Shillong Chamber Choir 'slighted'

Why hasn't Govt. given the recognition that the Choir deserves?

SHILLONG, July 30: There is a growing feeling that the Shillong Chamber Choir, which won 3 gold medals at the recent 6th World Choir Games at Shaoxing in China, has not been given due recognition by the government.

Observers feel that the Government of India should recognize the Shillong Chamber Choir for bringing name and fame to the country like the way those succeeding in the field of sports are honoured.

Shillong Chamber Choir (SCC) has also qualified for the quarterfinals of the popular show "India's Got Talent" on Colors channel.

Shillong Chamber Choir mentor and pianist Neil Nongkynrih, while addressing the media here yesterday, bemoaned the fact that the government was yet to even felicitate the members of the SCC for their success at the recent World Choir Games.

According to Nongkynrih, the 16-member Shillong Chamber Choir had to struggle a lot before achieving the China success. The Choir members managed to go to China for participation in the 6th World Choir Games only through financial assistance from well-wishers.

Meanwhile, Austrian music conductor Eva Itzlinger has arrived in Meghalaya to train the Shillong Chamber Choir in acapella. Eva will be in the State for 4 weeks for the purpose. 

"I have been sent by the Austrian Government to help the Choir in acapella," Eva told reporters here today.

Eva called the Shillong Chamber Choir as "special" and "extraordinary".

"They (SCC) are growing and they must keep going," she said.

The Shillong Camber Choir was formed by a group of singers in 2001. 

The SCC is said to be the fist such group to have won gold medals at World Choir Games.  The Shillong Camber Choir clinched the gold medals at the China edition of the World Choir Games in the categories of scared, gospel and spiritual and popular choral. Shillong Chamber Choir trainer Pauline Warjri said, "It is really a proud moment for us and the country that we have won 3 gold medals at World Choir Games." (Courtesy: The Sentinel) 

Assam chief minister Gogoi to undergo heart surgeries in Mumbai

NEW DELHI/GUWAHATI, July 30: Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi left for Mumbai from New Delhi on Friday for undergoing two emergency heart surgeries following blood vessel blockages detected by doctors.

According to Assam government sources, Gogoi is likely to be operated at the Asian Heart Institute in Mumbai Wednesday if the pre-surgery tests are normal.

"Well known cardiac surgeon Ramakant Panda would perform the surgeries," Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The Chief Minister complained of a breathing problem and rise in blood pressure last Saturday while attending the meeting of National Development Council in New Delhi chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

He was then admitted to the Max Hospital in New Delhi.

Doctors at the Max Hospital said Gogoi would require two surgeries - a bypass surgery and another surgery to replace an aortic valve with 70 to 80 percent blockages in two blood vessels.

The Chief Minister would require a minimum of 6 weeks to get back to work after the two surgeries are conducted.

"I would like to thank all the people of Assam for their support and wishes for my speedy recovery," Gogoi told journalists in New Delhi Friday before leaving for Mumbai. (Agencies)

'Magical threads' fashion show highlights handlooms and handicrafts of Shillong

A fashion show called 'Magical Threads' featuring rich handlooms and handicrafts of the region is organized in Shillong.

The show was organized by the Shillong fashion society to promote the rich handlooms and handicrafts of the region.

The show sought to popularise the budding talent in the fields of modelling and designing using only the woven fabric.

"We thought, let everybody come together on one platform so that we can tell the world how beautiful, how mystical and how colourful this mosaic is," said Aldous Mawlong, the Chairman of the Shillong Fashion Society.

Designers at the show participated from eight different states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.

The vibrant collection of colours and modish designs were showcased as models walked the ramp.

"It is great to be here and I'm very glad, Shillong and Nagaland are full of colours and of course I would like to visit here again," said Ayang, a Naga stall attendant.

The fashion society, in collaboration with the Directorate of Sericulture and Weaving, envisage a wider avenue for the silk fabric of the region.

Talented designers, singers and cultural troupes from various states came together to entertain the visitors during the show. (Agencies)

Meghalaya IPS officer included in SIT probing riot cases

Ahmedabad, July 30: An IPS officer from Meghalaya cadre Y C Modi has been included in the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing Godhra train burning incident and post-Godhra riot cases of 2002.

Modi, a 1984 batch IPS officer of rank of Inspector General, was inducted recently when SIT chief R K Raghavan had visited Gujarat, officials of the agency said.

Modi stayed here for two days and met staff involved in investigation of riot cases, SIT officials said.

Appointment of Modi comes after the Supreme court order in April this year to drop two members of the SIT - Geeta Johri and Shivanand Jha from its team.

The court's direction to the agency to disassociate Johri and Jha from the team came after the NGO Centre for Peace and Justice had made allegations against them that they were not properly assisting the Special Public Prosecutor in the trial.

Following the order, Raghavan had requested Supreme Court to induct two IPS officers in SIT in place of Johri and Jha.

His request was accepted by the apex court in May, which directed the Union Home Ministry to place two IPS officers identified by Raghavan. Request for appointment of one more IPS officer was pending with Union Home Ministry, SIT officials said.

