Cotton Boils Over: 500+ Students Protest Govt’s Six-Community ST Proposal

The streets outside Cotton University witnessed high tension on Sunday as students belonging to eight indigenous communities staged a massive protest opposing the government’s proposal to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six communities of Assam.

The protest erupted shortly after ministers tabled a proposal on the ST status issue in the Assam Legislative Assembly. In response, student bodies representing several ethnic groups — Bodo Students’ Union, Mising Students’ Union, Dimasa Students’ Union (Guwahati), Dimasa Community, Rabha Students’ Union, and Tiwa Students’ Union — gathered in large numbers to register strong opposition.

Over 500 students joined the demonstration, burning copies of the proposal submitted in the Assembly as a symbolic act of defiance. Heavy police deployment and riot-control arrangements were put in place around the university and Panbazar area.

Cotton University Students Protest Arrest of Deep Shekhar Kalita

Tension further escalated after the arrest of Deep Shekhar Kalita, President of 'Chatra Ekta Sabha' (Cotton University Students’ Union). Following his detention, Cottonians launched a spontaneous protest near Panbazar Police Station, demanding his immediate release.

Students of Sitanath Brahma Choudhury (SNBC) Hostel sat in protest, alleging that Kalita had no involvement in the assault case registered against him. According to them, Kalita was picked up unfairly while he was “having evening tea.”

Students claimed that a senior police officer, reportedly under the influence of alcohol, had assaulted Kalita, and that the case was being falsely framed against him. They demanded that the city police release him from custody and take action against the officer involved.

Police sources, however, said Kalita was arrested based on a case registered at Panbazar Police Station in connection with an incident of assault that took place three days ago on College Road. He was detained for allegedly attacking an on-duty patrolling police officer.

With two simultaneous issues — the ST status protest and Kalita’s arrest — converging at Panbazar, the area remained on high alert. 

The Guwahati police continued to monitor the situation closely as student groups vowed to intensify their agitation if their demands were not addressed.

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