Assam: 431 arrested in phase three of drive against child marriage
GUWAHATI: The Assam police arrested 431 people for their alleged involvement in cases of child marriage. The arrests were made during a statewide crackdown on the night of December 21-22. Altogether 345 cases were also registered. The highest number of people, 68, were arrested from lower Assams Dhubri district. Nobody was arrested from Dima Hasao, Tamulpur, Biswanath, Jorhat districts, Hamren (West Karbi Anglong) and Guwahati. Assam continues its fight against child marriageWe will continue to take bold steps to end this social evil, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posted on X. The drive against child marriage was launched in February 2023 when 3,425 people were arrested and 4,387 cases registered. In the second phase in October of that year, 913 people were arrested and 682 cases were registered. #Assam continues its fight against child marriage. In Phase 3 operations launched on the night of Dec 21-22, 416 arrests were made and 335 cases registered. The arrested individuals will be produced in court today. We will continue to take bold steps to end this social evil! Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) December 22, 2024 A report, released by the India Child Protection on the World Day for International Justice in July, stated there had been a whopping 81% reduction in child marriage cases across 20 districts of Assam between 2021-22 and 2023-24. Sarma had then said, This exceptional report is a shining testament to our sustained efforts in empowering Nari Shakti. We will not rest till we eliminate this social evil. He stated the cases dropped significantly in 2024 in the villages surveyed. He said child marriage had been completely eradicated from 30 per cent of the surveyed villages while a staggering 98 per cent of the villages surveyed backed the crackdown. Out of the 20 districts surveyed, Nagaon and Jorhat have achieved a 100 per cent reduction in child marriage, while seven other districts have achieved over 80 per cent reduction. In minority-concentrated districts, there has been a stark decrease in instances of child marriage, Sarma had stated. He attributed the turnaround to strong community support for taking stringent action against perpetrators and sustained arrests followed by rigorous prosecution.
Cleanliness, beautification drive underway in Jorhats Bhogdoi river
HT Correspondent JORHAT, Dec 17:A 10-day cleanliness and beautification drive in the Bhogdoi river that flows through Jorhat town has been undertaken by the Civil Defence branch of the district administration under the aegis of the district administration. A district administration official informed that the drive was launched on Monday at the Puja Dubi Ghat []
23-yr-old car bursts into flames in Jorhat, driver Safe
Cop injured in machete attack during anti-drug operation in Jorhat
Clean-up drive launched to revive dying Jorhat river Bhogdoi
Assam: Police constable dies after being hit by truck in Churaibari
Guwahati: A police constable of the Assam Police was reportedly killed after being hit by a truck in Churaibari on the Assam-Tripura border on Saturday. Reports state that the incident took place during an operation against contraband smuggling. The deceased was identified as Ujjwal Bora, a resident of Jorhat, Assam. Also Read: Assam: NGT rejects [] The post Assam: Police constable dies after being hit by truck in Churaibari appeared first on NorthEast Now .
Leopard caged in Jorhat ending 2 weeks of fear for locals
Night ferry service resumes between Jorhat & Majuli after 6-month halt
Assam: Dibrugarh University and ICFRE join hands for community development in Northeast
Dibrugarh: Dibrugarh University and the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Educations Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat, have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on research and initiatives aimed at sustainable natural resource utilization, value addition, and community development in Northeast India. The MoU was signed on Thursday in the presence of Professor [] The post Assam: Dibrugarh University and ICFRE join hands for community development in Northeast appeared first on NorthEast Now .
Village answers trunk calls, saves jumbos
In a heartwarming display of unity, villagers in Assam's Jorhat district rescued four wild elephants, including a struggling calf, trapped in a pond. Hearing the elephants' distressed cries, the villagers quickly mobilized, using tools to carve a makeshift escape route.
Villagers unite to rescue 3 elephants and a calf in Jorhat
Jorhat-Jhanji National Highway Section To Be Completed By February 2025, Says Nitin Gadkari
Gogoi has been pressing for completion of the construction work of the national highway, which passes through his Lok Sabha constituency Jorhat, for a long time.
