Assam News

Adivasi organisation protests in Assam's Dibrugarh, seeks minimum wages, PF for small tea garden workers

AICSA held a rally and demonstration in Dibrugarh over issues faced by small tea garden workers. The organisation urged the government to ensure wages, benefits, safety and rights protections.

Assam teacher allegedly kills wife, two children; daughter critical

Police said an Assam school teacher allegedly attacked his family with a machete at home. Investigators are examining the motive, with financial distress among the early suspicions.

Assam: Former panchayat president arrested in alleged financial irregularities in Palashbari

Assam Police on September 1 arrested former Panchayat president Siraj Ali in connection with alleged financial irregularities involving a small savings bank operating under the Panchayat Cooperative Society in Rani area of Palashbari circle of Kamrup district. 

Five get life imprisonment in separate murder cases in Assam's Dibrugarh

A Dibrugarh court sentenced five men to life imprisonment in separate murder cases and another accused to four years in an attempted murder case. The prosecution said it was the first time five accused had received life terms together in the district.

9-year-old rescued in Assam's Dergaon after alleged abduction by uncle and aunt in Mariani

A nine-year-old girl has been rescued from Islamnagar in Assam's Dergaon after allegedly being abducted from Mariani by relatives who later demanded a ransom of Rs 60 lakh, police said.

Assam LPG row: Kokrajhar consumers allege six-month delay, black-market sale of cylinders

Assam: Rs 206 crore NESIDS road project in Karbi Anglong faces allegations of fund misuse, poor construction

A Rs 206.42-crore road project in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district has come under scrutiny following allegations by local residents of financial irregularities, use of substandard construction materials and deviations from prescribed construction specifications. The 50-km road connecting Chokihola to Tarapung via Barpung is being constructed under the Barpathar PWD Road Division with funding sanctioned through the Centre’s North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS). The project was awarded to Gautam Construction. Local residents have alleged that the entire project was not executed directly by the main contractor. According to them, around 50 per cent of the work was retained by Gautam Construction, while the remaining work was allegedly distributed between two sub-contractors — M.P. Agarwal, which was assigned 30 per cent, and Manoj Parik, which was assigned 20 per cent. Residents have alleged that irregularities in the utilisation of public funds began after the work was distributed among the contractors. These allegations, however, have not been independently verified. Concerns have also been raised over the sourcing of construction materials. According to the project’s Detailed Project Report (DPR), the required materials were to be sourced from Bhutiyachang Quarry in Udalguri. Residents allege that instead, stones, sand and gravel have been extracted from the Kaliyani River near the construction site. They further allege that a substantial portion of the river has been artificially blocked to facilitate extraction, raising concerns over possible environmental damage. Excavators have allegedly been deployed in the riverbed to extract construction materials, which residents claim are of inferior quality. Residents have also alleged irregularities in the construction of culverts and drainage structures. In some locations, they claim, banana tree trunks were used in place of PVC pipes intended for water drainage. They have further alleged that side drains were constructed without reinforcement rods and were completed through basic masonry work. Another major allegation concerns the thickness of the road. Residents claim that the DPR specifies a thickness of 390 mm, while sections of the completed road that they reportedly excavated were found to be around 160 mm thick. They have alleged that the difference, if established through an official technical assessment, could indicate significant deviations from the sanctioned specifications. Concerns have also been raised regarding drainage arrangements in hilly stretches of the project. Residents said they had sought the construction of additional culverts at locations where rainwater flows rapidly downhill, but alleged that their requests were not acted upon. According to the residents, sections of the road subsequently suffered damage following relatively light rainfall. They have also alleged that a retaining wall collapsed within two months of the completion of the construction work. The role of the third-party quality monitoring agency, New Sun Consulting Firm of Guwahati, has also come under question. The agency was reportedly entrusted with monitoring the quality of construction work. Residents have questioned how the alleged deviations could have occurred despite the involvement of the third-party agency and departmental engineers. The allegations have prompted calls for a detailed technical and financial inquiry into the project. Residents have urged the authorities to verify the quality and quantity of materials used, examine compliance with the DPR and investigate the alleged distribution of work among contractors. They have also sought an assessment of the alleged extraction of materials from the Kaliyani River and its possible environmental impact. The response of the Public Works Department, the contractors concerned and the third-party quality monitoring agency to the allegations is awaited. Any further action is expected to depend on the findings of an official inquiry or technical inspection.

