Assam - The Purbottar

06 Mar

Numaligarh’s bamboo-based ethanol factory is awaiting technical success

Banasree SarkarAssam

A bio-refinery effort to produce ethanol from bamboo was initiated by the historic Numaligarh Refinery, which was founded under the Assam Accord. Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened the project on September 14 of last year. It is regarded as one of the nation's biggest second-generation ethanol projects. It has since been discovered that the project has not yet attained the necessary technical success to begin production, despite the expectation that it would commence shortly after the inauguration. It should be mentioned that in 2018, Assam Bio-Ethanol Private Limited (ABEP) started building the bio-refinery on the grounds of Numaligarh Refinery.…

06 Mar

BJP Nears Candidate Finalisation for 90 Seats as Alliance Seat-Sharing Talks Continue in Assam

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Seat-sharing discussions among partners of the ruling alliance in Assam have begun, and a final decision is expected to be announced in the coming days, senior state minister and president of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), Atul Bora, said on Thursday. Speaking to reporters, Bora confirmed that the first round of discussions on seat distribution for the upcoming Assembly elections has already taken place between the AGP leadership, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The talks are part of ongoing consultations among alliance partners to reach a mutually agreeable formula before the elections. “Yesterday we…

06 Mar

Major Blaze Destroys Railway Workshop in Dibrugarh

riya EditorAssam

A significant fire erupted at the railway mechanical workshop in Dibrugarh district, Assam, on Thursday, with no reported injuries. The incident occurred at the first mechanical railway workshop in Northeast India, located in Kadamani, causing panic in the vicinity. Smoke was first detected coming from a store inside the workshop, prompting local residents and staff to alert authorities. Fire and emergency services responded promptly, deploying six fire tenders from Dibrugarh and Lahowal to combat the fire, which lasted several hours. Preliminary reports suggest that welding operations were in progress in the store prior to the outbreak, with authorities suspecting that…

06 Mar

Sukhoi Su-30MKI Crash in Assam Claims Lives of Two Pilots

riya EditorAssam

On the evening of the previous day, a tragic incident occurred in Assam's Karbi Anglong district, where a Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighter jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed, resulting in the deaths of two pilots. The deceased pilots have been identified as Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar. The IAF has publicly acknowledged their sacrifice, expressing deep sorrow over the loss and offering heartfelt condolences to the families of the aviators during this difficult time. The aircraft was on a training mission and had taken off from Jorhat airbase before it crashed near the location identified…

06 Mar

AIUDF MLAs Support NDA in Rajya Sabha elections in India; Controversy Over Himanta Biswa Sarma’s ‘Conditions’

riya EditorAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has ignited a political controversy by stating that his government has "no enmity" with Miya Muslims if they comply with specific conditions, generating fervent discussion ahead of upcoming elections. Sarma emphasized that the government welcomes individuals who show respect and affection for the country. He outlined conditions for acceptance, including raising slogans like "Bharat Mata Ki Jai," singing "Vande Mataram," and ceasing practices associated with "love jihad," "land jihad," and "fertilizer jihad," as well as ending illegal land encroachment, child marriage, and polygamy. This shift in Sarma's tone is particularly significant given his previous…

05 Mar

Assam DGP’s fake video surfaces, police initiate legal action

riya EditorAssam

Cyber criminals have misused the photograph of Assam DGP Harmeet Singh to create an AI-generated video, pretending to be a fake 'IPS Sonu Sharma'. After it came to light, the Assam Police on Thursday initiated legal action against the unidentified scammers behind this crime. The police urged citizens not to fall for such scam videos and to report suspicious content immediately. ''Deepfake Alert! Scammers are misusing the image of the DGP to create an AI-generated video, pretending to be a fake 'IPS Sonu Sharma'," the Assam police said in a social media post. "The video is fake and part of…

05 Mar

Cars will be able to run alongside trains thanks to the second-largest river tunnel in the world: CM

Banasree SarkarAssam

At Shri Shri Maa Kalyani Devalaya in Dipora, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma prayed to start his third day of the Jana Ashirwad Yatra. Thousands of people traveled the 19-kilometer distance from Gohpur Co-District to visit the Chief Minister. Speaking to the public in front of the State Bus Stand at Gohpur as part of the Yatra, Dr. Sarma stated, "The world's second-largest river tunnel route will be constructed from Gohpur to Bokakhat-Numaligarh, with facilities allowing vehicles to run alongside trains."" The region will become a tourist destination as a result of this incredible tunnel, which will improve the…

05 Mar

Alliance of ULFA(I), Bangladeshi PCJSS (Santu) and Rohingya Groups May Disrupt Assam Assembly Elections, Says CNEISS

riya EditorAssam

The Centre for Northeast India Security Studies (CNEISS), a security-focused think tank, has warned that an alleged alliance involving the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent), the Bangladeshi tribal armed group Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS–Santu faction), and Rohingya militant organizations could pose a threat to peace during the upcoming Assam Assembly elections. In a press statement issued on Thursday, CNEISS claimed that representatives of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), ULFA(I), and the PCJSS (Santu faction) reportedly attended a two-day meeting held from December 9 to 11, 2025, in Cox’s Bazar. The meeting was…

05 Mar

India’s First Riverine Lighthouses to Come Up on Brahmaputra as Sonowal Lays Foundation Stones

riya EditorAssam

India has initiated a significant advancement in inland waterway navigation with the establishment of four river lighthouses along the Brahmaputra River. Laid by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, this project marks the first lighthouse infrastructure on inland waterways in India. Locations include Bogibeel, Pandu, Silghat, and Biswanath Ghat, strategically positioned to enhance navigation for National Waterway-2, which is crucial for cargo and passenger transport. The project, costing around ₹84 crore, will feature lighthouses rising 20 meters high, supported by solar power, and will incorporate additional facilities such as museums and recreational areas, transforming them into tourism landmarks. This initiative responds to…

05 Mar

AIUDF Suspends Two MLAs Over Alleged Anti-Party Activities; One Decides to Quit

riya EditorAssam

In a significant political shift ahead of the upcoming state elections in Assam, the All-India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), an opposition party, has suspended two of its legislators for a six-year term due to alleged anti-party activities. The suspended members include Abdul Aziz, the MLA for Badarpur, and Karim Uddin Barbhuiya, who also serves as the party's vice president. This decision was made following a directive from the party's central committee and reflects concerns over the controversial actions of both leaders that the party deems detrimental to its interests. The AIUDF, under the signature of General Secretary (administration) Hafiz Bashir…