Milonjyoti Sangha clinch Champion Title
HT Correspondent JORHAT, Dec 11: Milonjyoti Sangha ,Sotai clinched the champion title in Jorhat A Division football league . Milonjyoti defeated Teok Sub Association Football Team by tiebreaker (3-1) in the final match played in the ground of Kalyani Sports ground on Tuesday . The match was finished with no goal scored from both teams []
Malhotra inspires students at DPS Jorhat
Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 6: Former Indian footballer and AIFF Technical Member Arun Malhotra was invited to DPS Jorhat to shed light on the vital role sports play in shaping young minds. The event, attended by Chairman V.K. Shunglu, Principal Monalisa B. Singh, HOD Dharampal, and school staff, focused on how sports foster discipline, resilience, and teamwork among students. Malhotra shared his personal experiences and success stories, encouraging students to explore their potential beyond academics. He emphasized the importance of [] The post Malhotra inspires students at DPS Jorhat appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
KVK Jorhat employees join nationwide strike for One Nation, One KVK Policy
HT Correspondent JORHAT, Dec 5: The employees of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Jorhat, at Koliapani, Teok, in the district on Thursday took part in a nation-wide pen-down strike-cum-sit-in demonstration, demanding the implementation of the One Nation, One KVK Policy as per the recommendations of the Dr RS Paroda High-Power Committee. Dr Sanjay Borthakur, head []
Five arrested, three minors booked
HT Correspondent JORHAT, Dec 4: Police have arrested five individuals under the POCSO Act, 2012, and booked three minor boys under the Juvenile Justice Act for allegedly circulating explicit photos of a minor girl. According to a police source, all eight accused belong to a village under the jurisdiction of the Bhogdoi Police Outpost. Investigations []
Tripura: Hotels and eateries shut doors on Bangla nationals
GUWAHATI: Hotels and restaurants in Tripura have shut their doors on Bangladeshi nationals in protest against the atrocities against Hindus in the neighbouring country. The All Tripura Hotels and Restaurants Owners Association said that it temporarily decided against providing any services to Bangladeshi nationals. Ours is a secular country and we respect all religions. But in the recent times in Bangladesh, some extremist elements dishonoured the Indian national flag and tortured minorities. These incidents happened also in the past but they were not like what is happening now, the association said in a statement. The prevailing situation in Bangladesh is concerning. We treat Bangladeshi citizens, who visit our state for various reasons, as guests. But the behaviour of some Bangladeshi nationals towards minorities in the neighbouring country is despicable, the statement said. Earlier, ILS Hospital, a multi-speciality private hospital in Agartala, had announced that it would not treat Bangladeshi patients in protest against atrocities against Hindus in the neighbouring country. We respect and support the sentiments of protesters. Taking into consideration the incidents in Bangladesh, we have decided to suspend our services for Bangladeshi patients, ILS Hospital had stated. Anti-Bangla sentiment in Assam Sentiment against Bangladesh is also brewing in Assam, with the Congress staging protest outside the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Guwahati. Protests have also been staged in Nalbari, Chirang, Hojai and Jorhat districts.
Tripura hotels, restaurants refuse to serve Bangladeshi guests
GUWAHATI: Hotels and restaurants in Tripura have barred entry of Bangladeshi nationals in protest against the atrocities against Hindus in the neighbouring country. The All Tripura Hotels and Restaurants Owners Association said it temporarily decided against providing any services to Bangladeshi nationals in Tripura, during a meeting on Monday. Ours is a secular country and we respect all religions. But in the recent times in Bangladesh, some extremist elements dishonoured the Indian national flag and tortured minorities. These incidents happened also in the past but they were not like what is happening now, the association said in a statement. The prevailing situation (in Bangladesh) is concerning. We treat Bangladeshi citizens, who visit our state for various reasons, as guests. But the behaviour of some Bangladeshi nationals towards minorities in Bangladesh is despicable, the statement added. Earlier, ILS Hospital, a multi-speciality private hospital in Agartala, had announced that it would not treat Bangladeshi patients. The decision followed protests against the atrocities against Hindus in the neighbouring country. We respect and support the sentiments of protesters. Taking into consideration the incidents in Bangladesh, we have decided to suspend our services for Bangladeshi patients, ILS Hospitals Chief Operating Officer had stated. Last week, a Kolkata hospital announced that it would discontinue medical treatment for Bangladeshi patients. An anti-Bangladesh sentiment is also brewing in Assam.The Congress on Tuesday staged a protest outside the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Guwahati against the atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh. Protests were also staged by the members of Lok Jagran Manch in the states Nalbari, Chirang and Jorhat districts. Last Sunday, several thousand members of Sanatani Aikya Manch took out a Bangladesh Chalo march in Assams Sribhumi district. However, the protestors were stopped by the police before they could reach the India-Bangladesh border.
