A demonstration demanding the inclusion of Tiwa Autonomous Council areas under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution turned tense in Jagiroad on 8 December, as police resorted to lathicharge to disperse protesters blocking National Highway-27. Several individuals, including a police sub-inspector, were injured during the confrontation.
The protest, led by the All Tiwa Students’ Union (ATSU), drew hundreds of participants who obstructed the busy highway for hours, pressing for long-pending community demands. ATSU general secretary Tarun Madar accused the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Assam of neglecting the issues faced by the Tiwa community, warning that a more intense agitation would begin in January if no action was taken.
Protesters reiterated key demands such as bringing Tiwa council areas under the Sixth Schedule, removing illegal encroachers from tribal belts and blocks, ensuring employment for educated Tiwa youths in the upcoming Tata semiconductor project, conducting a special TET for recruiting Tiwa language teachers, and officially identifying the community as ‘Tiwa’ instead of ‘Lalung’ in the Constitution.
Police officials said the blockade caused major traffic disruption on the arterial highway linking Upper Assam with Guwahati. After repeated appeals to clear the road went unheeded, tensions escalated between demonstrators and security personnel, leading to a scuffle. Officers then used batons to disperse the crowd, resulting in minor injuries on both sides.
A senior police officer confirmed that an injured sub-inspector received treatment along with several protesters. Authorities said the situation was brought under control soon after the clash and normal traffic movement was gradually restored.
