News Analysis India

Tag: Assam

  • Festering wounds of CAA protests keep citizenship issue alive in Assam

    By PTI

    GUWAHATI: Widespread protests in Assam after the enactment of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) on this day three years ago have left behind a festering wound that has kept the citizenship issue alive in the northeastern state sharing a long border with Bangladesh.

    The BJP government at the Centre asserts that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 will be implemented but is yet to frame the rules, leading to allegations from various quarters that the saffron party is using it as a “political card” to polarise the nation.

    The Citizenship Act, of 1955 was amended to provide citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian religious minorities fleeing persecution from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan and seeking refuge in India till 2014.

    The Opposition protested the Act as being based on religious criteria and wanted it to be amended.

    The protests against the Act in Assam were led by the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) but the stir was different from those in other parts of the country as agitators asserted that the state cannot be a dumping ground for foreigners irrespective of their religion.

    The agitation in Assam had turned violent, with five people losing their lives in police firing and KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi and four others being arrested. The stir was called off with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    In the aftermath of the agitation, two new political parties — Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) led by the then AASU leader Lurinjyoti Gogoi and Raijor Dal headed by Akhil Gogoi — were born in Assam.

    “The BJP uses CAA as a political tool, particularly during elections, and it has not framed the rules as it wants to keep the ‘foreigners’ issue’ alive in Assam. What’s worse is that the party has brought a communal angle through the Act with its narrative ‘Hindu khatre mein hain’ (Hindus are in danger),” AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi told PTI.ALSO READ | No CAA rollout, yet MHA moves to grant citizenship

    The CAA has made the Assam Accord and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) irrelevant, he claimed.

    “The Centre must give constitutional safeguards to Assam like those accorded to other northeastern states against further settlement of ‘foreigners’ as those who came after 1971 – Hindu ‘Bangladeshis’ or others – cannot be rehabilitated in our state,” Raijor Dal working president Bhasco de Saikia said.

    “We are firm on our opposition to the Act which we consider to be a part of the BJP’s communal politics and if they frame the rules, the ‘foreigners’ should be taken to other states,” Saikia said.

    The RSS and the BJP, however, asserted that both the CAA and NRC are not against any Indian and that the communal narrative has been created “by some” for political mileage.

    RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat pointed out here last year that no Muslim will face any persecution due to CAA.

    Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had also asserted that the CAA is for those who are “victims of Partition and persecuted in a communal country created on the basis of religion.”

    Sarma had claimed that “so-called secular protesters” at the national level tried to give a communal colour to the protests in Assam.

    Political writer and analyst Sushanta Talukdar said the government has been delaying the implementation of CAA as it is wary of adverse reactions in Assam and Tripura where the ruling BJP has high stakes.

    “The Centre is apprehensive of exposing linguistic and ethnic fault lines in the Northeast and antagonising its own and alliance partners’ electoral support base because, without adequate constitutional safeguards, the Act could lead to the marginalisation of indigenous people by the migrant population which might result in their loss of political power and identity,” Talukdar added.ALSO READ | ‘Won’t accept foreigners’: Voices against CAA get louder 

    GUWAHATI: Widespread protests in Assam after the enactment of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) on this day three years ago have left behind a festering wound that has kept the citizenship issue alive in the northeastern state sharing a long border with Bangladesh.

    The BJP government at the Centre asserts that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 will be implemented but is yet to frame the rules, leading to allegations from various quarters that the saffron party is using it as a “political card” to polarise the nation.

    The Citizenship Act, of 1955 was amended to provide citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian religious minorities fleeing persecution from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan and seeking refuge in India till 2014.

    The Opposition protested the Act as being based on religious criteria and wanted it to be amended.

    The protests against the Act in Assam were led by the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) but the stir was different from those in other parts of the country as agitators asserted that the state cannot be a dumping ground for foreigners irrespective of their religion.

    The agitation in Assam had turned violent, with five people losing their lives in police firing and KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi and four others being arrested. The stir was called off with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    In the aftermath of the agitation, two new political parties — Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) led by the then AASU leader Lurinjyoti Gogoi and Raijor Dal headed by Akhil Gogoi — were born in Assam.

    “The BJP uses CAA as a political tool, particularly during elections, and it has not framed the rules as it wants to keep the ‘foreigners’ issue’ alive in Assam. What’s worse is that the party has brought a communal angle through the Act with its narrative ‘Hindu khatre mein hain’ (Hindus are in danger),” AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi told PTI.ALSO READ | No CAA rollout, yet MHA moves to grant citizenship

    The CAA has made the Assam Accord and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) irrelevant, he claimed.

