Sonakshi Sarkar

The Assam Rifles has paid tribute to Havildar Mohammad Iqbal, who was killed in the line of duty after an improvised explosive device (IED) struck an Assam Rifles convoy in Nagaland's Chumoukedima district on Monday. Several other personnel were injured in the attack, which has prompted an intensified security operation in the area. The explosion took place near Sokhuvi village when unidentified miscreants targeted the moving convoy. Initial reports had suggested that three personnel were killed in the blast. However, official confirmation later clarified that one soldier, Havildar Mohammad Iqbal, made the supreme sacrifice in the attack. The injured personnel…

Three Assam Rifles personnel were killed and several others were injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) struck an Assam Rifles convoy in Nagaland's Chumoukedima district on Monday, triggering a major security operation in the area, officials said.The attack took place near Sokhuvi village when unidentified assailants targeted the moving convoy. According to initial reports, an IED was hurled at the convoy, causing a powerful explosion. Three personnel died on the spot, while several others sustained injuries.The injured personnel were shifted to a medical facility for treatment. However, officials have not yet released details about their condition. The incident is…

Assam is planning to strengthen tourism infrastructure around Kaziranga National Park following an unprecedented rise in tourist arrivals, with the state government deciding to facilitate the construction of premium hotels under the Hyatt and Taj brands.State Tourism Minister Atul Bora said Kaziranga has recorded its highest-ever tourist footfall this year, attracting a record number of visitors from across India as well as overseas. He said the growing popularity of the UNESCO World Heritage Site has created an urgent need to expand accommodation and other tourism facilities in the area. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Bora said the increase in tourist…

Hundreds of members of the Bodo community staged a protest at Malgaon along the Kokrajhar district border on Sunday, opposing the allotment of Tribal Belt and Block land to the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) and the proposed rehabilitation of 93 evicted Muslim families from Kaimari in the area. Carrying placards and raising slogans, the protesters demanded that the Assam Government and the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Government withdraw the land allotment, claiming that the move would affect land protected for indigenous tribal communities. The demonstration remained peaceful, with participants insisting that their agitation would continue until their demands…

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday extended his greetings to the people of the state, particularly the Tiwa community, on the occasion of the Wanchuwa Festival, describing it as a celebration that reflects Assam's rich tribal heritage, gratitude towards nature and the spirit of community living. In his message, the Chief Minister said Wanchuwa is an important post-harvest festival that celebrates a successful harvest while strengthening social bonds and preserving the cultural identity of the indigenous Tiwa community. "Heartiest greetings to everyone, especially my brothers and sisters of the Tiwa community, on the occasion of Wanchuwa Festival. A…

Assam has emerged as the top-performing state in the country in resolving public grievances under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) during the first quarter of the 2026-27 financial year, reflecting the state's efforts to strengthen public service delivery and improve governance.Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said the achievement was the result of a robust Public Distribution System (PDS) and an efficient grievance redressal mechanism that has enabled the government to respond to citizens' concerns in a timely manner. According to the Chief Minister, Assam disposed of the…

The Assam government has informed the Legislative Assembly that the Act East Policy Affairs Department does not implement any independent projects and therefore has no project-wise fund allocation or implementation progress to report.Replying to a question raised by Congress MLA Wajed Ali Choudhury during the Assembly session on Thursday, Act East Policy Affairs Minister Bimal Bora said the department primarily functions as a facilitator for international engagement, policy dialogue and regional cooperation under India's Act East Policy, rather than as an implementing agency.The minister said the department's expenditure has been directed towards organising international conferences, diplomatic exchanges, academic programmes and…

The Assam government has stepped up its efforts to strengthen the digital presence of the Assamese language and create new opportunities for the state's film and creative industries by reviewing the progress of two major initiatives at Janata Bhawan.Cultural Affairs Minister Bimal Borah chaired two separate meetings on Thursday to assess the progress of work on the standardisation of the Assamese script in Unicode and the proposal to launch a dedicated over-the-top (OTT) platform for Assamese films and digital content.In the first meeting, the minister reviewed the work being carried out by the expert committee constituted by the state government…

More than 36,000 people have been declared foreigners by Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) in Assam since 2021, but only 196 have been repatriated to Bangladesh during the same period, Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora informed the Assam Assembly. Replying in writing to a question raised by Congress MLA Mohibur Rohman on Tuesday, Bora said that 36,358 people were declared foreigners by Foreigners Tribunals between 2021 and May 2026. Of these, only 196 have been repatriated to Bangladesh. According to the minister, 7,151 people were declared foreigners in 2021, followed by 9,028 in 2022, the highest during the period. The…