A group of teachers objects to NEHU’s intention to move the EC meeting from Shillong.

Faculty members of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) have strongly opposed the decision to hold the university’s 193rd Executive Council (EC) meeting in New Delhi on November 14, describing it as a “wasteful and regressive move” that violates ministry directives and previous agreements. The NEHU Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) criticized Vice-Chancellor Prof. P.S. Shukla, who has been absent from the Shillong campus for nearly a year amid protests and allegations of mismanagement, for attempting to preside over the meeting despite opposition and prior understandings with the Ministry of Education. The association also condemned the financial burden of holding the meeting outside the campus during austerity and cited a Ministry directive instructing central universities to conduct statutory meetings within their campuses for transparency. NEHUTA urged the administration not to squander limited resources and reaffirmed its commitment to safeguard faculty and university interests.​

Three NIT Silchar students perish at the Dima Hasao waterfall in Assam.

Three students from the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Silchar, drowned at the Bulchol (Hmunthajao) waterfall in Assam’s Dima Hasao district on Saturday afternoon. The victims were identified as Sauhard Rai (20) and Sarbavartika Singh (20), both from Uttar Pradesh, and Radhika (19) from Bihar. According to the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), the students were part of a group visiting the picturesque but remote waterfall near Bolsom Bagan in Harangajao when the mishap occurred. Rescue operations were delayed due to poor mobile connectivity and difficult terrain. Despite medical teams on standby, all three students were declared dead after being pulled from the water. Authorities expressed deep sorrow and urged caution at waterfalls and natural sites, especially during the post-monsoon period when strong currents pose serious risks. This tragic event highlights the need for greater safety awareness at remote tourist locations.

Encroachers are removed from 1,000 bighas of Dahikata restricted forest land by the Assam eviction effort.

Authorities in Goalpara district began a large-scale eviction drive on November 9, 2025, targeting over 1,140 bighas (approximately 376 acres) of encroached land in the Dahikata Reserved Forest. The operation involved more than 900 personnel including police, paramilitary forces, forest guards, and over 20 excavators. Around 700 families, mostly non-tribal, have been residing illegally on this forest land and have been asked to vacate, with many already doing so voluntarily. The eviction is part of Assam government’s ongoing campaign to reclaim forest land and prevent illegal settlements, aiming to restore ecological balance and strengthen protected forest boundaries under the Assam Forest Department’s conservation plan. Despite some resistance, the administration maintained control, and the eviction follows directives from the Gauhati High Court as reaffirmed by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The drive highlights the state’s zero-tolerance policy on encroachment and forms part of broader efforts to reclaim over 29 lakh bighas of encroached land across Assam.​

Starting on November 26, Arunachal Pradesh will have a three-day “Namdapha Butterfly Festival.”

The 8th Namdapha Butterfly Festival will be held from November 26 to 28, 2025, at Khachang village in Miao, Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district. Organised by the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in collaboration with local community groups such as the Khachang-Mattungkhim Youth Forum, the festival celebrates the region’s extraordinary biodiversity while promoting eco-tourism and conservation awareness. The event serves as a gathering for nature enthusiasts, researchers, and local communities, fostering efforts to protect the fragile ecosystem of Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve (NNP&TR), one of the world’s richest biodiversity hotspots.

Namdapha hosts over 500 butterfly species, including spectacular ones such as the Kaiser-i-Hind, Blue Mormon, Peacock Pansy, Zig-zag Flat, and Yellow Veined Lancer. The festival highlights the park’s ecological significance and promotes grassroots involvement in conservation through activities like guided forest trails, educational exhibitions, biodiversity surveys, and cultural showcases of local Singpho and Tangsa traditions.

Entry is free for local participants to encourage community engagement, making the festival a vibrant platform where science, culture, and conservation unite to preserve Arunachal Pradesh’s natural heritage and support sustainable eco-tourism.​

Assam Rifles Commemorates 150 Years of ‘Vande Mataram’ Across Cachar, Jiribam, Tamenglong and Noney Districts

Assam Rifles commemorated 150 years of the national song “Vande Mataram” with mass singing events across Cachar, Jiribam, Tamenglong, and Noney districts. Organized under the Srikona Battalion, the celebration witnessed participation of over 1,500 citizens at NIT Silchar, KV Masimpur, and various government schools, promoting unity, patriotism, and cultural pride across the region.

In relation to the Zubeen Garg justice protests, Victor Das was taken for an NSA hearing.

