Added on State

NTPC signs two healthcare agreements in Assam to help TB patients and establish a burn ICU.

NTPC Bongaigaon has signed two Memorandums of Agreement (MoAs) with the Kokrajhar district administration as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts to strengthen public healthcare in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). The first MoA entails the establishment of a modern six-bed burn Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Kokrajhar Medical College and Hospital (KMCH), equipped with advanced life-support systems, infection-control facilities, and specialised medical equipment. This project, costing Rs 1.47 crore, is expected to be completed within a year and will enhance KMCH’s capability to manage critical burn cases and provide tertiary care to patients from Kokrajhar and surrounding districts.

The second MoA, valued at Rs 13.44 lakh, focuses on providing nutritional support to 200 registered tuberculosis (TB) patients for six months under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan. Patients enrolled will receive monthly food and protein supplements to aid recovery and ensure treatment adherence. These initiatives reflect NTPC’s commitment to improving community health infrastructure and supporting government health missions in the region through meaningful CSR interventions.​

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During a joint operation, heroin valued at Rs. 4.65 crore was found in Assam.

Security forces in Assam achieved a major breakthrough with the seizure of heroin worth Rs 4.65 crore near Jhujang Pahar in Cachar district during a joint operation by Assam Rifles and Assam Police. Acting on specific intelligence, they recovered the heroin concealed inside 50 soap cases. This was the second major drug seizure in the district within 48 hours. On November 9, another joint operation led to the seizure of methamphetamine tablets, known as ‘Yaba,’ valued at Rs 6 crore near Silchar, resulting in one person’s arrest.

These coordinated operations mark significant steps in disrupting drug trafficking networks using Assam as a transit corridor. Assam Rifles’ intelligence-driven actions continue to be crucial in curbing the illicit drug trade throughout the Northeast. The region’s long, porous border with Myanmar, especially in neighboring states like Mizoram and Manipur, remains a key route for heroin and methamphetamine smuggling into mainland India, posing persistent enforcement challenges for security agencies.​

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Added on Regional

In Tripura’s Matabari tourism project, Scindia advocates for international standards.

Tripura is embarking on a substantial tourism development push with more than Rs 500 crore allocated for seven major projects aimed at boosting travel and sustainable development in the state. These projects include adventure and eco-tourism parks, a replica of the 51 Shakti Peethas, infrastructure upgrades at cultural and historical sites like Chabimura and Unakoti, and waterfront development in Amarpur. There is also an entrepreneurship scheme to empower local tourism stakeholders.

The state has witnessed a sharp increase in tourist arrivals, with domestic visitors rising by over 64% and foreign tourists by 36% recently, reflecting growing confidence in Tripura as a scenic and safe destination. Tripura leverages its rich heritage, large forest coverage, and improved connectivity through the second-largest airport in the Northeast to promote cultural, spiritual, and eco-tourism.

The government aims to position Tripura as a premier tourism hub by adopting global standards, learning from successful models like Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and by building local capacity in guiding, heritage management, and sustainable tourism practices. These efforts align with the central government’s vision under PM Narendra Modi to develop every Indian state as a global tourism destination.

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Added on Regional

NIA raids Unakoti, Tripura, in connection with a document forgery case.

“An NIA team, in coordination with the Tripura Police, conducted raids at several locations across Unakoti district on Tuesday in connection with its investigation into a document forgery scam, a senior officer said. According to Superintendent of Police (Police Control) Rajdeep Deb, the Ahmedabad branch of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had earlier informed the Tripura Police about the operation. ‘The NIA team carried out raids in Unakoti district today, but we are not aware of further details,’ Deb said.

Sources from the intelligence wing of the state police revealed that the raids were aimed at tracing two individuals — Paritosh Shil (45), a resident of Bhagyapur area under the Kailashahar Police Station limits, and Ranu Pal (42), residing in the Nidevi area under the jurisdiction of the Kumarghat Police Station. Speaking to local reporters, Shil confirmed that NIA officials arrived at his residence around 4 am. ‘They searched my house, checked several documents, and seized my mobile phone and a bank passbook. They asked me to appear at the NIA’s Ahmedabad office on November 20,’ he said. Shil also claimed that the officers showed him a photograph of a person and asked if he knew the individual. ‘I have no idea about the person concerned,’ he said.

According to the sources, the two individuals are suspected of being involved in fabricating fake documents. However, the NIA has not yet issued an official statement regarding the outcome of the raid or scope of the investigation.”​

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Added on State

Five people were detained in Assam for posting “inflammatory” messages about the Delhi explosion.

“Five people have been arrested in Assam for allegedly spreading ‘offensive and inflammatory’ content online in connection with the recent Delhi blast, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Wednesday.

He said the state police would continue to act ‘swiftly and firmly against anyone misusing social media to spread hatred or glorify terror’…. ‘In connection with the recent Delhi blast, Assam Police has arrested five individuals for spreading offensive and inflammatory content online,’ the chief minister posted on X.

