Assam

Assam Police refute claims of Jaggu Bhagwanpuria running crime syndicate from Silchar Jail

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Assam Aims to Increase MBBS Seats to 4,000 by 2031, Says Chief Minister Sarma

Assam plans to expand medical education by increasing MBBS seats to 4,000 by 2031, according to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Assam Aims to Increase MBBS Seats to 4,000 by 2031, Says Chief Minister Sarma

Arunachal cabinet approves panel to oversee Siang project survey

FMD outbreak: Arunachal minister orders deployment of 2 additional teams in Dibang Valley

From strawberry fields to global honour: Mizoram grower named among FAOs 100 women heroes

Power lineman killed as Kuki, Naga villages come under attack in Manipur

Tinsukia bans transport of workers in goods vehicles

HC clears path for diesel bus exit from two major Guwahati routes

APCC moves ECI to remove Nagaon DEO after attack on Cong convoy

For a generation feeling alone, AI is the new confidant

6 arrested over violence at Cong rally in Samaguri ahead of Nagaon bypoll

Rally in city seeks adequate aid for flood victims

Cough syrup worth Rs 1.02cr seized, 1 held in 2 Sribhumi ops

Venomous white snake bite baffles docs; woman survives

TU students block campus buses over decade-old fitness lapses

BJP appoints new state in-charges; Nitin Nabin congratulates appointees

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 23 (IANS) BJP National President Nitin Nabin on Tuesday announced a fresh set of appointments of state in-charges and co-in-charges for various states and J&K. The appointments, detailed in an official press release from the partys central office, take effect immediately and cover organisational responsibilities across nearly all states and J&K. In a post on X, Nabin congratulated the newly appointed State Prabharis and Sah Prabharis. He said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, their efforts would strengthen the organisation and help realise the collective dream of Viksit Bharat 2047. Notable appointments include Smriti Irani as in-charge for both Chandigarh and Haryana, with Siddharth Shambhu as co-in-charge for Chandigarh and Bhola Singh for Haryana. Baijayant Jay Panda has been named state in-charge for Maharashtra, assisted by co-in-charges Amit Malviya, Sadanand Shet Tanavade and Kamaljeet Sahrawat. In Uttar Pradesh, Vinod Tawde will serve as state in-charge, with Jagadish Patel, Medha Kulkarni, Pradeep Verma and Anant Ojha as co-in-charges. Sunil Bansal has been assigned to both Telangana and West Bengal. For Telangana, Abhay Patil and Rekha Sharma are co-in-charges, while West Bengals co-in-charges are Lal Singh Arya, Rajendra Singh and Pinki Kushwaha. Other key assignments include Biplab Kumar Deb as in-charge for Madhya Pradesh, with Rekha Verma as co-in-charge; Ram Madhav for Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand; Harish Dwivedi for Bihar and Karnataka; and Satish Poonia for J&K and Punjab. Mangal Pandey has been named for Assam, while Arvind Bhadauria will head Andhra Pradesh with Vanathi Srinivasan as co-in-charge. Nabin has also appointed Ashish Usha Agrawal as convenor of the media department and Anil Baluni as co-ordinator of the communication department. The list further covers smaller states and J&K, including assignments for Andaman & Nicobar, Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Puducherry, Sikkim and Tripura. Several leaders hold dual or multiple responsibilities. The circular, issued by national office in-charge Tarun Chugh to all state presidents and organisational general secretaries, aims to strengthen the partys organisational network ahead of future electoral and organisational programmes.

Second Saraighat rail-cum-road bridge to boost multimodal connectivity in Northeast

Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 23 (IANS) The second Saraighat Rail-cum-Road Bridge, along with the doubling of the Agthori-Kamakhya railway section, is set to significantly augment rail and road connectivity across the Brahmaputra and strengthen the transportation network of Assam and the Northeast, officials said on Wednesday. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is undertaking the project, which includes doubling of the 7.2-km railway track between Agthori and Kamakhya stations and construction of a 1.3-km-long double-decker rail-cum-road bridge over the Brahmaputra. NFR Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said the project would strengthen rail and road connectivity across the Brahmaputra, augment transportation capacity in Guwahati and support the wider connectivity requirements of the Northeastern region. The existing Saraighat Bridge was completed in September 1962, with the first engine crossing the bridge on September 23, 1962. For more than six decades, it has served as a vital link between the northern and southern banks of the Brahmaputra and an important gateway to the Northeast. With passenger and freight traffic in the region continuing to grow, augmentation of capacity along the critical corridor has assumed increasing importance, CPRO Sharma said. According to the CPRO, the 7.2-km railway-doubling project between Agthori and Kamakhya was sanctioned by the Ministry of Railways in 2024, following which detailed planning and tendering were taken up. Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has been entrusted with execution of the project. Given the location of the new bridge in a highly developed urban environment, the project has involved considerable challenges related to land acquisition, removal of encroachments and shifting of existing utilities. CPRO Sharma said that with the proactive support of the state government and local administration, a substantial part of these challenges had already been addressed. NFR continues to coordinate with the concerned state agencies to resolve the remaining issues and facilitate progressive availability of work fronts, he added. Meanwhile, the project has advanced substantially on the engineering front, with geotechnical investigations completed and major engineering, design and construction-drawing activities under way, the official said. A major component of the project is the 1.3-km-long double-decker rail-cum-road bridge over the Brahmaputra. The lower deck will carry two railway lines, while the upper deck will accommodate a three-lane road carriageway along with a footpath. In comparison, the existing Saraighat Bridge carries a single railway line and a two-lane road. The main bridge will be constructed on well foundations with a welded Open Web Girder (OWG) superstructure having a span length of 125 metres, CPRO Sharma said. The main bridge will be connected through approach viaducts on either side, with around 600 metres on the Agthori side and 200 metres on the Kamakhya side. The project will also interface with the road approaches being developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), providing connectivity towards Jalukbari on one side and the Agthori-side road network on the other. Advanced digital monitoring and bridge instrumentation systems will be incorporated to facilitate effective monitoring of the structure and its performance. The construction methodology is being tailored to the challenging conditions of the Brahmaputra, with particular focus on foundation construction, structural erection, quality assurance, construction safety and long-term durability. The Second Saraighat Rail-cum-Road Bridge is significant not only for doubling the Agthori-Kamakhya railway section but also as an integrated rail and road infrastructure project supporting the wider transportation network of Guwahati and the Northeast. The additional railway capacity is expected to facilitate smoother movement of passenger and freight traffic, while the three-lane road component will strengthen connectivity between the northern and southern banks of the city and support its future transportation requirements. By bringing together rail, road and associated approach infrastructure as a single integrated corridor, the project will enhance multimodal connectivity across the Brahmaputra. The project is being closely supported and monitored by the concerned authorities, including the Railway Board, reflecting its importance for connectivity and capacity enhancement in the Northeastern region. With preparatory works substantially progressed, the project is now entering the execution phase and preparatory activities, with piling works targeted to commence from October 2026. The project is scheduled for completion within the next few years, with the project team aiming to complete the works on time while maintaining high standards of quality, safety, engineering excellence, durability and technological advancement. Once completed, the Second Saraighat Rail-cum-Road Bridge will augment rail and road capacity across the Brahmaputra, strengthen connectivity between the two banks of Guwahati and facilitate smoother movement of passengers and goods, further strengthening the transportation network of Assam and the Northeastern region.

