Man Dies in Fire, Sister Escapes with Minor Injuries in Tezpur Blaze.

*”A devastating fire in Assam’s Sonitpur district led to the tragic death of lawyer Bikash Sharma while his sister narrowly escaped with injuries. The inferno completely engulfed their home in Tezpur late at night, leaving the community in mourning as authorities continue investigating the cause.
Meanwhile, another massive fire broke out at an electronics showroom in Jorhat’s Old Balibat area, resulting in losses estimated at Rs 50 lakh. The showroom housed high-value electronic goods, all destroyed in the blaze, though the family residing upstairs was safely evacuated.”

To improve administrative efficiency, the Assam government reshuffles 20 IAS and ACS officers.

The Assam government has initiated a major administrative reshuffle, involving the transfer and reassignment of 20 IAS and ACS officers to new roles across the state. Notable appointments include Monuj Kumar Baruah as CEO of Zilla Parishad, Jorhat; Satish Chandra Thakuria as CEO of Zilla Parishad, Sivasagar; and Monuranjan Payeng as CEO of Zilla Parishad, Lakhimpur. The changes, which aim to boost administrative efficiency and enhance public service delivery, have been directed to take immediate effect.

Security Concerns Are Raised by a Suspicious Drone Discovered Near the India-Bangladesh Border.

Authorities in South Tripura recovered a suspected drone near the India-Bangladesh border, causing concerns of a potential security breach. Found 300 meters from the international fence, the drone is being investigated for its origin and purpose. Preliminary analysis indicates it may have crossed from Bangladesh, raising fears of smuggling or espionage. The BSF and local police are collaborating to trace its flight path and assess the threat.”

UCO Bank Staff Member Detained in Connection with Embezzlement Case in Dhubri.

The Assam Police arrested Shivshankar Prasad, a UCO Bank employee, on April 6 in Bihar for his involvement in a significant embezzlement case at the South Salmara branch in Dhubri. Prasad allegedly misappropriated Rs 8 lakh from customer deposits and Rs 26 lakh from the bank’s reserves. Upon his arrest, Rs 10 lakh in cash was recovered. Complaints from account holders prompted an internal review, leading to a formal complaint by the branch manager, Chiradeep Paul. Prasad has been brought back to Assam, and investigations continue to uncover the full extent of the embezzlement and recover the stolen funds.

A Large Blaze of fire Consumes an Electronics Store in Jorhat.

A devastating fire broke out in the LG electronics showroom in the Old Balibat area of Jorhat town on Sunday morning, causing an estimated loss of around Rs. 50 lakh. The fire, suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit, destroyed high-value electronic items like LED TVs, air conditioners, and refrigerators. The family living on the upper floor of the building was safely evacuated by firefighters. Four fire tenders were deployed, successfully containing the blaze and preventing it from spreading to nearby shops. A detailed investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire.

The Unexplained Death of a Woman Provokes Anger in Sivasagar.

Tensions have risen in the Ranghar Chariali Dhuliapara area of Sivasagar, Assam, following the death of Mousumi Sultana. Her family has accused her husband and mother-in-law of murdering her after repeated incidents of domestic violence. They allege the perpetrators staged her death as a road accident. Locals and her family are now demanding a comprehensive investigation to uncover the truth and ensure justice.

A Guwahati defense accountant is arrested by the CBI for taking a bribe of ₹43,000.

In Guwahati, Mrinmoy Ghosh, an accounts officer at the Controller of Defense Accounts, was apprehended by the CBI for allegedly soliciting a ₹2.72 lakh bribe to clear a pending bill. He was caught accepting ₹43,000, a partial payment of the bribe. Bikash Sarkar, who purportedly paid the bribe, was also taken into custody.
Meanwhile, in Bajali, Gaurav Shekhar Das, ACS, Assistant Commissioner, faced allegations of demanding ₹1,00,000 to facilitate a clay/earth-cutting business. Vigilance authorities caught him red-handed while he accepted ₹50,000.

Digboi youths claim that contracts for refinery expansion worth Rs. 740 crore contain irregularities.

“Unemployed youths in Digboi’s rural areas have raised concerns over alleged irregularities in awarding contracts for the Rs 740.20 crore Digboi Refinery Expansion Project in Assam’s Tinsukia district. Allegations include favoritism towards select parties, such as businessman Hemanta Agarwal, the rejection of local contractors, and the exclusive sourcing of minerals from Arunachal Pradesh. The allocation of 33% of civil work to the Unemployed Union of Digboi has also sparked questions about the group’s legitimacy. Locals and student bodies have called for urgent intervention to ensure transparency and fairness.”

Meghalaya’s Minority Tribes Establish RCDC and Reaffirm Call for Independent Regional Council.

On Saturday, minority tribal leaders in Meghalaya formed the Regional Council Demand Committee (RCDC) to strengthen the push for a regional council representing indigenous minority tribes. The RCDC, led by Dr. K.C. Boro (Chairman), Ananda Koch (General Secretary), and Promod Koch (Advisory Board Chairman), aims to work closely with the Meghalaya Indigenous Minority Tribals Forum (MIMTF), which has submitted several memoranda to authorities advocating for this demand. The RCDC emphasizes being a public body, free of political affiliations, and represents tribes such as the Hajong, Koch, Rabha, Boro-Kachari, Mann, and Karbi. Fifty-four members attended the meeting where the RCDC was officially formed.

In response to public outcry, Sikkim issues SOPs to regulate AI-generated e-challans.

The Sikkim Transport Department has introduced new SOPs to regulate AI-powered e-challans following widespread criticism over inaccuracies and unjustified fines. The updated system will now conduct multiple rounds of verification with the NIC database before issuing a challan for document-related violations. Vehicle owners will receive a prior alert and have a 10-day window to update their documents on the VAHAN portal. Additionally, any falsely generated e-challan will be canceled, and affected individuals will be compensated with double the penalty amount.