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A very shocking and sensitive case has come to light from Sribhoomi district of Assam, where during the idol immersion procession of Durga Puja, a group of Bihu artists, conductors of Assamese folk culture, were violently attacked by the mob. As soon as this inhuman incident came to light, there was huge anger in the cultural and social circles across the state. Considering the sensitivity of the matter, the state administration immediately came into action and the police took prompt action and arrested 13 people so far. Local police say that this is the initial stage of investigation and other miscreants are being identified on the basis of digital evidence, mobile footage and statements of eyewitnesses, due to which the number of arrests may increase further in the coming days.
According to the original details of the incident, this unpleasant situation occurred on the evening of Friday, October 23 under Shribhoomi Sadar police station area. A huge and grand procession was organized by the locally active Hindustan Club to commemorate the immersion of the idol of Maa Durga. To add cultural diversity and festive color to this religious and social event, the club management had cordially invited an 11-member Bihu dance troupe from a nearby rural area to perform their traditional art. When the procession was at its peak, the atmosphere became tense over some issue and it is alleged that some unruly members of the club and local youth suddenly surrounded the Bihu artists and attacked them with sticks and punches.
Shribhoomi Sadar police station in-charge officer Taranga Patowari has confirmed in an official statement that seven artists of Bihu Dal have been badly injured in this planned attack. Emergency medical examination conducted by a team of doctors has found serious internal and external injuries on the artist’s body. The blow was so fatal that the faces of some artists became bloody and even their teeth were broken. This traditional group included four female artists and seven male artists, who had come there only to present their art and tradition.
After treatment, the distressed and frightened artists immediately went to Shribhoomi Sadar Police Station and narrated their ordeal and gave a formal written complaint. Considering the seriousness of the matter, the police have registered an FIR under various relevant and strict sections of the Indian Justice Code (BNS). In the case registered, sections related to murderous assault, creating criminal fear, threatening to kill and intentionally disturbing public peace and communal harmony have been included. When the 13 accused arrested by the police on Saturday were produced in the local court, they got bail from there. However, the police clearly say that scientific investigation of technical evidence and video clippings is going on so that no main conspirator can escape the grip of the law.
As pictures of this violent incident and painful videos of bloodied artists went viral on social media platforms, citizens and social organizations across the state erupted in anger. All Assam Students Union (AASU) has taken a strong stand on this incident, calling it a direct attack on the identity of the state. The top leadership of the organization expressed special concern and anger over the fact that the miscreants not only treated the artists inhumanely, but also deliberately damaged the traditional drum, a sacred symbol of Assam’s cultural identity and self-respect.
AASU Central President Utpal Sharma became vocal and said that as soon as the information was received, the local units of the student union contacted the members of the victim group and their representatives active in various districts of Barak Valley are continuously standing with the artists. He clearly demanded a fair and transparent investigation and said that the culprits should be given such exemplary punishment which would set an example. Utpal Sharma announced that the organization will submit a detailed demand letter to the District Commissioner of Shribhoomi on Monday and will hold a democratic demonstration to re-arrest the culprits and prosecute them under strict legal sections. At the same time, Chief Advisor of Students Union, Dr. Samujjal Bhattacharya also gave his strong reaction on social media platform
As soon as the echo of the case reached the capital Dispur, Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma termed the incident as extremely unfortunate and painful and immediately intervened at the administrative level. The Chief Minister bluntly said that Bihu is not just a folk dance, but it is the soul of Assam, the pride of the people and our age-old unique identity. Insult to the rich culture, tradition and heritage of the state on any platform will not be tolerated at any cost. The Chief Minister immediately gave strict instructions to the state Director General of Police (DGP) Harmeet Singh to personally monitor the case and ensure strict legal action against the miscreants without any political or social pressure.
After the direct order of the Chief Minister, Assam Police DGP Harmeet Singh immediately issued a statement saying that the Shribhoomi District Police is fully prepared. A case has been registered at Shribhoomi Sadar police station and 13 primary accused have been arrested and other aspects of the case are being investigated in depth. The DGP assured that any element challenging law and order and disrupting cultural harmony will not be spared. This fact has also emerged prominently in the investigation that most of the miscreants caught at the time of the incident were under the influence of alcohol. Immediately after the arrest, medical examination of all was conducted, in which the presence of alcohol was confirmed.
Various civil societies, cultural organizations and local intellectuals of Barak Valley have also unanimously condemned this barbaric incident. Local organizations believe that during such a big festival like Durga Puja, minimal and concrete arrangements were not made for the safety of the artists in such a big public procession. There is also huge resentment over the administrative failure and negligence of the organizer Hindustan Club, as the guest artists invited from outside were not provided even the basic security cover.
Civil organizations have raised the demand that the administration should prepare more strict rules for crowd management and immersion processions so that such shameful incidents do not happen again in future due to drug addicts and anti-social elements. At present the situation is under control in Shribhoomi district, but this brutality against the artists has sparked a serious debate regarding the social fabric and cultural security of Assam, on which the eyes of both the government and the society are fixed.