Annual Urs held at Aulia Engil Baba shrine

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In pic : Mangaldai MLA Gurujyoti Das (extreme right) speaking on the ocassion on Sunday .

MANGALDAI ,January 29:

The Annual Urs of Aulia Engil Baba’s shrine of Mangaldai was on Sunday observed with religious fervour which was visited by thousands of devotees and visitors from different parts of Darrang, Udalguri and Kamrup district .
Keeping alive the decades old tradition, people from both ,Hindu and Muslim  faith , paid obeisance at the shrine and took part in the Urs. The devotees offered prayers for peace and harmony in the district and rest of the world. Mangaldai legislator Gurujyoti Das also visited the shrine and exhorted the people to maintain communal brotherhood and harmony through bonds of humanity. Das also planted a sapling in the shrine premises on the ocassion . 
Former State Minister Basanta Das, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Mangaldai Municiplity Board Pratap Bordoloi also visited the shrine .
Talking to this correspondent Mirja Gias President of Mazaar and Idgah Committee said,” The annual Urs have been organised by people of the locality since 1964 . We have made every possible efforts for the conveniance of the visitors. ” 
A community feasting was also arranged on the ocassion. It is pertinent here to mention that shrine of Aulia Engil Baba located in Mangaldai of Darrang district  is known for its secular fabric where people from all walks and sections of society pay obeisance. 

In pic:  MLA Gurujyoti Das along with noted lawyer Mirja Gias planting a sapling at shrine premises on Sunday. 

​Bodoland movement revived with rail blockade agitation

The blockade at Udalguri railway station disrupted rail communication on the Udalguri-Tezpur- Dekargaon, NJP-Rangapara-Naharlagun sections,with trains either being cancelled or halted at different stations

In pic: The mamooth gathering in the rail blockade programme at Udalguri railway station on Monday.
TANGLA,Oct 24:

Reiterating its demand for creation of separate state of Bodoland to be carved out of Assam, the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) and its allied organizations that include members of Bodo Sahitya Sabha, All Bodo Employees Federation, All Bodo Womens’ Welfare Federation,NDFB(P), PJACBM , on Monday blocked rail movement for 10 hours,disrupting train connectivity in the northern part of state since dawn.

Over 20,000 people coming from far-flung areas of Udalguri,Baksa and Sonitpur districts joined the programme and rent the air shouting slogans “No Bodoland no rest”, “No discrimination against Bodos will be tolerated”, “Divide Assam 50-50” . The blockade at Udalguri railway station had a hard hitting impact as it disrupted rail communication on the Udalguri-Tezpur- Dekargaon, (New Jalpaiguri) NJP-Rangapara-Naharlagun sections with trains either be cancelled or being halted at different railway stations.

Coming down heavily on the discriminatory stand of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the centre and the state towards addressing the long pending demands of the Bodo people, The Bodo groups say their faith in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to resolve the Bodoland issue was “misplaced” and they only got “false assurances” from the party — during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and the 2016 state elections. ABSU general secretary Lawrence Islary said “we warn the government that nopolitical conspiracy against Bodos will be tolerated”.

Demanding safety and right of the ethnic Bodo people and a united Bodo nation, Islary accused the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government of coming to power with a false commitment of solving the Bodoland issue. “We the joint group were optimistic of resolving our half century long crisis when the national leadership of BJP raised the slogans of ‘Paribartan’ (change) and ‘acche din aane wala hain’ on the eve of the polls before they came to the power,” he said.

“Believing it, we met the national leadership such as union ministers Rajnath Singh and Kiren Rijiju repeatedly for the last two and half” ,He added.  years. The Bodo organisations also met chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal when he was union minister many a time appealing him to resume the tripartite talks with the Bodo organisations for permanent peace and solution to the unsolved Bodo issues,” he added.

