Assam: Students of Bodoland University vandalized the assembly hall of the BTC Secretariat on Saturday. The vandalism was carried out in protest against the Assam Cabinet’s approval of a report granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six other communities in the state.
According to officials, tribal students marched six kilometers from the university campus to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Secretariat. They crossed barricades and entered the assembly hall.
Officials said the protesters vandalized the assembly hall, damaging chairs and other furniture. They said additional security forces were deployed, but the situation in the area remained tense and difficult to control.
On Wednesday, the state cabinet approved the Group of Ministers’ (GoM) report on the proposal to grant Scheduled Tribe status to six major communities in Assam: the Tai Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Motok, Koch-Rajbongshi, and Tea Tribes.
On Thursday, Bodoland University students protested on campus against the cabinet decision. Third-semester final exams were also boycotted.
