Guwahati, Dec 9: Several people, including a police official, were injured in Assam’s Morigaon district on Monday after police resorted to lathicharge to disperse protesters demanding the inclusion of Tiwa Autonomous Council areas under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
The protest, led by the All Tiwa Students’ Union (ATSU), saw hundreds of demonstrators blocking a section of National Highway-27 at Jagiroad for several hours, causing massive traffic congestion along the busy corridor.
Protesters pressed for long-pending demands, including Sixth Schedule status for Tiwa council areas, eviction of illegal encroachers from tribal belts and blocks, job opportunities for educated Tiwa youths in the upcoming Tata semiconductor plant, a special TET examination to recruit Tiwa language teachers, and recognition of the community as ‘Tiwa’ instead of ‘Lalung’ in the Constitution’s tribal list.
ATSU general secretary Tarun Madar alleged negligence by the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state, warning that the agitation would intensify from January if the demands remained unaddressed.
“The protesters blockaded the highway for several hours, leading to heavy congestion. When police attempted to clear the stretch, protesters resisted. Stones were pelted, and police responded with lathicharge and tear-gas shells to disperse the crowd,” a police officer said.
