Paromita Editor

Kaziranga National Park has once again highlighted Assam’s extraordinary biodiversity after tourists reportedly witnessed a critically endangered gharial during a safari in the Burhapahar Range of the park, a sighting being described as extremely rare and significant for wildlife conservation.The rare reptile was spotted during an early morning safari near Dipholu Camp in the Burhapahar Range. The moment was captured on camera by travel guide Shishukanta Nath along with tourist Diganta Kumar Sarma, creating excitement among wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists.The gharial, known for its long and narrow snout, is listed as a critically endangered species and is rarely seen in…

Assam chief secretary Ravi Kota on Friday directed all concerned government departments to identify and map databases under their respective jurisdictions for integration with National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) in accordance with prescribed protocols and technical requirements.NATGRID, an attached office under the Ministry of Home Affairs approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), serves as a secure intelligence-sharing platform to strengthen national and internal security, including counter-terror efforts.Kota also stressed the need for timely inter-departmental coordination and close cooperation with technical agencies for API (application programming interface) development, connectivity and other integration-related processes.The directive came after the chief secretary attended…

Assam emerged champions of the 2nd North East Little Masters Cricket Trophy (Under-14) after registering a 159-run victory over Tripura in the final played at the MBB Stadium in Agartala on Thursday.The tournament was hosted by the Tripura Cricket Association with the objective of promoting and strengthening grassroots cricket across the Northeast region.Hosts Tripura elected to field first after winning the toss.Batting first, Assam produced a commanding batting performance to post an imposing total of 286 for 6 wickets in their allotted 40 overs.Tanveer Islam led the charge with a magnificent 112 off 82 deliveries, while Binoy Krishna Debnath remained…

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…