Three rhino poachers held with arms-ammunition in Assam, Karbi Anglong district:

Guwahati, June 3: Security forces had arrested three poachers with a huge cache of arms and ammunition from Assam Karbi Anglong district, who were involved in rhino poaching incident in Kaziranga National Park (KNP).

Based on intelligence input, Karbi Anglong district police, the army had launched an operation at Dolamara area on Tuesday evening and arrested three poachers who were also involved in an incident took place at Habi Rongphar village under Dolamara police station and recovered arms and ammunition from their possession.

It may be mentioned that on May 21 complainant Rameswar Rongphor of village Habi Rongphor lodged an FIR in the Dolamara police station to the effect that on May 16 seven unknown persons equipped with arms and ammunition entered in their village and started beating up the persons with a gun butt and bamboo sticks.

On March 27 also the said culprits came to their village and open up the firing of approximately 20 rounds and forcefully took away rice, pulses and livestock etc from each house.

In this connection a case 4/2020 under section 325/370/386 of IPC and R/W Sec 27 Arms Act had been registered in the Dolamara police station.

The arrested persons were identified as David Siama alias Samboi of Lamka Churachandpur in Manipur, Biki Thapa of Sagmuthi tea garden and Simon Lakra of Napani, Salna in Nagaon district of Assam.

Security personnel had recovered one AK 81 rifle, two AK 56 rifles, one DBBL gun, 400 rounds of ammunition and few camp materials, warlike stores from their possession.

The arrested persons also confessed that they were involved in rhino poaching incident in Kaziranga National Park (Bokakhat police station case no 131/2020).

A top police official said that one among the seven-member group identified as Mang alias Mongboi Paite was killed in an encounter with security personnel at Dhansiri are on May 28 last.

12 people including six minors died in two separate landslide incidents in Assam, Cachar and Karimganj district:

Guwahati, June 2: At least 12 people including few minors of two families died in two separate landslide incidents in Assam, Cachar and Karimganj district on Tuesday.

According to the reports, seven people of a family died in a landslide incident triggered by heavy rains that took place at Joypur Kolarpar area in Cachar district along Assam-Manipur border in the wee hours of Tuesday.

Due to incessant rains, a massive landslide occurred at the area and seven people of a family including three minors were buried under a house which was completely sliding down.

Following the incident, local villagers had rushed to the area and informed local police also.

During the rescue operations, local villagers and police had recovered seven bodies from the mud.

The deceased people were identified as 45-year-old Tazimuddin Lashkar, 20-year-old Alia Begum, 18-year-old Alam Uddin, Arif Uddin, 14-year-old Amuna Begum, 12-year-old Sumona Begum and 8-year-old Rehim Uddin.

In another landslide incident, five people of a family killed in Karimganj district.

The incident took place at Kaliganj Karimpur village.

The deceased persons were identified as 57-year-old Ajir Uddin, his wife 40-year-old Rajia Begum, two minor son 10-year-old Aftab Hussain and 7-year-old Anuwar Uddin and daughter 5-year-old Tahera Begum.

Assam issues fresh guidelines for Unlock 1, allows open barber shops-parlours from today:

Guwahati, June 1: Assam government on Monday has issued fresh guidelines for Unlock 1 and allowed such activities with strict compliance of social distancing, hygiene and all other protocols as directed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for containment of COVID-19 epidemic across the country.

The new guidelines issued by Assam government Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna stated that the state government has allowed open hotels, restaurants and other hospitality services, shopping malls from June 8 by maintaining social distancing with 50 per cent of total capacity at a time.

“Religious places, places of worship for the public from 8th June, 2020 subject to gathering of maximum 20 (twenty) persons per hour. However, if any religious place has only a small area, the management committee of such religious institutions shall downsize the number of attendees accordingly. (All religious institutions shall issue disposable paper tokens to regulate the number of visitors per hour and ensure safe disposal of tokens before entering the religious places.). Open spaces and public parks for Yoga, morning walk, jogging etc. without sitting arrangements from 15th June, 2020. Persons entrusted with the responsibility of maintenance of such areas shall be responsible for maintaining social distancing and hygiene norms. Film and video shooting for both Government and private in open spaces and studios by maintaining social distancing from 15th June, 2020,” said in the state government’s new guidelines.

The state government has allowed open barbershops and parlours for hair trimming purposes only from June 1 by maintaining social distancing and strict use of masks and gloves with very frequent sanitization.

According to the fresh guidelines of the Assam government, the night curfew will be observed in the state from 9 pm to 5 am throughout the state, except for essential activities.

The new guidelines also stated that – “Cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places shall remain closed. Social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious functions and other large congregations will not be allowed. Schools, Colleges, Universities, Coaching Centers and other similar places of gathering shall remain closed until further orders.”

Assam’s GST collection drops by 60 per cent amid COVID-19 pandemic

Guwahati, June 1: Assam’s GST collection drops. Along with the other states of the country, Assam has also been badly affected in GST (Goods and Services Tax) collection due to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection of Assam has dropped by around 60 per cent in the second month of the current financial year.

