HT Bureau
GUWAHATI/DHUBRI, Sept 11: Normal life was affected in Dhubri district on Thursday due to a 12-hour bandh called by the All Koch-Rajbongshi Students’ Union (AKRSU) in protest against alleged police excesses.
The bandh supporters alleged that police lathi-charged protesters during a torchlight procession taken out by AKRSU in Golakganj town in the district on the previous night.
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The state government suspended the officer-in-charge of Golakganj police station, while Gauripur police station’s OC has been ‘reserve closed’ (withdrawn from duty) until further orders, a senior official said.
The bandh, which started at 6 am, disrupted normal life in Dhubri, and security was tightened across the district bordering Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, the state minister Jayanta Malla Baruah rushed to Dhubri late Wednesday night after the incident which sparked outrage across the district.
The protesters, demanding urgent recognition as a Scheduled Tribe (ST) for the Koch-Rajbongshi community, sustained injuries and condemned the police action as excessive.
The protest, organized by the All Koch-Rajbongshi Students’ Union (AKRSU) and its Dhubri West District unit, saw hundreds of community members and local residents take to the streets.
They raised slogans pressing for the long-standing demand for ST status.
Local reports stated that dozens of men and women were injured after police used force to disperse the crowd.
Three injured protesters are under treatment, while the others were discharged after receiving treatment.
Both AKRSU units condemned the police action as unwarranted and pledged to continue their agitation, which also includes the demand for a separate Kamatapur state.
Following the incident, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma instructed minister Mallabaruah to immediately visit the district and assess the situation.
After his visit, the minister confirmed that action has been taken against the police officials involved and directed the DIG to submit an inquiry report within five days.
Public anger intensified when protesters blocked the vehicle of Dhubri’s Superintendent of Police, Leena Doley, late Wednesday night, chanting slogans and confronting the police chief.
Educational institutions, including Agomani Higher Secondary School, remained closed, and transport services were largely suspended on Thursday.
While the bandh caused inconvenience, the protesters reiterated that the agitation is essential to highlight their long-pending demands.
The district remains tense as residents await further government action. (With inputs from PTI)