    “The Centre must give constitutional safeguards to Assam like those accorded to other northeastern states against further settlement of ‘foreigners’ as those who came after 1971 – Hindu ‘Bangladeshis’ or others – cannot be rehabilitated in our state,” Raijor Dal working president Bhasco de Saikia said.

    “We are firm on our opposition to the Act which we consider to be a part of the BJP’s communal politics and if they frame the rules, the ‘foreigners’ should be taken to other states,” Saikia said.

    The RSS and the BJP, however, asserted that both the CAA and NRC are not against any Indian and that the communal narrative has been created “by some” for political mileage.

    RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat pointed out here last year that no Muslim will face any persecution due to CAA.

    Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had also asserted that the CAA is for those who are “victims of Partition and persecuted in a communal country created on the basis of religion.”

    Sarma had claimed that “so-called secular protesters” at the national level tried to give a communal colour to the protests in Assam.

    Political writer and analyst Sushanta Talukdar said the government has been delaying the implementation of CAA as it is wary of adverse reactions in Assam and Tripura where the ruling BJP has high stakes.

    “The Centre is apprehensive of exposing linguistic and ethnic fault lines in the Northeast and antagonising its own and alliance partners’ electoral support base because, without adequate constitutional safeguards, the Act could lead to the marginalisation of indigenous people by the migrant population which might result in their loss of political power and identity,” Talukdar added.ALSO READ | ‘Won’t accept foreigners’: Voices against CAA get louder 

  • HIV cases in Assam surge with 2,269 more testing positive since April 

    By PTI

    GUWAHATI: Since April, 2,269 people have tested positive for HIV in Assam, which is much higher than the previous two years, according to official data.

    A total of 5,57,747 samples were tested from April to October this year. Of that, 2,269 samples turned out to be positive for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), according to the Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS).

    Among these patients were 131 pregnant women, it said.

    In 2021-22, a total of 2,366 HIV cases were detected in the state, while it was just 1,288 in 2020-21.

    ASACS Assistant Director Rajib Sarma said Assam has 25,073 people living with HIV (PLHIV) as per NACO HIV Estimation Report 2021.

    “Out of this, 45 per cent of PLHIVs are female. Children living with HIV is 3 per cent,” he added.

    The total number of people alive by taking Anti-Retroviral therapy (ART) is 10,765 in the state.

    “The HIV prevalence rate in India is 0.21 per cent and the same rate in Assam is 0.09 per cent,” Sarma said.

    As far as the HIV prevalence in the districts is concerned, Kamrup Metropolitan has the maximum number of cases at 7,610, followed by Cachar at 5,200 cases, Nagaon at 1,602 cases and Dibrugarh at 1,402 cases.

    “81.63 per cent is transmitted through the heterosexual route, 5.54 per cent is through HIV-infected syringe and needles, parent to child is 4.76 per cent, through homosexual route is 4.61 per cent, 0.85 per cent through blood and blood products, and 2.61 is not specified,” Sarma said.

    To create HIV awareness among the people, the ASACS is using the press, outdoor advertising, folk arts and social media, among others.

    GUWAHATI: Since April, 2,269 people have tested positive for HIV in Assam, which is much higher than the previous two years, according to official data.

    A total of 5,57,747 samples were tested from April to October this year. Of that, 2,269 samples turned out to be positive for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), according to the Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS).

    Among these patients were 131 pregnant women, it said.

    In 2021-22, a total of 2,366 HIV cases were detected in the state, while it was just 1,288 in 2020-21.

    ASACS Assistant Director Rajib Sarma said Assam has 25,073 people living with HIV (PLHIV) as per NACO HIV Estimation Report 2021.

    “Out of this, 45 per cent of PLHIVs are female. Children living with HIV is 3 per cent,” he added.

    The total number of people alive by taking Anti-Retroviral therapy (ART) is 10,765 in the state.

    “The HIV prevalence rate in India is 0.21 per cent and the same rate in Assam is 0.09 per cent,” Sarma said.

    As far as the HIV prevalence in the districts is concerned, Kamrup Metropolitan has the maximum number of cases at 7,610, followed by Cachar at 5,200 cases, Nagaon at 1,602 cases and Dibrugarh at 1,402 cases.

    “81.63 per cent is transmitted through the heterosexual route, 5.54 per cent is through HIV-infected syringe and needles, parent to child is 4.76 per cent, through homosexual route is 4.61 per cent, 0.85 per cent through blood and blood products, and 2.61 is not specified,” Sarma said.