The government is ignoring and undermining the issues as they are engaging in political conspiracy to exploit the marginalised groups and the communities of the country whom they promised to deliver an equitable governance and justice after more than half century of Congress rule at the centre, he alleged. “Since we have contribution to the BJP coming to power we had expectations from the BJP regime that something would be done to resolve the Bodo problem. So we waited for the last two and half years without taking up any agitational programme,” he added.

 “We have set a target for amicable solution of Bodoland issue within three years through mission Bodoland-2019 and intensive people’s movement would continue till the government gives positive response,” he said adding that there could be some government agency or third force which intended to derail the Bodoland movement. He called upon all to be cautious towards the bad elements of Bodoland movement.

The programme was also attended by Dipen Boro vice-president of ABSU,Rakesh Boro Chief convenor of PJACBM. Dipen Boro also addressed the mamooth gathering promising of more severe me democratic protest near future if their demands are not paid heed to. 

​Irate mob vandalizes Tangla hospital after road mishap

In pic : Irate Mob staging protest at Tangla CHC Hospital on Saturday. 

TANGLA, Oct 22: An irate mob of around 60 people, residents of a neighbouring slum, vandalized the 30-bedded Tangla CHC and Hospital and smashed the windscreen of a108 Mritunjoy ambulance, before being dispersed by police and Assam Cobra commandoes.
On Saturday evening, an accident took place at the TB Road when a Tata DI (AS01 N 5641) vehicle carrying traders and their goods from the Bhergaon weekly market to Tangla, overturned multiple times. As the result of the accident, at least six persons were injured and one person was killed on the spot.

In pic: Mob pelting stones at the wind shield of 108 ambulance. 

An irate mob staged protest against alleged medical negligence by attending doctors and nurses and lack of ambulance to refer the injured patients for better treatment. The injured have been identified as Dilip Paul (43), Animish Baidya (40), Sankar Das (37), Babu Nandi (38), Rahimuddin Hussain (52) and Situ Dey. The deceased has been identified as Anu Nandi (45). Only a single doctor, Dr LK Sarma, and a handful of nurses attended to the injured. The family members alleged that the doctor turned away the patients without any treatment.

Hell broke loose soon after. A mob gathered and vandalized the hospital. They clashed with the police who tried to stop them. With more police force rushing in, the mob spilled over on the road and started pelting stones at a Mritunjoy 108 ambulance. The situation was brought under control by police and Assam Cobra commandoes.

The injured were referred to GMCH and Mangaldai Civil Hospital for better treatment. Hospital sources accepted that no ambulance was available and the single ambulance available was lying non-functional. “The 102 ambulance was also not available,” said Dr LK Sarma, the attending doctor. The people have also alleged unavailability of medicines in the 30-bedded hospital.

​Shocking! Child-marriage instance in remote village of Assam

Representational Image (Pic credit: Council on Foreign Relations)

TANGLA,Oct 20: An eye raising incident of mysterious child marriage came to light  at Dimakuchi of Udalguri district of Assam. The incident has revealed the prevailing social menace of child marriage in the area.

Reportedly on October 18 last Biswanath Rajbhor a resident of 1 No. Suklai area under Dimakuchi PS married of his 13 year old daughter to a 13 year old son of Guchuba Rajbhor of a neighbouring village.

On October 19 as the news  of the child marriage spread to conscious circles irate people thrashed and manhandled both the father of the boy and the girl.

As the situation turned worst student leaders of  Hindi-Vhasi Xuva Chatra Federation rushed the spot and informed Dimakuchi PS. The police took to custody both the male and female child’s along with their fathers.

The police after prima facie evidence to the case contrary to  registering a case of child marriage  had registered a case of kidnapping of the girl child by the boy and his father under IPC section 366 (A) vide case no.96/16.

The girl child was later handed over to her parents. The 13 year old child groom was forwarded to juvenile home .

It is to be mentioned that both the male and female children are a school drop-out. The incident has raised the need of social awareness in remote areas regarding child-marriage.

​Asom Shikshak Karmachari Aikya Mancha refuses to accept HC verdict

TANGLA, Oct 12:

The Udalguri  district unit of the Asom Sikshak Karmachari Aikya Mancha (ASKAM) has decided to fight unitedly against the alleged discriminatory attitude of the State Government in provincialising the posts of teachers and employees of venture educational institutions.

