Security beefed up in Assam for PM's visit

With the anti-talk faction of United Liberation Front of Assam led by Paresh Baruah calling for a 12-hour shutdown in Assam to protest against the scheduled visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, security has been stepped up in the state to avoid any untoward incident.

According to reports, Baruah has asked his cadres to indulge in acts of violence to make the outfit's presence felt in the state.

The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, is scheduled to arrive in Guwahati later in the day during which he will inaugurate the state-of-the-art linear accelerator with intensity-modulated radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy and SRS/SRT facilities at the Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute in Guwahati.

During his visit, Dr Singh will also be briefed about the revitalisation project phase-IV (RPP-IV) for up-gradation of Borooah Cancer Institute to a centre of excellence at a total cost of Rs 197.49 crore.

Union Minister of State for Development of North

Eastern Region and NEC Chairman Paban Singh Ghatowar will be amongst those present on the occasion.

Dr Borooah Cancer Institute was established on November 18, 1973 and government of India recognised it as a regional cancer centre in year 1980.

Later on, the government of Assam took over the management of the institute from the board of trustee in 1986 while retaining its autonomy. The institute is being developed as an institution of excellence and has all the modern infrastructure facilities and experts for cancer treatment.

The institute has a 200-bed hospital spread over a plot of land measuring 15 acres. It has, in addition, a 100-bed guesthouse for ambulatory patients. About 8,500 new patients and 50,000 old patients visit the institute every year.

Considering the fact that the number of trained technical staff in the field of oncology is limited in the north-eastern region, the institute has also started various teaching and training programmes in this field.