GUWAHATI: Protests erupted across Assam's Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts on Monday, November 11, as members of the Moran and Motok communities amplified their demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Frustration over delays in the recognition process led to widespread demonstrations, with roadblocks, tyre burnings, and disruptions reported throughout the region.
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In response, both districts were declared closed, as local authorities moved to maintain order. The All Moran Students' Union (AMSU) and the All Assam Motok Yuba Chatra Sanmilan (AAMYCS) reportedly announced a 12-hour bandh in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia, calling attention to the urgency of their demands. District Commissioner of Dibrugarh, Bikram Kairi, issued prohibitory orders against unauthorised protests and warned of legal action against violators.
Tinsukia's administration also implemented Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, banning such protests and deploying additional security personnel to maintain peace.
To assist residents affected by the unrest, a helpline has been activated, and police along with magistrates were stationed throughout the districts. Meanwhile, in Digboi, tensions flared further as members of the Moran Students' Union intensified their protests, burning effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, signaling their dissatisfaction with the government’s perceived inaction on the ST status issue