Zubeen Garg death case: Singapore-based Assamese witness appears before fast-track court

Parikshit Sharma, an Assamese associated with the Assam Association in Singapore, has appeared before a fast-track court to record his testimony in the death case of singer Zubeen Garg.

Two girls rescued from suspected human trafficking racket in Assam’s Dhubri, woman arrested

Police in Assam’s Dhubri district have rescued two young women from an alleged inter-state human trafficking racket and arrested a woman suspected to be involved in the operation, officials said.

Assam Police seize 66,000 Yaba tablets worth around Rs 10 crore in Sribhumi, two held

Assam Police have seized nearly 66,000 suspected Yaba tablets valued at around Rs 10 crore during an early-morning operation in Sribhumi district, officials said.

Assam flood situation improves, 30,601 people still affected across four districts

The flood situation in Assam has shown a gradual improvement over the past week, with a decline in the number of affected people, inundated villages and crop areas, according to the latest flood situation assessment.

Assam Congress forms state coordination committee ahead of Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council polls

The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Tuesday, September 1 constituted a 50-member state-level coordination committee to oversee the party’s preparations for the upcoming Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council elections

Assam: Forest officials assaulted, seized dumper forcibly taken away during anti-illegal sand mining operation in Dhubri

Two Forest Department personnel were allegedly assaulted and a seized sand-laden dumper was forcibly taken away during an anti-illegal sand mining operation near Gauripur in Assam’s Dhubri district on Tuesday, September 1 evening.

Himanta asks IIT Guwahati to lead technology-driven transformation of Northeast

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday, September 1, called upon IIT Guwahati to take a leading role in driving technology-led transformation across the Northeast, saying the institute's contribution should extend beyond academic and research achievements.

Assam: 27 stolen motorcycles, scooters recovered in Nagaland's Mon district

Charaideo Police, in coordination with Nagaland Police, have recovered and seized 27 motorcycles and scooters suspected to have been stolen from various districts of Upper Assam and subsequently sold in Mon district, officials said.

Assam: Charaideo Police uncover Delhi-Upper Assam narcotics network with suspected extremist link

Charaideo Police have claimed to have uncovered an interstate narcotics trafficking network operating between Delhi and Upper Assam, with the investigation also pointing to a suspected link with an active extremist cadre.

Stakeholder trust key to exam credibility: Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota

Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota on Tuesday, September 1, said stakeholder trust is central to the credibility of examinations and stressed that examination design, governance and logistics must be aligned with the nature and scale of each test.

AIUDF intensifies campaign for Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll in Assam

The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has intensified its election campaign across the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency ahead of the upcoming bypoll, with party leader Rezaul Karim Sarkar interacting with voters at Tukutuki-Katohguri Bazar in Assam’s Dhing Assembly constituency.

Assam: TMC to contest Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll, opens new state headquarters

The Assam unit of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday, September 1, announced that it will contest the upcoming by-election to the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency, while inaugurating its new state headquarters in Guwahati.

Assam: North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council renamed Dima Hasao Autonomous Council

The North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) in Assam has officially been renamed the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council (DHAC), according to an official communique issued by the council authorities.

Assam: Alleged extramarital affair sparks street fight between two women in Nagaon

An alleged extramarital relationship reportedly led to a public confrontation between two women at Jajori market in Assam's Nagaon district on September 1, with videos of the altercation circulating on social media.