Assam sets 4,000 MBBS seat target by 2031, says CM Sarma

Digital Desk | Guwahati/Ranchi, Sep 23 (IANS) Assam is targeting a major expansion of medical education, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announcing that the state plans to increase the number of MBBS seats to 4,000 by 2031. Chief Minister Sarma made the announcement while addressing the inauguration of the 750-bed Baba Baidyanath Medical Trust Hospital in Jharkhand's Deoghar on Wednesday. Highlighting the expansion of medical education in Assam, the Chief Minister said the state now has 16 medical colleges and produces around 2,200 doctors annually. He added that the state government has a vision of establishing 32 more medical colleges in Assam, in addition to the AIIMS and ESIC Medical College already functioning in the state. Of these, 16 have already been established, CM Sarma said, while outlining the state government's long-term plan to expand medical education and increase the availability of trained doctors. He said that Assam's medical education infrastructure had remained limited for decades. The state's first medical college was established in the 1950s, followed by the second in the 1960s and the third in the 1970s. Despite Assam's population of around 3.5 crore, the state had only three medical colleges and produced around 300 doctors annually, resulting in a shortage of doctors in relation to healthcare requirements, CM Sarma added. The Chief Minister said the expansion in recent years has significantly increased the number of doctors being trained in the state. Assam now produces around 2,200 doctors every year, compared with around 350 earlier. He said that increasing the number of MBBS seats would be accompanied by measures to provide employment opportunities to the growing pool of doctors. Chief Minister Sarma pointed to the latest State Budget, which has announced the deployment of two doctors at each of Assam's 5,000 sub-health centres. He said the expansion of medical colleges and MBBS seats would help create a stronger medical education ecosystem while improving the availability of healthcare professionals across the state.

Assam minister Biswajit Daimary reviews employment and skill progress

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Bhupesh Baghel accuses Assam BJP of intimidation before Nagaon bypoll

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Stones, Mounds, Memory: Odisha Scribes Stand Among Assam

For six centuries the Tai-Ahom kings ruled the Brahmaputra Valley. When they died, they did not vanish into ash and river. They were laid in vaulted crypts, covered with earthen barrows, and crowned with octagonal pavilions that still punctuate the foothills of the Patkai. On Wednesday, a senior media delegation from Odisha stood on that [] The post Stones, Mounds, Memory: Odisha Scribes Stand Among Assams UNESCO Mounds appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .

Mizoram: Six people arrested, two minors detained in connection with killing of Assam Regiment jawan

A police official said the victim, Zakaria Lalhriattluanga, who was serving in the Assam Regiment of the Army and was posted in Jammu and Kashmir, was returning to his native New Builum village on leave.

Assam CM Sarma inaugurates hospital as Deoghar pursues medical tourism

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Mizoram, Meghalaya towns record Indias lowest PM2.5 levels: WHO data

BJP gains ground in Meghalaya as 8 UDP MLAs join party

CEC Gyanesh Kumar must go, SIR exercise must be halted, says Stalin

Chennai, Sep 23 (PTI) DMK president M K Stalin on Wednesday said CEC Gyanesh Kumar must resign from his post and claimed that he has no right to continue in office. Demanding that the SIR exercise be halted, the former Tamil Nadu chief minister sought a fair probe, into everything that transpired within the EC and those responsible should be held accountable. Stalin, in a statement, said that the explosive findings, published by Indian Express backed by evidence, had cast serious doubts over the results of every Assembly election held after the SIR exercise. He said his party had all

ECI must not only be independent but also be seen to act independently: Justice Dipankar Datta

New Delhi, Sep 23 (PTI) If free and fair elections are to be ensured, it is axiomatic that the Election Commission of India (ECI) must not only be an independent body but also be seen to act independently, Supreme Court judge Justice Dipankar Datta said on Wednesday. Justice Datta headed a bench also comprising Justice Satish Chandra Sharma which gave split opinions on whether a batch of pleas challenging the validity of a 2023 law that excludes the CJI from the panel for selecting the chief election commissioner (CEC) and election commissioners (ECs) should be referred to a larger Constitution