    To create HIV awareness among the people, the ASACS is using the press, outdoor advertising, folk arts and social media, among others.

  • Assam: BJP-led NDA wins 12 of 22 seats in Deori autonomous council polls

    By PTI

    GUWAHATI: The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Thursday bagged 12 of the 22 seats in the Deori autonomous council elections, an official statement said.

    The saffron party won 11 seats while its ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) secured one, the statement issued by the office of the secretary of the Assam State Election Commission (ASEC) said.

    Opposition Congress managed to win two seats, while Independent candidates emerged victorious in eight constituencies after the completion of counting during the day, it said.

    An estimated 80 per cent of the 43,595 voters had exercised their franchise during the polling on Tuesday.

    The 22 constituencies are spread across six districts and four sub-divisions of other districts.

    Reacting to the poll results, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted: “The resounding victory of @BJP4Assam & allies in Deori Autonomous Council election revalidates popular trust in our Govt guided by vision of Adarniya PM Shri @narendramodi ji.”

    GUWAHATI: The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Thursday bagged 12 of the 22 seats in the Deori autonomous council elections, an official statement said.

    The saffron party won 11 seats while its ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) secured one, the statement issued by the office of the secretary of the Assam State Election Commission (ASEC) said.

    Opposition Congress managed to win two seats, while Independent candidates emerged victorious in eight constituencies after the completion of counting during the day, it said.

    An estimated 80 per cent of the 43,595 voters had exercised their franchise during the polling on Tuesday.

    The 22 constituencies are spread across six districts and four sub-divisions of other districts.

    Reacting to the poll results, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted: “The resounding victory of @BJP4Assam & allies in Deori Autonomous Council election revalidates popular trust in our Govt guided by vision of Adarniya PM Shri @narendramodi ji.”

  • 318 surrendered militants in Assam get Rs 1.5 lakh each for their rehabilitation

    By Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: The Assam government on Monday offered Rs 1.5 lakh each to 318 surrendered militants for their rehabilitation.They are from groups such as the United Gorkha People’s Organisation, Tiwa Liberation Army, Kuki National Liberation Army, United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA).Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who distributed the cheques at a programme here, said these people had joined the mainstream by abjuring the path of violence. He requested them to utilise the money judiciously.Sarma said that although only 11 members of the DNLA had surrendered initially now the entire group was engaged in peace talks with the central and state governments. He was certain that a peace accord could be signed with the outfit soon.“Over the past 18 months, all groups, except the ULFA, joined the mainstream. Many had also signed peace accords,” Sarma, who donned the CM’s mantle on May 10 last year, said.“I hope someday, we will get the ULFA on board. I request ULFA military chief Paresh Baruah to join the peace process. It is not through blood but talks that we can rebuild Assam and march ahead on the road of development,” Sarma said.The ULFA has two factions and one is engaged in the peace process but the Baruah-led group has continued to wield the gun. It operates out of the soil of Myanmar and is active in 4-5 districts of upper Assam.Sarma said the state government had facilitated the rehabilitation of altogether 6,780 members of myriad insurgent groups in the last 18 months. “One thing is clear today in Assam that no community or people support violence and division among people. Peace has returned to Assam and the Northeast under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah,” Sarma said.The Chief Minister also said that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act was enforced in Assam in 1980 but it has now been lifted from 65 per cent of the areas upon the return of peace. He was hopeful it would be lifted from more areas in the near future.

    GUWAHATI: The Assam government on Monday offered Rs 1.5 lakh each to 318 surrendered militants for their rehabilitation.
    They are from groups such as the United Gorkha People’s Organisation, Tiwa Liberation Army, Kuki National Liberation Army, United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA).
    Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who distributed the cheques at a programme here, said these people had joined the mainstream by abjuring the path of violence. He requested them to utilise the money judiciously.
    Sarma said that although only 11 members of the DNLA had surrendered initially now the entire group was engaged in peace talks with the central and state governments. He was certain that a peace accord could be signed with the outfit soon.
    “Over the past 18 months, all groups, except the ULFA, joined the mainstream. Many had also signed peace accords,” Sarma, who donned the CM’s mantle on May 10 last year, said.
    “I hope someday, we will get the ULFA on board. I request ULFA military chief Paresh Baruah to join the peace process. It is not through blood but talks that we can rebuild Assam and march ahead on the road of development,” Sarma said.
    The ULFA has two factions and one is engaged in the peace process but the Baruah-led group has continued to wield the gun. It operates out of the soil of Myanmar and is active in 4-5 districts of upper Assam.
    Sarma said the state government had facilitated the rehabilitation of altogether 6,780 members of myriad insurgent groups in the last 18 months. “One thing is clear today in Assam that no community or people support violence and division among people. Peace has returned to Assam and the Northeast under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah,” Sarma said.
    The Chief Minister also said that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act was enforced in Assam in 1980 but it has now been lifted from 65 per cent of the areas upon the return of peace. He was hopeful it would be lifted from more areas in the near future.

