Bodoland University students protest ST move, breach BTC secretariat

Guwahati: Students from Bodoland university protested and marched to Bodoland territorial council (BTC) secretariat in Kokrajhar in Assam opposing the proposal for the grant of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six major communities. There was large-scale vandalism.

Thousands of students defying the security barricade barged inside the secretariat. They alleged that giving ST status to six new communities will dilute their rights and opportunities. Additional security forces were rushed to the area.

The students demanded an audience with chief Executive member of BTC Hagrama Mohilary. They handed over a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner for BTC chief, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The students have set 24 deadlines for the authorities to address their issue.


The Assam cabinet in its meeting recently approved the report of the Group of Ministers (GoM) in connection with the proposal for the grant of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six major communities.

Tai Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Motok, Koch-Rajbongshi and Tea Tribes (Adivasis) have been seeking ST status for a long time. It was decided that the report will be placed in the Assam Legislative Assembly and thereafter sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

The three member GoM was headed by Ranoj Pegu with other two members being Pijush Hazarika and Keshab Mahanta.

Those seeking ST status have been holding protests at different places in the last two months. Assam is going to assembly polls early next year and ST status is emerging as an election issue.