Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that 24 foreign nationals, who had entered India illegally, were apprehended from various homestays across the state. The arrests followed tip-offs, with the CM emphasising stringent action against illegal immigrants while assuring vigilance by Assam Police.
Families of the 19 victims of the Kolkata Durga Puja stampede are grappling with immense grief, unable to partake in the festivities. Many recount the tragic night, highlighting alleged lapses in crowd control and inadequate police presence at the Chorbagan pandal. Survivors share harrowing experiences of losing loved ones in the crush.
Assam police have seized 27.3 kg of opium valued at approximately Rs 2 crore in Kokrajhar district, leading to one arrest. The drugs were found in specially constructed compartments within a vehicle. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma praised the police for their successful operation.
Assam police's Special Task Force arrested one person and seized 30,000 banned Yaba tablets, valued at Rs 7.5 crore, in Kamrup district. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the successful operation against the highly addictive drug.
Assam Police have seized Yaba tablets valued at Rs 57.5 crore and arrested two individuals in Cachar district. The seizure involved 2.3 lakh tablets found in a truck's secret chamber, as announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday.
Trinamool Congress leader Swarup Biswas, brother of former West Bengal Sports minister Aroop Biswas, has been remanded to police custody in Kolkata. He was arrested in connection with an alleged extortion racket operating in the Tollygunge film and television industry, facing charges of sexual harassment, extortion, and attempt to murder.
Assam Police's Special Task Force (STF) seized Yaba tablets worth Rs 10 crore and arrested one person in Kamrup district. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the bust, highlighting the state's commitment to combating drug menace as part of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.
Tanmay Baloda's exceptional 10-wicket match haul has put India in a commanding position against Australia in their second Youth Test in Ahmedabad. Baloda followed his first innings 6/32 with 4/26 in the second, leaving Australia U-19 trailing by 55 runs. Half-centuries from Yashbardhan Chauhan and Abhipray Biswas also contributed to India's strong first innings total.
Assam Police have seized drugs worth Rs 13 crore and arrested five individuals in two separate operations in Guwahati and Nagaon. This comes as part of a sustained anti-drug campaign in the state, which has seen seizures totalling Rs 125.05 crore in the last two weeks.
Former West Bengal sports minister Aroop Biswas has been summoned by police in connection with a case related to chaos at a Lionel Messi event at Salt Lake Stadium last year. The summons follows an FIR lodged by event organiser Shatadru Dutta, accusing Biswas of black-marketing tickets, extortion, and cheating.
'It's a bit uncertain. Let's see what happens. But he is the top man of Assam, and since my politics is in Assam, I thought it's best to seek his guidance before I take any decision.'
Indian ace boxer Lovlina Borgohain, after facing disappointment at the 2024 Olympics, rediscovered her passion for boxing, leading to a gold medal victory at the recent Asian Games in Japan. She aims for direct Olympic qualification through the World Championships and hopes to upgrade her Olympic bronze to gold.
Ashutosh Ranka, co-convenor of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), and his supporters were reportedly detained by Assam Police in Guwahati ahead of a planned volunteers' meet-up. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke claimed the detention was to prevent the meeting, while Ranka alleged Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was afraid of the party exposing local issues.
Boxer Lovlina Borgohain's parents expressed immense joy and pride after their daughter clinched a gold medal at the Asian Games. They highlighted her hard work and dedication, noting her long-standing goal to upgrade her previous silver to gold. The family also shared Lovlina's future aspirations, including an Olympic gold and upcoming world championships.
Himanta Biswa Sarma has been elected as the leader of the BJP-led NDA in the Assam assembly, paving the way for his second consecutive term as chief minister. The NDA secured a two-thirds majority in the recent assembly polls, with the BJP winning 82 seats and its allies AGP and BPF securing 10 seats each.
'I was always open to those who wanted to teach me the intricacies of singing.' 'Naushad Saab would tell me which notes to stress during singing.' 'Anil Biswas would tell me where to breathe in and breathe out while singing and where to pause.'
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that only followers of 'Sanatan Dharma' would be permitted to touch Durga idols during immersion in the Hooghly river, citing religious traditions. He also reviewed extensive security and safety arrangements for the immersion process, including NDRF involvement and precautions for spectators at Taki, following a recent stampede incident.
Maharashtra's Raghav Mahajan and West Bengal's Souswarya Banerjee advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of the U-15 boys' singles at the second National Ranking Table Tennis Championships in Panchkula on Friday. Several other young talents also secured victories in both boys' and girls' U-15 categories, often after hard-fought five-game matches.
