Adivasi Man Alleges Assault and Humiliation by Government Employee in Jorhat
Incident Reported in Titabar
Titabar, Dec 24: On Wednesday, an Adivasi individual lodged a complaint at the Titabar Police Station, claiming he was physically attacked, subjected to caste-based insults, and publicly humiliated by a government worker in Jorhat.
The individual, Bipul Orang, accused Samiran Baruah, who works for the Jorhat Development Authority, of assaulting him, using derogatory language, and forcing him to lick Baruah’s feet.
Parts of the alleged incident were recorded and circulated on social media, leading to widespread outrage throughout Assam.
According to the complaint, Orang had been employed as Baruah’s personal driver from 2014 until February 2025. He stated that the assault occurred after he informed Baruah’s wife about his alleged extramarital affair.
“I worked as his personal driver from 2014 to 2025. His wife was experiencing domestic violence and inquired about his affair. Upon learning the truth, I informed her,” Orang explained to reporters after filing the FIR.
Orang claimed that on February 21, 2025, he was attacked by Baruah and his associates. “They verbally abused me, struck me repeatedly, and used language that demeaned my community. I was also coerced into signing a blank document,” he alleged.
He further stated that he was dragged through marketplaces, falsely accused of theft, and forced to apologize publicly by licking Baruah’s feet.
Orang also mentioned that his personal identification documents, including his Aadhaar and PAN cards, were confiscated during the incident.
He had previously approached Madhapur Police Station, but his complaint was not recorded.
The FIR was ultimately filed at Titabar Police Station and subsequently forwarded to Jorhat Sadar Police Station for further investigation on Wednesday.
“I have submitted the FIR today. My community and I are demanding justice,” Orang stated on Wednesday.
The incident has elicited strong responses from tea tribe organizations, including the All Tea Tribes Students’ Association (ATTSA), which has threatened protests if prompt action is not taken.
ATTSA member Tokeswar Rajput claimed that Orang endured inhumane treatment.
“If Orang had committed any wrongdoing, Baruah could have pursued legal action. Instead, he and his associates mistreated him in a manner reminiscent of the Taliban,” Rajput remarked.
Rajput also accused the police of initially refusing to file the complaint and demanded the immediate arrest of the accused.
“The FIR has now been sent to Jorhat Sadar Police Station. On behalf of the ATTSA Jorhat committee, we will present a memorandum demanding the arrest of Samiran Baruah and his associates within 24 hours,” he stated.
Issuing a warning of potential protests, Rajput added, “If no action is taken, we will initiate protest programs. The entire tea estate community in Jorhat will come together, as this incident has disrespected and humiliated our community.”