Victor Das, an activist arrested in connection with the violent protests demanding justice for the late music legend Zubeen Garg, was brought from Central Jail on November 8 for a hearing under the National Security Act (NSA). He faces stringent NSA charges for allegedly inciting unrest during the demonstrations. Das denied the allegations, calling the case a “conspiracy” against him, and maintained his innocence while speaking to the media. His hearing was scheduled for later that day.

Earlier, on September 26, Assam Police re-arrested Victor Das along with music composer Ajoy Phukan, both initially taken into custody for allegedly provoking protests that turned violent near Zubeen Garg’s manager’s residence. After being granted bail following their first court appearance, both were rearrested in a separate case linked to the same protests. Ajoy Phukan contested the charges, alleging police excesses and emphasizing that the protests were peaceful efforts seeking justice for Zubeen Garg. Authorities, however, stated the arrests were based on credible evidence of incitement and public disorder

In Morikalong, Nagaon, a former caretaker attacked and stole from a retired government officer and his wife in Assam.

A retired education department employee, Harendra Nath Bora, and his wife, Dipti Bora, were brutally attacked and robbed inside their home in Morikalong, near Nagaon town. The assault was carried out by their former caretaker, Prabhat Hazarika, who fled the scene with cash and valuables. Both victims sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment in stable condition. Local residents expressed shock and outrage, portraying the couple as humble and respected members of the community. Police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and launched a manhunt to arrest the accused while investigations continue into the violent robbery

To investigate glacier changes in the Arunachal Himalaya, the 4th Khangri Glacier Expedition was started.

The Khangri Glacier Expedition, led by Dr. Parmanand Sharma, Scientist G and a leading Indian glaciologist, brings together researchers from CESHS, NCPOR, Nagaland University, and NERIST to study the largely unexplored glaciers of Arunachal Pradesh. Director of CESHS, Tage Tage, noted that the region’s glaciers, spread across the Manas, Subansiri, Kameng, and Dibang basins and covering about 223 sq km, remain among the least studied in the Indian cryosphere. The mission aims to assess glacier mass balance, monitor responses to climate change, and evaluate glacial lake hazards such as potential GLOF events. The findings are expected to deepen understanding of the climate–cryosphere–hydrology relationship and support sustainable water management in Northeast India.

Explosives found in Udalguri; former ULFA (I) cadre detained in Guwahati, Assam

In a significant operation, Udalguri Police apprehended former ULFA (I) militant Bijay Asom alias Papu Koch from Sonapur near Guwahati on November 3, 2025. The arrest resulted in the recovery of explosives and ammunition, highlighting a major success in the district’s anti-insurgency efforts. The initial investigation began after Tangla Police registered a case on inputs regarding a plan to form a new militant group called the ‘Revolutionary Front of Greater Assam.’

Earlier arrests related to this case included Rajiv Deka, from whose house a grenade was recovered, and three others detained for alleged involvement. SSP Padmanabh Baruah stated that Bijay Asom, who joined ULFA (I) in 2012 and was trained abroad, was linked to a 2019 grenade blast near Guwahati’s City Center Mall, investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Following his confession, a search in the Dimachanga forest area led to the recovery of two live grenades, 55 rounds of ammunition, and a detonator.

Police officials affirmed that surveillance and drives to seize illegal arms will be intensified in Udalguri to dismantle militant networks and prevent future threats.​

Swahid Kanaklata Barua State University’s foundation stone will be laid by FM Nirmala Sitharaman in Assam.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will lay the foundation stone for Swahid Kanaklata Barua State University at Gohpur, Assam, on November 8, 2025. This university is India’s first Technology-based Vocational Education and Training (T-VET) institution, with a project cost of Rs 415 crore aimed at creating a skilled, future-ready generation in advanced fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Drone Technology, and Quantum Computing.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma flagged off 270 vehicles carrying soil (“Amrit Kalash”) collected from every village and municipal ward across Assam during the Amrit Kalash Yatra as part of the Bhumi Pujan ceremony. The university will be built over 731 bighas of land at Bholaguri Tea Estate and is described as one of Assam’s most ambitious projects, exceeding even Tezpur University’s land area.

The university is set to offer courses in emerging disciplines including AI, Machine Learning, and Blockchain. Plans are underway for academic collaborations with reputed international institutions. Professor Parameswar Iyer of IIT Guwahati has been appointed mentor to oversee its academic and institutional framework. Financial and rehabilitation provisions have been made for workers at Bholaguri Tea Estate. This initiative is part of Assam’s broader push towards modern, skill-driven education and economic growth.​