A general meeting held on the Chatgari ME school premises here on Wednesday which was attended by teachers and employees of Mazbat,Khoirabari, Kalaigaon and Udalguri. 

It was presided over by Pranjal Kr. Sarmah, the district general secretary  of ASKAM.

Sarmah informed that a total of nearly 7000 institutions which were awaiting provincialisation along with nearly 32000 teachers-employees who were anticipating their service regularisation were left in the lurch, due to the Government’s dilly-dallying on the issue on flimsy grounds, despite all the assurances given to them time to time by previous state Congress government. 
The teachers fates and expectations were completlt sealed by the Sept 23,2016 verdict of Gauhati HC  making The  Assam Venture Educational Institutions (Provincialization of Services) Act, 2011 invalid which was enacted to provincialise the  teachers-employees  of venture schools.

The Asom Shikshak Karmachari Aikya Mancha blantly refused to accept the HC verdict stating that through amendment of new legislation the govt. is discriminating the teachers who have rendered 20-25 years of voluntary services in building human resources till date in hope of pronvicialisation of their posts.
“It is unfortunate that the state government is planning to bring in a fresh legislation expeditiously,  within the next six months”, said Sarmah. The Asom Shikshak Karmachari Aikya Mancha has exhorted the state government to recognise and thereby pronvicialise the teachers of the venture schools who have spend whole of their life in rendering  voluntary service for the sake of building human resource at the earliest.  It has also refused to accept the HC verdict and any fresh legislation regarding the pronvicialisation of the teacher’s posts.

The members of  Asom Shikshak Karmachari Aikya Mancha has also threatened of launching democratic protests in coming days if their demands are not paid heed to.

Watch “Durga Puja celebration at Tangla” on YouTube

We the Adivasi community are ST by birth: AASAA activist Paul Toppo

In pic: Students performing traditional Adivasi Jhumur dance on the ocassion at Bordoloi Bhavan Tangla on Wednesday. 

TANGLA, Oct 5:

The Tangla College unit AASAA organized freshmen social of students of Adivasi community at Bordoloi Bhavan of Tangla on Wednesday . Pradeep Nag Working President Central Committee AASAA graced the event as chief guest.

In his lecture at the open session , he said it is bizarre irony that 200 years of struggle by Adivasi community of state has not sought them  ST status.

“The Adivasi community should stand United. We should be conscious of our political and constitutional right . He exhorted the students  to excel in life and work for the cause of the society”, Nag said.

Nag appealed students to keep the identity and culture of the community intact.  The unique  identity of our community has been ravaged by time. He lambasted the government for labelling the Adivasi community as Tea tribe now and then.

Nag further said that,” We vow that if wages of tea garden labourers are not increased to Rs.330 we will lock up tea gardens.”

“The Adivasi community are one of the ancient indigenous community of India. Our history is inscripted in scripts of The Ramayana,Mahabarata yet ironically we have been deprived of land pattas.”, Nag added.

Speaking on the open session former AASAA activist and Adivasi Development Council member Paul Toppo  said,”The student should dream big and work hard to  shine in their life.”

“We the Adivasi community are ST by birth . The traits of ST runs through our blood. But the  government has not granted the Adivasi community of state ST status. ” Toppo said.

He exhorted the students to dream big work hard and fly high .

The students also performed  traditional Jhumur dance . Earlier a students introduction ceremony was   held. The programme was attended as guest of honour by Suresh Lomga President UDC AASAA and office bearers of district and regional committee of AASAA.

​Orang National Park opens for tourists,locals alleges step motherly attitude of the government

TANGLA,Oct 1: Along with many other national parks of the state the Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park popularly known as mini-Kaziranga opened for local and international  tourists on Saturday. 

The 62nd wildlife week celebration by the park authorities from October 1 to October 7 also flagged off on Friday. As a part of the programme Mangaldoi wildlife divisional forest officer Sunnydeo Choudhury 

flagged off the event.