  • Cyclone Sitrang: IMD issues red alert for four North-East states

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Under the influence of Cyclone Sitrang, a red alert indicating heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rainfall has been issued for Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura on Monday.

    Widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rain at isolated places is very likely to occur over Tripura on Monday and Tuesday, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday.

    “Under Sitrang influence, widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms/lightning/heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rain at isolated places is very likely to occur over Tripura on 24th & 25th October 2022,” IMD said in a press release. Earlier today, the West Bengal government was witnessed taking all the precautionery measures, including evacuation of people, and supply of relief material to shelters, to deal with possible devastation under the impact of Cyclone ‘Sitrang’.

    Civil defence teams are deployed at Bakkhali Sea Beach in South 24 Parganas. Tourists are not allowed to visit the beach and the shops have also been closed.

    West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday appealed to the people to “stay alert” as there is a high chance of rain on Tuesday due to cyclone Sitrang.

    “There is a high chance of rain on October 25. There is an appeal to the people to avoid going out unnecessarily or to the sea areas including the Sundarbans. The state govt has made arrangements,” said CM Mamata Banerjee.

    The cyclonic storm “Sitrang” pronounced as “Si-Trang” over the northwest and adjoining the central Bay of Bengal crossed the Bangladesh coast between Tinkona and Sandwip close to Barisal during 9:30 pm to 11:30 pm on Monday with a maximum sustained wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph, IMD said.

    “It lay centered at 11:30 pm on Sunday over coastal Bangladesh near latitude 23.70N and longitude 90.80E, about 40 km east of Dhaka, 50 km west-southwest of Agartala, and 120 km north-northeast of Barisal (Bangladesh),” IMD officials said.

    “The cyclone is very likely to continue to move north-northeastwards and weaken into a depression during next 6 hours and further into a well-marked low-pressure area during subsequent 6 hours,” it further said. 

    NEW DELHI: Under the influence of Cyclone Sitrang, a red alert indicating heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rainfall has been issued for Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura on Monday.

    Widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rain at isolated places is very likely to occur over Tripura on Monday and Tuesday, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday.

    “Under Sitrang influence, widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms/lightning/heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rain at isolated places is very likely to occur over Tripura on 24th & 25th October 2022,” IMD said in a press release. Earlier today, the West Bengal government was witnessed taking all the precautionery measures, including evacuation of people, and supply of relief material to shelters, to deal with possible devastation under the impact of Cyclone ‘Sitrang’.

    Civil defence teams are deployed at Bakkhali Sea Beach in South 24 Parganas. Tourists are not allowed to visit the beach and the shops have also been closed.

    West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday appealed to the people to “stay alert” as there is a high chance of rain on Tuesday due to cyclone Sitrang.

    “There is a high chance of rain on October 25. There is an appeal to the people to avoid going out unnecessarily or to the sea areas including the Sundarbans. The state govt has made arrangements,” said CM Mamata Banerjee.

    The cyclonic storm “Sitrang” pronounced as “Si-Trang” over the northwest and adjoining the central Bay of Bengal crossed the Bangladesh coast between Tinkona and Sandwip close to Barisal during 9:30 pm to 11:30 pm on Monday with a maximum sustained wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph, IMD said.

    “It lay centered at 11:30 pm on Sunday over coastal Bangladesh near latitude 23.70N and longitude 90.80E, about 40 km east of Dhaka, 50 km west-southwest of Agartala, and 120 km north-northeast of Barisal (Bangladesh),” IMD officials said.

    “The cyclone is very likely to continue to move north-northeastwards and weaken into a depression during next 6 hours and further into a well-marked low-pressure area during subsequent 6 hours,” it further said. 

  • Meghalaya says it will sort out border tiff with Assam

    By Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: Given its experience, the Meghalaya government has assured that it will try to address the concerns of border residents while moving ahead to resolve the state’s boundary disputes with Assam in the six areas of contention. 

