Tinsukia: A 12-hour bandh called by the All Moran Students Union (AMSU) and Muttack Yuva Chatra Sanmelan to demand Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for Assam’s six OBC communities brought life to a standstill across Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts on Monday.
The bandh reflects growing frustration among the communities nearly a decade after the BJP, during its 2014 election campaign, promised to grant ST status to six groups—a promise that was included in the party’s manifesto but remains unfulfilled.
The six OBC communities — Tai Ahom, Koch Rajbongshi, Sutias, Moran, Muttock, and Tea Tribes (Adivasis) — make up a significant portion of Assam’s population and have long sought ST status to access socio-economic benefits. Scheduled Tribes currently constitute 12.4% of Assam’s population.
By noon, the bandh’s impact was visible: shops, banks, offices, hotels, and other commercial establishments remained closed, and roads bore a deserted look. Despite widespread shutdowns, no major incidents of violence were reported, aside from sporadic tyre burning.
AMSU Central President Palindro Borah criticized the BJP for failing to deliver on its ST status promise, saying, “The double face of BJP has been totally exposed. They used our community for their vote bank with false promises.” Borah further stated, “The BJP, running a double-engine government, cannot justify this unfulfilled 10-year-old commitment.”
Borah indicated that AMSU and Muttack leaders will soon decide on further action, adding, “If the government fails to respond, we will launch a series of democratic agitations.”
To minimize disruption, the organizations exempted schools, medical facilities, milkmen, and police services from the bandh.
AMSU also condemned a police action where officers allegedly fired blank rounds at peaceful protesters along the Bypass in Tinsukia. Borah called this incident “unfortunate” and warned the police against similar actions in the future.
Borah strongly objected to an order issued by Tinsukia District Magistrate Swapneel Paul, referring to AMSU and Muttack Yuva Chatra Sanmelan as “self-styled organizations.” Borah responded, “We are the bhoomiputra (sons of the soil) and will never accept such language to describe us.”
On Sunday, district magistrates of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh issued prohibitory orders banning forceful shutdowns, citing concerns over public inconvenience and potential infringement on citizens’ rights under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution. The order prohibited forced participation in the bandh, effigy or tyre burning, road blockades, and other disruptive activities.
Despite these orders, the bandh proceeded, resulting in a complete shutdown across both districts. With Assam’s history of bandhs, economic blockades, and protests, this development has sparked concerns over a potential resurgence of such disruptions statewide.
Also Read | How Assam filmmaker Pranami Koch’s film earned global recognition