Assam: Massive Human Chain in Barpeta Road as Koch-Rajbongshi Students Demand ST Status

Guwahati: Thousands of Koch-Rajbongshi community members formed a massive human chain on the streets of Barpeta Road on Monday, raising thunderous slogans of “NO ST, NO REST”, “Assam Government is Lying” and “WE WANT ST” to press their long-pending demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

The protest, organised jointly by the All Barpeta District and Baksa District Koch-Rajbongshi Students’ Union, with support from Bajali District Koch-Rajbongshi Students’ Union and Koch-Rajbongshi national organisations under AKRSU, also highlighted demands for a separate Kamatapur state, peace talks with the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), and justice for Assamese singer Zubeen Garg.

Participants locked hands across the main highway, turning the town into a sea of banners and flags while repeatedly accusing the Assam government of betrayal.

From the protest site, organisers issued two stern ultimatums to the state government:

• If the report on granting ST status to the Koch-Rajbongshi community, along with the other five communities, is not tabled in the Assam Legislative Assembly on November 25, the community will launch a “final battle” with no retreat.
• The ST status for Koch-Rajbongshis and the six communities must be granted before the 2026 Assembly elections, failing which the ruling BJP government will face “severe consequences” in the polls.

Leaders warned that the community has been patiently waiting for decades and will no longer tolerate delays or false assurances.

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