Assam - The Purbottar

26 May

Himanta Biswa Sarma attacks Congress during Assam Assembly debate on women’s reservation

Paromita EditorAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on May 26 launched a sharp attack on the Congress, accusing the party of being “anti-women” after Congress legislators briefly staged a walkout during a discussion on a government resolution supporting 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislative assemblies. The resolution, introduced in the Assembly by Women and Child Welfare Minister Ajanta Neog, urged the immediate implementation of one-third reservation for women in Parliament and all state legislative assemblies following the completion of the delimitation exercise. Tensions briefly escalated in the Assembly after BJP MLA Bhuban Pegu made remarks targeting…

26 May

Assam’s Maternal Mortality Rate drops below national average for first time: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Paromita EditorAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said the state has achieved a “historic” public health milestone as Assam’s Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) dropped to 84, going below the national average of 88 for the first time. Describing the achievement as one of the most emotional moments of his public life, Sarma recalled that when he took charge of the Health Department in 2006, Assam’s MMR stood at 480, making the present milestone appear almost impossible at the time. The chief minister credited doctors, nurses, ASHA workers, health officials and frontline healthcare personnel across the state for the achievement,…

26 May

Fast-Track Court Frames Charges Against Seven Accused in Zubeen Garg Death Case

Paromita EditorAssam

A fast-track court on Tuesday formally framed charges against all seven accused in the high-profile Zubeen Garg death case, with four of them charged with murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The court, presided over by Sharmila Bhuyan, framed charges against all accused named in the chargesheet. Speaking to reporters, special public prosecutor Ziaul Kamar said the court had framed charges against all accused persons in the case. According to the prosecution, murder charges under BNS Sections 103 (murder), 3 (common intention) and 61 (criminal conspiracy) were framed against Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma, bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami…

26 May

Assam CM Calls for Entrepreneurial Youth and Stronger Women-Led Self-Help Groups for Economic Growth

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday reiterated the Assam government’s commitment to provide government jobs to two lakh youths, while also stressing the need to build a strong culture of entrepreneurship and expand economic opportunities for women across the state. Speaking during the third day of the Assam Assembly session on May 26, the chief minister said the employment promise made during the elections remained a key responsibility of his government and a commitment he personally continued to remember. “People today may or may not remind me of it, but at this sacred moment of taking responsibility as Chief Minister, I…

26 May

Himanta Biswa Sarma Says Stronger Tea Industry Key to Higher Wages for Assam Tea Workers

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said the Assam government aims to raise the daily wages of tea garden workers to Rs 450 during its tenure, while stressing that the target would depend on the growth and strengthening of the state’s tea industry.Speaking during the third day of the Assam Assembly session on May 26, the chief minister said the government had already increased tea garden workers’ wages to nearly Rs 300 and now wanted to take the next step through broader economic reforms and industry expansion.“For the first time, we have raised the wages of tea garden workers to nearly…

26 May

Five from Assam presented Padma Shri award.

Paromita EditorAssam

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu presented Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri Awards for the year 2026 at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-I held at Rashtrapati Bhavan todayAmong the dignitaries present on the occasion were Vice President of India, Prime Minister of India and Union Minister for Home Affairs.Among the recipients, five distinguished personalities from Assam were honored with the Padma Shri. The awardees from Assam are Haricharan Saikia (Art), Jogesh Deuri (Agriculture), Nuruddin Ahmed (Art), Pokhila Lekthepi (Art), and Late Kabindra Purkayastha (Public Affairs) (Posthumous).The Padma Awards are among India's highest civilian honors, recognising notable contributions to various disciplines. Several esteemed individuals from Assam have received these awards…

26 May

Two Suspected ULFA-Linked Extortion Operatives Injured in Gunfight with Police in Assam’s Sivasagar

Paromita EditorAssam

Two suspected extortion operatives allegedly linked to United Liberation Front of Asom were injured during an exchange of fire with police at Bogidol Mola village in Sivasagar district on May 25, police sources said. According to reports, a group had allegedly been demanding money in the name of ULFA from local businessmen for several days. The latest target was businessman Lachit Gogoi, who reportedly received an extortion demand of Rs 8 lakh. Police sources said the suspected group arrived near Mola gaon on Sunday to collect the extortion money, where a police team was already conducting an operation. On noticing…

26 May

Morikolong Robbery Case: Accused Shot Dead During Gunfight with Police in Nagaon

riya EditorAssam

An accused wanted in connection with the Morikolong robbery case was killed during a late-night gunfight between police and alleged criminals at Borkandoli in Rangalu under Nagaon district on Monday night. The deceased has been identified as Khairul Ali alias Moni, a resident of Thana Road in North Lakhimpur town. Police said he was one of the prime accused in the Morikolong robbery case and had been absconding since the incident. According to police sources, Khairul had allegedly returned to Nagaon on Monday night with plans to carry out another robbery. Acting on specific intelligence inputs regarding the movement of…

26 May

Massive Preparations Underway in Assam for Census 2027 Phase-I Exercise

riya EditorAssam

The Assam government announced the schedule for Phase-I of Census 2027, which will be conducted across the state from August 17 to September 15, 2026. Self-enumeration through the official online portal will remain open from August 2 to August 16. The schedule was finalized following a high-level review meeting on Census preparedness, where officials assessed readiness related to field operations, training, digital infrastructure, supervision and public outreach ahead of the nationwide exercise. According to an official statement, Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota stressed the importance of coordinated preparation and public participation for the successful conduct of the Census. “The successful…

26 May

Guwahati Hosts Key Meeting Between Tshering Tobgay and Assam Leadership

riya EditorAssam

Dasho Tshering Tobgay on Monday met Lakshman Prasad Acharya and Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati, with discussions focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation between Bhutan and Northeast India, particularly Assam. Tobgay, who arrived in Assam earlier in the day on an official visit, called on the Governor at Lok Bhavan in the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. According to an official statement, the meeting covered a wide range of issues aimed at boosting cooperation and further deepening ties in the larger interest of the northeastern region. A cultural evening showcasing Assam’s rich heritage and hospitality was…