Sonali

The BJP today claimed that the opposition parties of Assam, led by the Congress, have come together in a desperate attempt to patronize the Miya community and promote the rise of Miya identity in the state. This comes in the backdrop of open claims by Badruddin Ajmal regarding his eligibility to become the Chief Minister of Assam, the joining of Ajit Bhuyan — who became a Rajya Sabha MP with AIUDF votes — into the Assam Jatiya Parishad, and the controversy over deletion of 11,000 Miya voters from the Sarupathar Assembly constituency.In a press statement issued today, State BJP spokesperson…

Leading biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak, with support from the SBI Foundation (SBIF), has introduced community-based solutions to strengthen livelihoods while promoting peaceful coexistence between people and elephants in human–elephant conflict (HEC)-affected areas of Assam. As part of the initiative, Aaranyak distributed 20 bee boxes with live colonies to community members in No. 3 Bholatar, No. 2 Bamunjuli and No. 1 Tankibasti villages in Udalguri district. The programme aims to provide alternative and supplementary livelihood options for families facing repeated crop losses due to frequent elephant movement. In these villages, most households depend on paddy cultivation. However, recurring crop damage caused…

As part of its Raijor Podulit Raijor Congress Abhiyan, the Congress today took public opinion on diverse issues concerning the state from various parts of Lower Assam, including Nalbari and Rangia.The party will take the views expressed by the public into account while preparing its manifesto for the upcoming Assam Assembly polls.In Rangia, a delegation led by Manifesto Committee Chairman Pradyut Bordoloi, at the initiative of Kamrup (Rural) District Congress President Pranjit Choudhury, interacted with local party and social organisations, prominent personalities and a section of senior journalists. Former MP Abdul Khaleque was also part of the delegation.It may be…

Kabindra Purkayastha, senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party and a former Union Minister passed away at around 5 pm on Wednesday at the age of 94. He breathed his last at the Silchar Medical College and Hospital.Born on December 15, 1931, Purkayastha had served as Minister of State for Communications in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government from 1998 to 1999. Over the decades, he has been widely respected for his contributions to both state and national politics.His son Kanad Purkayastha is a Rajya Sabha member from Assam.All BJP programmes in the State have been cancelled as a mark of…

As the Assembly elections in Assam draw closer, the state unit of the BJP has intensified its organisational activities and campaign programmes across the length and breadth of the State.In a press statement issued by theparty, BJP spokesperson Kalyan Gogoi stated that following yesterday’s formal announcement of the commencement of the Assembly election campaign through the “Wall Writing” programme by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and State BJP President Dilip Saikia, extensive organisational activities are being carried out at the district and mandal levels across Assam. From January 5 to 11, district executive committee meetings are being organised in all…

The process for the 2026 Assembly elections for the Congress party formally commenced today at Rajiv Bhavan in Guwahati with the release of application forms.Nearly 500 aspiring candidates have already collected the forms through the website www.apcc.assam.org.On the first day, five applicants officially submitted their nomination applications at Rajiv Bhavan.Each applicant has also deposited Rs 50,000 via demand draft as a contribution to the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC).Among the applicants, Bipul Gogoi, General Secretary (Organisation) of the APCC, has applied for the Tinkhong constituency. Gunakanta Gogoi has submitted his application for the Digboi constituency. Ranjita Pegu has applied for…

Four accused in singer Zubeen Garg's death case on Saturday filed bail petitions before the court. The Kamrup (Metro) District and Sessions Court, which is hearing the case, fixed January 17 as the next date of hearing when the bail objection by the public prosecutor will be filed.The four accused who have applied for bail are Zubeen’s band member Amritprava Mahanta, his cousin Sandipan Garg, a police officer, and two personal security officers of the singer Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya.The special court today took up the third hearing in the high-profile case, but deferred the framing of charges, granting…

Stressing the vital role of local communities in wildlife conservation, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Daying Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary (DEMWS) has said that sustained public support is essential to protect the sanctuary’s rich biodiversity and unlock its eco-tourism potential. Addressing a community awareness programme at Sika Tode village, DEMWS DFO Ms Kempi Ete said the sanctuary near Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh holds immense promise for eco-tourism, which could significantly improve the livelihoods of fringe-area communities if wildlife protection efforts are strengthened. The programme, aimed at deterring wildlife crimes, was organised by the local Community Surveillance and Monitoring Team…

Marking the beginning of the New Year, doctors at Peerless Hospital Guwahati have appealed to the public to adopt practical health resolutions aimed at reducing medical emergencies and improving long-term well-being. Emphasising preventive healthcare, specialists advised people to prioritise annual health check-ups for the early detection of lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and heart ailments. Regular monitoring of key health indicators, they said, can help prevent serious complications at later stages. The hospital also highlighted the growing importance of mental health awareness. Doctors encouraged individuals to pay attention to emotional well-being, manage stress effectively and seek professional help when…

The year 2025 emerged as a milestone for the Guwahati Police Commissionerate, with official figures showing a sharp improvement in law and order across the city, driven by targeted crime prevention, faster investigations and more effective prosecution. According to police data, Guwahati registered 5,786 cases in 2025, marking a steady decline from 7,412 cases in 2024 and 9,393 cases in 2023. Officials credited the reduction to intensified patrolling, quicker response times and stronger coordination at the operational level. A key highlight of the year was the significant reduction in pending cases. From 35,396 pending cases in 2021, the backlog was…