Assam - The Purbottar

12 Aug

Assam women’s group slams firearms plan, warns of civil unrest and gender violence

editorAssam

The Nari Nagarik Manch, an apolitical women's collective in Assam, has strongly opposed the state government's plan to license firearms to "indigenous people" in areas that are considered vulnerable. The group warned that decades of peace could be undone by the action. Most of Assam has been peaceful since the conclusion of the militancy in 2009–2010. When weapons reached non-state actors, the Manch fear a recurrence of the bloodshed that occurred in Manipur. About 30 members decided to ask the President, Prime Minister, and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to cancel the idea. Through a PIL, they can also petition…

11 Aug

Guwahati Airport’s cargo terminal handled a record 952 MT in July, sets new milestone

Banasree SarkarAssam

In just one month, the GIAL domestic cargo terminal at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBIA) in Guwahati achieved a significant milestone by processing a record 952 metric tons (MT) of cargo. With a 13.2% total increase in cargo throughput, this achievement for the month of July surpasses the previous all-time high of 841 MT. The main driver of this expansion has been a significant 15.26% increase in incoming cargo volumes, with Bengaluru and Delhi contributing the most. The terminal's improved operating efficiency and increasing dependability as a logistics center in Northeast India are highlighted by the notable rise…

11 Aug

Dr. Gayatri Gogoi wins Blackbuck Pioneer Researcher Award 2025 for breakthrough Cancer research

editorAssam

Dr. Gayatri Gogoi, an adjunct researcher at ICMR North East and associate professor at AMCH, received the Blackbuck Pioneer Researcher Award 2025 in recognition of her groundbreaking work in cancer research. Gogoi, a renowned physician and researcher from Assam, has been making a significant contribution to the Northeast's quest for knowledge and education. The prize was given out on August 10 at a research summit hosted by the National Medical Forum and Medical Dialogue, the biggest medical news group, in Delhi. Dr. Abhijat Sheth, the chairperson of the National Medical Commission, and Prof. Ashok Puranik, the executive director of AIIMS…

11 Aug

Sarma maintains his stance on evictions and governance reforms while urging Bodo political unity

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has called for greater political consolidation in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD), stressing the importance of unity among key regional forces ahead of the next elections.During his visit to Anandpur in Baksa district’s C-Block, Sarma attended the Vijay Sankalp Sabha in Koklabari and Salbari constituencies, where he offered strategic advice to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and supporters. Addressing the media, he expressed hope that the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), and prominent leader Anjali Daimary could eventually come together. “If we sit for discussions, it will be…

09 Aug

Modi govt unveils ₹7,250 cr plan for tribal upliftment in Northeast

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

In a major push to consolidate peace and development in the Northeast, the Union Cabinet has approved a comprehensive funding package worth ₹7,250 crore for Assam and Tripura, including ₹4,000 crore for infrastructure development in areas covered under recent peace accords with various ethnic groups. The allocation follows a series of Memorandums of Settlement (MoS) signed over the past three years with groups such as the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-2023), Adivasi organisations (2022), Dimasa outfits including the Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) and Dimasa People’s Supreme Council (DPSC) (2023), and Tripura-based factions like the National Liberation Front of…

09 Aug

Major Dr. Dipanwita Kalita becomes Assam’s first woman paratrooper, featured in Femina’s ‘Warrior Women’ cover

editorAssam

With Major Dr. Dipanwita Kalita from Swaheed Nagari Dhekiajuli, Sonitpur district, becoming the first Assamese woman paratrooper, Assam has made a lasting impression on the Indian Army's history. In addition to this noteworthy accomplishment, she was included alongside Colonel Sophia Qureshi and eight other outstanding female officers from the Indian Armed Forces on the Independence Day special cover of Femina India, one of the most well-known and extensively read magazines in the world. Her mother, Parbati Kalita, had gallbladder surgery yesterday, so although her triumph has made the people of Dhekiajuli very proud, celebrations at her parents' house have been…

08 Aug

Bhergaon Eri Centre distributes free silkworm seeds to empower rural women

editorAssam

An important step was taken on Wednesday at the Bhergaon Eri Cocoon Production and Demonstration Centre to encourage rural women to become self-sufficient and earn a steady income. 50 economically disadvantaged people received free Eri silkworm seeds and vital host plant saplings during the ceremony, which ran from 11:30 am to 4:00 pm. Daobaisa Boro, an executive member of BTR's Eri Mission, spearheaded the campaign and stressed the value of enlisting women, particularly those from the tea garden areas, to participate in Eri sericulture by using their underutilized land for plantations. An essential component of Assam's silk legacy, Muga cultivation…

08 Aug

From September 20, IndiGo will begin operating morning flights from Delhi to Silchar via Guwahati

Banasree SarkarAssam

IndiGo will begin operating a new morning flight service from New Delhi to Silchar via Guwahati on September 20, 2025, according to the Assam Chief Minister's Office (CMO). In order to enhance air connection and convenience for Barak Valley residents, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma spearheaded the introduction of the service, according to Barak Valley Development Minister Kaushik Rai. Rai thanked the chief minister and IndiGo Airlines for making the extra flight possible. On his official X account, the minister thanked the Assam chief minister for "considering the needs of the people of Barak Valley and arranging an additional flight."…

08 Aug

Court steps in to speed up cases against Assam leaders

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Gauhati High Court has directed the Public Prosecutor to present a detailed roadmap to fast-track all pending criminal cases involving Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). The court has fixed August 20, 2025, as the deadline for the submission of the action plan. The directive was issued during a recent hearing amid growing public concern over the slow pace of justice in politically sensitive matters. Official data indicates that Assam continues to witness a large number of unresolved cases against legislators, with Dibrugarh and Nagaon districts recording the highest pendency. The bench emphasised that…

07 Aug

Rajasthan to honor Assamese hero Lachit Borphukan with monuments in Jaipur and Kota

editorAssam

The Rajasthan Foundation (Assam & Northeast Chapter) has suggested erecting monuments of the renowned Assamese warrior Lachit Borphukan in Jaipur and Kota as a potent symbol of cultural pride and national unity. Assamese patriotism and bravery are exemplified by Lachit Borphukan, the 17th-century Ahom general who was renowned for his valiant resistance against the Mughal Empire during the Battle of Saraighat. A major cultural effort aimed at integrating his tale into India's larger historical fabric is represented by the proposed sculptures in Rajasthan, one in the state capital Jaipur and another in Kota, a center of scholastic brilliance. The government…