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G PLUS AUG 30 - SEP 05, 2014
City
Dowry kills
woman in Ghy RAHUL CHANDA
CBSE examinees to get mobile alerts
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n order to keep the examinees under Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE) aware of all the latest developments and to improve communication, the board will soon start sending them alerts. Latest changes in course curriculums and different initiatives by the board will also be directly intimated to the students. Officials in CBSE’s Guwahati zone said the board has completed
procuring the mobile numbers and email addresses of students of classes X, XI and XII from most schools affiliated to it. A few schools located in remote locations are yet to submit details. “Email addresses and mobile numbers of the students will help us prepare a database. This will also enable us to know the approximate number of examinees who will sit for the two board examinations,” said regional officer Sanjib Das.
HC orders State Govt on reservation
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n a disturbing trend, the evil of ‘dowry culture’ had taken nearly 850 lives in the State in the last six years. In 2013, as many as 135 dowry deaths were reported in the state, whereas in 2012, the figure was 140. Statistics available with the Assam Police, however, reveal that not a single case was registered under Dowry Prohibition Act in any of the police stations of the State in the year 2013 (till October) during the course of which 135 dowry deaths were reported. The Guwahati city also keeps witnessing dowry deaths time to time, and recently a case which is not clarified is a suicide or a murder, has raised many questions about the end of such evil practises in the society.
The case 27-year-old Mitumoni Das of Piyali Phukon Nagar, Chanmari tied the knot with 40-year-old Kobin Mali from Alok Path, Jayanagar on 23rd January 2014. The marriage was arranged by her parents. It’s just six months of the marriage and Mitumoni’s body was recovered entirely burnt from her in-laws place on 22nd August 2014. According to police, Mitumoni stayed with her husband on the top floor of a double storied building at Jayanagar. According to the statement recorded by the police at the spot, it seems like Mitumoni closed the door of the room from inside and set herself ablaze. After looking at the smoke the neighbours and the in-laws who were in the ground floor reached the room and tried opening the door, but till they opened the door, Mitumoni’s body was severely burnt and she died on the spot. According to police, the investigation is not complete and it is yet
he Gauhati High Court has recently delivered a significant order on the subject of reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Hills and Plains) in promotions. The order of 8th August, 2014 was delivered by Justice Ujjwal Bhuyan, in a Writ Petition numbered 707/2014 (M.C. No.726/2014) filed by a batch of Assistant Engineers (Civil) serving under the Irrigation Department of the Government of Assam since 2007 who belong to the SC and ST categories seeking promotions to the rank of Assistant Executive Engineers. The writ petitioners claimed that this has amounted to a violation of the Assam Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Vacancies in Services and Posts) Act, 1978, as amended
“I can understand my sister very well and according to whatever we know about her, she is someone who can never commit suicide” to be cleared that it was a murder or suicide. Mitumoni’s parents lodged a dowry complaint and a case (case number -1757/2014/489A, 304B IPC) has been registered in Dispur Police Station. The police said that it is looking like a suicide case, but nothing can be declared till the investigation process is over. The police have arrested Mitumoni’s husband Kobin Mali and mother-in-law Apati Mali. It is said that Kobin is a drunker and kept demanding for many things like TV and fridge from Mitumoni.
The murder angle The police might believe or are pretending to believe that it is a suicide case, but according to the brother of Mitumoni, it is a brutal murder case. Talking to G Plus, Bikash said, “I can understand my sister very well and according to whatever we know about her, she is someone who can never commit suicide.” He then narrated that it was an arranged marriage and before marriage, it was not known that the husband was a drunker. “On 21st August it was Assam Bandh and my sister told me that she would come to visit us. In the morning hours, there was no vehicle in the city so she informed that she will come in the evening at around 7 pm. I went to the market to get some good food for my sister. Because of some work, I reached home at around
9pm and asked my parents who informed me that she did not come. Next day I called her around 8.30 am and her mother-in-law received the phone. She told me that Mitumoni is upstairs and she will inform her when she comes down. Immediately I called Kobin and he did not receive my phone. After half an hour Mitumoni’s brother-in-law called me and asked me to reach their place with my parents. When we reached there the police, media and all their relatives were already present there. The body of my sister did not have even a single cloth and nothing near the body was burnt. The bed, furniture and not even the curtains were burnt. Only my sister’s body was badly burnt and she was dead.” He further added that Mitumoni’s in-laws are rich and have good understanding with police, so, it is a murder case which will be proven as suicide and the culprits will roam free. He said that Mitumoni had previously informed one of her sister that her husband is asking for TV, fridge and some money. Crime against women is always in a rise in Assam, and it is pathetic that people still die of traditional evil practise like dowry. It is tough to say that it was a murder or a suicide case, but if it was a murder, the authorities should make sure that the case does not get twisted because of external forces like money power.
which provides for 7% reservation for SC, 10% for ST (P) and 5% for ST(H), besides ignoring the back - log. The order of the High Court has exposed the lackadaisical approach of the State Government to the whole issue of providing reservation to STs and SCs in the matter of promotions. Lack of earnestness in the matter on the part of the State Government has resulted in deprivation of promotion to SCs and STs in the just concluded exercise of promotion in the Irrigation Department and the deprivation will continue in future promotions in other Departments too as long as the State Government delays the exercise of obtaining the requisite quantifiable data as per the three Constitutional requirements emphasised by the Supreme Court.
Sankardev, Madhavdev And Ajan Fakir In an effort to introduce Srimanta Sankardev, Madhavdev and Ajan Fakir to a broader audience than the Assamese people, the Meghalaya Rashtrabhasha Prachar Samity, Shillong has taken up an initiative to publish their lives and works in Hindi. The three books, ‘Srimanta Sankardev: Brojawali Samagra,’ ‘Mahapurush Madhavdev: Brojawali Samagra’ and ‘Sampriti Ka Sadhak- Ajan Fakir.’ The books were released in a brief ceremony organised last week in Guwahati. This initiative by the Samiti is expected to enrich Hindi literature as well as promote the integrity and unity of the country. Srimana Sankardev: Brojawali samagra – The book is written by professor Krishna Narayan Prasad and professor Dinesh Kumar Choubey. The book talks the life of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev, the 15th century Assamese saint and other art forms created and popularised by Sankardev such as Borgget, Bhatima and Ankiya bhaona. Mahapurush Madhavdev: Brojawali Samagra – This book too has been written by the same writers and it includes the life and works of Saint Madhavdev, a disciple of Sankardev which
includes songs, drama, Bhatima and Jhumura written by the saint. Sampriti ka Sadhak- Ajan Fakir- The book is a collection of short stories written by Abiduddin Ahmed and translated from Assamese to Hindi by Professor Rafiqul Haque. The books includes Jikir (a type of spiritual song which mentions Assamese folk culture) written by Ajan Fakir, a 17th century Muslim preacher and saint, who settled down in Assam and helped in reforming the society.