar Banerjee along with Assistant Sub-inspector (ASI) Chandra Kanta Saikia, on charges of hiding 12 sacks of tea from a tea-loaded truck, which met with an accident at Misa on the night of December 10. A police party, led by Sankar Banerjee, OC, arrived at the accident and picked up some tea bags scattered near the truck and kept them hidden in his house. The SP, Nagaon, immediately after receiving a complaint, directed the SDPO, Kaliabor to enquire into the matter. On inquiry, the SDPO, Kaliabar, recovered 11 sacks of tea from the residences of the OC and the ASI. It may be mentioned here that some days ago, the OC of Raha police station, Suren Saikia, was suspended for selling goods left unclaimed by the owners. [S]

Anti-corruption rules degenerate into farce

GUWAHATI, Dec 13: The stipulations in the service rules for government officials that they must submit to the government details of their income from all sources every year, and that they must seek sanction from the government before they purchase a vehicle, land or build a house or acquire any such movable and immovable property, have degenerated into a total farce over the years, because neither the officials will submit the details about their incomes, nor the government will care to ask for explanation from the officials who do not comply with the rules. [S]

Political conspiracy hindering all round growth of Balapara

PATHSALA, Dec 15: Adjacent to Bajali sub-division the Balapara area of Paka mouza is a vast area of backward villages. The main source of income in this area is agriculture. But the people of Balapara have been suffering a lot due to the deteriorating road communication, public health, agriculture, education, etc, for the last four decades. Recently, a group of journalists visited the area under the aegis of Pathsala Press Club. The people of the locality described in detail about their miseries before the visiting journalists. [S]

People suffer as Sonari hospital remains closed

SONARI, Dec 18: The 20-bed hospital, constructed by Sonari zone of Assam Branch Indian Tea Association (ABITA) at a cost of Rs 10 lakh inside the Sonari Subsidiary health Centre (SHC) has remained closed since June, 1996. This hospital was built with an operation theatre and modern equipment. The then Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia laid down the foundation of this hospital on June 2, 1992 which was later inaugurated by Sri Sarat Borkatoky, local MLA and then minister of state for PWD in 1994 in presence of the top officials of the state health department. But on June 14, 1996, the ABITA-built hospital was closed due to an incident in which a school-going boy died in this hospital. The doctor was misbehaved with by some anti-social youths. But subsequently, two doctors and two other employees of Sonari SHC were arrested by police under political pressure. After this incident, doctors and the staff of Sonari SHC refused to render services in the ABITA-built hospital as they were rendering their services without any separate appointment on humanitarian ground. [AT]

Irregularities alleged in Morigaon DPEP scheme, probe report awaited

JAGIROAD, Dec 19: There have been allegations that the District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) of Morigaon has become a farce. Like the other districts of Assam, the Morigaon DPEP also received financial aid from the World Bank. It is worth mentioning that the State Fisheries Minister, Mr Babul Das, has declared that there will be a probe into the various irregularities in the programme. Allegations have been made that a section of the officers engaged in DPEP are directly involved in the irregularities. [S]

Court orders auction of Barpeta PWD property

BARPETA, Dec 23: The Government often has to lose huge amounts of money due to the inaction, negligence and political meddling in constructions works. One such instance has come into light at Barpeta on December 21. The court of Senior District Judge, Barpeta has issued notice announcing that there will be a public auction of all the furniture of Barpeta PWD (Building) east division including chairs, tables, almirahs, GI pipes etc. on January I at 10 am. [S]

Things back to where they were in Education Dept

GUWAHATI, Dec 26: One of the prime reasons for the slide in the functioning of the corruption-ridden Education Department of the State, apart from political interference, has been that a large number of teachers in schools and colleges are underqualified and untrained for the job. On the other hand, the Education Department has not taken any interest in training up the teachers on the plea of lack of funds. The various teachers' training institutes in the State are also lying in limbo, as a result of which the entire process of revamping the education system has come to a grinding halt. [S]

APSC results irk Nagaon AGP NAGAON, Dec 27: Nagaon District AGP office-bearers reacted sharply to the results of the ACS and allied services examination which had been declared by the Assam Public Service Commission yesterday. The AGP office-bearers were surprised that no candidate from Nagaon, the home district of Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, finds a place in the list of 89 successful candidates. The AGP office-bearers alleged that the list contains more candidates who are relatives of APSC members and chairman, and Congress-backed candidates. [S] AGP MLAs irate over APSC bunglings, for CBI probe GUWAHATI, Dec 27: Two leading MLAs of the ruling Asom Gana Parishad have demanded a CBI inquiry into the allegations of irregularities and corruption in the selection of candidates to the Assam Civil Service (ACS) and its allied services, which is conducted by the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC). The legislators, Dilip Kumar Saikia and Girin Baruah, said that serious doubts have cropped up in the minds of the public on the credibility of the recent selection by the APSC of 89 candidates to different categories of the state bureaucracy. The MLAs said that there have been misgivings among members of the public over the selection of two sons of two sitting APSC members, the daughter of the private assistant to the Commission's chairman, close relatives of several politiciansand also over other such instances of nepotism. [NED]

Massive irregularity and graft detected in Dhemaji

GUWAHATI, Dec 27: The Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Dhemaji has detected a massive irregularity and rampant corruption in the office of Dhemaji Development Block and Murkongselek TD Block during the tenure of Naba Kumar Dekabaruah as senior block development officer. [NED]

Three PWD employees dismissed

DHUBRI, Dec 27: Three employees of Dhubri PWD (Road) Division -- Ramzan Ali, the head clerk, Hasan Ali, an SO and Pradip Chakraborty, a clerk-cum-cashier -- were dismissed today from their jobs after their corrupt practices came to light. Earlier Sayed Mohammed Abdul, Executive Engineer of the same department was also dismissed for corruption. It may be mentioned here that in September a Rs 13-lakh scam was unearthed in the department. [S]

'Resign from educational body panels'
AASU deadline for politicians

GUWAHATI, Dec 30: The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) today set a deadline of December 31 for the Minister, legislators and other political leaders to resign from the management committees of the educational institutions. In a release here today, Sri Prabin Boro and Sri Amiya Kumar Bhuyan, the president and general secretary respectively of the AASU, said that the students' union would be forced to launch a democratic movement if the political leaders refuse to come out of the management committees of the educational institutions. [AT]