KazirangaWildlife Society has expressed deep anguish over the serial poaching of Rhinos in the KazirangaNational Park. The Society condemned in strong words the inability of the forest department to check the poaching of Rhinos in their natural adobe as well as the government’s indifference to any effective policy making to protect the state’s wildlife and their habitat.
In a Press Meet held on Saturday at the Guwahati Press Club, the members of KWS held the Chief Wildlife warden of the state responsible for the, plight of rare species. Since 2012 more than 150 Rhinos fell prey to the bullet of poachers. Most of the poaching being taken place in Kaziranga once known as the most well managed park. At the same time death incidents of elephants, another species protected under the scheduled-I category, has doubled which is another cause of concern.
Compared to the earlier years, incidents of killing of rhinos in Kaziranga came down after an Intelligence Cell was put into place. Conservation NGOS have always pointed out intelligent failure in curbing rhino poaching in Kazaringa National Park. The Cell, constituted vide Govt of Assam notification No. FRW. 6/2015/2 dtd. Dispur the 17th March, 2015, was sent to Kaziranga and was taken as a very timely and positive move by the department to thwart the challenges of poaching of the unicornis. This action proved beneficial as there was a lull in poaching activities once the cell started operating .The people of the state also heaved a sigh of relief as no poaching was reported during those months--from May to July. Sadly, the Cell was called back after a few months. The moment the Cell was withdrawn from KNP, the menace of poaching showed its ugly head once again. It is noteworthy to mention that in the Intelligence Cell’s report many things came to the fore--most surprisingly-- involvement of a few forest personnel in poaching activities.
The KWS therefore strongly demand the government to reinstate the Intelligence Cell in Kaziranga with immediate effect. The KWS secretary Mubina Akhtar maintained that the Chief Minister who is also the Chairman of the StateWildlife Advisory Board has already ordered to reinstate the Cell but for reasons best known to the department the order is yet to be implemented.
The KWS also appeals to the government to conclude all formalities at once in raising a well equipped rhino protection force. Taking a dig at the selection procedure of forest personnel, especially frontline staff, the Society maintained that the selection procedure should be free from all kind of political influence for the greater sake of conservation of state’s wildlife.
The Society also appeals to the forest department to introduce a toll free number as ‘early warning system’ or ‘poaching alert’ and carry out massive awareness campaigns in fringe areas of sanctuaries and National Parks with the help of wildlife NGO’s.
The NGO lashed out at all political parties for playing politics even when there is a crisis like indiscriminate poaching of rhinos or clearing of forests in the State and demanded each political to give priority to a green agenda in their manifestos
A major political controversy has erupted around Himanta Biswa Sarma after the Congress party levelled serious allegations regarding the alleged accumulation of vast wealth abroad by his family, particularly involving his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma.
According to a report by The Wire, Congress leader Pawan Khera claimed that assets worth nearly ₹52,000 crore have been stashed overseas, particularly in the United States, through a company allegedly linked to the Chief Minister’s family.
At a press conference in New Delhi, Khera alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma holds multiple foreign passports and questioned the source of such large-scale wealth. He further demanded a probe and even called...
Guwahati, April 3, 2026: The Moung-Dun-Chun-Kham State Demand Committee and the Moung-Dun-Chun-Kham People’s Party on Friday held a press conference at the Dispur Press Club, reiterating their demand for permanent political rights and autonomy for the Tai-Ahom community in Assam.
Addressing the media, representatives of the organisations stated that despite the Tai-Ahom community’s historical and demographic significance, successive governments have failed to provide meaningful constitutional safeguards.
“At present, almost all indigenous communities of Assam… have been raising demands for autonomy or self-determination under the Indian Constitution,” the press release noted,...
A three-day workshop titled “Youth Leaders for Rivers: Learning Workshop” concluded today at the Cachar Club Conference Hall, bringing together young leaders from across the region to collaborate on river governance, water rights and community resilience.
Organized by the North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS) with support from the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the event was held from March 24 to 26 under the Youth Basin Ambassadors (YBA) initiative. It aimed to connect youth working across the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna Basin and deepen their understanding of river systems, governance challenges and community-driven solutions.
Participants included...
Tinsukia, March 22: Suspected militants of the banned outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) (ULFA-I) launched a pre-dawn attack on an Assam Police commando camp in the Jagun area of Tinsukia district, leaving at least four security personnel injured.
According to reports, the militants attacked the camp around 2 a.m., allegedly lobbing several grenades and opening fire with automatic weapons. Security forces retaliated, leading to an exchange of fire that lasted for several minutes before the attackers fled the scene. The injured personnel were later shifted to a hospital in Dibrugarh for treatment.
Following the attack, Army and police units launched a joint...
WWF-India, in collaboration with Samagra Shiksha Assam, felicitated five top-performing schools under the ‘Mission Prakriti’ programme for 2025–26 at a ceremony in Guwahati.
The initiative promotes environmental awareness among students through themes like biodiversity, water, waste, food, and energy. In Assam, the programme covers over 4,700 schools across all districts.
The award-winning schools include Natun Fatasil Town HS (Kamrup Metro), Sakai Khangia High School (Jorhat), Bishnu Jyoti MES (Sonitpur), PM Shri Jamira HS School (Hailakandi), and PM Shri Gossaigaon Girls HS School (Kokrajhar). Tinsukia district was also recognised as the best-performing district.
Officials...
Jorhat: Tirtha Prasad Saikia, Director of the North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS), an indigenous civil society organisation based in Jorhat, Assam, has been appointed as the Constituency Focal Point for the People Affected by Conflict and Disaster Constituency of the Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism (APRCEM).
APRCEM is a regional civil society platform that brings together organisations across Asia and the Pacific to engage with intergovernmental processes on sustainable development, particularly the implementation and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Through this organisational role,...
SHILLONG, Mar 11: The Meghalaya government has postponed the elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) that were scheduled to be held on April 10, 2026, following violent clashes in West Garo Hills that left two people dead.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced the decision on Wednesday, saying the state government reviewed the prevailing law-and-order situation in the Garo Hills region before deciding to defer the polls.
The unrest erupted during the nomination process in Chibinang in West Garo Hills, where clashes broke out between groups supporting and opposing the participation of non-tribal candidates in the GHADC elections. Two persons were killed...
The Meghalaya High Court has set aside a controversial notification that made possession of a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate mandatory for candidates contesting the upcoming elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
Delivering the judgment on March 10, Justice H. S. Thangkhiew ruled that the February 17, 2026 notification issued by the GHADC Executive Committee lacked legal authority and did not follow the procedure required under the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951.
The court observed that the notification effectively barred non-tribal voters and candidates from participating in the council elections...
TURA, Meghalaya – March 11, 2026: Tensions surrounding the upcoming elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), scheduled for April 10, have triggered violent clashes in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, leaving two people dead and several others injured. The unrest has also resulted in widespread vandalism and arson in several areas of the district.
The tensions stem from a controversial notification requiring candidates contesting the council elections to possess valid Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate documentation. The rule has effectively prevented many non-tribal residents—particularly Bengali-speaking Muslims living in the plains belt areas such as...
North East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS), a grassroots development organisation based in Jorhat working with people’s struggles and community development initiatives, observed International Women’s Day at Chumoni Chapori village under the Jhanjimukh area in Jorhat district on Sunday, bringing together local women, community leaders and youth to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women in society.
The programme was organized with the participation of women from riverine communities who shared their experiences, challenges and aspirations for greater social and economic empowerment. The event focused on raising awareness about women’s rights, gender equality and...
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