Appointed by the Supreme Court in March 2008, the SIT has investigated 10 riot cases like Naroda Patia, Naroda Gam, Gulburg, Ode, Dipda Darwaja, Sardarpura, Prantij and Godhra train burning incident.

Trial was on in all the cases in special courts set up under apex court's directive. The trial is being conducted on day to day basis, by a designated judge.

Only the trial in the Godhra train burning incident is being conducted inside the Sabarmati Central Jail here.

The SIT has also done inquiry into a complaint by Zakia, Jaffery, whose husband ex-MP Ehsan Jaffrey was among the 69 killed during the 2002 riots in Gulburg society.

In the complaint Zakia had alleged that 63 persons, including Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, his cabinet colleagues, police officials and senior bureaucrats, aided and abetted post-Godhra riots of 2002.

While probing the complaint the agency had questioned Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on March 27 for over nine hours.

SIT had also recored statements of those named in Zakia's complaint, including former minister of state for Home Gordhan Zadafia, BJP leader I K Jadeja, former BJP MLA from Lunawada Kalu Malivad and sitting MLA from Mehsana Anil Patel, former IPS officer R B Sreekumar, social activist Teesta Setalvad, and some other senior police officers and political leaders. (PTI)

Senior journalist K K Baruah passes away

Mumbai, July 30: Senior journalist and former Assistant General Manager of Press Trust of India Kartik Kumar Baruah passed away here today after a brief illness.

He was 72 and is survived by his wife, 2 sons and a daughter.

Baruah was admitted to the Kokilaben Ambani hospital in suburban Andheri where he died this morning, family members said.

Baruah joined PTI in 1956 and retired in 2000. He served as a manager in PTI Guwahati and Shillong offices and joined PTI Mumbai as a Regional Manager in 1992.

The journalist, who had distinguished himself as a defence correspondent during the Indo-Pak war in 1971, was living in Mumbai after retirement. He had demitted office due to ill health.

During his posting in Shillong, Baruah had extensively covered the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 and the Nagaland Peace Mission under Reverend Scott in 1965 in Nagaland. (PTI)

Lokeshwar is the new deputy speaker of Manipur Assembly

Imphal, July 30: Th Lokeswar of Congress was today elected deputy speaker of the Manipur legislative Assembly.

Lokeswar was the only candidate who filed nomination papers for the post on the last day yesterday, officials said.

The post of deputy speaker has been lying vacant for more than 10 months following the resignation of Shyam Kumar of Manipur People's Party.

After the election, Lokeswar was escorted to the chair of deputy speaker by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and opposition leader Radhabinod Koijam of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). (PTI)

National Cancer grid to reduce patient flow to Mumbai

Mumbai, July 30: A national Cancer grid has been proposed by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) to introduce uniform standards of care and reduce patient flow to its 'mother' hospital in the city and is likely to get approval at the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) meeting during the weekend.

The proposed Cancer Grid will link the department's Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, which specialiZes in Cancer treatment with centres in Kolkata, Jorhat and Bhopal.

"The proposal has recommended for good infrastructure and development of adequate human resource in other centres," the TMC director Dr RA Badwe said.

The proposal also said the seamless connectivity will be made through the very high-speed National Knowledge Network, he said. (PTI)

'ULFA claim contrary to Baruah's statement against violence'

Guwahati, July 30: The ULFA's claim of responsibility for the Friday's attack on the CPRF had authorities expressing doubts over its authenticity as it ran contrary to the banned group's self-styled Commander-in-Chief Paresh Baruah's recent statement against violence.

In a statement on July 9, Baruah had condemned the previous day's bomb blast carried out on railway tracks in Kokrajhar district by the anti-talk NDFB faction of Ranjan Daimary.

The claim appeared without basis since Baruah had made an appeal for peace urging those responsible for the blast not to target the indigenous people, sources said.

"Such incidents can never bring about liberty for the people of the country, rather such incidents are attacks on the indigenous people. They created disbelief and suspicion among the people," Baruah's statement said.

The sources were also apprehensive that the ULFA claim could hamper the peace process at a time when the Centre's peace interlocutor, P C Haldar, had a very "cordial" meeting with the group's chairman, Arabinda Rajkhowa, in Guwahati central jail recently to initiate peace talks.

On July 23, Haldhar had an hour-long "satisfactory" meeting with the jailed ULFA supremo and discussed the process of initiating peace talks with the proscribed outfit. (PTI)

Militants fire at govt official's residence in Manipur

IMphal, July 30: Unidentified militants fired at the private residence of a Manipur government official but no casualty was reported, police said today.

The militants fired at the residence of Dr A Mukta at Andro area in Imphal East district late last night, in which no one was injured.

Mukta, an official of the state health department, was present at the time of incident, police said.

The militants had lobbed a powerful grenade at Mukta's residence on July 20 but it failed to explode.

Extortion demands from the official could be the cause of the incident, police suspect. (PTI)