Paromita Editor

Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has recorded its highest-ever tourist footfall in the financial year 2025-26, reaffirming its position as one of India’s premier wildlife destinations. Director Sonali Ghosh said the Park received a total of 4,68,147 visitors, which included 30,474 foreign tourists. This marks a significant rise in global interest, with foreigners accounting for 4.5 per cent of the total footfall.The surge reflects a steady upward trend over the last decade, with visitors nearly quadrupling in 10 years. From just over 1.55 lakh tourists in 2016-17, Kaziranga has seen consistent growth while bouncing back strongly after the pandemic…

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday submitted his resignation to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at Lok Bhavan in Guwahati, paving the way for the formation of a new government following the NDA’s decisive victory in the Assembly elections. Notably, Sarma’s move is in line with constitutional procedure, enabling the process of government formation to begin. The Governor accepted the resignation and requested Sarma to continue as the caretaker Chief Minister till the new government assumes office. Along with the Chief Minister, the Council of Ministers also submitted their resignation letters to the Governor. The resignations came after the…

A report released by the Association for Democratic Reforms has revealed that 17 per cent of winning candidates in the recent Assam Assembly elections have declared criminal cases against themselves, highlighting the continuing presence of candidates with legal backgrounds in the electoral process. According to the report, which is based on self-affidavits submitted by candidates, 21 out of 126 winning candidates have disclosed criminal cases, while 19 of them, accounting for 15 per cent, face serious criminal charges. Among the serious cases, three winning candidates have declared cases related to attempt to murder under Section 307 of the Indian Penal…

Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday (May 5) said that the party fully accepts the people’s mandate in the Assembly elections and will continue working for the development of Assam both inside and outside the Assembly. Speaking to the media in Guwahati, Gogoi expressed gratitude to voters who supported the Congress and emphasized that the party would also reach out to those who did not vote in its favour. “We accept the people’s mandate. We thank those who voted for us and supported us. Congress will also reach out to those who did not vote for us,” he said.…

The Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE), North-East Regional Centre (NERC), has officially announced the commencement of its Summer Sports Coaching Camp, scheduled to run from June 1 to June 30, 2026. The camp will be hosted at the LNIPE NERC Tepesia Sports Complex in Sonapur, offering professional coaching across a wide range of disciplines including Aerobics & Zumba, Badminton, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Handball, Judo & Self-Defence, Physical Fitness, Swimming, Track & Field, Tennis, Table Tennis, Volleyball and Yoga. Dr Ramesh Chand Yadav, the Extramural Incharge for Sports, stated that the primary objective of this initiative is to encourage youth…

Shivashis Shandilya, despite his name symbolizing blessings of Lord Shiva, could not escape the consequences of corruption. The forest officer, accused of taking bribes worth lakhs every month, has been caught by authorities. Shandilya, who secured the top rank in the 2020 Assam Forest Service examination conducted by the Assam Public Service Commission, allegedly built a large fortune through corrupt practices soon after joining service. On Friday, he was caught red-handed accepting a bribe of ₹12,000 from a dumper owner named Amrit Gogoi at his official residence in Lakhimpur. Officials from the anti-corruption branch arrested him on the spot. Following…

A bomb disposal squad of the Indian Army on Thursday neutralised an unexploded ordnance (UXO - World War II vintage) after it was found in a civilian area at Ledo in Upper Assam’s Lekhapani, posing a potential threat to life and property.The UXO measured approximately 12 inches in length and six inches in diameter.Responding promptly to the information, Red Shield Sappers of the Indian Army swiftly mobilised a bomb disposal team to the site. The team immediately secured the area, evacuated civilians from the vicinity and established a safe perimeter, ensuring strict adherence to all safety protocols.“The UXO was carefully…

A Fast Track Court has rejected the bail application of Shyamkanu Mahanta, one of the prime accused in the death case of Zubeen Garg.During the hearing, Mahanta claimed that he was far away from the location at the time of the incident. However, the prosecution strongly opposed the bail, arguing that he is an influential person and had fled to Malaysia after the incident instead of cooperating with the investigation. According to the prosecution, a lookout notice had to be issued to secure his return.Public prosecutor Ziaul Kamar contended that there is no guarantee Mahanta would not flee the country…

The Supreme Court of India on Thursday reserved its order on the anticipatory bail plea filed by Congress leader Pawan Khera in a case linked to allegations against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma. A bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and A S Chandurkar reserved its verdict after hearing arguments from both sides. Appearing for Khera, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi argued that denying anticipatory bail would defeat the very purpose of pre-arrest protection. He said the allegations against Khera are matters for trial and that arrest would amount to unnecessary humiliation, adding that several sections…

A symposium on the rich tradition of Charita literature in Assam was organised at Assam Royal Global University (RGU) on Wednesday, bringing together eminent scholars, academicians, and students for a day of insightful discussions.The event sparked meaningful dialogue and generated keen interest among young learners on the Charita Puthi—biographical narratives of Srimanta Sankardev, Sri Madhavdev, and other prominent figures of the Vaishnavite movement in Assam.The inaugural session was graced by Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta, Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University, as the chief guest, while the keynote address was delivered by Prof. Dhruba Jyoti Borah, former president of Asam Sahitya Sabha, Sahitya…