Three villagers died and twenty others have been injured when security forces sprang upon a group of people who prevented the PowerGrid authority from erecting a wall in Biswanath chariali on Tuesday. The incident took place at Baghmari at 5.30 in the morning when local people came out to the street opposing the wall erected secretly on Monday. Security forces opened fire at the protesters where one died on the spot and two others died on the way to the hospital. Angry mob later burnt down 4 police vehicles. Top ranked police and civil officials have arrived in the spot to contain the situation.
PermalinkSubmitted by Bankim Phonglo on Thu, 02/05/2013 - 15:46
According to the villagers of Harangajao in Dima Hasao District, Assam, the Company (JKM Infra Ltd.) responsible for construction of the East-West Highway corridor stretch at Harangajao village have callously jeopardised the natural irrigation of the adjacent paddy fields by blocking the natural streams(which remain small during winter, but widen many more times during the rainy season, which the construction company could not anticipate) and diverting the water flow, thereby not only depriving water to the paddy fields, but also creating an impending situation of flood in the villages.In the coming monsoon season, the torrential rainfall would be diverted to the villages flooding the village lands, since the highway construction company has already blocked many small natural streams, which used to naturally minimise the heavy flow of water during heavy rainfall.The Dima Hasao district authorities (the Council and the Deputy Commissioner’s Office) must wake up to the impending ecological disaster and force the Construction company to review their ongoing construction planning & execution, which is currently jeopardising the local terrain due to blockage of natural streams.Only this can avert the impending flood and normalise the natural flow of water in the area.Once damage is done to the ecology, it is irreplaceable and economy of the area is destroyed!JKM Infra Ltd. is playing with the lives and livelihood of poor people in Harangajao…even the roads built by them are unlikely to remain intact, due to lack of proper soling (that is firming the foundation layer of the roads)!
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...
Renowned sculptor Sankar Kalita from Paikana village near Baihata Chariali in Kamrup district, who had established himself in Guwahati, has been missing for over a month and a half, causing concern in the area. Kalita, who moved to Guwahati around 30 years ago to pursue sculpting, has been involved in creating numerous sculptures across Guwahati and various parts of Assam. Recently, he had set up his own sculpting studio in Vetapara, Guwahati. However, in a mysterious turn of events, he traveled to Mumbai in late December for business-related work and has not returned since.
According to family members, Kalita had planned to return home during Magh Bihu but later informed them that he...
In a controversial move, the Assam government has terminated 64 lecturers from polytechnic institutes who were protesting for the regularization of their jobs. These lecturers had been on a hunger strike for 23 days, demanding that their temporary positions be made permanent. They were initially appointed during the tenure of Himanta Biswa Sarma as the Education Minister.
The lecturers, who have been working as founder faculty members in polytechnics for eight years, had come to Guwahati during the budget session to appeal to the government regarding their demands. However, the government’s refusal to regularize their jobs forced them to stage a protest under the open sky. Their...
In the hilly district of Karbi Anglong, Assam, anxiety looms large among the indigenous communities as the state government plans to acquire 18,000 bighas of land for a 1,000-megawatt solar power project. This proposed project threatens to displace nearly 20,000 Karbi, Naga, and tribal residents from 23 villages in the Khatkhati-Longkathar area. For over two centuries, these indigenous communities have lived on this land, cultivating crops and sustaining their livelihoods through agriculture.
Assam’s Rajya Sabha MP, Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, raised the issue in the Upper House, highlighting that the government is proceeding with the land acquisition without consulting the local communities,...
The proposed acquisition of 18,000 bighas of land in Karbi Anglong district’s Khatkhati-Longkathar area for a 1,000-megawatt solar power project has sparked widespread fear and protests among the local tribal communities. The central and state governments are pushing forward with the project, which threatens to displace thousands of indigenous people, including Karbi, Naga, and Adivasi communities, who have been living and cultivating the land for generations.
The land in question has been home to these communities for over 200 years, where they have been growing bamboo, banana trees, rabi crops, and broom grass to sustain their livelihoods. The government’s move to acquire this land for...
Controversial YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia appeared before the Assam Police in Guwahati on Friday in connection with a case related to his objectionable comments made during the ‘India’s Got Talent’ show. He is currently being questioned by the Crime Branch of Guwahati Police.
Allahbadia was initially supposed to appear before the Assam Police last week regarding the case, which stems from his controversial remarks on the show that sparked widespread criticism. A case was registered against him in Guwahati, and he was issued a summons to appear before the police.
Last week, the Guwahati Crime Branch also questioned another YouTuber, Ashish Chanchlani, who was similarly embroiled in...
The Press Club of Assam (PCA) has expressed concern over the recent controversy involving Assam Health & Family Welfare Minister Ashok Singhal and his alleged remarks on Bhaona, a traditional Assamese performing art form. The PCA has urged the journalist involved in the matter to clarify his stance, as the issue has sparked widespread debate and criticism.
The controversy began when a television journalist, associated with a news channel owned by the family of the State government’s chief, claimed in a social media post that Minister Singhal disrespected a delegation from the Gauhati Press Club (GPC). The delegation had invited Singhal to a forthcoming Bhaona performance in the city...
In a thought-provoking lecture on Monday, invited speaker Senior Advocate and Eminent Writer Arup Borbora explored the evolving landscape of human rights and the rule of law, emphasizing their importance in shaping modern societies. Reflecting on historical developments and contemporary challenges, Borbora highlighted the significance of safeguarding civil, political, and economic rights, particularly in the context of Assam and India. He underscored the ongoing need for reform and the preservation of democratic principles amid growing concerns over human rights violations and governance.
4th PARAG KUMAR DAS MEMORIAL LECTURE
Speaker: ARUP BORBORA: Senior Advocate, Eminent Writer...
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