Over ST status delay Protests intensify in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia

Guwahati: Protests across Assam’s Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts escalated today, November 11 as members of the Moran and Motok communities intensified their demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, following prolonged delays in the recognition process.

Roadblocks, tyre burnings, and widespread disruptions were reported as demonstrators sought to express their frustration and push for immediate action on their demands.

In response to the protests, which have paralyzed daily life in the region, both districts have been declared closed. Local authorities issued directives to maintain order and curb the unrest, including a bandh call scheduled for November 11, 2024, by prominent student bodies such as the All Moran Students’ Union (AMSU) and the All Assam Motok Yuba Chatra Sanmilan (AAMYCS).

These organizations called for a 12-hour shutdown in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia to highlight the urgency of the situation.

Dibrugarh’s District Commissioner, Bikram Kairi, imposed a prohibitory order to prevent unauthorized protests, roadblocks, and tyre burnings. The administration made it clear that those violating the order would face legal consequences.

Similarly, the Tinsukia district administration invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which prohibits such protests, and deployed additional security personnel to monitor the situation.

A helpline number was activated to assist residents facing intimidation or inconvenience due to the protests, with police and magistrates stationed across the district to ensure safety.

Tensions also rose in Digboi, where members of the Moran Students’ Union escalated their protests on Sunday by burning effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The effigies symbolized the community’s condemnation of what they see as the government’s indifference toward their long-standing demand for ST status.