Indigenous leaders of Assam have strongly condemned what they described as "barbaric atrocities" by Assam Police on members of the Koch-Rajbanshi community at Golokganj in Dhubri district on September 10. They demanded an impartial judicial inquiry and strict action against the culprits, urging the state to ensure that such incidents are not repeated when communities raise their democratic rights.
At the same press conference, the leaders also expressed outrage over the detention of Bhanu Tatak — a young activist and legal advisor of the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum — at Delhi’s international airport on September 7. Tatak, who had been invited to Dublin City University in Ireland for a three-month program beginning September 9, was subjected to prolonged questioning and barred from boarding her flight despite valid documents. The leaders demanded clarification from the Government of India and safeguards to prevent such treatment of Northeast’s indigenous representatives.
Tracing historical grievances back to the 1826 Yandaboo Treaty, which brought Assam under British rule, the forum said that despite independence in 1947, the indigenous peoples of the Northeast continue to suffer displacement, economic marginalization, and cultural erosion due to immigration, neglect, and divisive policies.
To address these issues, the organization placed a 10-point charter of demands before the Centre and the state, including:
Recognizing February 24, 1826, as the constitutional base year for defining indigenous people of Assam and the Northeast.
Formation of a separate ministry for indigenous ethnic communities.
Granting autonomous statehood and creating legislative councils to ensure dignity in governance.
Extending the Inner Line Permit system across all eight Northeast states.
Revising the cut-off year for identifying foreign citizens in Assam from 1971 to 1951.
Official recognition of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007).
Promotion and official status for indigenous languages under UNESCO’s International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–32).
Inclusion of Koch-Rajbanshi, Tai, Karbi, Mishing, Dimasa, Rabha, Deori, Hajong, Kuki, Bodo, Rengma, Garo, Tiwa, Kamrupiya, and Mar languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Declaring Assam a tribal state under the Sixth Schedule.
The statement was signed by Khagendrajit Thakuria, President in Charge, and Anup Arandhara, Secretary General.
Dilwar Hussain Mazumdar, a journalist associated with a local digital media outlet, has been re-arrested by the Guwahati Police from Central Jail and taken to the Panbazar Police Station. This is in connection with Case No. 111/25, where multiple charges have been filed under sections 329, 324(4), 351(3), 309(4), and 115 of the Indian Penal Code. Notably, Section 309(4) is non-bailable, carrying a potential sentence of up to 10 years if convicted.
Additionally, a robbery case has been filed against him for allegedly fleeing with crucial documents from the Assam Co-operative Apex Bank. On March 25, the bank authorities lodged two FIRs, but initially, only one was disclosed by the police....
The state of Assam's healthcare system has come under intense scrutiny following a tragic incident in Nagaon, where a father lost his daughter due to alleged medical negligence. Dr. Surajit Kumar Bhagwat, a spokesperson for Nagaon Medical College, has filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission after his 21-year-old daughter, Angana Bhardwaj, passed away due to a lack of timely medical care.
On December 16, 2024, Angana suddenly fell ill and lost consciousness. Dr. Bhagwat rushed her to a private clinic, Kapili Nursing Home in Nagaon, where treatment was started immediately. However, her condition worsened rapidly, and the clinic, lacking essential emergency equipment like an ECG...
After being released on bail, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma met Mahbubul Haque, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), at the Chief Minister's residence. This was the first meeting of Sangma after his release from custody. During their meeting, it is reported that the Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, discussed the use of unethical methods in examinations.
Following the meeting, Haque described the discussion as "important and insightful," noting that the Chief Minister had provided valuable advice. After spending nearly a month in custody, Haque expressed his intention to focus on the education sector at USTM. He emphasized...
In a significant development, six developed countries have imposed travel restrictions on Assam and Northeast India, citing concerns over the region's law and order situation. The countries include the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Switzerland. This alarming information was shared by Assam's Tourism Minister, Ranjit Kumar Das, in response to a query by Congress MLA Rekibuddin Ahmed during the Assam Legislative Assembly session on Tuesday.
According to the Minister, the decision to impose the ban is primarily due to concerns over the law and order situation in the region. However, he assured that efforts are underway, in coordination with the...
Senior journalist Dilwar Hussain Mazumdar was granted bail on Wednesday after being arrested under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The Chief Judicial Magistrate (Kamrup) granted the bail, and Mazumdar is expected to be released on Thursday after furnishing the required bonds.
Mazumdar was detained late on March 25 after questioning Assam Cooperative Apex Bank’s Managing Director, Dambaru Saikia, during a protest against alleged financial irregularities. His arrest, based on allegations of abusing a security guard, sparked widespread condemnation, with media organizations and opposition parties accusing the BJP-led government of suppressing dissent.
Journalists staged...
The Congress party has alleged that an "undeclared emergency" is prevailing in Assam under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's government. Speaking at a press conference at Rajiv Bhavan in Guwahati, AICC Secretary in charge of Assam, Manoj Chauhan, accused the Chief Minister of suppressing constitutional rights and using police forces to target journalists, MPs, and opposition leaders.
Chauhan stated that the Congress party will launch a public movement against the oppression and alleged that Sarma has been exerting pressure on all sections of society. “In his obsession with power, the Chief Minister is violating basic rights. The more he tries to suppress dissent, the stronger the...
The Assam Police have arrested senior digital media journalist Dilwar Hussain Mazumdar in Guwahati’s Panbazar, triggering widespread criticism. Allegations suggest that he was arrested after attempting to question Assam Co-operative Apex Bank’s Managing Director Dambaru Saikia regarding a multi-crore recruitment scam.
Sequence of Events:
The National Youth Power, a youth wing associated with the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP),** was protesting against the alleged scam in the bank.
Journalist Dilwar Hussain Mazumdar arrived at the bank premises to cover the protest.
He attempted to question the bank’s Managing Director about the scam.
Later, the police summoned him to the...
Assam actively participated in Earth Hour 2025 on Saturday, March 22, by switching off non-essential lights from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., aligning with the global movement for environmental awareness. The event, organized by WWF-India in collaboration with local partners, also emphasized the importance of water conservation under the theme #BeWaterWise, marking the convergence of Earth Hour with World Water Day.
Prominent landmarks across the state, including the Assam Legislative Assembly, Gauhati High Court, Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Dibrugarh, and historical sites like Rang Ghar, Kareng Ghar, and Charaideo Maidam, participated in the symbolic switch-off. In Guwahati, notable...
The rivers of Northeast India are changing, and not for the better. Once lifelines of the region, they are now at risk due to glacial retreat, erratic rainfall and intensifying floods. On World Water Day 2025, the North-East India Water Talks, or NEIWT, sounded the alarm, submitting a memorandum to key policymakers, including the governor of Manipur, the chief minister of Tripura and water resources ministers from all Northeastern states. Their message was clear: Act now, or the region faces a dire water crisis.
Melting Glaciers a Looming Threat
This year’s theme, “Glacier Preservation,” reflects a sobering reality—Himalayan glaciers are disappearing. Scientists warn that by 2050,...
Surojit Academy, located on the Assam Engineering College campus, celebrated World Puppetry Day on March 21 and World Mime Day on the same occasion, though it is officially observed on March 22. This year’s theme for World Puppetry Day was “Robots, Artificial Intelligence, and the Dreams of Puppets.”
The event featured a speech by Binita Devi, recipient of the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar and director of Surojit Academy, on the role of artificial intelligence in puppetry. Abani Sharma, a leading puppeteer from Assam who has performed in India and Spain, was felicitated at the event. Dr. Kuldeep Patgiri, another Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar awardee, attended as a distinguished...
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