Sonakshi Sarkar - The Purbottar

03 Dec

Naga village GLOF survivors wait in shelters as rehabilitation continues

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

More than two years after the devastating glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) of October 2023, residents of Naga village in Mangan district continue to live in temporary shelters as rehabilitation efforts progress. The massive flood, caused by the breach of South Lhonak Lake, destroyed homes, swept away infrastructure and left several people missing. Mangan Deputy Commissioner Anant Jain said the administration has followed established procedures for families of those still missing. When bodies remain untraced after a prolonged period, families can apply for provisional death certificates, which are issued after verification. Immediately after the disaster, officials relocated affected families to…

03 Dec

An Assamese primatologist is admitted to a prominent international conservation program

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

A young primatologist from Assam has earned a place in one of the world’s most competitive wildlife conservation programmes, marking a significant achievement for India’s research community. Dr. Joydeep Shil, a senior researcher with the Primate Research Centre and Conservation Himalayas, has secured a fully funded position in the prestigious Endangered Species Management Graduate Certificate (DESMAN) course under the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. The scholarship covers his tuition, university fees, accommodation at the Durrell Wildlife Hostel in Jersey, and all food expenses during the 12‑week course, beginning February 16, 2026. The programme, validated by the University of Kent, is globally…

03 Dec

NCB Seizes ₹12.5 Crore Heroin in Assam; Two Arrested in Riverine Trafficking Bust

Sonakshi SarkarNorth East

In a major crackdown on an international drug cartel, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has seized heroin worth ₹12.5 crore in Assam that was being smuggled into India through riverine routes from Myanmar. Two persons have been arrested in connection with the operation, a senior NCB official said on Tuesday. The NCB’s Guwahati Zonal Unit, acting on specific intelligence and conducting prolonged surveillance, launched a joint operation with the CRPF and Assam Police. The agencies traced an illicit consignment that was being transported through dense forest routes in Manipur and ferried along the Barak river by small motorboats to evade…

03 Dec

Fighting Surges Across Chin State; More Civilians Cross Into Mizoram

Sonakshi SarkarMizoram

A fresh group of displaced Myanmar nationals has entered Mizoram’s Champhai district amid escalating clashes between the military junta and rebel forces across Myanmar’s Chin State. The latest arrivals mark a renewed surge in cross-border movement ahead of the junta-announced elections scheduled for December 28. According to village authorities in Vaphai, 47 people from 11 families of Falam township crossed into Saikhumphai hamlet over the past few days. The first batch reached the area on Friday night, while the remaining families entered late on Monday. Initially housed in a local school building, the refugees have since been shifted to Vaphai,…

03 Dec

Conrad Hits Back At State Cong Chief Over Remark On New Regional Front

Sonakshi SarkarMeghalaya

In a sharp riposte to Meghalaya Congress chief Vincent H. Pala’s remark on regional front “One North East” as nothing but a BJP-RSS plan, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday hit back, alleging that the Opposition party was ‘already’ a divided house, and hence need not be further divided. “Nobody needs to work to divide them as Congress is already a divided house,” Sangma stated. The Chief Minister also said that as “One North East”, they are not here to fight against or oppose anyone since the front is here from a positive perspective of unification and to…

02 Dec

Assam Pays Tribute To Chaolung Sukapha On Asom Divas; Pm Modi Greets People

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

People across Assam on Tuesday paid tribute to the founder of the Ahom kingdom, Chaolung Sukapha, on the occasion of Asom Divas. A central celebration of Asom Divas was organised in Nazira, Charaideo district led by the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Tai Ahom Development Council, with support from the Sivasagar district administration and AASU Nazira Committee. The day-long programme saw the participation of several ministers, MLAs and dignitaries. Before the main event at the Nazira Sports Association playground, a 20-foot statue of Chaolung Sukapha was unveiled in Nazira. The statue, funded by the Tai Ahom Development Council, was…

02 Dec

St. Status Demand: On December 4, a group of ministers from Assam will meet with protesting tribal groups

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Group of Ministers (GoM), led by Tribal Affairs (Plains) minister Ranoj Pegu, will hold talks with the Coordination Committee of Tribal Organisations of Assam (CCTOA) on December 4 to address the latter’s concerns over the report on the proposal to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six OBC (Other Backward Classes) communities in the state. The communities seeking ST status comprise Tai-Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Matak, Koch-Rajbongshi and Tea Tribe (Adivasi). The development comes in the wake of protests led by the CCTOA, an umbrella body of 26 tribal groups, since Saturday, rejecting the proposal by the GoM and warning…

02 Dec

The Territorial Army Recruitment Rally in Solmara, Tezpur, is successfully concluded by the Indian Army

Sonakshi SarkarIndia

A Landmark Example of Civil–Military Synergy and Professional Excellence The Indian Army's Territorial Army Recruitment Rally was successfully conducted at Meghna Stadium, Solmara Military Station, Tezpur, from 15 November to 01 December 2025. This event saw an impressive turnout of 7,282 aspiring recruits from various regions, including Assam, Meghalaya, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, reflecting the youth's strong motivation to serve the nation, especially from remote and high-altitude areas. Organized by the 121 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) The Garhwal Rifles under the Eastern Command, the rally faced significant challenges due to its location, approximately 1,200 kilometers from their base…

02 Dec

Kargil Braveheart Football Tournament kicks off in Manipur

Sonakshi SarkarManipur

The Kargil Braveheart Football Tournament 2025 commenced on Monday with a spirited opening ceremony at the Chandel Christian Football Stadium, drawing an enthusiastic crowd of community leaders, youth clubs and football enthusiasts. Organised under Operation Sadbhavana by Assam Rifles in collaboration with the District Sports Association Chandel, and supported by the Ex-Servicemen Association of Chandel, the tournament will run from December 1-8. Sixteen teams from across the district are vying for top honours in one of Chandel’s largest football events of the year. Conceived as a tribute to the courage and sacrifice of Kargil War heroes, the tournament seeks to…

02 Dec

Sikkim makes TSD fund contribution mandatory for all tourist accommodation units

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

The Sikkim government has mandated contributions to the Tourism Sustainable Development (TSD) Fund from all tourist accommodation facilities, including hotels, resorts, homestays, service apartments and bed-and-breakfast establishments. Under the new directive, each tourist checking in must be charged ₹50, which the establishment must remit to the government. The compliance will be monitored through the Atithi Guest Information System. The TSD Fund, introduced in March 2025, supports eco-friendly tourism, infrastructure improvements, and responsible travel initiatives across Sikkim. Officials warned that non-compliant establishments will face fines of ₹5,000 for the first month and ₹10,000 for the second month, with the possibility of…