Assam - The Purbottar

24 Dec

Sarbananda Sonowal lauds Dibrugarh airport as a hub for Northeast India’s growth

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal chaired a crucial meeting on December 22 to review the progress of the runway expansion project at Dibrugarh Airport. The meeting, attended by the airport’s advisory panel, focused on the airport's infrastructure upgrades and its potential to boost regional development. Highlighting the significance of the project, Sonowal remarked, “Since 2014, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dibrugarh has seen remarkable growth. The airport has become a gateway to the prosperity of Northeast India.” He emphasized the transformative impact of the central government’s flagship 'UDAN' scheme, which aims to…

23 Dec

Assam Government clarifies no income certificate required for Orunodoi 3.0 scheme

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Assam Government has issued a clarification regarding the documentation process for the Orunodoi 3.0 scheme, emphasizing that income certificates are not required to avail the scheme's financial benefits. An official notification confirmed that families holding valid ration cards are automatically eligible for the welfare scheme, which provides Rs 1,250 in monthly financial assistance to economically vulnerable households. The government also clarified that there is no need for applicants to obtain certifications from village heads, mouzadars, or other local authorities. In response to misinformation circulating about the scheme’s documentation requirements, the government warned the public against misleading claims. Authorities also…

21 Dec

Congress denies agitation claims after Assam leaders’ detention

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Senior Assam Congress leaders, including state chief Bhupen Kumar Borah and Indian Youth Congress (IYC) national president Uday Bhanu Chib, were released from custody late Friday evening after being detained earlier in the day. The leaders were on their way to attend an all-faith prayer meeting in memory of party worker Mridul Islam, who passed away during a protest two days ago. The arrests, which included other prominent Congress figures such as former state chief Ripun Bora, were reportedly preventive measures taken by police to avert potential protests. Authorities cited a planned "Dispur gherao" programme by the Youth Congress as…

21 Dec

8 stores at Bongaigaon’s Jamdaha Bekar Chowk are destroyed by a massive fire

Banasree SarkarAssamBongaigaon

Late Friday night, eight business premises were reduced to ashes when a major fire overtook Jamdaha Bekar Chowk, which is under the jurisdiction of Manikpur Police Station. In a last-ditch effort to contain the fire, firefighters from Bijni, Abhayapuri, and Kajalgaon sent out five fire engines. But the shops were eventually completely destroyed by the raging flames. According to sources, the fire may have started in a motorbike garage, and preliminary investigations point to an electrical short circuit as the most likely cause. A bike garage, a hairdresser, two seed stores, a tent house, an e-rickshaw garage, and two bamboo…

20 Dec

Assam CM takes strong stance against Congress, says protests near Raj Bhawan will be banned

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has accused the Congress party of attempting to create unrest in the state capital, Guwahati, following recent protests near the Raj Bhawan. In a decisive move to address the situation, the state government has announced new regulations to restrict demonstrations in sensitive areas. Speaking at a press briefing after the weekly Cabinet meeting, CM Sarma stated that protests near Raj Bhawan would no longer be allowed. Instead, designated zones will be established for demonstrations to ensure public safety and maintain law and order. The announcement comes in the aftermath of an incident on December…

19 Dec

Mridul Islam dies in Guwahati protest clash, congress calls for justice

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The death of Mridul Islam, a 45-year-old Congress Legal Cell secretary, during a protest march in Guwahati has sparked allegations of conspiracy from opposition parties in Assam. The Congress declared him the “first martyr” of its anti-corruption movement and demanded swift action against those responsible. The incident occurred during a “Raj Bhawan Chalo” protest organized by the Congress on Wednesday, which drew thousands of participants. The demonstration aimed to highlight issues such as the unrest in Manipur, allegations of bribery involving the Adani Group, the state’s implementation of smart meters, and the "One Nation, One Election" proposal. Tensions escalated when…

18 Dec

Assam MP slams electronic voting system for technical glitch in Parliament

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has raised serious concerns over the reliability of electronic voting systems in Parliament, following a technical malfunction during the introduction of the 129th Constitution Amendment Bill. The glitch, which occurred during a crucial voting session, led to the exclusion of several votes, casting doubt on the robustness of the technology used in legislative proceedings. Speaking on the incident, Gogoi stated, “Funnily enough, while voting on the introduction of the 129th Constitution Amendment Bill, the electronic voting in Parliament failed. Many votes were not counted. It was the paper vote which reflected the accurate tally at…

18 Dec

The Belortol dumping site is significantly degrading the ecology of the Deepor Beel in Assam

Banasree SarkarAssamDeepor Beel

The environment in Deepor Beel, Assam's sole Ramsar Site, is being severely harmed by the Belortol disposal site on NH-27 in East Boragaon. The Deepor Beel Suraksha Mancha has called for the quick relocation of this trash site. Adjacent to the Brahmaputra is the 900-hectare Deepor Beel, a natural wetland and wildlife refuge. The organization in charge of preserving this wetland has expressed grave worries regarding the detrimental ecological effects of the dumping site. At a news conference on Monday, the association's secretary, Pramod Kalita, discussed the detrimental effects that the leachate and offensive odors from the landfill have had…

17 Dec

NIA foils major t*rror plot in Guwahati, arrests ULFA (I) operative Jahnu Baruah

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

In a significant breakthrough, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Jahnu Baruah, an operative of the banned militant outfit ULFA (I), for planting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Guwahati during the 2024 Independence Day celebrations. The arrest, carried out on December 16, follows months of meticulous investigation into ULFA (I)'s terror activities in Assam. Acting on intelligence inputs, the NIA, with support from the Assam Police, conducted a pre-dawn raid at Baruah’s residence in Dibrugarh. Several incriminating materials, including digital devices, were seized during the operation. The items are now being analyzed for further leads. Baruah, who also goes by…

14 Dec

The Rani forest department in Assam confiscated a truck carrying illegal timber

Banasree SarkarAssamAssam

An illegal timber-laden truck traveling from Meghalaya without a number plate was captured by the Rani forest department early on December 14 during a search near the Pageli Tea Estate, which is situated on the Assam-Meghalaya border on the western outskirts of Guwahati. Following a particular tip-off, Rani Regional Forest Officer Roji Barman led the operation, according to forest department sources. The Meghalayan vehicle carrying expensive timber valued at nearly Rs 2 lakh that was being trafficked was stopped at Pageli Tea Estate. An individual suspected of engaging in the illicit timber trade, allegedly working under the alias "Patil" in…