Assam: Heightened security at BTC Secretariat following student protest, legal action likely

A day after the violent attack on the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Secretariat by alleged students' body, authorities have enforced stringent security measures around the complex, completely restricting public entry into the premises.

The incident occurred ahead of the scheduled BTC budget session, which was set to begin on Monday, December 1. In response to the vandalism allegedly carried out by a student organization, repair and restoration efforts have already commenced to address the damages.

BTC officials have hinted that legal action will be initiated against those involved in the attack.

Security personnel continue to guard the Secretariat as investigations proceed.

Kokrajhar witnessed unprecedented turmoil on November 29 as thousands of agitated Bodo students marched from Bodoland University at Rangalikhata, Debargaon, towards the BTC Secretariat in Bodofa Nagar, protesting the Assam Government’s decision to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six communities. 

The massive rally, dominated by student groups, accused the government of undermining the rights and political safeguards of existing tribal communities.

The procession, which advanced through Dewargaon and JD Road, echoed with intense slogans against the BTR leadership and state authorities. Protesters targeted BTR Chief Executive Member Pramod Boro, former CEM Hagrama Mohilary, Deputy CEM Gobinda Basumatary, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Education Minister Ranoj Pegu and MLA Rongjagot Narzary. Slogans such as “Hagrama Mohilary go back,” “Pramod Boro go back,” “Down with Assamese Government,” “Cancel ST status for six communities,” and “We want justice” reverberated across the town, heightening tensions.

The situation escalated dramatically when angry student demonstrators breached the main entrance of the BTC Secretariat and surged into the premises. Security personnel, including commandos and Assam Police, were unable to restrain the crowd as the protest intensified.

As more students joined in, the vicinity of the Secretariat transformed into a massive protest zone, with demonstrators staging sit-ins, chanting slogans, and demanding the immediate withdrawal of the government’s ST proposal.

By late evening, Kokrajhar remained on edge, with a heavy police presence and no statement yet from either the BTC administration or the state government regarding the rapidly intensifying agitation.