Dibrugarh: Hundreds of members of the All Tai Ahom Students' Union (Atasu) held a protest in Sonari, Charaideo district, on Thursday, raising demands for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for six indigenous communities of Assam, measures to curb rising prices of essential commodities, and stronger action against the drug menace.
Protesters March to DC Office
The protesters marched to the office of the district commissioner, shouting slogans along the way. A brief moment of tension occurred at the gate of the DC office when some protesters attempted to enter the premises. Police personnel stationed inside moved to block their entry, leading to a standoff that lasted several minutes before the situation was brought under control.
Core Demand: ST Status for Six Communities
The central issue of the protest was the long-pending demand for ST status for six indigenous communities: Tai Ahom, Koch Rajbongshi, Chutia, Moran, Matak, and Adivasi (Tea Tribes). These communities are currently classified under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. They have been seeking ST status for years to gain better access to reservations in education and government jobs.
Atasu leader Diganta Changmai stated, "The BJP has been making this promise since 2014. Elections come and go, governments are formed, but the ST status remains a distant dream for our community. We will not rest until the demand is fulfilled."
Additional Demands: Price Control and Anti-Drug Measures
The protesters also called for government intervention to check the soaring prices of petrol, diesel, and other essential commodities, which they said are placing an increasing burden on ordinary citizens. Furthermore, they demanded a drug-free and illicit-liquor-free Charaideo, citing growing addiction and related social problems in the district.
Changmai added, "Charaideo must be freed from the clutches of drugs and illicit liquor. Our youth are suffering, and families are being destroyed. The district administration must take strict action against drug peddlers and illegal liquor dens."
Memorandum Submitted
The protest concluded with the submission of a memorandum to Charaideo District Commissioner Neha Yadav, outlining their demands.