Jorhat Mission Hospital celebrates centenary with inauguration of new building
HT Correspondent JORHAT, Nov 30: Jorhat MLA, Hitendra Nath Goswami on Saturday unveiled a monolith commemorating the centenary of Jorhat Christian Medical Centre (JCMC), more commonly known as Mission Hospital, and inaugurated its new centenary. Speaking at the event on the second day of the hospitals centenary celebrations, Goswami honoured the legacy of doctors who []
AASU observes third death anniversary of Animesh Bhuyan in Jorhat
HT Correspondent JORHAT, Nov 29: The third death anniversary of slain AASU leader Animesh Bhuyan was observed on Friday by the Jorhat district unit of the students body by organising a public shraddhanjali ceremony at the Truck Stand near Nirmal Chariali on AT Road here, where Bhuyan was lynched by a mob on November 29, []
Workshop on Mission Basundhara 3.0 held in Jorhat
HT Correspondent JORHAT, Nov 22: A day-long zonal workshop on Mission Basundhara 3.0 (My Land My Right) for Revenue Department officials, including additional district commissioners, additional district commissioners of co-districts, revenue circle officers, land records assistants, and land records supervisors from seven districts, was held at the auditorium of the Chou Lung Siu-Ka-Pha Samanway Kshetra []
Environmentalist M Karunakar Reddy selected for first Jadav Payeng International Award
GUWAHATI: Environmentalist M Karunakar Reddy has been selected for the first ever Jadav Payeng International Award. The award, instituted by Assams Jyoti-Protap Education Trust in Jorhat district, carries an amount of Rs 2 lakh besides a citation. It will be conferred on Reddy, who is from Hyderabad, in January next year. Announcing Reddys name for the award in Guwahati on Thursday, the five-member selection committee said he was chosen for his outstanding environmental stewardship and climate action. Mr Karunakar Reddy has pioneered water conservation and management, land restoration and forestation, disaster relief, food security, climate change awareness and action, the Jyoti-Protap Education Trust said in a statement. Environmental activist Rituraj Phukan, a member of the selection committee, said Reddy, who is known as the Water Man and Green Man of South India, has been working for water conservation and management for over 15 years now. He is also known as the Crisis Man of India for his contributions to disaster relief and management in some of the disaster-prone areas affected by climate change. Thats why, the committee has decided to confer the award on him, Phukan said. He was confident that the award would create an impact, for through it, the immense contributions of Payeng, a Padma Shri awardee, was being recognised. His (Payengs) is the only forest in the world which now houses the Royal Bengal Tiger, one-horned rhinos and Asiatic elephants. All of them came on their own. Nobody transported them, Phukan added. Known as the Forest Man of India, Payeng has planted and tended trees on a Brahmaputra sandbar, turning it into a forest reserve, straddling 550 hectares, in Jorhat district. He said he was feeling proud that the award had been instituted in his name during his lifetime. This will motivate me to work more for the society, he said. The Jyoti-Protap Education Trust runs the Jyoti-Pratap Gyanmarg Vidyalaya. Founded by businessman and philanthropist Protap Saikia, the school provides free education. Currently, it has 182 students and classes upto 6. Saikia also built a crematorium, an old age home and an orphanage. He said by instituting the award, the Jyoti-Protap Education Trust wanted to honour Payeng during his lifetime and motivate people for environmental conservation.
'Govt wants to keep me in jail forever': MLA Akhil Gogoi after NIA court frames charges against him
GUWAHATI: A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Tuesday framed charges against activist-turned-MLA Akhil Gogoi and three of his associates in connection with their alleged involvement in the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protests in Assam. Special NIA Judge S.K. Sharma framed the charges under Section 18 (conspiracy) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), along with Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 153A (promotion of enmity), and 153B (assertions prejudicial to national integration) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Gogois counsel, Santanu Borthakur, informed the media that the court had dismissed the NIAs recommendation to invoke UAPA Section 39 (offence relating to support for a terrorist organisation) and IPC Section 124A (sedition), citing insufficient evidence. Later, Gogoi posted on X (formerly Twitter): The state spares no one unless there is compromise or surrender. Justice here is just a word in the dictionary. Akhil Gogoi (@AkhilGogoiAG) October 22, 2024 Speaking to the media, Gogoi said that a previous NIA judge had acquitted him and his associatesDhaijya Konwar, Bitu Sonowal, and Manash Konwarof all charges, effectively closing the case. However, the State government moved the Gauhati High Court, leading to the reopening of the case. Eventually, it reached the Supreme Court. Both the Home Ministry and the Assam government want to keep us in jail forever as terrorists, he alleged. Gogoi said he plans to challenge the NIA courts judgment in the Gauhati High Court. Akhil Gogoi was arrested on December 12, 2019, in Jorhat for his role in the anti-CAA protests, which resulted in five deaths. His three associates were detained the following day. Gogois organisation, the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, was at the forefront of the anti-CAA agitation. In 2020, while still in custody, Gogoi launched a political party, the Raijor Dal, and successfully contested the 2021 Assembly elections from the Sivasagar constituency. He was released from jail in July 2021.
