Assam: Road closure sparks protest at Borakhai Tea Estate; residents break barricaded gate

A tense situation prevailed in Assam's Cachar district on Saturday, July 18, after hundreds of residents of Borakhai Tea Estate protested against the alleged closure of an access road passing through the campus of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Silchar.

According to local residents, they have been using two roads passing through the NIT Silchar campus for several decades for daily commuting. They alleged that the institute recently barricaded one of the roads, leaving nearly 400 to 500 families facing difficulties in accessing essential services.

The protesters claimed that the land on which NIT Silchar is situated was originally part of the Borakhai Tea Estate and that the road has long served as a vital link for the local community.

Residents said the closure has particularly affected schoolchildren who attend a school located inside the NIT campus, besides disrupting the daily movement of people travelling for work, healthcare and other essential needs.

As the protest intensified, around 400 to 500 men, women and youths gathered at the site and broke open the barricaded gate, demanding immediate restoration of access. Protesters warned that they would continue their agitation if any further attempt was made to block the road.

"This road is a part of our lives. If it is closed, where are we supposed to go?" a resident said during the protest.

Several women alleged that they rely on the road every day to collect ration supplies, visit hospitals and take their children to school.

Police personnel reached the spot after being informed of the protest and monitored the situation to prevent any untoward incident. Tension, however, continued to prevail in the area.

NIT Silchar has not issued an official statement on the allegations levelled by the tea garden residents.