Preeti Singh - The Purbottar

02 Oct

Local Guides Made Mandatory at Manas National Park to Boost Community Employment

Preeti SinghAssam

In a major step towards sustainable eco-tourism, Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve has introduced a new conservation-first tourism model, aimed at balancing wildlife protection with community development. The initiative is expected to transform the tourism experience in the UNESCO World Heritage Site while ensuring that local communities become direct stakeholders in conservation efforts. Under the new model, trained local youth will now serve as mandatory guides for all visitor groups. The move is designed to create employment opportunities for forest-fringe communities while enabling tourists to gain deeper insights into the region’s biodiversity, culture and traditions. Authorities have also introduced…

02 Oct

Violence breaks out inside Assam’s Barpeta jail, guards fire in the air to control the situation

Preeti SinghAssam

A violent clash broke out between inmates and jail authorities inside Assam's Barpeta Jail, prompting guard to fire three rounds in the air to bring the situation under control.According to preliminary reports, the unrest began after inmates protested against alleged high-handedness by Assistant Jailor Kishor Haloi.The protest reportedly turned violent, with some inmates allegedly physically attacking Haloi and attempting to break through the second gate inside the jail premises.As the situation escalated, prison guards reportedly fired three rounds in the air to prevent the inmates from breaching the internal gate and to bring the situation under control.Barpeta Deputy Commissioner Navdeep…

02 Oct

Tourism Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar Flags Off Anthurium Festival to Boost Local Economy and Tourism

Preeti SinghMizoram

Anthurium Festival is being organised in Mizoram after a gap of three years, with the three-day programme combining floriculture, adventure, and indigenous culture and music events, officials said.This festival serves a dual purpose, a celebration of the enchanting anthurium flower and a heartfelt invitation to explore Mizoram's natural treasures.Organised by the state Tourism Department in association with the Horticulture Department, the festival, which is being held at Reiek and nearby Ailawng in Mamit district from October 1 to 3, seeks to showcase anthurium cultivation, besides the state's hilly landscapes, traditional games, local cuisine, handicrafts and community-based tourism.Tourism Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar…

30 Sep

Global Design Leaders Gather at IIT Guwahati to Explore Sustainable and Inclusive Solutions

Preeti SinghAssam

The Department of Design at IIT Guwahati, in collaboration with the MIT Institute of Design, Pune, successfully hosted the inaugural edition of the International Conference on Design and Innovation Studies (INDIS 2026) from September 28 to 30 at the institute’s campus. The conference brought together researchers, industry experts, policymakers, entrepreneurs and design leaders from India and abroad to explore how design, technology and innovation can contribute to addressing complex social challenges through inclusive and sustainable solutions. The event was organised alongside Asia Design Week, marking the first time the international platform was held in India. The combined programme created a…

30 Sep

Sadou Guwahati Sanskritik Mancha Holds Annual General Meeting in Santipur

Preeti SinghTripura

The annual general meeting of the Sadou Guwahati Sanskritik Mancha was held at Jamshed Bhawan in Santipur. Presided over by the chief advisor of the Mancha, Juwadul Islam, several officials and members exchanged views on the activities to be undertaken by the organization in the coming days. During the meeting, a new executive committee was formed unanimously for the upcoming term. Accordingly, Niju Bhuyan, Anwar Hussain, and Bhaban Borthakur were appointed as advisors; Dhananjay Sharma as President; Juwadul Islam as Working President; and Chandan Kumar Das, Syed Abdul Kadir, Bhupen Mishra, and Subal Sinha as Vice Presidents. Moinuddin Ahmed was…

29 Sep

Police Constable Praised for Heroic Act During High-Speed Vehicle Pursuit

Preeti SinghLatest

It was like a scene straight out of an action movie! A policeman clung to the roof of a moving vehicle for 40 kilometers to stop a vehicle smuggling banned gutkha. This breathtaking incident took place in the early hours of Sunday on the busy highway connecting Coimbatore and Tirupur in Tamil Nadu. Following this daring operation, where he risked his life on the road, police managed to apprehend three interstate gutkha smugglers and seized a large quantity of banned substances. The police had received a tip-off about banned tobacco products being transported from Bengaluru towards Coimbatore. Around 5:45 AM…

29 Sep

Cultural and Literary Evening at Gauhati University Model English School

Preeti SinghAssam

The fourth meeting of the 31st year of the Jalukbari Lekhika Samaroh Samiti was held at the Gauhati University Model English School, coinciding with the birth anniversary celebrations of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva. Presided over by the Samiti's President, Pragya Goswami, the meeting began with an opening song by the members, followed by the explanation of the meeting's objectives and the reading of the previous meeting's report by Secretary Gitika Das. At the outset, the members observed a minute of silence to express deep condolences over the demise of poet, literary critic, and translator Anis Uz Zaman. In line with the…

28 Sep

Academic Milestone: Gauhati University Starts MSc in Cancer Biology

Preeti SinghAssam

Cancer cases are increasing at an alarming rate in several districts of Assam, as well as in other Northeastern states. Reports from the Union Ministry of Health have periodically indicated that the number of cancer patients and related deaths in Assam is higher than the national average. In response to this rising prevalence, Gauhati University has introduced a two-year MSc course titled "Program in Cancer Biology" under its Department of Bioengineering and Technology. To facilitate this course, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Gauhati University and Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) on September 25. The signing ceremony…

27 Sep

Citizens for Justice and Peace Claims ‘Moral Victory’ as Leaders Are Freed

Preeti SinghAssam

After being detained throughout the day, leaders and volunteers of the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) were released by Guwahati Police late on Sunday night. A meeting with CJP volunteers had been scheduled at the residence of Assam Jatiya Parishad leader Kunki Choudhury, located opposite the Assam Secretariat in Dispur. However, police reportedly prevented anyone from reaching the venue. State convenor Sahil Uddin Shah and several others were detained in the morning. Later, police also detained CJP National Co-Convenor Ashutosh Ranka, Northeast in-charge Ankit Bhardwaj, central leader Varun Agarwal, and Premakash while they were speaking to journalists. According to…

27 Sep

Guwahati Tea Auction Centre Completes 56 Years, Records Strong Growth in Tea Sales

Preeti SinghAssam

The Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC), one of the world's most influential tea auction centres and the second-largest CTC tea auction platform globally by volume, has completed 56 years of operation, marking another significant milestone in Assam's tea industry. Established to provide tea producers in Assam with a dedicated marketing platform, GTAC has played a crucial role in strengthening price discovery, ensuring transparency in tea trading and promoting Assam tea in domestic and international markets. Over the decades, it has emerged as a key contributor to the state's economy and the growth of the tea sector. The auction centre has…