Assam: Around 200 people fall ill due to food poisoning after consuming snacks
GOLAGHAT: Around 200 people have fallen ill due to food poisoning after consuming snacks during an obituary function of a deceased in Assam's Golaghat district, officials said on Sunday. The incident took place on Saturday night during a gathering at the memorial ceremony of the mother of Pradip Gogoi at Pasghoria village of Uriamghat in the Sarupathar area. According to an official, the guests were served with traditional 'jalpan' (snacks with puffed rice and cream) during the function. The people then complained of stomach ache, headache, vomiting and loose motion. A total of 53 people were immediately admitted at the Community Health Centre in Sarupathar town and Public Health Centre in Uriamghat, the official said. Out of them, two were sent to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital for advanced treatment, he added. The condition of the victims is stated to be stable and many are being released after treatment, the official said. The remaining around 150 people, who have shown minor symptoms, are at their respective homes and their health conditions are being monitored, he added. Sarupathar's BJP MLA Biswajit Phukan visited the hospital and enquired about the health condition of the people. The district administration informed me that the food inspector will visit the village and investigate the cause of the food poisoning, he added. Phukan said a medical camp has been set up in the village and health checkup is being carried out for the villagers. We have also sent medical teams to the individual houses of all the people, who had come to the function. The team is closely monitoring the health conditions. None of the people are showing any serious symptoms, he added.
Ranchi: L ok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is set to address the Samvidhan Samman Sammelan in Ranchi on Saturday. This event comes as the Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for the upcoming Jharkhand and Maharashtra Assembly elections. The 81-seat Jharkhand Assembly elections are scheduled for November 13 and 20, while Maharashtra will hold a single-phase election on November 20, as confirmed by the ECI. A total of 2.60 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes in Jharkhand, which includes 1.31 crore male and 1.29 crore female voters. Notably, the state has 11.84 lakh first-time voters. The counting of votes in both states will take place on November 23. In preparation for the Jharkhand elections, the Congress party has appointed BK Hariprasad, Gaurav Gogoi, and Mohan Markam as senior coordinators. A notice issued by the party, signed by General Secretary of Organisation KC Venugopal, stated, Hon'ble Congress President has appointed the following leaders as AICC Senior Coordinators for the upcoming assembly elections in Jharkhand with immediate effect. BK Hariprasad is a member of the Karnataka Legislative Council and a former Rajya Sabha MP, while Gaurav Gogoi serves as the Deputy Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, representing the Jorhat constituency. Mohan Markam, a former minister in the Chhattisgarh government, also held the position of President of the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee from June 2019 to July 2023. Currently, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is the ruling party, holding 30 seats in the assembly. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) follows with 25 MLAs, while Congress has 16. Congress and JMM have announced an alliance for the upcoming elections, with seat-sharing arrangements being finalized. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has criticized the BJP, accusing the party of mismanaging the state for over 20 years. He stated, In December 2019, with the blessings of the great people of Jharkhand, I took over the reins of the state. My sole purpose was to irrigate the tree of Jharkhand and strengthen its roots. The BJP had looted this tree with both hands for 20 years. It had dried it up, in a post on X. Additionally, Soren marked 100 days since his return from jail and his resumption of duties as Chief Minister, noting the coincidence of the Election Commission's announcement of the assembly elections in Jharkhand. Lebanon's Ambassador to India Speaks on Hamas Leader's Death and Palestinian Resistance Opposition Accuses Ruling Coalition of Voter List Manipulation Ahead of Maharashtra Assembly Elections MK Stalin Calls on PM Modi to Avoid Hindi Celebrations in Non-Hindi Speaking Regions
AFSPA extended in 4 districts of Assam amid 'recent disturbances' in Bangladesh
