Assam: Tea Garden Worker Dies After Alleged Mob Assault at Digboi Market; Five Held

Guwahati: A man from the tea garden community was killed after he was allegedly assaulted by a group of traders in the heart of Digboi town of Assam early on Wednesday morning.

The deceased has been identified as Budheshwar Garh, a resident of Bogapani Tea Estate.

According to reports, Budheshwar had gone to the Chariali fish market in Digboi at around 5 am along with two companions, as he did on previous days, to collect discarded vegetables and leftovers to feed pigs. However, a section of traders accused the trio of stealing fish and allegedly attacked them.

While two of his companions managed to flee and escape, Budheshwar was reportedly caught and beaten severely. In critical condition, he was later taken to the Digboi Police Station by the traders.

Police immediately admitted him to Digboi Civil Hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries.

News of his death spread quickly, prompting members of local organisations, including student and community bodies, along with residents, to gather at the hospital and demand strict punishment for those responsible.

It has been alleged that some Hindi-speaking traders at the Chariali fish market had previously been involved in similar incidents of assault. Residents have urged the administration to curb what they described as repeated acts of intimidation and hooliganism by certain non-local traders operating in the market.

Police have detained five individuals in connection with the incident. The arrested persons have been identified as Sher Khan, Ramzan Khan, Ajit Ali, Chanu Bhattacharya, and Bikram Sahani.

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