SIR and the dissent debate: A Constitutional process, not an institutional breakdown

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 23 (IANS) The Election Commission of India (ECI) has rejected the suggestion that differences among its three members amount to an institutional upture, saying internal objections and written notes are an established part of the functioning of a multi-member constitutional body and do not, by themselves, establish illegality or dysfunction. The response followed The Indian Express report of September 23 that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised 14 formal objections over 10 months on decisions of the Commission, including issues linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. While the objections are on record, the ECI has said that the report does not adequately explain the legal framework, safeguards and judicial scrutiny surrounding SIR. The ECI has functioned as a multi-member body since 1993, with differences resolved through majority decisions as provided by law. During a nationwide exercise involving crores of voters, 14 objections over 10 months cannot by themselves establish an institutional crisis, analysts say. The Commission has witnessed sharper disagreements in the past also. In 2009, Chief election Commissioner (CEC) N. Gopalaswami recommended the removal of Election Commissioner Navin Chawla over alleged partisan conduct; the government rejected the recommendation and Chawla later became CEC, experts said. Between 1993 and 1995, CEC T.N. Seshan even challenged the creation of the multi-member Commission in court, leading to an open legal battle with Commissioners M.S. Gill and G.V.G. Krishnamurthy, they noted. Gill later joined the Congress and became a Union Cabinet Minister after his tenure, they said. In a press note issued on Wednesday, the ECI said internal notes and checks are routine mechanisms intended to ensure transparency and legal compliance. It added that all official decisions carry legal sanction under the 2023 law governing the Commission's conduct of business and that every officer can offer suggestions for electoral reforms. The Commission said around 40 new initiatives introduced in the past year were unanimously approved by the full Commission and that elections were successfully conducted in Bihar, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Assam and West Bengal. It also said ECINet and other digital platforms have strict data-security, IT audit and access-control mechanisms. On Form 6, the ECI disputed the suggestion that the statutory voter-registration form was illegally altered. It said its May 2026 SIR order had already provided for a separate Declaration Form to accompany Form 6, containing questions on whether a voter or relative appeared in the previous SIR roll. Legal observers said that changing a statutory form and adding a linked declaration are distinct legal actions. Concerns over centralization of electoral data also remain a matter of scrutiny rather than established wrongdoing, analysts said. The Commissioners sought an audit of database access, but seeking an audit is not evidence of tampering. Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) continue to decide inclusion and exclusion of names, while the ECI has reiterated that ECINet operates with security and audit controls. The reported figure of 13 crore deletions has also been described as misleading by the ECI. The figure relates to names not carried forward into the draft roll, not final deletions. SIR provides for claims, objections, hearings and a final roll. Reasons such as Absent, Shifted, Death and Duplicate are listed so genuine voters can seek correction. The report raises a fair question on who filed these appeals, but it does not establish that the ECI itself filed them. Implying that it did, is a leap the evidence does not support, observers said. More than 1.26 lakh appeals have been resolved and 1.14 lakh voters restored, the Commission said. In Goa, 97 voters were found eligible after hearings, but software lacked a facility to reverse earlier deletions. The Chief Electoral Officer wrote eight times seeking a solution before the final-roll deadline. Observers said this points to a technical shortcoming requiring correction, not proof of an intent to disenfranchise voters. The legal backdrop is the Supreme Court's May 27, 2026, judgment which upheld the ECI's power to conduct SIR under Article 324 of the Constitution read with Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. The apex court examined the procedure and did not find the exercise disproportionate or contrary to law. The Supreme Court's judgment also recognised the Commission's responsibility to maintain accurate electoral rolls. Analysts also noted that SIR is not a first-time exercise. India has conducted 10 such revisions since Independence, eight under Congress-led governments. SIR also incorporates multiple safeguards -- Booth Level Officers, supervisors, Assistant EROs, EROs, draft publication, claims and objections, hearings and final-roll publication -- besides monitoring by political parties through Booth Level Agents, experts said. Analysts said the documented disagreements merit scrutiny, particularly on transparency and decision-making, but stressed that internal dissent and institutional wrongdoing are separate questions. The ECI's position is that a multi-member body debating and recording objections, while ultimately taking decisions through the prescribed process, is evidence of institutional checks rather than necessarily a crisis, an analyst noted.

Fake Invoices To Hawala: How Multi-State Gold Smuggling Ring Unfolded In Assam

The attachment was made by the ED's Guwahati Zonal Office under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in a case against Akshay Parshuram Bansode and other unidentified persons.

Gold falls Rs 900 to Rs 1.54 lakh per 10 gm amid weak global cues

New Delhi, Sep 23 (PTI) Gold prices fell for the third straight session, declining Rs 900 to Rs 1.54 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital on Wednesday as a stronger US dollar and weak global trends weighed on investor sentiment. The yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity had closed at Rs 1,54,900 per 10 grams on Tuesday. Silver, however, remained unchanged for the second straight session at Rs 2.42 lakh per kilogram, inclusive of all taxes, according to local traders. Gold traded weak on Wednesday as traders booked profits at higher levels, said Jateen Trivedi, VP Research

Opposition Trying To Suppress EC

Deoghar, Sep 23: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday accused the Congress-led opposition of attempting to undermine the Election Commissions work, describing the poll body as a constitutional authority with a well-established structure. Sarma made the remarks while inaugurating a multi-speciality private hospital in Jharkhands Deoghar district. Responding to questions about reported differences... The post Opposition Trying To Suppress ECs Good Work, Says Assam CM first appeared on Northeast Today .

