Jorhat: Amid intensifying statewide protests over the demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for six communities in Assam, the Koch-Rajbongshi community organised a massive demonstration in Jorhat on Saturday. Over a thousand people joined the protest rally led by the Jorhat district unit of the Koch-Rajbongshi Sanmilani, the Jorhat District Youth Students’ Union and several allied organisations.
The march began at ISBT Jorhat and moved towards the Deputy Commissioner’s office, where protesters raised slogans alleging that the government was attempting to divide the Koch-Rajbongshi community in the process of tribal categorisation. They reiterated demands including unified ST status for all six communities, rejection of any proposal for separate categorisation, implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, expansion of the proposed Kamtapur Autonomous Council, land rights for indigenous people and the construction of a Chilarai Bhawan in Guwahati.
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“We will not allow the government to fragment the Koch-Rajbongshi community under the guise of ST status. All six communities must receive ST status together, and Assam should be declared a tribal state with ILP protection,” said senior leader Durlab Chamuha, warning of a statewide agitation if the ST status report due on November 25 does not reflect their demands.
The demonstration, one of the largest in Jorhat in recent weeks, highlighted the growing momentum of the movement across the state.
