Protesters clash with police in Assam during bandh over Karimganj renaming
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Violence erupted in Assam’s Sribhumi district on Friday during a bandh called against the state government’s decision to rename Karimganj as Sribhumi.
Protesters, including students and Congress workers, blocked National Highway 37 at several points, such as Badarpur College intersection and Station Road.
The blockades choked traffic, leaving passenger buses and supply trucks stranded.
The situation escalated when parts of the crowd began pelting stones. Police personnel and journalists sustained injuries in the clashes. Security forces carried out lathi charges to disperse the mob, but demonstrators regrouped and staged fresh blockades, leading to repeated face-offs.
Shops, schools, and offices remained shut in Badarpur and adjoining areas, bringing daily life to a halt. Officials said while many gathered in peaceful protest, some individuals within the crowd instigated violence, worsening the unrest. The Sub-Divisional Officer of Sribhumi reached the spot to monitor developments and appeal for calm.
The bandh followed Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s announcement on November 19, 2024, that Karimganj would be renamed Sribhumi in honour of Rabindranath Tagore. Sarma had said the step was intended to “reflect the expectations and aspirations of the people of the district.”
