Upper Assam Buddhist Community Demands Swift Action After Brutal Murder of Venerable Monk

The Buddhist community in Upper Assam is reeling in shock and anger following the brutal murder of Venerable Indrabansha Bhikkhu, the chief monk (Adhyaksha) of Intheng Buddha Vihara at Nogapathar, Margherita. 

Multiple Buddhist organisations, including the Purbanchal Bhikkhu Sangha, the All Assam Buddhist Association, and the Federation of Barua Buddhists’ Welfare Association of Assam (FBBWAA), have submitted urgent memoranda to the Margherita Sub-Divisional Administration and Pangeree Police Station, demanding immediate action.

According to the memoranda, devotees received a shocking “bolt from the blue” message on November 22, 2025, informing them that the monk had been brutally killed by unidentified miscreants inside the Vihara. He suffered severe injuries to the head and body, reportedly inflicted with a sharp-edged weapon, identified as an axe, which was found near the scene. The attack appears to have taken advantage of the monk’s solitude inside the monastery.

Devotees grew concerned when repeated calls to the monk went unanswered. Upon visiting the Vihara to offer food, they discovered his lifeless body, prompting immediate police notification.

The Purbanchal Bhikkhu Sangha has filed a formal FIR with the Officer-in-Charge of Pangeree Police Station, citing evidence suggesting intentional homicide. The FIR calls for registration under relevant IPC sections, including criminal trespass, and urges a thorough investigation, including forensic examination of the crime scene and the recovered axe. The organisation also requested security measures for the monastery and its residents during the investigation and assured full cooperation, including providing witness statements and documents.

Expressing deep concern over safety, leaders of FBBWAA and the All Assam Buddhist Association said that followers of Buddhism now feel insecure even within sacred spaces like Viharas. They described Venerable Indrabansha as an amiable and noble monk who lived by Lord Buddha’s teachings, including Panchashilla, compassion, and moral conduct, and had no known enmity with anyone.

The memoranda demanded:

• Immediate identification and arrest of the perpetrators

• Acceleration of the ongoing investigation and detailed forensic examination

• Registration of an FIR under relevant IPC provisions, including intentional homicide and criminal trespass

• Security measures to protect the monastery and its residents during the investigation

It is to be noted that a wave of resentment has spread across the Buddhist community as police have yet to apprehend any suspects, even four days after the murder.

Meanwhile, leaders stressed that the killing of a religious teacher who preached peace and compassion is a deeply disturbing act that requires the strictest legal action.

Also Read: Who Killed Bhante Indra Bansa? Margherita’s Hilltop Monastery Shaken by Brutal Murder