A fresh wave of agitation over long-pending political and social demands unfolded in Assam’s Gossaigaon on Tuesday, December 16, as protesters gathered to press for the formation of a separate Kamtapur state, Scheduled Tribe status for the Koch Rajbongshi community, and formal talks with leaders of the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO).
The demonstration was jointly organised by the Kamtapur State Demand Committee (KSDC) and the All Koch Rajbongshi Students’ Union (AKRASU), with participants arriving from different parts of the region to voice their grievances. Protesters said the demands, which have remained unresolved for years, were crucial for safeguarding the political rights, identity and development of the Koch Rajbongshi people.
As part of the agitation, organisers had earlier announced plans for an indefinite rail blockade to draw attention to their cause. However, security forces stepped in before demonstrators could occupy the railway tracks. Following police intervention, the protesters shifted to a sit-in protest near the railway line, where they continued their demonstration under close supervision.
The district administration had anticipated unrest and deployed a sizeable police force in and around the protest area to prevent disruption to public life and rail services. While the situation remained largely under control, tension was evident as verbal arguments broke out between sections of the protesters and police personnel at the site.
According to sources, the KSDC leadership had earlier decided to call off the rail blockade after receiving assurances from the Central Government regarding the possibility of peace talks. The decision also followed an audio message reportedly issued by KLO chief Jiban Singha. Despite this, a section of demonstrators expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that assurances alone were insufficient without concrete action, and chose to proceed with the protest.
Although no incidents of violence were reported till the filing of this report, the demonstration underscored the continuing unrest surrounding the Kamtapur statehood movement and related demands, keeping the issue firmly in the public and political spotlight.
