Assam - The Purbottar

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…

12 Aug

Assam announces 10 new co-districts, focus on administrative structure

Mohini BarmanAssam

Assam will have 10 new co-districts, taking the total number of such administrative blocs to 49 in the state, according to the chief minister's office. The newly created co-districts will be Boko-Chhaygaon and Palashbari in Kamrup district, Borsola and Rangapara in Sonitpur, Mariani and Teok in Jorhat, Makum and Digboi in Tinsukia, Dholai in Cachar and Dudhnoi in Goalpara. Out of these, eight will be inaugurated on Tuesday, and two on Wednesday. "With the inauguration of 10 more co-districts in 2nd Phase, Assam Govt takes another step towards enhancing governance at the grassroots," CMO said in a post on X.…

12 Aug

700 new Goa police officers finish their training at the Lachit Borphukan Academy in Assam

Banasree SarkarAssam

In a significant step for interstate police collaboration, 700 Goa Police recruits have finished their 43-week basic training at the Lachit Borphukan Police Academy (LBPA) in the Golaghat region of Assam. The trainees, who started at the academy on October 4 of last year, received intense instruction in field tactics, weapon handling, mental toughness, and physical endurance. They are now members of the Indian Reserve Battalions 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma were present during the passing-out parade. Sarma praised the event as historic, pointing out that it promoted professional…

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…