Cong forms fact-finding panel on Siang project

Zubeen Garg death probe: Another Singapore-based Assamese appears before fast track court

Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 23 (IANS) The prosecution continued examining witnesses in the death case of renowned Assamese singer Zubeen Garg on Wednesday, with Singapore-based Assamese Abhimanyu Talukdar appearing before the fast-track court in Assam in connection with the events surrounding the singer's final hours in Singapore. Talukdar is among several overseas-based Assamese witnesses whose statements are being recorded as the court examines circumstances surrounding the yacht party attended by Garg on September 19, 2025, the day he died in Singapore. The singer, 52, died after an incident during a yacht trip in waters off Lazarus Island in Singapore. He had been in the city for the North East India Festival and was scheduled to perform at the event the following day. The circumstances surrounding his death subsequently triggered investigations and legal proceedings in Assam. The fast-track court in Assam has since been hearing the case, with the prosecution bringing witnesses linked to the yacht party and events preceding Garg's death. Earlier this month, Singapore-based Assamese Parikshit Sharma appeared before the court and recorded his testimony. He was among those present aboard the yacht when the incident occurred on September 19, 2025. Other overseas witnesses examined by the court include Sushmita Goswami, Pratim Lahkar and Debajyoti Hazarika. Jio Langsat Narzary has also been listed among the expatriate witnesses appearing in the proceedings. The witness examination is focused on accounts relating to the yacht outing and the sequence of events surrounding Garg's death. Their statements are being placed before the court as part of the prosecution evidence. The proceedings in Assam are continuing even as Singapore authorities have separately concluded their investigation into Garg's death. Singapore's State Coroner Adam Nakhoda said in March 2026 that Garg's death was an accidental drowning, while the Singapore Police Force said its investigation found no evidence of foul play. While the Singapore Police concluded that there was no evidence of foul play in the singer's death, the Assam Criminal Investigation Department constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter following allegations raised by members of the singer's family and others. The SIT subsequently registered a criminal case and filed a chargesheet naming seven accused persons, including Garg's manager Siddhartha Sarma, the festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, the late singer's bandmates Shekharjyoti Goswami and Amritprabha Mahantawho were slapped with murder charges and alleging a criminal conspiracy linked to the incident. The Assam court proceedings are examining the case and evidence placed before it under the applicable Indian legal process. With Talukdar's appearance, the prosecution's examination of witnesses connected with the Singapore incident continues. More witness statements are expected as the fast-track court proceeds with the trial.

Assam government to go paperless from January 1 , 2027

Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 23 (IANS) Assam government has set January 1, 2027 as the deadline for all state government offices to shift to paperless office system, marking a major expansion of its ongoing digital governance programme, officials said. The Chief Ministers Office made the announcement on Wednesday, describing it a new phase in Assams efforts to modernise administrative functioning and make public services more efficient and transparent. Save the Date: 1 January 2027. A new chapter in Assams digital governance, the CMO said in a post on X. It said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, all government offices would transition to the paperless e-Office system, with the objective of making public services more transparent, efficient and citizen-centric. Assam has already adopted the National Informatics Centre (NIC)-developed e-Office platform in the state Secretariat. According to NIC, all 58 departments in the Secretariat are currently using the system, while implementation is also being extended to selected directorates and Deputy Commissioners offices. The e-Office platform replaces conventional paper-based file processing with digital workflows. Government offices can receive and diarise documents electronically, create and move files digitally, prepare notes and drafts online, and digitally sign and archive official records. The system also enables officials to track the movement and status of files, creating an electronic trail of administrative processes and decisions. According to NIC, the platform is intended to make government functioning more responsive, effective, accountable and transparent while reducing dependence on physical files. Assam has been working towards expanding e-Office adoption for several years. The state-initiated implementation at the district level and established a dedicated state-level steering mechanism in 2021. In 2026, the government launched e-Office District to further extend digital file management and paperless administrative processes across district-level government machinery. The January 1, 2027 deadline will therefore mark the expansion of an existing digital framework to government offices across the state rather than the introduction of e-Office in Assam. The statewide rollout will require government departments and field offices to adopt the system uniformly. Its effectiveness will depend on infrastructure, digital capacity and the extent to which electronic file movement helps reduce delays, improve monitoring and streamline delivery of public services.

Smriti Irani appointed BJP in-charge for Haryana and Chhattisgarh, Vinod Tawde to look after UP

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 23 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party National President Nitin Nabin on Tuesday announced a fresh set of appointments of state in-charges and co-in-charges for various states and union territories. The appointments, detailed in an official press release issued from the partys central office, take effect immediately. According to the circular, the party has assigned organisational responsibilities covering nearly all states and UTs. Notable appointments include Smriti Irani as in-charge for both Chhattisgarh and Haryana, with Siddharth Shambhu as co-in-charge for Chhattisgarh and Dr Bhola Singh as co-in-charge for Haryana. Baijayant Jay Panda has been named state in-charge for Maharashtra, assisted by co-in-charges Amit Malviya, Sadanand Shet Tanavade and Kamaljeet Sahrawat. In Uttar Pradesh, Vinod Tawde has been appointed state in-charge, with Jagadish Patel, Medha Kulkarni, Dr Pradeep Verma and Anant Ojha as co-in-charges. Sunil Bansal will serve as state in-charge for both Telangana and West Bengal. For Telangana, Abhay Patil and Rekha Sharma are co-in-charges, while West Bengals co-in-charges include Lal Singh Arya, Rajendra Singh and Pinki Kushwaha. Other key assignments feature Biplab Kumar Deb as in-charge for Madhya Pradesh with Rekha Verma as co-in-charge, Ram Madhav as state in-charge for Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand, Harish Dwivedi as state in-charge for Bihar and Karnataka, and Dr Satish Poonia as state in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. Mangal Pandey has been named state in-charge for Assam, while Dr Arvind Bhadauria will head Andhra Pradesh with Vanathi Srinivasan as co-in-charge. Meanwhile, BJP national president Nitin Nabin has appointed Ashish Usha Agrawal as convenor of the media department and Anil Baluni as co-ordinator of the communication department. The list also covers smaller states and UTs: Jay Prakash (Andaman and Nicobar), Dr Devesh Kumar (Arunachal Pradesh), Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe (Delhi), Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar (Goa), Tarun Chugh (Gujarat), Shrikant Sharma (Himachal Pradesh), Gajendra Patel (Jharkhand), Prof M Nagaraja (Kerala), Rajkumar Bhatia (Ladakh), George Kurian (Lakshadweep), Dr Rajdeep Roy (Manipur), Kanad Purkayastha (Meghalaya), Dr Bhagwat Karad (Mizoram), Anil Antony (Nagaland and Goa Sah Prabhari), D Purandeswari (Odisha), K Surendran (Puducherry), Raju Bista (Sikkim) and Mriganka Deb Barman (Tripura). Several leaders hold dual or multiple responsibilities under the partys organisational restructuring. The circular has been issued by national office in-charge Tarun Chugh to all state presidents and organisational general secretaries for information and necessary action. The appointments aim to strengthen the partys organisational network ahead of future electoral and organisational programmes.