A man identified as Gopal Halder was beaten to death by locals in Sonarpur, West Bengal, after he and two accomplices allegedly broke into a house with a firearm. Halder was reportedly an accused in the homeowner's son's murder case from several years ago. Police are investigating the incident.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the North East Seva Innovation Challenge (NESFIC), envisioning the region as India's 'living laboratory' for technology and problem-solving. The initiative aims to empower young innovators to address real-world challenges faced by government, industries, and citizens, with a focus on practical implementation and government procurement.
Assam Police, acting on central agency inputs, arrested two individuals, including a retired army jawan, for allegedly sharing security-related information with Pakistan. The arrests followed an operation by the Special Task Force, which also recovered incriminating evidence. Preliminary investigations suggest the accused were honey-trapped and involved in passing secret information to a Pakistani intelligence operative.
Police recovered a mobile phone, SIM cards and documents described as incriminating from his possession.
'Nana Patekar's dedication and passion were unmatchable. I remember there was a dinner sequence and the chicken had gone stale. He ate the stale chicken instead of wasting time waiting for fresh food.'
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma received a signed Lionel Messi jersey and expressed his excitement on social media.
What began as a war of words has now turned into a sharp political and legal confrontation, with both sides digging in.
The Gauhati High Court has granted bail to singer Amrit Prabha Mahanta, an accused in the Zubeen Garg death case, against a bond of Rs 50,000. Special Public Prosecutor Ziaul Kamar stated that the grounds for bail are not yet known, but the court deemed it a fit case. The prosecution, which presented arguments for several days, cannot challenge the order but will inform the government. Mahanta is currently lodged in Haflong jail, while other accused are in Tamulpur jail. The case involves the mysterious death of singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore last year, with conflicting findings from Singapore Police and Assam authorities, who maintain it was a murder.
Himanta Biswa Sarma's return as Assam's Chief Minister underscores the BJP's increasing dominance in the northeast, marked by both development and divisive policies.
Ariv Dutta of West Bengal and Saksya Santosh of Karnataka secured the Under-13 boys' and girls' titles, respectively, at the second National Ranking Table Tennis Championships held in Panchkula on Thursday. Rajvardhan Tiwari and Phalgun Gupta also won the U-11 boys' and girls' titles. The championships featured intense matches across various age categories, highlighting emerging talent in Indian table tennis.
Nana Patekar's anger and intensity were as real in life as they were in his performances. He was as brutally honest as the characters he portrayed.
'Ma would fiddle with the radio's knob until the static gave way to music; then, the voice would come on. I would be half-asleep still, understanding little of the Sanskrit words I heard but the words in chants, interspersed with songs, cast a spell. I still remember the goosebumps I felt as the epic tale of Goddess Durga's birth and battles unfolded,' says Radha Roy Biswas.
Netas are embracing the viral '80s social media trend, sharing AI-generated images and real throwback photos.
Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn in as the chief minister of Assam for a second consecutive term, along with four other ministers, marking the formation of the third successive NDA government in the state.
'The next five years are crucial because Assam, West Bengal and Bihar are either governed by or politically aligned with the BJP.' 'This gives us a strong platform to take decisive steps to secure our borders.'
The BJP knows that there is no leader in its ranks who can match Modi's popularity or have his cult following, and what awaits is a return to the Vajpayee numbers, when allies called the shots, argues Saisuresh Sivaswamy.
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka has reiterated the outfit's demand for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, alleging the exclusion of 13 crore names from electoral rolls and questioning the BJP's defence of Kumar. The CJP plans a nationwide protest starting October 2, vowing not to back down until Kumar resigns, and has launched the 'Election Commission Thik Karo' campaign. Ranka also accused the CEC of fraudulently redrawing constituencies in Assam to benefit the ruling party.
A career break does not erase the experience that came before it. But the labour market can act as though it does. The more women invest in building professional careers, the more costly an interruption can become. How, then, do we enable women to make a comeback? Whose responsibility is it? asks Radha Roy Biswas.
No shade or genre was a roadblock for Nana Patekar. In fact, some of his movies only age well because we associate them with his terrific presence.
'This accident was waiting to happen. It could have been averted if the authorities had acted in time.'
Chinese President Xi Jinping notably skipped a gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for BRICS leaders and other dignitaries, with sources suggesting he returned to his hotel to rest. Meanwhile, a grand cultural performance, 'BRICS Symphony - One Rhythm, Many Cultures', featuring artistes from member countries, was a highlight of the evening.
'The Bard of the Brahmaputra's voice carried Assam's spirit, stories and dreams far beyond its shores.'