Assam - The Purbottar

19 May

Assam Vigilance Team Arrests Kokrajhar Forest Officer in Bribery Case

Paromita EditorAssam

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Assam, has arrested a Divisional Forest Officer of Kokrajhar district on charges of accepting a bribe in connection with the release of payment bills. According to an official press release issued on May 19, the arrested officer has been identified as Abinash Basumatary, Divisional Forest Officer of the Parbatjhora Forest Division in Kokrajhar district under the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). The vigilance department stated that a complaint was lodged alleging that Basumatary had demanded Rs 9.75 lakh from a complainant for clearing pending bills. Unwilling to pay the full amount, the complainant approached the…

19 May

Assam Crime Branch Summons Randeep Surjewala in Passport Controversy Probe

Paromita EditorAssam

The Assam Crime Branch has summoned Congress MP and senior party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala to appear before investigators in Guwahati on May 23 in connection with an ongoing probe linked to allegations surrounding the passport records and citizenship status of Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The investigation began after Congress leaders, including party spokesperson Pawan Khera, raised allegations regarding alleged irregularities in Riniki Bhuyan Sarma’s passport-related documents. Following the remarks, criminal complaints were lodged against Khera at the Guwahati Crime Branch under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. According to sources, the summons…

19 May

Tiwa, Bodo Groups Oppose Proposed Satellite Township in Morigaon

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Assam government has halted an ongoing survey for a proposed satellite township near the upcoming Tata semiconductor project in Morigaon district following protests by Tiwa and Bodo community organisations. An official order issued by Morigaon District Commissioner Anamika Tewari on May 18 stated that the survey work connected to the proposed township had been cancelled with immediate effect after objections were raised by several groups and local residents. The district administration had earlier started survey work in Sindhisar, Naldhara and Bihita villages near Jagiroad as part of preparations for a relocation and rehabilitation proposal linked to the planned township…

19 May

Adi Sewa Kendras to Lead Welfare Awareness Campaign Across Kamrup

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Jan Bhagidari Abhiyan aimed at strengthening the delivery of government welfare schemes and addressing public grievances in tribal areas was officially launched in Kamrup district on May 18. The campaign will continue till May 25 across different parts of the district.The launch programme was held at the Conference Hall of the District Commissioner’s office at Amingaon and was chaired by District Commissioner Deba Kumar Mishra. Boko-Chaygaon MLA Raju Mesh attended the programme along with several senior district officials. Among those present were Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Parishad Siddharth Goswami, District Development Commissioner Sushanta Kumar Dutta, Additional Deputy Commissioners…

19 May

Elephant carcass recovered in Kalibor; electrocution feared behind death

riya EditorAssam

A wild elephant was found dead early on May 19 at Lengteng No. 2 Basti in Kaliabor, triggering concern among local residents and forest authorities. According to preliminary information, the elephant’s carcass was discovered by villagers early in the morning. A section of local residents alleged that unidentified miscreants may have electrocuted the animal by illegally connecting a power source, resulting in its death. However, the exact cause of death is yet to be officially confirmed. Following the incident, officials from the Western Range of the Salan Forest Division reached the site and initiated preliminary investigation procedures. Forest personnel are…

19 May

Guwahati set to get Water Metro under Centre’s phase-one expansion plan, says Sonowal

riya EditorAssam

The Centre has advanced plans to roll out Water Metro services in 18 cities, with Guwahati among those identified for Phase I, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal said while chairing a review meeting on the rollout of the much-anticipated Water Metro services in the country. Cities including Srinagar, Patna, Varanasi, Ayodhya and Prayagraj are also part of Phase I, while Tezpur and Dibrugarh in Assam have been proposed for Phase II of the project. The Ministry has simultaneously circulated the Draft National Water Metro Policy, 2026 for inter-ministerial consultations, indicating a push to formalize a national…

19 May

IOCL assures uninterrupted supply of petrol, diesel and LPG across Assam

riya EditorAssam

The state-level coordinator for the oil Industry in Assam, who is also the executive director and state head, Indian Oil (Assam Oil Division) office in Guwahati has informed that the availability of essential petroleum products, including petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), remains normal and uninterrupted across the state. Public sector oil marketing companies Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) are maintaining adequate fuel stocks across all supply locations, and the overall supply position in the region continues to remain stable. “The entire fuel supply chain, from terminals and…

19 May

CS holds meeting with World Bank delegation to assess implementation of key projects in Assam

riya EditorAssam

Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota on Monday met a delegation from the World Bank in Guwahati to review the progress of ongoing World Bank-assisted projects in Assam and deliberated upon future areas of collaboration aligned with the State Government’s developmental priorities. The World Bank delegation, led by Johannes Zutt, regional vice president, also included senior officials of the World Bank, Jen Jung Eun Oh and Arnab Bandopadhyay. Currently, Assam is implementing seven major World Bank-assisted externally aided projects with a cumulative outlay of approximately Rs 16,648 crore, of which the World Bank assistance component accounts for nearly Rs 13,320 crore.…

19 May

Atul Bora gets additional responsibility as Assam’s Parliamentary Affairs Minister

riya EditorAssam

Minister Atul Bora has been given the additional charge of the Parliamentary Affairs department as an interim arrangement, according to an order issued by Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya. "The Governor of Assam, on the advice of Chief Minister, is pleased to allow Atul Bora, Minister, Panchayat and Rural Development, Implementation of Assam Accord, Border Protection and Development, (and) Excise departments, to also look after the matters pertaining to Parliamentary Affairs Department, as an interim arrangement," stated a notification issued by Chief Secretary Ravi Kota. Bora is one of the four ministers of the new ornament who took oath on May…

19 May

CM inaugurates Assam Cricket Museum in Guwahati, highlighting Assam’s growing cricket culture

riya EditorAssam

Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the Assam Cricket Museum established within the premises of the Barsapara ACA Stadium in Guwahati on Monday and also unveiled a documentary titled “The Golden Innings: Legacy of Assam Cricket.” It may be noted that the museum has been set up to preserve the glorious history of the Assam Cricket Association, important archival records, and memorable moments from different phases of Assam’s cricketing journey. The museum stands as a proud symbol of the rich legacy of cricket in Assam. From the pre-Independence era to the present day, it commemorates the pioneers and distinguished…