Nagaon bypoll: Dilip Saikia says Rakibul Hussains remarks may shift 10,000 votes

Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 23 (IANS) Assam Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Dilip Saikia on Wednesday claimed that remarks by Congress MP Rakibul Hussain against the partys Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll candidate Debashish Sharma could benefit the BJP, asserting that around 10,000 votes from the minority community could shift towards the party. Saikia made the remarks while addressing a BJP workers convention at Juria in Nagaons Rupohihat locality as the party intensified its campaign for the October 6 Lok Sabha by-election. He made the statement in the context of the ongoing political contest, reflecting the BJP leaders assessment of voter response. Whenever Rakibul Hussain says something against BJP candidate Debashish Sharma, around 10,000 votes from the minority community automatically move towards the BJP, Saikia said. Around 500 BJP workers from different organisational Mandals in Rupohihat attended the meeting, which focused on campaign planning and strengthening the partys organisational machinery ahead of polling. Senior BJP leaders at the gathering highlighted the state governments development initiatives and sought greater support for Sharma. Barhampur MLA Jitu Goswami, Nagaon district BJP president Subarna Singh, BJP leader Suresh Bora and other district-level office-bearers and party workers attended the meeting. The Nagaon Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the Lok Sabha and subsequently won the Dispur Assembly seat on a BJP ticket. The BJP has fielded former Nagaon Deputy Commissioner Debashish Sharma, who took voluntary retirement from the IAS on September 3 and joined the party shortly afterwards. The Congress has nominated former Batadroba MLA Sibamoni Bora, while AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal is also contesting the bypoll. The nominations of Sharma, Bora and Ajmal were among those found valid during scrutiny. The bypoll is scheduled for October 6, with vote counting set for October 9. Saikias remarks come amid an increasingly active campaign in the constituency, with the BJP, Congress and AIUDF mobilising their organisational networks across Nagaon. The BJP leadership has been seeking to consolidate support for Sharma, while rival parties are campaigning on issues including governance, development and local concerns. The contest has also seen sharp exchanges between leaders of the major political parties as campaigning gathers pace.

Supreme Court requests Chief Justice of India to explore possibility of permanent 5-judge bench for cases involving constitutional issues

New Delhi, Sep 23 (PTI) Flagging the inordinate delay in resolution of references made to larger benches, the Supreme Court on Wednesday requested the Chief Justice of India to explore the possibility of constituting a permanent five-judge bench to deal with cases involving constitutional issues. A bench of justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma termed the delay as an area of grave concern and said self-introspection was required as pendency of reference for far too long does not reflect well on the institution. The observations were made after both the judges gave split opinions on whether a batch of

Gyanesh Kumar should be jailed; hold repolls in Maharashtra, WB and TN with ballot papers: Uddhav

Mumbai, Sep 23 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar be jailed, citing reports of differences emerging within the Election Commission. Addressing a news conference, Thackeray also demanded that the last elections in Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu be nullified and repolls be held in these states using ballot papers. Gyanesh Kumar should be immediately sacked and jailed, the former Maharashtra chief minister said. I thank Election Commissioners (ECs) Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi for exposing Gyanesh Kumar, Thackeray said. He also said that the court should take cognisance

Assam eyes heritage, tourism push at ancient Hailakandi hill site

Stock markets rebound amid easing crude oil prices; Sensex up 299 points

Mumbai, Sep 23 (PTI) Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rebounded on Wednesday amid easing crude oil prices, which remained below USD 100 per barrel, and hopes of a possible de-escalation in the West Asia conflict. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 299.17 points, or 0.40 per cent, to settle at 74,828.25. During the day, it jumped 444.66 points, or 0.59 per cent, to 74,973.74. The 50-share NSE Nifty was up 117.80 points, or 0.50 per cent, to end at 23,446.80. Among the 30 Sensex firms, Tata Steel, Bajaj Finance, ITC, UltraTech Cement, Power Grid and Larsen & Toubro were the major

Rupee falls 12 paise to close at 95.74 against US dollar

Mumbai, Sep 23 (PTI) The rupee fell 12 paise to close at 95.74 (provisional) against the US dollar on Wednesday, weighed down by the broad strength of the American currency and a slight recovery in crude oil prices from lower levels. Forex traders said the dollar strengthened on hawkish comments from US Federal Reserve officials, raising expectations of a rate hike by the US Fed in 2026. However, positive domestic markets supported the rupee at lower levels. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 95.58 against the US dollar, then gained ground and touched an intraday high

