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 The moment the Cell was withdrawn from KNP, the menace of poaching showed its ugly head once again.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
On 28th August 2025, Panbazar Higher Secondary School in Guwahati hosted an impactful Awareness Programme focused on mental health and drug abuse among teenage children. The event saw active participation from 60 students of Classes VI to XII, 11 school teachers, and a delegation of 15 Rotarians, demonstrating strong community collaboration.
The session was led by expert resource persons Mr. Birendra Kr. Boxla and Mr. Richard Johnson Claridge from Snehalaya and Sita Centre, who addressed critical issues such as mental health challenges, peer pressure, and substance abuse dangers. They emphasized the importance of early intervention, open dialogue, and robust community support to help...
A new report by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has laid bare a disturbing picture of road safety in Assam. In the past five years alone, the state witnessed over 36,800 accidents and the loss of more than 15,000 lives—a toll higher than in any other North-eastern state.
The year-wise data shows little sign of relief. In 2019, Assam recorded 8,350 mishaps with 3,208 deaths. Though the pandemic year 2020 saw fewer vehicles on the road, it still registered 6,595 crashes and 2,629 fatalities. The following years saw the numbers climb back, and by 2023, the state reached 7,421 accidents and 3,296 deaths, marking a 10% jump in fatalities compared to 2022.
Officials say...
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Following eviction drives by the Assam government to reclaim encroached lands, Naga activists have...
A fierce political confrontation unfolded at Rajiv Bhawan, the Congress headquarters in Guwahati, as a large group of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, workers, and supporters staged a provocative protest, allegedly targeting Congress leaders and their banners with violence. The incident marks a significant escalation in political tensions between Assam’s main rival parties ahead of the 2026 elections.
BJP agitators broke barricades set up by police and tore down Congress banners and posters displayed outside Rajiv Bhawan. The banners included images of key Congress figures such as state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, opposition leader Debabrata Saikia, and Assam Pradesh Mahila...
Guwahati: The Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) has once again landed in controversy, this time over allegations of a newborn baby being swapped. The family of Priyanka Sharma, a woman from Dhupdhara in Goalpara district, has accused hospital staff of replacing their healthy baby with another infant.
According to the family, Priyanka was advised a cesarean delivery but ultimately gave birth through normal delivery. After the birth, the family claimed they saw the baby, who appeared healthy. However, soon after, neither the mother nor other relatives were allowed to see the newborn. When the family inquired, doctors assured them that the child was in good health.
Shock came...
Mizoram has reaffirmed its stand on the 1875 notification as the only legitimate boundary with Assam, rejecting the 1933 Survey of India map cited by Assam. Home Minister K. Sapdanga told the Assembly that the colonial-era demarcation, drawn after consultation with local chiefs, remains binding.
Talks between the two states have stretched across decades, with the last round held in Guwahati in April. The next meeting is to take place in Aizawl, though no date has been fixed. Mizoram has set up a study team to compile archival records to back its claim.
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In a bid to ease tensions along the Assam–Arunachal boundary, senior officials from both states held a joint meeting at Narayanpur in Assam’s Lakhimpur district on Thursday, adopting a series of measures to improve coordination and maintain peace.
The meeting was attended by officials from Assam’s Lakhimpur and Biswanath districts and Arunachal’s Papum Pare district. Both sides agreed to stop all new construction and encroachment until the final demarcation of the interstate boundary is completed. To ensure smoother communication, the states will appoint nodal officers as official points of contact, while a dedicated WhatsApp group will be created to allow quick information-sharing among...
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The report placed Assam 26th in health and well-being, 25th in education, and 23rd in economic development. On gender equality and zero hunger, the state was positioned at 25th and 22nd respectively.
The poor performance has raised concern over the state’s planning and budgetary priorities, despite official claims of inclusive growth. Experts have pointed out that school enrolment, institutional health services and poverty reduction continue to remain below the national average.
NITI Aayog’s...
Guwahati, August 23: The Rotary Club of Guwahati, in collaboration with the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Ltd. (NERAMAC), organized a major plantation and sapling distribution initiative this week.
On Tuesday, August 21, a total of 3,000 medicinal and fruit-bearing saplings were distributed among local villagers of Bijoynagar and adjoining areas at the premises of 28 Nahira Primary School and Kongdang Primary School. The program witnessed enthusiastic participation from villagers, teachers, Rotarians, and NERAMAC officials.
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The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a global media safety and rights organization, has strongly condemned the misuse of the “PRESS” symbol by armed combatants in conflict zones such as Syria and Gaza. The PEC expressed deep concern over incidents where individuals posing as journalists have used the emblem as a shield for violent activities.
In southern Syria, Islamist fighters were seen wearing jackets marked “PRESS” while vandalizing a Druze household in Suwayda, as shown in a widely circulated video on social media. While PEC cannot independently verify the authenticity of the video, it emphasizes that under no circumstances should the press emblem be used as cover for armed combatants...
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