Factions clash at Assam's Sribhumi panchayat meet as husband steps in for woman president

A routine village meeting at the Bahadurpur Village Panchayat Office in Assam’s Sribhumi turned chaotic on November 26, after a heated confrontation between two factions escalated into pushing and scuffling.

The tension was triggered by the presence and participation of Altaf Hussain, husband and representative of Panchayat President Rumia Begum, despite a clear directive from the Minister of Panchayat and Rural Development that representatives of women Panchayat heads must not be allowed to function inside Panchayat offices.

The situation deteriorated when Altaf Hussain began addressing the gathering. His speech immediately drew objections, with members questioning why he was taking the lead when the elected Panchayat president herself was present. What started as a verbal dispute quickly intensified, leading to a physical scuffle between the opposing groups.

As the confrontation spiralled, officials were forced to abruptly halt the meeting of the Bahadurpur Panchayat, leaving proceedings incomplete and raising concerns about administrative discipline and adherence to government directives.