GUWAHATI: The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFSPA was extended in four districts of Assam for six months in view of the ecent disturbances in Bangladesh and its potentially inimical effect on the internal law and order situation, according to a notification issued on Tuesday. The districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo and Sivasagar will remain disturbed area under the AFSPA, it said. Reports from various agencies obtained through the police headquarters have indicated that due to sustained efforts and proactive counter-insurgency measures of the security forces, the overall scenario in the state of Assam has significantly improved during the last few years and particularly during last three years, the notification said. However, due to the recent disturbances in the neighbouring country Bangladesh and its potentially inimical effect on internal law and order situation, the Government of Assam recommends that the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, 1958 may be retained for another 6 (six) months, it added. Under the AFSPA, an area is declared disturbed for the convenience of security forces. The proposal was submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which after due consideration decided to maintain the status quo regarding disturbed areas in the state for a further period of six months from October 1, the notification said. The four districts have been the only areas under AFSPA in the state since October last year, with the law being gradually withdrawn from other parts. It was withdrawn from Jorhat, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao last year, while other areas were taken out of its purview earlier. The AFSPA was first imposed in Assam in November 1990 and has been extended every six months since then. The Act empowers security forces to conduct operations anywhere and arrest anyone without any prior warrant. It also gives a certain level of immunity to the security forces in case of an operation going wrong. Civil society groups and rights activists have been demanding the withdrawal of the draconian law from the entire Northeast, claiming a violation of human rights by the armed forces. The cry to repeal the Act gained renewed momentum following the death of 14 civilians in firing by security forces in a botched anti-insurgency operation and retaliatory violence in the Mon district of Nagaland on December 4, 2021.
PM Modi unveils four bio-gas units in Assam
The key projects in Assam include locations in Guwahati, Jorhat, Sivasagar, and Tinsukia
Assam: 15 arrested in ULFA(I)'s serial bomb planting case
GUWAHATI: A total of 15 people, including three women, have been arrested from across Assam in connection with the banned ULFA(I) planting explosives at 24 locations to trigger serial blasts on Independence Day. Assam Police Chief Public Relations Officer Pranabjyoti Goswami, in a statement, said that the force carried out the operations in collaboration with the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Assam Police, with technical support of NIA, conducted coordinated raids in different parts of the state and apprehended 15 persons (including three women) on Saturday night, he added. Terming it a major breakthrough in the investigation into the planting of IED-like materials during Independence Day celebrations, Assam Police said the raids came after prolonged intelligence gathering in coordination with NIA. Incriminating facts have been untethered after preliminary interrogation of the apprehended persons and more information about the conspiracy is expected to be known after prolonged interrogation, in due course of time, it added. Goswami said three persons each were arrested from Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur districts, two each from Jorhat and Guwahati, and one each from Tinsukia, Sadiya, Nagaon, Nalbari and Tamulpur. Earlier, four persons were arrested from Sivasagar district for their alleged involvement in the case. Police had also announced a cash reward of up to Rs 5 lakh for credible information leading to the identification of those involved in manufacturing, transportation and planting of the IED-like devices in different parts of the state. Last month, Assam DGP Gyanendra Pratap Singh had said two cases of the 10 related to ULFA(I)'s planting of IED-like objects would be transferred to the NIA for investigation. Assam Police had formed multiple SITs in 10 districts where omb-like substances were found after the banned ULFA(I) claimed to have planted explosives at 24 locations to trigger serial blasts across the state on Independence Day. Police unearthed omb-like substances from at least 10 places, including four in Guwahati. In an email purportedly from the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) to media houses, including PTI, the terror outfit asserted that the bombs did not explode due to echnical failure. ULFA(I) said the blasts were scheduled to take place between 6 am and noon on August 15 but after failure in execution, it sought public cooperation for defusing the explosive devices. The email, which was sent minutes after Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma completed his speech on the occasion of 78th Independence Day, prompted the security forces to send multiple teams to all the places mentioned by ULFA(I) to look for explosives along with bomb disposal squads assisted by other central security forces, including the Army. The entire development put a big question mark on the efficacy of the intelligence wing as police had no clue about the existence of the bombs until ULFA(I) itself informed about these, despite the entire state being on high alert on the occasion of Independence Day celebrations.