    The signing of an MoU by the two states in March this year on the first six areas saw a section of border residents venting their ire on the streets and several organisations and political parties demanding its review. However, the Conrad K Sangma government held its ground by rejecting the demand.

    Both states had adopted the 50:50 template to solve the problem. Half of the disputed areas went to Meghalaya and half to Assam. Meghalaya Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Wednesday said the two states were committed to resolving this long-pending problem.

    “We will give priority to the consent and will of the people living in the border areas. It is not an easy task as a lot of factors are involved,” the minister said. The dispute in the remaining six areas falling under three districts on either side is considered complex. One of the areas – Langpih – witnessed several incidents of skirmishes in the past. Rymbui said the state government was preparing the groundwork for the boundary talks in the second phase.

    Both states have already formed three “regional committees” each. They will conduct joint visits to the disputed sites and meet the residents to examine the status of the dispute. They will submit their reports to respective governments based on the agreed yardsticks of historical facts, ethnicity, administrative convenience and contiguity of the land. 

    GUWAHATI: Given its experience, the Meghalaya government has assured that it will try to address the concerns of border residents while moving ahead to resolve the state’s boundary disputes with Assam in the six areas of contention. 

    The signing of an MoU by the two states in March this year on the first six areas saw a section of border residents venting their ire on the streets and several organisations and political parties demanding its review. However, the Conrad K Sangma government held its ground by rejecting the demand.

    Both states had adopted the 50:50 template to solve the problem. Half of the disputed areas went to Meghalaya and half to Assam. Meghalaya Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Wednesday said the two states were committed to resolving this long-pending problem.

    “We will give priority to the consent and will of the people living in the border areas. It is not an easy task as a lot of factors are involved,” the minister said. The dispute in the remaining six areas falling under three districts on either side is considered complex. One of the areas – Langpih – witnessed several incidents of skirmishes in the past. Rymbui said the state government was preparing the groundwork for the boundary talks in the second phase.

    Both states have already formed three “regional committees” each. They will conduct joint visits to the disputed sites and meet the residents to examine the status of the dispute. They will submit their reports to respective governments based on the agreed yardsticks of historical facts, ethnicity, administrative convenience and contiguity of the land.
     

  • Assam flood: New areas affected, the third wave of flood due to heavy rains

    By PTI

    GUWAHATI: Fresh areas have been inundated in Assam as rainfall continued to lash several parts of the state, an official bulletin said on Thursday.

    Though the number of districts impacted by urban flooding has increased to nine against five districts on Wednesday, the number of affected people has come down to 50,839 from 69,750 on Wednesday, the bulletin said.

    Lakhimpur district is the worst-hit with over 37,000 reeling under the impact of the natural calamity.

    The northeastern state is currently experiencing the third wave of flood due to heavy rain since Monday.

    The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) bulletin said as many as 199 villages under 20 revenue circles are currently affected by the flood.

    The Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level at Nematighat in Jorhat and Tezpur, it added.

    Two embankments — one each in Biswanath and Dibrugarh — have been damaged.

    Erosion has been reported from Biswanath, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Majuli, Goalpara and Tinsukia districts.

    The Regional Meteorological Centre, Guwahati, has forecast fairly widespread to scattered and isolated rainfall in several districts till Friday.

    GUWAHATI: Fresh areas have been inundated in Assam as rainfall continued to lash several parts of the state, an official bulletin said on Thursday.

    Though the number of districts impacted by urban flooding has increased to nine against five districts on Wednesday, the number of affected people has come down to 50,839 from 69,750 on Wednesday, the bulletin said.

    Lakhimpur district is the worst-hit with over 37,000 reeling under the impact of the natural calamity.

    The northeastern state is currently experiencing the third wave of flood due to heavy rain since Monday.

    The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) bulletin said as many as 199 villages under 20 revenue circles are currently affected by the flood.

    The Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level at Nematighat in Jorhat and Tezpur, it added.

    Two embankments — one each in Biswanath and Dibrugarh — have been damaged.

    Erosion has been reported from Biswanath, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Majuli, Goalpara and Tinsukia districts.

    The Regional Meteorological Centre, Guwahati, has forecast fairly widespread to scattered and isolated rainfall in several districts till Friday.

  • BJP aims 12 of 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam for 2024 polls: Himanta Biswa Sarma

    “We will not stop till the Lok Sabha polls. We want to see Narendra Modi as prime minister for the third time,” he added.

