Guwahati / Sribhumi, Oct. 25: An attack on a Bihu troupe during a Durga Puja celebration in Assam’s Sribhumi district has drawn sharp condemnation from the state’s top leadership and triggered widespread outrage across Assam, with police registering a case and arresting 13 people.
The incident occurred during an idol immersion procession and cultural programme organised by the Hindustan Club. A Bihu troupe, invited to perform, was allegedly confronted by a group that objected to Assamese songs being played in the Barak Valley. Sources said the group demanded that Assamese songs not be performed in the region. The confrontation escalated into an assault in which members of the troupe sustained serious injuries. Traditional Bihu instruments were damaged or taken away, and a gold chain belonging to one young performer was allegedly stolen.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday described the news as “deeply disturbing and unfortunate.” In a post on X, he wrote: “Bihu is the soul of Assam, our pride and our identity. We will never tolerate any insult to our culture and heritage. I have directed the @DGPAssamPolice to ensure immediate action against those responsible.”
Responding to the Chief Minister’s directive, the Director General of Police, Assam, confirmed that a case had been registered at Sribhumi Police Station. “During the course of the investigation, 13 persons were arrested and forwarded to the Hon’ble Court. Further investigation is underway, and necessary steps are being taken to identify and apprehend the other persons involved in the incident,” the DGP’s office stated.
Student and youth organisations, including the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), condemned the attack. AASU general secretary Samiran Phukon called the smashing of the dhol and the assault on performers “totally unacceptable” and urged strict punishment for those responsible. AASU president Utpal Sarma described the perpetrators as “anti-Assamese forces.”
Police reportedly reached the Hindustan Club premises on Bipin Pal Road in the early hours after receiving information about the incident. Certain items, including a truck used for the idol, a generator and sound equipment, were seized during the probe. The episode has raised concerns about the safety of cultural performers and the space for Assamese cultural expression in parts of the Barak Valley.
The attack has been widely seen as an affront to Assamese identity, given Bihu’s central place in the state’s cultural life. While police action has been swift in registering the case and making arrests, organisations have demanded a thorough investigation and exemplary punishment to prevent any recurrence.