All orders, decisions taken by EC carry full legal sanctions; differing views normal: EC statement

New Delhi, Sep 23 (PTI) The Election Commission on Wednesday asserted that all its official orders, decisions and administrative directions carry full legal sanctions and that differing views and observations are a normal part of deliberation in any institution. In a statement following The Indian Express report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had red flagged multiple issues, including deletion of names, in various states during the pan-India Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters list, the EC also said that suggestions given by the Commissioners were for further improving the electoral processes. What do the Election Commissions

Assam Police Arrest Four More in Cyber Crime Investigation, Total Arrests Reach 14

Assam police have arrested four additional suspects in a cyber crime investigation, bringing the total number of arrests to 14. Assam Police Arrest Four More in Cyber Crime Investigation, Total Arrests Reach 14

NLUJA Lawyer Fellow Recruitment 2026 - Apply Online

NLUJA has released the Lawyer Fellow Recruitment 2026 notification for 6 vacancies. The email application process is open from 23 September 2026 to 03 October 2026. Eligible candidates can apply through the official website, nluassam.ac.in.

Rabindranath Thakur Vishwavidyalaya Project Associate-I Recruitment 2026 - Walkin

Rabindranath Thakur Vishwavidyalaya Recruitment 2026 for 1 post of Project Associate-I. Candidates with M.Sc can attend Walkin. The Walk-in on 30-09-2026. For detailed information please visit Rabindranath Thakur Vishwavidyalaya official website rtuassam.ac.in.

Assam: Former Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi To Attend

Guwahati, Sept 23: Former Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM (Retd.), will make his first public appearance in the Northeast as Chief Guest at the Namami Bharatam celebrations in Guwahati on September 25. The event, organized by Vidya Bharati and Shiksha Samiti Assam, will be held at the Shrimanta Sankardev International Auditorium,... The post Assam: Former Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi To Attend Namami Bharatam In Guwahati first appeared on Northeast Today .

Election Commissioners flagged issues but poll body unanimous on SIR decisions: Officials

New Delhi, Sep 23 (PTI) lection Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had flagged multiple issues, including deletion of names, in various states during the voter roll cleanup but the poll body was unanimous in its decisions related to the pan-India Special Intensive Revision of voters list, officials said on Wednesday. The officials made the remarks in the wake of a media report that the two Election Commissioners had objected to the Election Commissions steps 14 times in 10 months amid the SIR. Responding to queries, the officials said the two commissioners had flagged decisions related to deletion of

Assam Filmmaker Rima Das Joins Busan Film Festival Jury

Filmmaker Rima Das has been appointed as one of the three jurors for the prestigious New Currents Award at the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), joining Korean actor Shim Eun-kyung and Chinese producer Shan Zuolong on the panel. The award, regarded as one of the festivals most significant competitive honours, celebrates emerging Asian filmmakers... The post Assam Filmmaker Rima Das Joins Busan Film Festival Jury first appeared on Northeast Today .

Fire damages two warehouses in North Lakhimpur, Assam

The News Mill

Congress firmly supports meaningful constitutional safeguards in Ladakh: Kharge

New Delhi, Sep 23 (PTI) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said the party stood firmly with the demand of the people of Ladakh for meaningful constitutional safeguards, including the Sixth Schedule, to protect Ladakhs land, employment, fragile environment, culture and identity. He also demanded that the judicial probe into the deaths of four people during statehood protests must ensure accountability and bring out the truth. On September 24, 2025, police in Leh shot and killed four people during violent protests demanding statehood and constitutional protections for Ladakh. In a post on X, Kharge said that a year ago, four

Stock markets rebound in early trade amid easing crude oil prices

Mumbai, Sep 23 (PTI) Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rebounded in early trade on Wednesday amid easing crude oil prices although foreign investor selling remained a key headwind for domestic equities. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 283.66 points to 74,812.74 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty was up 85.55 points to 23,414.55. Among the 30 Sensex firms, Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Finserv, Tata Steel, UltraTech Cement, Larsen & Toubro and Asian Paints were among the winners. Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, HDFC Bank and Mahindra & Mahindra were among the laggards. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, traded 0.97 per cent

Mizoram: New Builum residents protest outside Kolasib jail over Army man

Aizawl: Residents of New Builum village on Tuesday staged a demonstration outside Kolasib District Jail in Saidan, demanding swift action against those arrested in connection with the killing of Assam Regiment soldier Zakaria Lalhriattluanga. The protest followed Zakarias death on September 21 in an alleged road-rage assault near Bualpui village in Kolasib district. The protesters [] The post Mizoram: New Builum residents protest outside Kolasib jail over Army mans killing appeared first on NorthEast Now .

