Assam’s Dhubri Shuts Down After Protest Over ST Status; Police Officers Suspended

Speedy Summary

• Police action on a rally demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Koch-Rajbongshi community resulted in a 12-hour shutdown in Assam’s Dhubri district on September 11, 2025.
• The rally, organized by the All Koch-Rajbongshi Students’ Union (AKRSU), turned tense after police cane-charged protesters in Golakganj. Locals claimed over 100 injuries,including women.
• Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma dispatched Public Health Engineering Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah to assess the situation and address concerns.
• Minister Baruah reported that injured individuals were stable and characterized the incident as stemming from a misunderstanding. A local police officer was suspended following the incident.
• Complaints were lodged against three additional officers; an inquiry has been initiated with findings expected within five days.
• Protesters regretfully called for a shutdown to amplify thier demands, which include ST status and statehood under “Kamtapur” for their community. Five other communities in assam-Adivasi, Chutia, matak, Moran, and Tai-Ahom-are also seeking ST status.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The protests reflect long-standing tensions over identity-based recognition in Assam. The demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status underscores challenges associated with equitable distribution of constitutional privileges amidst competing claims by multiple groups. While deploying law enforcement is frequently enough necessary during public unrests, reports of excessive force risk harming state-community relations.

The swift response of Chief Minister sarma’s management-including immediate ministerial deployment and suspensions-signals an acknowledgment of potential missteps while aiming to de-escalate tensions swiftly. However, complaints against multiple officers suggest deeper issues with localized handling of public demonstrations.

Given that similar demands have emerged from other communities such as moran recently, addressing such movements cohesively will be crucial for maintaining harmony across Assam’s diverse ethnic landscape.Policymakers must balance legitimate aspirations for inclusion under ST provisions with broader socio-economic impacts-a delicate task requiring dialog-driven solutions rather than ad hoc measures.

For more details: Read More.