The arrested persons are Mattiur Rahman from Darrang, Hassam Ali from Goalpara, Abdul Latif from Chirang, Wajhul Kamal from Kamrup and Nur Amin Ahmed from Bongaigaon, Sarma said….

A retired school principal was detained on Tuesday in Assam’s Cachar district for allegedly posting objectionable comments on social media to ‘politicise’ the Delhi blast.

A high-intensity explosion ripped through a slow-moving car at a traffic signal near the Red Fort metro station in Delhi on Monday evening, killing 12 people and injuring several others.”​

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Added on International

Upgrading a Bangladeshi airbase close to India’s “Chicken’s Neck” in defiance of the May 26 pledge

“Bangladesh’s defence forces stand in violation of their own promise to not use the Lalmonirhat airfield for “military purposes”, a commitment that was made by the then Brigadier General Nazim-ud-Daula in a press conference on May 26, 2025. The brigadier was promoted to major general rank on September 1 and has since been serving as General Officer Commanding (GOC), 33rd Infantry Division and Area Commander, Comilla.

Replying to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha on August 8, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said categorically that ‘The Government of India has noted reports concerning the Lalmonirhat airbase in Bangladesh’.

The minister went on to state that it also ‘noted a press briefing on 26 May 2025 by the Director of Military Operations of Bangladesh Army, in which it has been stated that there are no plans at present for the Lalmonirhat airfield to be used for military purposes. The Government of India continues to monitor all developments having a bearing on national security and takes all necessary measures to safeguard it’.

However, as recently as October 19, Northeast News brought to light the construction of a massive hangar at Lalmonirhat airbase which is just about 16 kms from India’s sensitive ‘Chicken’s Neck’ or the Siliguri Corridor in North Bengal.

Subsequently, reports emerged that the Bangladesh armed forces were also planning to install a new radar unit as part of an air defence system at Lalmonirhat airbase.

While Dhaka-based security sources revealed that the ‘upgraded’ Lalmonirhat airbase could act as a site for missile launches close to the India-Bangladesh international border, there are reports that Bangladesh’s Army Aviation Group had larger plans to use the airfield as a new base for military-grade drones procured from Turkey and China.

There is no independent confirmation to suggest that India has officially protested the Bangladesh military authorities’ unilateral move to upgrade Lalmonirhat airbase.

Despite the visit of the Indian Military Intelligence team, work on the hangar continued. On November 6, the hangar’s roof and bay walls had been placed. Besides, equipment for the new radar system, including a wide-bodied antenna, has already been transported inside the airbase.

The Bangladesh armed forces’ hurry to upgrade the two old airbases led the Indian Army to quickly identify land and establish three new battalion-strong garrisons at Chopra in North Dinajpur in West Bengal, Bamuni in Dhubri district of Assam, and Kishanganj near the ‘Chicken’s Neck’ in Bihar.”​

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Assam’s chief minister declines to draw analogies to Nepal and promises to protect the state’s character.

Reasserting Assam’s unique political and cultural identity, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma dismissed any comparison between Assam and Nepal, declaring that Assam’s progress is founded on stability, not upheaval. Speaking at a large appointment letter distribution ceremony on November 9, where 1.5 lakh youths secured government jobs, Sarma addressed critics drawing parallels between Assam’s political landscape and Nepal’s political instability.

“Assam is not Nepal; Assam will remain Assam,” he said, questioning if Nepal’s political revolutions resulted in job creation or infrastructure development. He emphasized Assam’s focus on governance that promotes employment, education, and development over protest-driven politics. Sarma credited state policies for enabling thousands of youths to fulfill their familial responsibilities, arguing such progress would have been impossible if Assam had taken a different political path four years ago.

He issued a firm warning: “As long as I live, I will never allow Assam to become another Nepal.” Sarma pledged to double the number of job appointments in the next phase, targeting 3 lakh opportunities. He concluded by invoking Assam’s cultural icons—Kamakhya, Srimanta Sankardeva, and Lachit Borphukan—highlighting Assam’s inspiration from its own heritage rather than foreign examples. This appointment drive is among the largest in Assam’s recent history, underlining the government’s commitment to youth empowerment and self-reliance.

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Added on National

As Delhi’s air quality becomes “severe,” the centre implements GRAP Stage 3 limitations.

The Centre enforced Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR as the region’s air quality worsened to the ‘severe’ category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) rising sharply to 425. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) attributed the rise to calm winds, a stable atmosphere, and unfavorable weather conditions that trapped pollutants near the ground. As part of Stage III measures, non-essential construction work, demolition activities, stone crushers, and mining operations are banned. Schools are directed to shift classes up to grade 5 to hybrid or online modes. The use of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers is restricted in Delhi and surrounding NCR districts, with exemptions for persons with disabilities. Additional restrictions include a ban on inter-state diesel buses not meeting emission standards and suspension of industries using unapproved fuels. These measures aim to reduce pollution and protect public health during the winter season when air quality typically declines.