UCC bulldozer is to permanently polarise society: Congress

New Delhi, Sep 23: The Congress on Wednesday alleged that for the Modi government, the UCC is not an instrument of considered legal reform but an instrument of division, disruption and diversion, as well as a tool for stoking prejudices and keeping society in a state of permanent polarisation. The opposition party's assertion comes after former Bombay High Court judge Justice R C Chavan resigned from the Maharashtra government's panel to prepare a draft for implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), citing serious reservations over its decision to restrict public feedback on crucial social issues to a Yes/No format. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the resignation of a former high court judge from the Maharashtra government's committee to draft a UCC for the state raises larger questions, apart from his several concerns on the functioning of this committee. Posting his statement on X, Ramesh said, A retired High Court judge has shown courage to resign from a committee set up by the Maharashtra government to prepare a uniform civil code for the state. Here is our statement on the non-uniform 'Uniform' Civil Codes (UCC) the HM is trying to bulldoze through in every state. Did the Constituent Assembly ever imagine a situation in which every state would enact its own separate version of a UCC? The answer is a resounding no, Ramesh said. Did the architects of our Constitution led by Dr B.R. Ambedkar ever conceive states competing with one another to have different UCCs according to the political machinations and calculations of one political party, he asked. Again, the answer is a resounding no, Ramesh added. He pointed out that on June 17, 2016, the Modi government referred the question of the UCC to the 21st Law Commission of India for detailed examination. After extensive research, the Commission published its Consultation Paper on Reform of Family Law on August 31, 2018. Its conclusion appearing in paragraph 1.15 on page 7 of the Consultation Paper was clear: 'The formulation of a Uniform Civil Code is neither necessary nor desirable at this stage'. Instead it recommended addressing nor discrimination within individual family laws while preserving India's legal and cultural diversity, Ramesh said. The Modi government has chosen to disregard the findings of the very Commission it tasked with examining the issue because the facts, as usual, did not align with its political agenda, the Congress leader said. Over the last three years, one BJP-ruled State after another bulldozed through its own version of a UCC, Ramesh said. The UCC came into effect in Uttarakhand from January 27, 2025. Subsequently the Gujarat Assembly passed the UCC Bill on March 24, 2026, the Assam Assembly on May 27, 2026 and the Madhya Pradesh Assembly on July 21, 2026, he pointed out. Ramesh said these State-level UCCs, never envisaged in the Constitution, are not uniform. They contain different provisions, different penalties, different procedures and significant exemptions. Contrary to claims, the Uttarakhand UCC, the only one in force, continues with a number of patriarchal traditions and is creating many problems for perfectly law-abiding residents of the state, Ramesh argued. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has made a typically bombastic announcement that a UCC will be implemented in all NDA-ruled States before the 2029 Lok Sabha election, he said. Evidently other NDA parties have lost their voices and are being silenced by the BJP, the Congress general secretary said. For the Modi Government, the UCC is not an instrument of considered legal reform to be implemented after the widest possible consultations and public debate and with the broadest possible consensus. It is, in reality, an instrument of division, disruption and diversion, a tool for harassment and intimidation, stoking prejudices and keeping society in a state of permanent polarisation, Ramesh said. Later, asked about the statement, he said, The UCC bulldozer is to permanently polarise society. In a letter to the panel chairperson Justice Ranjana Desai (retd), former Bombay High Court judge Chavan criticised the committee's approach, stating that reducing complex societal questions, such as delayed marriages, perversions, infertility, and rising matrimonial disputes, to binary options undermined the primary purpose of consensus-building. The former judge said he had misunderstood that the committee aimed to gather views of the people of Maharashtra and to generate a consensus to remedy the issues of late marriages, infertility, unstable marriages, time-consuming dispute resolution mechanism and so on. Now that the misunderstanding is removed, I realise that the aim is to just provide an opportunity to people who may care, to share their responses, in a 'yes or no' format to the questions posed so that analysis of data becomes easy, the letter said. In July, the state government set up a seven-member committee headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai to draft a framework for implementing the UCC, which seeks to establish equal laws across religions on issues about marriage, divorce, and property. Justice Chavan, a former high court judge, resigned from the panel on September 19. The Congress' statement also comes days after Shah said the BJP-led NDA governments in 21 states will introduce UCC before 2029. The next Lok Sabha polls are scheduled for 2029.

Rupee rises 5 paise to 95.57 against US dollar in early trade

Mumbai, Sep 23 (PTI) The rupee gained 5 paise to 95.57 against the US dollar in early trade on Wednesday, supported by falling crude oil prices and a broader recovery in Asian currencies. Forex traders said going ahead currency market direction will majorly be driven by unfolding geopolitical developments. Softer crude oil prices remain the major support for the rupee, while a firm American currency after the US Feds rate hike and foreign portfolio outflows remain the main concerns. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 95.58 then touched 95.57 against the American currency, registering a gain

Inadequate drainage along highways to blame for flooding: Sosthenes

Shillong, Sep 22: Cabinet minister and Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun on Tuesday said poor drainage along National Highway projects and garbage-filled streams were contributing to flooding in the constituency, as he pushed back against Assams repeated allegations that activities in Meghalaya were responsible for floods in the neighbouring state. Sohtun said Jirang has been witnessing [] The post Inadequate drainage along highways to blame for flooding: Sosthenes first appeared on Highland Post .

PM Modi lauds rhino conservation efforts on World Rhino Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday lauded the rhino conservation efforts in the country and said the Project Rhino has been initiated for financial and technical support to the range states for protection, habitat management, and understanding population dynamics of the endangered species. On the occasion of World Rhino Day, Modi said the country celebrates the magnificent greater one-horned rhinoceros and lauds all those at the forefront of its protection. Assam now holds nearly 80 per cent of the worlds rhino population and Kazirangas efforts to end rhino poaching have been extensively appreciated, he said in a post on X. The prime minister said on one hand, rhinos have either returned or are well protected in parts of Bihar and West Bengal, on the other hand, success of reintroduction of rhinos in Dudhwa (Uttar Pradesh) is creating history. This shows the sustained commitment of our people towards animal protection and active wildlife management in the range states, he said. Taking species conservation in the country forward, Modi said he was happy to share that Project Rhino has been initiated for financial and technical support to the range states for protection, habitat management, genetic improvement and understanding population dynamics. World Rhino Day is a day of awareness for all five rhino species and the work being done to save them. Since 2011, World Rhino Day has been celebrated internationally on September 22 by rhino experts and advocates around the world. The day is especially important to raise awareness of the plight of rhinos because they are regularly poached for their horns which are sold illegally and used in traditional medicine despite no scientific proof that these remedies work.

