Assam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday interacted with a man, who urged the chief minister to provide him with a house under the government scheme - Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. 

How do you imagine your police force to be like? In Assam, police officials have been told to lose weight or they'll lose their jobs. Those who clock in a BMI of over 30 – which is classified as obese – will be sent for a “health camp” to the Police Training College under nutritionists and doctors from the government. This is not the first time this issue has come up in India. Some studies have shown that the problem might be systemic.

The Meitei and Kuki MLAs of Manipur have written separate letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and made conflicting demands over the presence of Assam Rifles in the ethnic strife-affected state. While 40 legislators, most of whom are Meiteis, sought removal of the country’s oldest para-military force from the northeastern state, 10 Kuki MLAs urged Modi not to do so asserting this could jeopardise the security of the tribals. Assam Rifles and other central forces including the Army were deployed in Manipur in early May to control the situation after clashes between Meiteis and Kukis broke out.

Hours after an expert committee submitted its report on the state's competence to frame laws to end polygamy, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said a Bill on the subject will be introduced within this financial year.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted that the recent triple murder in Golaghat was a result of 'love-jihad.' He vowed to file a chargesheet within 15 days to try the culprit in a fast-track court. The shocking incident occurred on July 24 when a 25-year-old man allegedly killed his wife and her parents over family issues, later surrendering to the police in Golaghat district. During his visit to the deceased family, Sarma claimed that the triple murder case provides evidence that 'love-jihad' is a "truth and realistic concept."

The distressing video of two women in Manipur, who were filmed being paraded naked two months ago, has left the nation enraged. The alleged incident occurred on May 4 in Kangpokpi district, following violence that erupted the day before. The harrowing event has sparked nationwide outrage, with condemnation from all corners. However, this is not the first instance where women have suffered due to the conflict in the state. On July 15, 2004, 12 women had protested against the killing of Manorama Thangjam, who had been taken away by Assam Rifles personnel and found dead with evidence of rape.  India Today brings you an insight into how women have been at the forefront in the face of conflict in Manipur in the past. 

As Congress is massively slamming the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the atrocities on women in Manipur, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday took a jibe at the opposition party saying their concern should “not only be restricted to Manipur”. Addressing a press conference, Sarma said, “Congress is running a battle against Manipur because Manipur is being run by a BJP government…Congress party should also think about the serious crime against women going on in Rajasthan and West Bengal. They should not target the state of Manipur. It is a peace-loving state.”

The mishap occurred when a large crowd gathered on the stage, causing it to give way and sink into the water.

Raging river, rising waters: Dive into an animated flood map showing catastrophic flooding in Assam.

One person was killed in Assam as the flood situation in the state continued to remain grim with nearly five lakh people affected due to the deluge. Several rivers, including the Brahmaputra, were flowing above the danger mark at various places in the state. No relief from the floods is expected soon as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rain over the next few days, which could further swell the water levels.

Cloudy weather in Assam with light to moderate rainfall may occur in isolated areas of the country in the next two-three days.

The first wave of floods has arrived in Assam as the state has been witnessing continuous downpours over the last few days. The Brahmaputra river flowed over the red (danger) mark in Neamatighat of the Jorhat district, according to a report by the Central Water Commission (CWC). A red alert has been issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) across several districts of Assam in the next five days

Weeks after clashes between the Kukis and Meities rocked Manipur, the state remains tense. A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed and two Assam Rifles personnel were injured in an encounter with suspected Kuki insurgents in Manipur's Serou area early Tuesday.

A jawan of the Border Security Force (BSF) died while two Assam Rifles personnel sustained gunshot wounds in Manipur’s Serou area in firing between security forces and a group of insurgents on the intervening night of June 5-6, army officials said.

Combined search ops by different units of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles in Manipur. At least 40 terrorists gunned down in last four days. 

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said that AFSPA may be lifted from the state by November.

Andra Pradesh and Assam opposed the legalisation of homosexual marriages.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that his government would study if it was possible for the state to impose a ban on polygamy, a move seen as the BJP-governed state inching towards the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The government has also decided to constitute an expert committee to explore the legal aspects. The expert committee will investigate whether the state government has the authority to invoke its decision to prohibit polygamy in the state.

Over 100 families from volatile Manipur have shifted to Assam's Cachar district. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has asked the Cachar administration to take care of these families. Himanta Sarma said that he is in touch with his counterpart in Manipur and is ready to extend support.