Assam - The Purbottar

19 Aug

Assam CM Sarma pushes inclusive land policy for BTR communities

Purbalee DuttaAssam

In the BJP's campaign for the September 2025 Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) election, Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma spoke at two rallies: one in Orang, which covered the Pasnoi Serfang and Rowta constituencies, and another in Udalguri, which covered the Bhairabkunda and Dhansiri constituencies. Although the BTC has grown and developed since its founding in 2003, Chief Minister Sarma stated that a number of issues have not been resolved. Sarma made reference to the 2020 BTR Peace Accord, claiming that it brought "permanent peace and prosperity" to an area that had previously been plagued by insurgency and intercommunal…

18 Aug

Assam plans tourism circuit in Bongaigaon featuring waterfalls, hills, and Kakoijana Forest

editorAssam

In an effort to promote important local attractions, Assam Tourism and Panchayat & Rural Development Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass announced plans on Sunday to create a tourism circuit in Bongaigaon. The proposed circuit would include the Borjhora waterfalls, the Nakakati hill view, and the Kakoijana forest, which is well-known for its golden langurs. Speaking to the media, Dass also disclosed a plan to improve tourist management in the area by moving the Assam tourist Department office from Siliguri to Bongaigaon. Dass opened the Kamatapur Autonomous Council's new gate at North Salmara earlier in the day. He then called a review…

18 Aug

An IndiGo jet carrying an Assam minister does a quick U-turn in Guwahati and lands without incident

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Passengers on an IndiGo flight from Dibrugarh to Guwahati, including Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, faced a few tense moments on Sunday afternoon when their aircraft made an unexpected go-around just seconds before touching down at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport. The incident involved IndiGo flight 6E-187, operated on the Dibrugarh–Guwahati route. As the Airbus prepared for its scheduled landing, the aircraft suddenly pulled up and climbed back into the skies, leaving several passengers startled. Moments later, the plane circled the airport and landed safely on its second attempt, much to the relief of those onboard. Airport officials later…

18 Aug

Silchar set for Netaji Statue unveiling by chief minister on August 31

Banasree SarkarAssam

Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma will dedicate the recently erected Netaji statue at Rangirkhari Point on August 31st, according to local MLA Dipayan Chakraborty. The ancient statue at the same location in Silchar town will be replaced by the new one, which was created by renowned Mysorean sculptor Arun Jogiraj. At midnight on Saturday, the enormous statue arrived in Silchar and was positioned atop the pedestal. Speaking at a news conference on Sunday, Chakraborty, who is also the head of the committee that was established to build the new statue of Netaji, announced that the Chief Minister would unveil…

16 Aug

Indian Railways launches biodegradable bedroll bags on Independence Day

editorAssam

In a significant step towards more ecologically friendly train travel, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have partnered to replace traditional plastic bedroll bags on trains with biodegradable ones. The program was officially launched on August 15, which is India's Independence Day. Approximately 40,000 environmentally friendly bags were delivered by 25 trains that left from major ports in Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh. The in-house research team at IIT-Guwahati created the bags, which are completely compostable and made to break down swiftly without endangering the environment. Instead of using single-use…

16 Aug

Assam-Nagaland border tension rises after brutal attack on youths

Banasree SarkarAssam

The spirit of Independence Day was overshadowed by a shocking incident at Merapani, a sensitive town along the Assam–Nagaland border, where three young men from Assam were brutally attacked by a group of alleged Naga miscreants. The assault, which took place on August 15, has once again brought the fragile peace of the border region under scrutiny. According to eyewitnesses and local sources, the victims — Simsat Basumatary, Subrat Nayak, and Prakash Boro — had travelled from their native village of Kadamguri to a forested area across the inter-state boundary in Nagaland for a picnic. The outing, which was meant…

14 Aug

IAF Band to perform at Guwahati’s Dighalipukhuri on Independence Day

Mohini BarmanAssam

Guwahati will host a public performance by the No. 7 Air Force Band at the War Memorial, Dighalipukhuri, on August 15 at 5.30 PM, marking the 79th Independence Day. Organised under the Ministry of Defence and Air Headquarters, the programme aims to foster national pride and highlight recent achievements, including the successful completion of Operation Sindoor. The 25-member No. 7 AF Band from Air Force Station, Borjhar, will perform 16 patriotic numbers in a 75-minute set. The presentation will pay tribute to the courage and sacrifice of armed forces personnel while reflecting the discipline and musical expertise of the Indian…

14 Aug

A stash of ammunition was discovered in South Salmara-Mankachar, Assam, just before Independence Day

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Just days ahead of Independence Day celebrations, Assam Police recovered a substantial cache of ammunition buried underground in the Kalabari area of South Salmara-Mankachar district. The recovery was made during an intensified security sweep launched across the district to prevent any untoward incident during the national celebrations. Acting on a credible intelligence input, a special police team conducted a search in the area on Wednesday. The operation was led by Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Pratap Das, assisted by Officer-in-Charge of South Salmara Police Station, J.S. Khubung. Police officials reported that during the course of the search, the team discovered…

14 Aug

Tinsukia will celebrate Grand Ganesh Chaturthi by welcoming 12-foot Lord Ganesha

Banasree SarkarAssam

A 12-foot image of Lord Ganesha will be erected at West Sripuria Vivekananda Road as Tinsukia prepares for the lavish Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. The Shree Ganeshaya Vivekananda Sangha is organizing the event, which promises to be filled with lively celebrations and fervent devotion. The tall, finely detailed idol will serve as the focal point for both worshipers and tourists. The organizers have organized a number of religious and cultural events, such as aarti, bhajans, and communal feasts, to commemorate the auspicious occasion. One of India's most popular holidays, Ganesh Chaturthi, honors Lord Ganesha, who is the remover of barriers and…

13 Aug

A world-class sports institution worth Rs 187 crore will be built in Bodoland, Assam

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) of Assam is set to build a world-class sports academy in the region, a step seen as a major boost for sports development in Bodoland. BTC Chief Pramod Boro announced that the Union government has approved the project, which will be established in Udalguri district at a cost of Rs 187 crore. Addressing reporters, Boro said the region had long awaited such a development. “We have been demanding a world-class stadium in Bodoland for several years. Now, we have received two major projects — a Rs 110 crore football stadium from the Assam government in…