Various colourful events will be held in the Wild life week informed park authorities. 

As a part of the first day programme a meet was held which was attended by  Budhin Hazarika Principal Kharupetia College,Sirajul Haque,Wild life activist Mushabirul Haque among others.

A rally was also taken out by school students from the National Park .

An awareness programme on ‘Rhino poaching’ was held at Nalbari Primary School. Many senior citizens of the locality spoke on the measures local people need to adapt so as to protect the previous flora and fauna of the national park.

Musabirul Haque President of Anti-Forest Activities Protection Committee said “It is the responsibility of the villagers to join hands with forest officials to protect the resources of the national park  from the hands of poachers. “We should stand firm so as to protect the rhinos from the hands of poachers,” said Haque. 

Though  Orang National Park ,also termed as a miniature Kaziranga,  on the north bank of river Brahmaputra has great scopes for inflow of large numbers of both local and international tourists housing One horned Rhinoceros, Royal Bengal Tiger, Barking Deer, Elephant, Leopard, Sambar and Hogdeer, Pangolin, Civet Cat in animal and migratory and local birds viz. Palican, Green Pigeon, Bengal Florican, Cormorant, Greylag Goose, Large Whistling Teal, Great Adjutant Stork, King Vulture the government is alleged by the locals to adopt step motherly attitude to the park in terms of infrastructure  facilities ranging from accomodation ,Gypsy safaries, Elephant safaries among others. Locals and wildlife activist have urged state  forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma to upgrade the park so as to inflow huge tourist and generate revenues. 

 

​British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia ‘Simon Collis’ Accepted Islam

The 60-year-old Collis has been pictured wearing the white robes traditionally worn for the pilgrimage. —Photo courtesy Twitter

The United Kingdom’s ambassador to Riyadh, Simon Collis, and accepted Islam on the occasion of annual Hajj. The ambassador found in Mecca performing all requirements of Hajj.
In the picture it can be seen, the British ambassador is standing in traditional white Hajj dress “Ahram” with his Syrian Muslim wife, Huda Majarkech. He is also the first British ambassador to perform Hajj.
Muslims around the world are ecstatic about the conversion of Simon Collis toward Islam. In this week, he has also completed the Hajj as well. What makes the Muslims around the world so ecstatic us that an international celebrity came from the highest global society and accepted Islam, helps to present the soft image of Muslims and Islam in world’s eyes.
After talking about accepting new religion, Simon Collis said, “I converted to Islam after thirty years if living in Muslim societies and before marrying Huda.”

Increasing man-elephant conflict in Udalguri district of Assam

​Wild jumbo tramples 1 women to death injuries another

TANGLA, September 9:

A women was trampled to death by a wild elephant at Bholakhuti line area of Hatigor TE under Harisinga police station of Udalguri district near the Indo-Bhutan border last evening.

While Uma Digal(55) was trampled to death,the wild jumbo herd injured another women Sudha Tanti.

In pic: A wild jumbo at the Indo-Bhutan border village of Udalguri district of Assam.
The wild jumbos also ransacked at least seven dwelling houses in the area.

The man-elephant conflict has assumed alarming proportions in recent years at several parts of Udalguri bordering Bhutan.

At least 8 persons have been killed by wild elephants this year in Udalguri district alone.

“At the root of the conflict lies rampant deforestation triggered by illegal encroachment. The unabated destruction of forests and encroachment of forestland either for raising tea plantations or private plantations have compelled wild elephants to enter human habitats,” said a wildlife activist.

“Herds of elephants come to the villages in search of food and shelter and in the process, destroy houses, damage crops and even trample people to death. Many times, these elephants attack and kill the villagers when the latter try to chase them away,” he added.

Official statistics said the three reserve forests — Khalingduar, Rowta and Bhairabkunda — and Barnadi wildlife sanctuary comprise an area of 19,892 hectares, of which 4,362 hectares have been encroached upon.