Guwahati Diary | Fugitive fraudster caught counting cash
Even as the police are searching for Deepankar Barman, owner of DB Stock Broking, a video featuring the fugitive has surfaced on social media. Barman, accused of committing financial fraud, reportedly of Rs 7,000 crore, is seen in the video counting stacks of cash. It has been over a month that he went underground. The firm had trapped unsuspecting investors by promising annual returns of 96% to 120%. The police had busted another online trading scam, reportedly of Rs 2,200 crore, and arrested several persons, including the kingpin Bishal Phukan (22). He lured investors by promising 30% returns within 60 days. MLAs do not go to upper Assam plea to labourers The political war of words involving the Miya Muslims (Bengali Muslims) has continued. Even as an anti-Miya sentiment continues to brew in parts of Assam following the rape of a minor girl in Dhing area of Nagaon district, All India United Democratic Front MLA Ashraful Hussain publicly appealed to Bengali Muslim labourers not to go to upper Assam to work unless they are respectfully called. Brick kilns are facing a shortage of workers. Our workers should go only when they are called respectfully. There are opportunities for them in Delhi, Kerala and lower Assam, he said. Oil exploration in forest land triggers uproar The Centres nod for the diversification of 4.49 hectares of forest land of the Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary has met with opposition. The approval was granted for oil and gas exploration by Vedantas Cairn Oil and Gas. An eco-sensitive zone, the Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary has Indias only ape and gibbon species the hoolock gibbons. The sanctuary is located in Jorhat district. The Assam units of two youth organisations Students Federation of India and Democratic Youth Federation of India opposed the move and demanded its immediate revocation. They are also mobilising public opinion against it. Prasanta mazumdar Our correspondent in Guwahati prasantamazumdar@newindianexpress.com
The exploratory drilling will take place in the eco-sensitive zone of the Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in Jorhat district, the sole habitat for India's only ape species.
Assam: 28 Declared Foreigners Bengali Muslims Sent to Transit Camp
Guwahati : The Assam police on Tuesday said that police in Western Assams Barpeta district on Monday sent 28 people declared non-citizens by the Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) to a transit camp at Matia in the Goalpara district. The 28 people 19 men and nine women were summoned from various parts of the district to the office of Barpeta's Superintendent of Police (SP) before being taken into a bus and sent to the detention centre. All the people declared foreigners belong to the Bengali Muslim community. Security sources said that the individuals, who had been living in various police jurisdictions across the district, were transferred following a declaration by the Foreigners' Tribunal in Barpeta, which classified them as non-citizens. The transfer process, which took place under heavy security, was carried out by the Barpeta Police in accordance with legal protocols, security sources said. Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Bidyut Bikash Bora said, We are carrying out the orders of the Foreigners Tribunal. The transfer process was conducted smoothly, adhering to all legal protocols. However, detention sparked anger outside the Barpeta Superintendent of Police's office, where family members and local residents gathered in protest. The tension prevailed as the declared foreigners were being transported, with the crowd voicing their anger. Family members of those sent to the transit camp called on the state and central governments to expedite the National Register of Citizens (NRC) process. We also want an illegal immigrants-free nation. For this, the governments should expedite the NRC process so that the innocents are freed as soon as possible, said a family member of one of the detainees. The local residents known to those sent to the transit camp said that one each from 28 families from different areas in the district were called to the police stations for some signatures to the SP office where they were detained and sent to the camp. It is significant that till January 2023, over 1,000 declared foreigners were in detention camps across six jails in Assam, including Kokrajhar, Goalpara, Tezpur, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, and Silchar. Most of these detainees have since been released on conditional bail following orders from the Gauhati High Court and the Supreme Court. The Matia transit camp, constructed at a cost of 64 crore, was initially labelled a detention centre but later renamed a transit camp for a more humane approach. The first batch of 64 declared foreign nationals, all from Goalpara, were shifted to the camp in January 2023.
47,928 illegal immigrants detected in state between 1971-2014: Assam govt
The Assam government said that 47,928 illegal immigrants were detected in the state during the period between 1971 and 2014 and out of them 43 per cent are Hindus.The Foreigners' Tribunals of the state declared these people as foreigners during this period.Replying to a written question of AGP MLA Ponakan Baruah, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma who also holds the Home Department portfolio said that from 1971 to 2014 the Foreigners' Tribunals declared 47928 persons as foreigners and out of them 20,613 are Hindus and 27,309 are Muslims and six belonged to other religions.According to the state government data, out of a total of 20,613 Hindus declared as illegal immigrants by the Foreigners' Tribunals, 8,139 are from Cachar district, 2884 from Guwahati city, 1574 from Lakhimpur district, 1038 from Dibrugarh district.On the other hand, out of 27309 Muslims declared as illegal immigrants by the Foreigners' Tribunals, 4182 are from Jorhat district, 3,897 from Guwahati city, ...
