Assam - The Purbottar

16 Dec

Tezpur University students maintain their academic boycott while waiting for MoE action, ending their hunger strike

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Students of Tezpur University on Tuesday ended their nine-hour hunger strike after receiving fresh assurances from the Union Ministry of Education (MoE), but made it clear that their wider protest movement is far from over. While the hunger strike was withdrawn peacefully, the ongoing academic boycott on the campus continues, reflecting deep-rooted discontent among the student community. The hunger strike, observed from morning to evening, saw the participation of nearly 200 students and drew widespread attention across the university. Students gathered in large numbers on campus, holding placards and raising slogans to press their demands. Despite cold conditions and physical…

15 Dec

Veteran Journalist and Assam Tribune Chairman Prafulla Govinda Baruah Passes Away at 93

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Prafulla Govinda Baruah, one of Assam’s most respected journalists and the long-time Chairman of The Assam Tribune Group, passed away on Sunday night at the age of 93. He breathed his last at around 9.30 pm at a private hospital in Guwahati, where he had been undergoing treatment for age-related ailments for the past few days, family sources said. Baruah’s death marks the end of an era in Assam’s journalistic history. Widely regarded as the doyen of journalism in the state, he played a key role in shaping responsible, balanced and principled reporting in the Northeast over several decades. He…

15 Dec

Seven Rohingyas apprehended in Assam

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Seven members of the Rohingya community were detained in Assam's Cachar district while allegedly attempting to cross illegally into Bangladesh from India. The group, comprising one man, three women, and three children, was apprehended at Hilara railway station. Local residents became suspicious of their movements and reported them to the police, who confirmed that the group would be "pushed back" to Bangladesh after necessary verification procedures were completed.

13 Dec

As accusations of match-fixing emerge, the ACA suspends four former players

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam cricket has come under a serious cloud following allegations of corruption, with the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) suspending four former state players for their alleged involvement in attempts to influence matches during a national tournament. The matter has now reached the Crime Branch, marking one of the most serious crises faced by Assam cricket in recent years. The four former players; Amit Sinha, Ishan Ahmed, Aman Tripathi and Abhishek Thakuri have been suspended with immediate effect after complaints suggested that they tried to influence and instigate members of the current Assam team during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025.…

13 Dec

A door-to-door leprosy screening campaign will start on December 15 in Dima Hasao

Banasree SarkarAssam

The Leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC) 2025 District Level Coordination Committee Meeting was called by the District Health Society, Dima Hasao, in the Officer's Conference Hall, NCHAC, Haflong. In order to guarantee that no person goes undiagnosed or untreated, the gathering stressed the significance of bolstering early identification, treatment, and awareness of leprosy in the district. Leprosy can take up to 20 years to manifest symptoms, according to Dr. L Vaiphei, District Nodal Officer, BCM Mahur BPHC. He emphasized that the campaign's goals are to eradicate stigma, guarantee prompt treatment, and advance the goal of a Leprosy-Free Dima Hasao. The…

12 Dec

Assam SIT Files India’s Longest Murder Case Chargesheet in Zubeen Garg Probe

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Assam CID has filed what is believed to be the longest chargesheet ever submitted in a murder case in India. The investigation into the death of popular singer Zubeen Garg has resulted in a document that runs into 12,000 pages, far exceeding previous records in similar cases. The chargesheet was submitted at the Kamrup Metropolitan Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court, marking an important step in the long-running probe. For comparison, the murder case of journalist Gauri Lankesh had a 9,235-page chargesheet, while the Shraddha Walkar murder case involved around 6,629 pages. Although some major…

12 Dec

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma distributes bicycles to more than 3 lakh children throughout the state

Banasree SarkarAssam

Assam's ambitious statewide bicycle distribution initiative was formally launched by Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, who ceremoniously gave bicycles to Dibrugarh's Class IX pupils. 3,10,031 students from government and provincialized secondary schools, tea garden model schools, and other model institutions across the state will benefit from the project, which aims to improve student mobility and lower dropout rates. The Chief Minister gave a speech at the Dibrugarh High School Playground, outlining the program's justification and emphasizing that transportation obstacles are a major cause of student attrition. The Chief Minister emphasized how better mobility and academic results are directly related.…

12 Dec

Soren to Send Special Team to Assam as Tea Garden Adivasis Raise Issues of Wages, Land Rights and Identity

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

An organisation representing Assam’s tea garden workers met Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren this week and highlighted the long-standing social, economic and identity-related struggles faced by Adivasi communities working in Assam’s tea plantations. The delegation from Adivasi Samanvaya Samiti Bharat (Assam) told the chief minister that decades of neglect by successive governments in Assam have left the tea tribe population marginalised in almost every sector of life. According to a statement issued by the Jharkhand Chief Minister’s Office, the group explained how Adivasi workers continue to face barriers in wages, land rights, education, healthcare, and recognition of their identity. The…

12 Dec

Govt Extends Financial Grants to 442 Former BLT Cadres Living Beyond BTR Limits

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Assam government on Thursday distributed financial grants to 442 former Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) members at a ceremony organised by the State Home Department and the Special Branch of Assam Police in Guwahati. Assam Cabinet Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah and Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Chief Executive Member Hagrama Mohilary handed over the cheques as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to rehabilitate and reintegrate former militants into mainstream society. Senior officials, including Assam DGP Harmeet Singh, Additional Chief Secretary Ajay Tewari, and Special ADGP Hiren Chandra Nath, were present at the event. Each former cadre received ₹2 lakh, aimed at…

12 Dec

Balipara Foundation Awards 2025 Celebrate Kaziranga’s ‘Van Durgas’ for Their Frontline Conservation Work

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve stands strong because of the unwavering dedication of its frontline staff. Among them shines a remarkable group of women known as the Van Durgas — fearless forest frontliners recognised by the Hon’ble Prime Minister for their exceptional service to nature. With a force of around 108 women, these frontline heroes work as foresters and forest guards, forming the backbone of Kaziranga’s protection system.Their days begin with anti-poaching patrols and end with addressing human–wildlife conflict, eco-development work, and community engagement. Their courage reflects not only professional discipline but also a deep love for the wilderness…