Afternoon News - 16 March, 2020
02:42 Share

**Covid-19: Uncertainty looms large over BTAD elections - **The growing coronavirus scare in the state has pushed the upcoming BTC elections into a great certainty. The State Election Commission of late announced that elections to the 40 constituencies of the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts will be held on April 4.

**Registration of 1,374 pharmacies canceled - **The Assam state government has rescinded 1,374 pharmacies across the state for being allegedly run by fake pharmacists. It has been learned that the government received an allegation that those pharmacists who registered under Section 32(B) of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 were fake pharmacists. The number of such pharmacists is 1,374. The government has canceled their licenses and abrogated the registration of the pharmacies under them.

**Citizenship Amendment Act illegal and unlawful: Prafulla Kumar Mahanta - **Former Assam Chief Minister and senior AGP leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta once again claimed that the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act, is illegal and unlawful, alleging that it has violated the basic structure of the Indian Constitution. Addressing a press conference on Sunday the former chief minister demanded immediate repeal of the controversial Act, which was passed by Parliament during the winter session.

**COVID-19: Gauhati University to remain closed - **Following the instruction of the state government the Guwahati University administration has decided that to close its campus till March 29. The university has also postponed its annual versity week to check the dreaded coronavirus infection.

**Land Encroachment: Sattra Mahabha refutes Dispur claims - **The Asom Sattra Mahasabha refused to accept the claims made by the state government on March 2 in the floor of Assembly regarding the encroachment of the sattra’s land. The Mahasabha alleged that the government hid actual data of the encroachment.

**Guwahati police issues orders to limit public gatherings - **As a part of coronavirus preventive measure the Guwahati police Commissionerate has issued order to limit public gatherings in the Capital city. The order issued by the city police said that only precaution could check the spread of the dreaded virus.