Assam has collected only Rs 360 crore as Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue collection in April, 2020.

In April, 2019, the state had collected Rs 932.36 crore as GST revenue collection.

Assam Finance minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the state economy has been badly affected due to COVID-19 pandemic.

“But, we are trying to strengthen the state economy. In April this year, we have collected only Rs 147 as GST collection which is only around 20 per cent collection compared to the previous year. But, the GST collection has been increased to Rs 360 crore in May this year. It is around 40 per cent GST collection compared to the previous year.” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The Assam Finance minister hopes that, GST collections in the state will increase in June and July following the relaxations made by the centre for Lockdown 5.

In April, 2019, Assam had collected Rs 406 crore as SGST, Rs 276 crore as CGST, Rs 193 crore as IGST and Rs 55 crore as cess.

Flood situation in Assam improves, one drowns in floodwaters

Guwahati, May 31: The flood situation in Assam improves considerably on Sunday though one person lost his life due to drowning in floodwaters taking the death toll to seven.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), one person drowned in floodwaters at Matia in Goalpara district on Sunday.

Following the halt of rains, the overall flood situation in Assam is now improving as the numbers of flood-affected people came down to 2.52 lakh from 3.72 lakh.

The ASDMA daily data said that, nearly 2.52 lakh people of three districts – Goalpara, Nagaon, Hojai are still affected in the first wave of floods.

293 villages of seven revenue circles of three districts have been affected by floods and 25,044 hectares of crop areas are still under floodwater. The first spate of floods hit the state and over 2 lakh people of seven districts have been affected in the floods

Nearly 1.51 lakh have affected in Goalpara district while 68,000 people affected in Hojai and 32,700 people in Nagaon district.

Around 10,000 people are still taking shelter at 63 relief camps in three flood affect districts.

Water levels of Brahmaputra river and many other rivers are receding, but the water level of Kopili river is still flowing above danger level mark at Kanpur and Dharamtul in Nagaon district.

After completing 1 lakh tests Assam now sets target to conduct 2 lakh tests for COVID-19 by June 15

Guwahati, May 31: After completing 1 lakh samples test for COVID-19, Assam has now set a target to conduct 2 lakh tests by June 15.

Assam Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that Assam has crossed a milestone by conducting 1 lakh samples test for COVID-19.

“The state has tested 1,04,083 samples for COVID-19 as of May 31 and the state has convincingly bypassed Kerala. In March, the state had sent samples to NIV, Pune for testing, but within a month, the state has tested 1 lakh samples with its resources. During the time, 12,732 samples have been tested at Jorhat Medical College Hospital, 9111 at Silchar Medical College Hospital, 22,000 at Guwahati Medical College Hospital, 5100 at Assam Medical College Hospital, 12,450 at Tezpur Medical College Hospital, 22,000 at Barpeta Medical College Hospital and 12,905 samples have been tested at Regional Medical Research Centre, Lahore. Apart from it 4033 samples have been tested in outsources laboratories,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Addressing a press conference held in Guwahati, the Assam Health minister said that, now Assam has set a target to conduct 2 lakh tests for COVID-19 by June 15.

He also said that, Assam has now a capacity to test 10,000 samples for COVID-19 per day.

“2-3 more laboratories will be started within a week and we will able to conduct more tests,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Himanta further said that, the state has also a capacity to treat 4232 COVID-19 patients at a time.

“We have already started first COVID-19 hospital in the North-Eastern region. Now we will deal with the patients in three layers. Highly symptomatic patients will be treated in medical colleges, vulnerable patients will be treated at district hospitals and non-symptomatic patients will be treated at model hospitals. We have decided to activate 50 model hospitals in the state for specially COVID-19 treatment,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

He also said that the Assam government has decided to reduce institutional quarantine period from seven days to four days and increase home quarantine period to 10 days.

Assam has reported 1272 positive cases for COVID-19 so far and out of the 185 patients have been discharged from hospitals and the state has now 1080 active positive cases for the new virus.

Assam reports 159 new COVID-19 positive cases, state tally surges to 1216:

Guwahati, May 31: Assam COVID-19 cases count surges to 1216 after 20 more air travellers had got tested positive for COVID-19 in Assam.

Assam has registered 159 COVID-19 positive cases including 20 air travellers in the last 24 hours.

With the new cases, the state tally has now increased to 1216.

The 20 air travellers had returned to Assam recently.

Assam Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the state had reported 159 positive cases for the new virus in last 24 hours and 20 air travellers were among them.

Earlier, eight air travellers were tested positive for the novel Coronavirus in the state.

In the last six days, Assam has reported 824 positive cases for COVID-19.

On the other hand, 38 more COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals on Saturday.

14 COVID-19 patients were discharged from Silchar Medical College Hospital while 11 from Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital, Guwahati, 8 from Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital (FAAMC), Barpeta, three from Jorhat Medical College Hospital and two from Guwahati Medical College Hospital.

Assam has so far registered 1216 COVID-19 positive cases and out of these 163 patients were discharged from hospitals.

The state has now 1046 active positive cases for the novel Coronavirus.