  • Assam boat capsize tragedy: Body of missing Circle Officer recovered

    By ANI

    DHUBRI: The body of the missing Circle Officer in Assam’s Dhubri boat incident was recovered on Sunday, 72 hours after the mishap.

    Gaurav Abhijit Dilip, Superintendent of Police of Dhubri district told ANI that, the recovered body has been identified as the missing Circle Officer Sanju Das.

    “The body was recovered by the search and rescue teams on Sunday morning,” Gaurav Abhijit Dilip said.

    A mechanised country boat carrying 29 passengers capsized in the Brahmaputra river after hitting a post of a bridge at Bhashanir in Assam’s Dhubri district along the Indo-Bangladesh border on September 29.

    Following the incident, the search and rescue teams of SDRF, BSF, and Police with the help of locals rescued 28 persons, but the Circle Officer of Dhubri went missing.

    A country-made boat carrying at least 50 people on board capsized in the Brahmaputra River in Assam’s Dhubri district on Thursday.

    DHUBRI: The body of the missing Circle Officer in Assam’s Dhubri boat incident was recovered on Sunday, 72 hours after the mishap.

    Gaurav Abhijit Dilip, Superintendent of Police of Dhubri district told ANI that, the recovered body has been identified as the missing Circle Officer Sanju Das.

    “The body was recovered by the search and rescue teams on Sunday morning,” Gaurav Abhijit Dilip said.

    A mechanised country boat carrying 29 passengers capsized in the Brahmaputra river after hitting a post of a bridge at Bhashanir in Assam’s Dhubri district along the Indo-Bangladesh border on September 29.

    Following the incident, the search and rescue teams of SDRF, BSF, and Police with the help of locals rescued 28 persons, but the Circle Officer of Dhubri went missing.

    A country-made boat carrying at least 50 people on board capsized in the Brahmaputra River in Assam’s Dhubri district on Thursday.

  • Demanding recognition of Sarna religion, tribals threaten stir in 5 states from Nov 30

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Thousands of tribals from Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam and different parts of West Bengal congregated in Kolkata on Friday, demanding recognition of the Sarna religion by the Centre.

    The tribals, who demonstrated under the banner of Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan (ASA), threatened to intensify their stir from November 30 if the Centre does not hold talks with them or fails to give reasons for denying the recognition.

    “Tribals who worship the nature are neither Hindus, nor Muslims nor Christians. Their population is more than Jains and Buddhists, but their choice of religion is not recognised,” ASA president Salkhan Murmu, a former BJP MP from Odisha, told PTI.

    “If the Centre fails to meet our demand by November 20, there will be ‘chakka jam’ in five states on November 30,” he said.

    The protest will affect 50 districts and 250 blocks in these five states, he claimed. Murmu said they would not go for the protest if the rights of the tribals under Article 25 of Constitution are ensured.

    Leaders of several tribal organisations from the Jungle Mahal region of West Bengal also took part in the demonstration at Rani Rashmoni Avenue in the heart of Kolkata. Their rally affected the traffic in the city, which is already in the festive mood ahead of Durga Puja.

    The demonstrators entered the city from Howrah, across the Hooghly river, creating congestion in large parts of central Kolkata amid the rush on the last working day before the Durga Puja holidays, police said.

    KOLKATA: Thousands of tribals from Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam and different parts of West Bengal congregated in Kolkata on Friday, demanding recognition of the Sarna religion by the Centre.

    The tribals, who demonstrated under the banner of Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan (ASA), threatened to intensify their stir from November 30 if the Centre does not hold talks with them or fails to give reasons for denying the recognition.

    “Tribals who worship the nature are neither Hindus, nor Muslims nor Christians. Their population is more than Jains and Buddhists, but their choice of religion is not recognised,” ASA president Salkhan Murmu, a former BJP MP from Odisha, told PTI.

    “If the Centre fails to meet our demand by November 20, there will be ‘chakka jam’ in five states on November 30,” he said.

    The protest will affect 50 districts and 250 blocks in these five states, he claimed. Murmu said they would not go for the protest if the rights of the tribals under Article 25 of Constitution are ensured.

    Leaders of several tribal organisations from the Jungle Mahal region of West Bengal also took part in the demonstration at Rani Rashmoni Avenue in the heart of Kolkata. Their rally affected the traffic in the city, which is already in the festive mood ahead of Durga Puja.

    The demonstrators entered the city from Howrah, across the Hooghly river, creating congestion in large parts of central Kolkata amid the rush on the last working day before the Durga Puja holidays, police said.