Sonakshi Sarkar - The Purbottar

09 Jan

AIIMS Guwahati inaugurates state-of-the-art Viral Disease Research & Diagnostic Laboratory

Sonakshi SarkarGuwahati

The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Guwahati formally inaugurated the Viral Disease Research & Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL), a state-of-the-art facility established with financial support from the Department of Health Research (DHR), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. The laboratory, which will be contributing significantly to diagnostic and surveillance activities, was formally dedicated on Thursday, marking an important institutional milestone. The VRDL was inaugurated by Prof. (Dr.) Ashok Puranik, Executive Director, AIIMS Guwahati, in the august presence of Prof. U.S.N. Murty, Director, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Guwahati. The ceremony was attended by senior…

09 Jan

IMK terror module busted in Assam, Bangladesh links revealed through arrests

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The recent arrest of 11 suspected jihadi operatives in Assam has unveiled a purported conspiracy linked to Imam Mahmudur Kafia (IMK), regarded as an extension of the banned Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Law enforcement officials reported that IMK was actively seeking to incite jihad and execute terrorist operations in Assam and Tripura. Some detainees had traveled to Bangladesh for indoctrination and training. Investigative efforts highlighted that in late 2024, an arrested suspect, Nasim Uddin alias Tamim, encountered a YouTube channel advocating the notion of “Muzaddid,” which in Islamic tradition refers to a religious reformer expected every century to protect the Muslim…

09 Jan

Opposition in Assam lodges FIR against BJP alleging voter deletion

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam's opposition parties have filed a police complaint against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging a conspiracy to remove legitimate voters from the electoral rolls in anticipation of the upcoming Assembly elections. The opposition claims that BJP state president Dilip Saikia instructed party MLAs to eliminate names of voters in 60 Assembly constituencies and specifically charged Minister Ashok Singhal with executing this deletion during a Zoom meeting on January 4, 2026. The complaint emphasizes the need for the preservation of footage from the video conference, as it is deemed essential evidence of the alleged conspiracy. The FIR, submitted to the…

09 Jan

To check illegal influx, Bengal needs BJP-led government, says Himanta

Sonakshi SarkarGuwahati

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma emphasized the need for a BJP-led government across Tripura, Assam, and West Bengal to enhance efforts against illegal infiltration from Bangladesh. Speaking to the media, he highlighted the progress made in Tripura and Assam under the BJP but pointed out that the lack of a BJP administration in West Bengal has obstructed a unified strategy to tackle this issue. Sarma characterized West Bengal as a "weak link" in the border management and security framework of the region, advocating for BJP's rise to power there due to the party's strong support base. He asserted that…

09 Jan

Sikkim scraps offline permits for foreign tourists, online clearance now compulsory

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

The Sikkim government has officially ended the system of issuing physical permits to foreign nationals visiting protected and restricted areas of the state. From now on, all such visitors will have to obtain clearance only through an online process, making digital approval mandatory for entry into these areas. The decision was communicated through an official notification issued by the Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sikkim. According to the department, the move has been taken following clear and strict instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The central directive states that Protected Area Permits (PAP) and Restricted Area Permits (RAP)…

09 Jan

Textiles Committee and NEHHDC sign MoU on IIPR protection

Sonakshi SarkarNorth East

The Textiles Committee and the North Eastern Handloom and Handicraft Development Corporation (NEHHDC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the North Eastern Region Conclave in Guwahati. This MoU aims to protect unique products from the North Eastern states through Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), specifically Geographical Indications (GI) registration, and to foster post-GI initiatives. Key aspects of the MoU include collaborative development to strengthen the textiles, handloom, handicrafts, and khadi sectors, as well as initiatives to enhance the global visibility of Northeastern products. This effort is expected to empower artisans and weavers by safeguarding their traditional knowledge and craftsmanship, while…

08 Jan

India–Israel film co-produced in Assam makes it to Pune International Film Festival

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Indo–Israel feature film ‘Murders Too Close – Love Too Far’, co-directed by Assamese filmmaker Manju Borah and Israeli filmmaker Dan Wolman, has been selected for screening at the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) 2026 in the Global Cinema section on January 17 and 19. This selection is a landmark for Assamese cinema, being the first international co-production involving Assamese and foreign entities, supported by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting through NFDC. The film was shot entirely in Assam with a local crew, highlighting the region's growing capabilities in cinema. Co-produced by Borah, Amir Gedalia, and Wolman, this 108-minute…

08 Jan

Sikkim Strengthens Export Ecosystem with IIFT Partnership and New Support Cell for Entrepreneurs

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Sikkim has taken an important step to strengthen its small businesses and help local entrepreneurs reach wider markets by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Kolkata. Along with this, the state government has also launched a dedicated Export Facilitation Cell to support exports and promote the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The MoU was signed between the Commerce and Industries Department of Sikkim and IIFT Kolkata at a programme held at the department’s conference hall on Wednesday, January 7. The signing coincided with the formal inauguration of the Export Facilitation…

08 Jan

Coordinated Assam Rifles Operations Hit Drug Networks in Tripura, Assam and Mizoram; Narcotics Worth Over Rs 100 Crore Recovered

Sonakshi SarkarGuwahati

The Assam Rifles has carried out a series of coordinated operations across the Northeast, leading to the destruction of a large illegal ganja plantation in Tripura and the seizure of narcotics and counterfeit goods in other states, officials said on Wednesday.Acting on specific intelligence inputs, Assam Rifles launched a joint operation on January 7 in the Dhanpur, Induria, Kacchakhala and Dhanmura areas of Tripura, located around 66 kilometres south of Agartala. The drive was conducted along with the Border Security Force, Tripura Police, Tripura State Rifles and the Forest Department. During the operation, security forces uprooted and destroyed nearly six…

08 Jan

Bangladesh Approves Tk 1,462 Crore Diesel Import from Assam’s Numaligarh Refinery via Friendship Pipeline

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Bangladesh has decided to import a large volume of diesel from India to meet its fuel demand for the year. The neighbouring country will procure 1.8 lakh tonnes of diesel from Assam’s state-owned Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) by December 2026, under an ongoing long-term fuel supply agreement between India and Bangladesh. The decision to go ahead with the import plan was taken at a meeting of the Government Purchase Advisory Committee held at the Dhaka Secretariat. The meeting was chaired by Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed. Officials said the move is aimed at ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted supply of…