Sonakshi Sarkar - The Purbottar

06 Jan

Voter Roll Row in Assam: Congress Alleges Irregularities Ahead of 2026 Polls, CM Sarma Rejects Claims

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

A fresh political debate has started in Assam after Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, Debabrata Saikia, wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar alleging serious problems in the draft electoral rolls published after a Special Revision ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Saikia has asked the Election Commission to stop the finalisation of the voter list until all the reported issues are checked and solved. In his letter, Saikia said that there were “unknown” and unauthorised names appearing in the rolls. He said these concerns were based on news reports as well as feedback…

06 Jan

Crude Oil Leak After Pipeline Burst Causes Panic Among Assam Residents

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

A crude oil pipeline owned by Oil India Limited (OIL) ruptured on Monday night in Shalmari Dighalia, Dibrugarh district, Upper Assam. The incident, which took place around 10 pm, resulted in a loud explosion and continuous leakage of crude oil, alarming local residents who feared a potential fire. The oil spread to agricultural fields and fish ponds, leading to reports of fish deaths due to contamination. OIL officials quickly arrived on the scene to manage the leakage, but residents reported breathing difficulties due to the strong odor, which reached a radius of nearly one kilometer. There are concerns that exposure…

06 Jan

Assam CM Says 13 Foreign Nationals Pushed Back Across Border

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

As many as 13 foreign nationals attempting to illegally enter India were apprehended in Assam and subsequently pushed back across the border, as confirmed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. While he did not disclose details about the origin or ethnicity of the individuals, he emphasized the state government's commitment to addressing illegal immigration, stating that the rights of illegal immigrants are acknowledged—including their right to return to their homeland. Assam shares a 267.5-kilometre-long border with Bangladesh, intersecting several districts including Sribhumi, Cachar, Dhubri, and South Salmara–Mankachar, with a key official entry and exit point at the Integrated Check…

06 Jan

Congress Flags Irregularities in Assam Draft Electoral Roll

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Leader of Opposition in the Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia has alleged "serious irregularities", including "unknown" voter entries in the draft electoral rolls, published after a Special Revision (SR) of the voter lists in the state.In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Saikia demanded the halt of the finalisation of the electoral rolls until "all irregularities are thoroughly verified and resolved" to ensure the removal of any unauthorised or "unknown" voter entries.Assam has registered a 1.35 per cent increase in the number of voters as per the integrated draft electoral roll for the state, published on December 30 after…

05 Jan

Migratory Bird Census Launched at 200+ Wetlands in Kaziranga

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The seventh census of migratory birds at Kaziranga National Park in Assam has commenced, involving hundreds of enumerators and volunteers, as reported by an official on Monday. This bird count is set to take place across over 200 designated wetlands within the Eastern Assam, Nagaon, and Biswanath wildlife divisions of Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve (KNPTR), marking it as one of the largest such initiatives in India. Forest Minister for Haryana, Rao Narbir Singh, participated in the event's launch and engaged with the census team. The enumeration in the core area is being exclusively conducted by forest frontline staff,…

05 Jan

IIT-G Unveils Green Technology to Transform Carbon Dioxide into Methanol Fuel

Sonakshi SarkarGuwahati

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati have developed a new photocatalytic material that can convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) into methanol fuel using sunlight, addressing critical energy needs while mitigating environmental harm. The project, led by Prof. Mahuya De and her scholar Nayan Moni Baishya, was published in the Journal of Materials Science. The research highlights the ongoing dependence on petroleum-based fuels contributing to carbon emissions and global warming. It aims to transform CO₂ into clean fuels via photocatalytic methods, employing graphitic carbon nitride, a low-cost and non-toxic material, combined with few-layer graphene to enhance energy retention and reduce…

05 Jan

Guwahati to Host GAFF 2026 from January 22–25; Film Lineup Revealed

Sonakshi SarkarGuwahati

The Guwahati Asian Film Festival (GAFF) organizers announced the film lineup for its second edition at a press conference in Guwahati. Scheduled for January 22-25, 2026, at Jyoti Chitraban, GAFF is supported by Trending Now Media, the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), and the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The festival will open with the Uzbek feature "Sunday," directed by Shokir Kholikov, and close with the Iranian film "In the Land of Brothers," directed by Alireza Ghasemi and Raha Amirfazli. Notable attendees include Chief Guest Girish Kasaravalli and Special Invited Guest Sonali Kulkarni. GAFF celebrates Asian cinema's diversity and…

05 Jan

Forest Fire Breaks Out in Namnang, Gangtok; Swift Action Brings Blaze Under Control

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

A forest fire broke out in the Namnang area of Gangtok on Sunday afternoon, triggering concern among residents in the locality. The incident was reported at around 4:00 PM, following which the authorities moved in quickly to control the situation. According to officials, the Forest Department’s Quick Response Team (QRT), Gangtok, immediately reached the spot after receiving information about the fire. The QRT worked in close coordination with the Fire Department, Gangtok, to bring the fire under control. The teams carried out joint efforts to stop the flames from spreading further into the surrounding forest area. The officials said the…

05 Jan

Majuli Records First Inter-Country Adoption as US-Based Couple Adopts Two Brothers

Sonakshi SarkarIndia

Majuli district has witnessed its first-ever inter-country adoption, with a couple based in the United States adopting two brothers from the river island on Saturday.Rimpi Borah, coordinator of the Specialised Adoption Agency (SAA), Majuli, said the siblings, aged eight and seven, were formally handed over to the adoptive parents—an Indian-origin couple—during a ceremony held at the conference hall of the Majuli District Commissioner’s office complex.Majuli Deputy Commissioner Ratul Chandra Pathak officially completed the adoption process in the presence of district administration officials, police personnel, the District Child Protection Officer, and members of the Child Welfare Committee. A representative of the…

05 Jan

Amid Rongker Karkli Festivities, Karbi Anglong Land Dispute Moves Toward Key Legal Stage

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Karbi community in Assam's hill districts is celebrating the Rongker Karkli Festival, 2026, amidst significant legal developments concerning land rights in the region. This two-day post-harvest festival, held in Karbi Anglong and surrounding areas, is a major cultural event that involves rituals, traditional dances, ceremonies, and community feasts, emphasizing the community's rich heritage and their prayers for protection, agricultural success, and collective well-being. Concurrently, on January 5, key legal proceedings concerning land rights will take place in the Gauhati High Court. The Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) and Assam government are prepared to submit a joint affidavit in response…