Assam - The Purbottar

17 Apr

Tea Bodies Urge Narendra Modi to Allow Flexible Sale Options for Producers

Paromita EditorAssam

Four Assam-based tea organisations have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow tea producers the freedom to choose how they sell their produce, instead of being mandatorily required to sell through public auction centres. The organisations—Assam Bought Leaf Tea Manufacturers’ Association (ABLTMA), North Eastern Tea Association (NETA), Bharatiya Cha Parishad (BCP), and North Bengal Tea Producers’ Welfare Association (NBTPWA)—stated that the cost of selling tea through auction centres often exceeds the net profit margins of producers, making the business increasingly unviable. In a joint representation submitted on April 16, the organisations called for amendments to government orders issued in February…

17 Apr

Violence Erupts in Chirang as Police Open Fire After Protest Turns Violent

Paromita EditorAssam

Police opened fire to control a violent protest at the Runikhata Forest Range Office along the India–Bhutan border in Assam’s Chirang district after clashes between demonstrators and security personnel escalated sharply. According to officials, the situation spiralled out of control when protesters allegedly attacked police and forest personnel and resorted to heavy stone pelting. Security forces first used a baton charge and tear gas to disperse the crowd before opening fire, triggering panic in the area. Tension continues to prevail despite reinforcement of additional police personnel. The unrest began on Thursday night after forest officials detained 25 individuals from the…

17 Apr

Assam CM Urges Pawan Khera to Surrender Following SC Relief Denial

Paromita EditorAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on April 17 said Congress leader Pawan Khera should surrender before the law and appear in Guwahati after the Supreme Court of India declined to extend his transit anticipatory bail. Speaking in Uttar Dinajpur, Sarma said Khera should follow due legal process and present himself before the appropriate court in Assam. “He should come to Guwahati and surrender there,” he said. Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court rejected Khera’s plea seeking an extension of transit anticipatory bail, which had earlier been granted by the Telangana High Court. The plea sought additional time to…

17 Apr

Fuel Availability Back to Normal in Assam, Confirms Indian Oil

riya EditorAssam

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) today said that the supply situation of domestic LPG cylinders and petroleum products is completely normal in Assam. The supply of all petroleum products, including petrol, diesel, and LPG, in the state of Assam is fully normal and under control. Uninterrupted supply is being ensured through the state’s robust infrastructure, continuous monitoring system, and effective coordination with State government officials," an official statement from IOC stated. Currently, there are a total of 1,737 retail outlets in Assam (OMCs: 1,461 and private: 276) along with 9 supply locations/depots in operation. On average, 2,935 KL of petrol (MS)…

17 Apr

LGBI Airport T2 Expansion to Open New Avenues for Air Travel

riya EditorAssam

The operationalization of Terminal 2 at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport marks a significant step forward in strengthening air connectivity between the Northeast and key destinations across India and beyond. Designed to handle a larger volume of passengers and aircraft movements, the new terminal is expected to support expanded flight routes and higher frequencies, addressing long-standing connectivity gaps from Guwahati to several major cities. With the enhanced infrastructure now in place, airlines will have greater operational flexibility to introduce new services and increase the number of flights on existing routes. Improved passenger handling capacity, modern facilities, and upgraded operational…

17 Apr

Assam Boxers Monika and Mridupam Advance to Last Eight in National Youth Championship

riya EditorAssam

Two Assam boxers advanced to the quarterfinals at the 8th Men’s and Women’s National Youth Boxing Championship underway at the Don Bosco University Hall in Sonapur near Guwahati. Mridupam Baruah moved into the last eight in the boys’ 75kg category, defeating his Mizoram opponent 4-1 in the pre-quarterfinals on Wednesday. In the girls’ 48kg category, Monika Dal also secured a quarterfinal berth with a 4-1 win over a Tamil Nadu boxer. Later in the evening session, four more Assam boxers were set to compete in the pre-quarterfinals. Doingin Lukoi and Sandip Basumatary were scheduled to fight in the boys’ 65kg…

17 Apr

Experts in Assam Highlight Bats’ Role in Farming and Biodiversity, Call for Awareness to Counter Myths

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Scientists and conservationists across Assam on April 17 marked International Bat Appreciation Day with a strong call for greater awareness and protection of bats, a group of animals often feared but considered vital for ecosystems and agriculture. At BN College (Autonomous) in Dhubri, researchers highlighted how myths and misconceptions continue to harm bat populations. Experts said that despite growing scientific evidence about their importance, bats are still widely misunderstood, leading to fear, habitat destruction, and declining numbers. Speaking during a briefing at the Department of Zoology, Dr Azad Ali, who heads the Bat Research and Conservation Division (BRCD), stressed that…

17 Apr

Congress Leader Gaurav Gogoi Accuses Bharatiya Janata Party of Delaying Women’s Quota by Mixing Key Electoral Reforms

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi has called for the immediate implementation of women’s reservation, saying it should not be linked to the census or the delimitation process. His remarks come at a time when political parties are debating how and when the proposed reservation for women in legislatures should be rolled out. In a statement shared on his X handle, Gogoi said the position of the Congress and several opposition parties was clear and straightforward. He said women’s reservation should be implemented without any conditions or delays. At the same time, he added that the national census should be carried out…

16 Apr

Assam RGU First Ne Private Varsity To Collaborate With Indian Navy

Paromita EditorAssam

In a significant stride towards reinforcing its commitment to nation-building through education, Assam Royal Global University (RGU) has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Navy on Monday at the office of the Navy Welfare and Wellness Association (NWWA), Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.The agreement was formally signed by Shashi Tripathi, President, NWWA, and Commodore S.M. Urooj Athar on behalf of the Indian Navy, while Prof. D. N. Singh, Registrar (Academics), RGU, signed on behalf of the university.This historic collaboration marks RGU as the first private university from Northeast India to partner with the Indian Navy, opening new avenues…

16 Apr

New Wyndham Hotel Deal Signals Hospitality Growth in Guwahati

riya EditorAssam

Om Arham Ventures has signed a deal with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts to develop a new upscale 190-room hotel in Guwahati from a brownfield site that is slated to begin operations in the second half of 2028 and will be the first Wyndham Hotel in Guwahati, which is one of the biggest commercial and tourism hubs in Northeast India. The Hotel will have a total of 190 modern/Sleek designed rooms and Suites, which will satisfy both Business & Leisure Travelers. The Hotel will be a Vegetarian only based on the changing preferences of guests in the region. The Hotel will…