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Four Lakhimpur residents are being held captive in Arunachal Pradesh for forced work in Assam.

Four men from the riverine area of Lakhimpur district in Assam—Babu Bania, Babu Bharali, Hirendra Saikia, and Bijoy Das—were recruited by a contractor named Dhan Nath for masonry work in Arunachal Pradesh. Their families received an advance wage payment but lost contact with them for over a month, raising serious concerns. Allegedly, Dhan Nath sold the labourers to another contractor, Farijul Rahman, who is holding them captive in Hapoli, Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh. One captive managed to secretly call his family, reporting that they were forced to live under a bridge and that an injured leg was left untreated. The employer has reportedly demanded Rs 25,000 ransom for their safe return. Families and local authorities are deeply anxious, with ongoing investigations and rescue efforts underway.

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Added on Regional

Om Birla calls on decision-makers in the Northeast to create programs that advance regional development in Nagaland.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday urged policymakers in the Northeast to frame initiatives that promote regional development and industrial growth while nurturing local art, culture, and traditional crafts to bring them national and global recognition.
“The people of the Northeast are vibrant, industrious, and full of potential,” Birla said in his address after inaugurating the 22nd annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Zone-III Conference at the Nagaland legislative Assembly in Kohima.
Emphasising that the people of the region deserve greater opportunities to realise their potential, he said that through collective dialogue and public participation, legislatures can frame policies that ensure inclusive and sustainable development.
Birla highlighted that the CPA conferences serve as platforms for deliberation on issues of development, public expectations, and aspirations, enabling participants to share best practices and strengthen democratic institutions.
He lauded Zone-III of the CPA as one of the most active zones, consistently organising conferences across different state legislative assemblies in the Northeast.
“Such interactions provide valuable opportunities for discussion within legislative institutions and contribute significantly to capacity building,” Birla remarked.
Touching upon the conference theme, ‘‘Policy, Progress & People: Legislatures as Catalysts of Change’’, he said it reflects the core philosophy and values of democracy.
He noted that the legislative assemblies of the northeastern states have always worked in a spirit of unity, framing region-specific policies that promote prosperity and progress.
Birla also stated that most legislative assemblies in the region have now transitioned to paperless operations, adopting new technologies and artificial intelligence to enhance accountability and transparency in governance.
He expressed satisfaction that disruptions in assembly proceedings have remained minimal due to the strong democratic culture and good practices shared among the states.
The Speaker commended the northeastern region for its rapid progress in connectivity and infrastructure, observing that each new project brings fresh opportunities for growth and development.
In his address, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio called for greater cooperation among the northeastern states to strengthen democratic institutions, foster regional growth, and promote inclusive development.
Various departments of the Nagaland government also set up exhibition stalls at the Nagaland Legislative Assembly complex as part of the conference, showcasing the initiatives, achievements, and ongoing projects of different departments, offering delegates and visitors insights into the state’s development efforts and governance innovations.

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Barak Bolchhe!

Regional

ASSAM RIFLES DISTRIBUTES ESSENTIAL ITEMS IN  MANIPUR

Regional

ASSAM RIFLES CONDUCTS MEDICAL AND OUTREACH CAMP

Regional

Over the following two years, 150 Northeast goods will be GI-tagged.

State

Over 1.46 lakh people visited Kaziranga National Park in the 2025–2026 season, indicating an increase in tourism in Assam.

State

“Jyoti-Bishnu Antarjatik Kala Mandir,” the largest auditorium in NE, opens in Guwahati.

State

42 new train stops are added by Northeast Frontier Railway throughout Assam and West Bengal.

State

Four people were detained for damaging Christmas decorations at St. Mary’s School in Nalbari in Assam.

State

Due to the NH-715 diversion proposal, locals block the Kaliabor–Jakhalabandha road in Assam.

State

Dima Hasao tourism may suffer as Vistadome Express will be permanently discontinued on January 1 in Assam.

State

Assam CM: 18 foreigners who tried to enter illegally were returned

Regional

In an interstate operation, Tripura police find 24 missing young people from Siang, Arunachal.

Regional

ASSAM RIFLES SEIZES HEROIN WORTH ₹14 CRORES IN CACHAR DISTRICT, ASSAM

Regional

ASSAM RIFLES RECOVERS HUGE QUANTITY OF EXPLOSIVES ON JIRIBAM-TIPAIMUKH ROAD, MANIPUR

Regional

ASSAM RIFLES NATIONAL INTEGRATION TOUR FOR JIRI IMA MEIRA PAIBI APUNBA LUP (JIMPAL) REACHES GUWAHATI

Regional

ASSAM RIFLES NATIONAL INTEGRATION TOUR FOR JIRI IMA MEIRA PAIBI APUNBA LUP (JIMPAL) REACHES KOLKATA

Local

ASSAM RIFLES AND DRI SEIZES YABA TABLETS WORTH ₹39 CRORES IN CACHAR DISTRICT, ASSAM