The Assam government is set to unveil a significant chapter from its history as it prepares to table the long-concealed Tribhuvan Prasad Tewary Commission inquiry report during the five-day winter session of the state legislative assembly beginning Tuesday.
Four-Decade Wait Ends for Nellie Massacre Report
This landmark report investigates the horrific 1983 violence during the anti-foreigners movement, with particular focus on the massacre of Bangladesh-origin Muslims at Nellie. The commission, established by the then Congress government, completed its investigation and submitted the findings to the state government in May 1984.
Despite being completed over four decades ago, the document has remained with the Assam government and has never been made accessible to the public. The one-man inquiry panel was headed by Tribhuvan Prasad Tewary, a former chief secretary of Uttar Pradesh, who was specifically tasked with probing the February 1983 Nellie massacre.
Major Legislative Agenda Beyond Historical Report
Alongside this historical document, the state government plans to introduce 27 new and amendment bills on the session's opening day. According to Assam legislative assembly secretary D Pegu, the legislative package includes several significant proposals.
"There will be certain very significant bills, including one aimed at abolishing polygamy and another for the protection of satras," Pegu revealed. "Education and university-related bills will also be tabled."
The comprehensive legislative agenda features other important bills such as:
- 'The Assam Regulation of Public Religious Structures on Public Places'
- 'Assam Fire and Emergency Bill'
- 'Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Assam Amendment) Bill, 2025'
Traditional Practices and Legal Challenges
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma provided context for the animal cruelty amendment during a post-cabinet briefing on Sunday. He explained that the bill aims to recognize and permit traditional buffalo fights during the Magh Bihu festival in mid-January.
This legislative move comes in response to a recent judicial development. In December 2024, the Gauhati High Court set aside and quashed a state government notification that had allowed buffalo and bulbul fights during Magh Bihu under specific guidelines. The court's decision upheld the Supreme Court's 2014 judgment banning animal fights across the country.
The winter session of the Assam legislative assembly is scheduled to conclude on November 29, marking a potentially historic moment for transparency and legislative reform in the state.
