Bongaigaon: A massive protest rally organised by the All Koch Rajbanshi Students’ Union (AKRSU) rocked the North Bongaigaon Stadium on Sunday, drawing nearly 50,000 people from across the region. The demonstrators gathered to press for long-pending demands, including the reorganisation of the historic Kamatapur state, recognition of the Koch Rajbanshi community as an indigenous Scheduled Tribe (ST), and the signing of a peace accord with the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO).
Leaders of the movement, including AKRSU Central President Manoj Ray and General Secretary Balram Barman, accused both the Central and State governments of neglecting the Koch Rajbanshi community’s issues despite repeated assurances. Addressing the charged gathering, Barman warned of political consequences if their demands remain unmet before the 2026 Assam Assembly elections. “Our patience is wearing thin. If the government fails to act, we will topple it. The time for empty promises is over,” he declared.
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The rally featured fiery speeches, traditional Koch Rajbanshi cultural performances, and placards demanding justice, recognition, and protection of their language and land. President Manoj Ray cautioned that the agitation would intensify if no concrete action is taken by November 25. “If the government fails to issue a proper memorandum, we will launch railway and highway blockades and, if necessary, call for an Assam Bandh,” he warned.
The rally concluded with AKRSU leaders submitting a memorandum to local authorities, urging immediate government intervention to grant ST status, reorganise Kamatapur, and ensure lasting peace through dialogue with the KLO.
