Guwahati Durga Puja Pandals Left Unfinished as Kolkata Artist Flees with Rs 10 Lakh
With Durga Puja days away, two Guwahati puja committees have been left scrambling after a Kolkata artist contracted to build pandals and complete idol work allegedly fled with nearly Rs 10 lakh in advances, leaving both projects unfinished. Meanwhile, Assam's Finance Minister held a review meeting with Guwahati-based tax units to set revenue targets, and the family of Himashree Boro, the Assam dancer who died in Andhra Pradesh, received a visit from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma after the state publicly works department repaired the road to their home.
🎉 Kolkata Artist Flees with Rs 10 Lakh, Leaves Two Puja Pandals Unfinished
Two of Guwahati's Durga Puja organising committees — the Chattribari and Nayantara puja committees — are scrambling to complete their pandal construction and idol work after the Kolkata-based artist they had contracted allegedly disappeared with close to Rs 10 lakh in advance payments. With festive deadlines fast approaching and the puja dates immovable, both committees face the difficult task of sourcing alternative artisans and completing complex decorative and idol work at extremely short notice. Durga Puja is Guwahati's biggest annual cultural event, and pandal construction and idol finishing are core elements that require skilled craftsmanship typically brought in from Kolkata, the traditional centre of puja artistry. The sudden disappearance of the contractor has placed both committees in an extremely stressful and financially damaging position, having already paid a significant portion of the project cost with nothing to show for it. Community members and volunteers connected to the two committees are reportedly working to mobilise emergency resources and find skilled replacements before the celebrations begin, though the compressed timeline adds significant pressure to what should be a festive period of preparation. [2]
CM Visits Family of Himashree Boro as Road Repair Precedes State Visit
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the family of Himashree Boro, the young Assam dancer whose body was found in Andhra Pradesh days after she went missing from a train, after the state's Public Works Department repaired the road leading to the family's home the day before his visit. The case of Himashree, who had reportedly told family members that there were a lot of men around her before she was last heard from on the train, drew national attention and raised questions about passenger safety and the responsiveness of railway police. The family had previously expressed frustration at what they described as an inadequate initial response from railway authorities, with relatives questioning whether a more prompt intervention could have prevented her death. The CM's visit signals the state government's acknowledgment of the gravity of the case and its impact on public sentiment in Assam, particularly regarding the safety of young women travelling alone on long-distance trains. [4]
🏢 Finance Minister Reviews Tax Administration and Sets Revenue Targets for Guwahati Units
Assam Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah chaired a review meeting with officers from Guwahati-based tax units at the Commissionerate of Taxes in the city on Friday, 9 October. The meeting focused on examining the current state of tax administration across the units represented and establishing clear revenue targets going forward. The review reflects the state government's continued emphasis on improving tax collection efficiency and broadening the revenue base through stronger administrative oversight and performance accountability. Guwahati, as the commercial and economic hub of Assam and the Northeast region, plays an outsized role in the state's overall tax revenues, making the performance of its tax units particularly significant for the broader fiscal health of the administration. The Finance Minister's direct engagement with officers signals a push for greater rigour in revenue realisation as the state government works to fund its various development programmes and infrastructure commitments across Assam. [8]
Sources: [2] The Assam Tribune · [4] Deccan Herald · [8] ANI News