Cong accuses BJP of Assam attack, CM blames partys internal feud

2 Accused In Ex-CRPF Jawan Murder Case Injured In Police Firing In Assam

The two incidents took place after the September 18 killing of 35-year-old former CRPF jawan Biman Barua in the Bihubar area.

Denish Das named Assam captain for first two Ranji Trophy matches

The News Mill

Tensions Rise in Assam After BJP Workers Block Congress MLAs Vehicle

Tensions escalated in Morigaon, Assam, as BJP workers clashed with Congress supporters after blocking a Congress MLAs vehicle. Tensions Rise in Assam After BJP Workers Block Congress MLAs Vehicle

Naga filmmaker Theja Rios Angh wins TIFF Platform Prize, enters Oscar race

Minority Community Votes For BJP: Assam CM Himanta On Nagaon Bypoll

Guwahati, September 22: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said members of minority communities have supported the BJP in the past and claimed that the party receives votes from Muslim-majority areas of the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency. Speaking to reporters in Diphu ahead of the October 6 Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll, Sarma cited... The post Minority Community Votes For BJP: Assam CM Himanta On Nagaon Bypoll first appeared on Northeast Today .

Tripura to set up green corridors for ambulances: CM

Tripura man booked for attacking father over money for drugs

HC freezes Tripura district council officers salary over pension row

All starts with Mainao; once lost to poaching, rhinos breeding again in Manas

Assam BJP MLA, wife pledge organs for donation

BJP denies involvement, cites Cong in-fighting

Assam shelters nearly 80% of worlds greater one-horned rhinos

2 Cong functionaries injured after stones pelted at Convoy in Samaguri

Citys cleanliness contest ends on a high, but waste remains a challenge

Move foreign natls who completed sentences to detention centre by Sept 28: HC to Meghalaya

659 Meghalaya electors found ineligible for final roll

Conrad calls for positive alternatives in fight against drug abuse

From nearly 8.9 lakh registrations, Arunachal final rolls list 6.96 lakh electors

6 sent to judicial custody over killing of soldier in Mizoram

Dibrugarh cops arrest 2 in Kerala over Rs 50L Boss Scam

2nd accused in ex-CRPF jawans murder injured in cop firing

Singer Simanta Sekhar quits BJP, resigns as Assam film corporation chairman

Congress questions ECIs silence after attack on leaders convoy during Assam bypoll campaign

Congress leaders say stones, acid thrown at the convoy, which was attacked with iron rods, hockey sticks; party secretary hospitalised; claim planned murderous attack meant to intimidate voters, party workers

Simanta Shekhar Resigns from BJP and Assam Film Corporation Role

Simanta Shekhar steps down from his positions in the BJP and Assam Film Corporation, citing personal reasons for his departure. Simanta Shekhar Resigns from BJP and Assam Film Corporation Role

Assam Woman Alleges Harassment, Forced Confinement By Husband, Brother-In-Law

The rescue operation was carried out in the presence of police and a magistrate by a team led by Assam State Commission for Women member Himani Adhikari, following a complaint by the woman's family.

Ex-Army chief Gen Dwivedi to join Vande Mataram mass recital in Guwahati

ABSU burns copies of Hamkoshar Parishista over Bodo script issue

The All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) on Tuesday burnt copies of a book titled Hamkoshar Parishista during protests held at several locations across Assam, including Gauhati University, obje

Tension persists in Bihubar after former paramilitary personnels killing

Tension continues to prevail in Bihubar under Nazira Co-District following the killing of former paramilitary personnel Biman Barua, allegedly in an attack linked to drug trafficking. Hundreds of peop

Assam Singer Quits BJP After Criticising Party MLA Over Zubeen Garg

Simanta Shekhar announced his decision in a Facebook post on Monday, saying he had submitted his resignation to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as well as the BJP's state president.

Gold falls Rs 1,500 to Rs 1.54 lakh/10g in Delhi; silver stays flat

New Delhi, Sep 22 (PTI) Gold prices fell for the second straight session, falling by Rs 1,500 to Rs 1.54 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital on Tuesday amid weak global trends. The yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity depreciated by Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,54,900 per 10 grams, inclusive of all taxes, from Mondays closing level of Rs 1,56,400 per 10 grams, according to local traders. Silver prices, however, remained unchanged at Rs 2.42 lakh per kilogram. Gold extended its decline on Tuesday as hawkish remarks from Federal Reserve officials and a strong US dollar exerted

When presidents ban journalists from the White House, the First Amendment is not the only constitutional right at stake

Washington, Sep 22 (Conversation) The president is going after the press again. On Sept. 19, 2026, journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico were denied access to the White House after President Donald Trump revoked their credentials, citing their constant reporting FAKE NEWS! On social media, Trump posted, Media Outlets shouldnt be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when theyre covering the President. This is not Trumps first attempt at banning journalists from the White House. During his first term, he sought to ban CNNs Jim Acosta by revoking his credentials following a contentious news conference about

Stones, Bottles Hurled: Gogoi, Baghel Allege BJP attacked Congress Convoy In Assam

Assam | Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi and Bhupesh Baghels convoy was allegedly attacked with stones and bottles in the Borma area of Samaguri while they were travelling to an election meeting in support of Congress candidate Sibamoni Bora. Congress alleged that BJP supporters waved black flags and raised Go Back slogans before stones were thrown at the vehicles. Gogoi later filed a complaint at Nagaon Sadar Police Station. The incident has added to tensions surrounding the October 6 Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election.

Assam singer Simanta Shekhar quits BJP, film finance body

A few days ago, Simanta Shekhar criticised party MLA Vijay Kumar Gupta for getting his facts on cultural icon Zubeen Garg wrong