Protests Erupt in Bijni Over Murder of UPPL Leader Jibananda Basumatary
Bandh in Bijni Town
Bijni, Aug 4: A 12-hour shutdown initiated by twelve organizations demanding justice for the alleged murder of Jibananda Basumatary, a leader of the UPPL and a sports administrator, paralyzed daily activities in Bijni town, located in Assam's Chirang district, on Tuesday.
The bandh aimed to pressure authorities for the immediate arrest and punishment of those involved in Basumatary's death, as well as to call for a thorough and prompt investigation into the incident.
During the bandh, businesses, markets, and transportation services were halted, significantly affecting normal life in various areas of Bijni.
Local authorities monitored the situation closely to maintain peace, and no incidents of violence were reported by the time this report was compiled.
The bandh garnered support from a diverse array of twelve organizations, including student, literary, and community groups.
Among the supporting organizations were the All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU), All Assam Minority Students' Union (AAMSU), All Assam Students' Union (AASU), and All Koch Rajbongshi Students' Union (AKRSU).
Organizers noted that the widespread participation highlighted the rising public outrage over the murder and emphasized a collective demand for justice and accountability.
This bandh followed a two-hour sit-in protest organized by the Bijni District Sports Association, supported by various groups, at the Bijni Girls' High School playground on August 1.
During this earlier protest, participants called for immediate action against those responsible for the murder.
The protests were sparked by a statement from Chirang Superintendent of Police Mohanlal Meena, who revealed details of the investigation and confirmed the arrest of three suspects: Amrit Sarkar (24), Ashish Modak (34), and Sanjay Saha (28).
Pramod Boro, the former chief of the Bodoland Territorial Council and president of the UPPL, visited Basumatary's home on Saturday. He described the murder as extremely troubling and expressed concern regarding the deteriorating law and order situation in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).
Referring to the murder that occurred on July 29, the Rajya Sabha MP noted that several homicides had been reported in the BTR over the past six to seven months and urged the authorities to impose strict penalties on those found guilty.
Basumatary held the position of vice-president of the UPPL's Bijni district unit, served as joint secretary of the Bijni District Sports Association, and was a former member of the All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU).
His murder on July 29 triggered widespread anger throughout the region, leading to calls from political, student, and civil society groups for a swift and impartial investigation.