Assam Police have arrested 17 people after an attack on a Bihu cultural troupe in the Sribhumi district left eight artists injured. Senior Superintendent of Police Leena Doley confirmed the arrests and explicitly ruled out any communal angle behind the violent incident.
The district police chief stated that
the altercation broke out under the influence of alcohol and dismissed rumours of communal friction between the Assamese and Bengali communities in the region.
Thirteen individuals were arrested initially, and four more were apprehended after police reviewed a video of the incident. Investigators confirmed there is no communal hostility and that the physical altercation was likely triggered by overexcitement or alcohol.
Assam Police are fast-tracking the prosecution process and are prepared to file the chargesheet within 30 days. This police action follows strict directives from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who publicly condemned the incident as deeply disturbing. Assam DGP Harmeet Singh stated via social media that a case has been registered at Sribhumi Police Station and
investigation is underway to apprehend other persons involved. Chief Minister Sarma termed Bihu the soul of Assam and stated that
the state will not tolerate any insult to Assamese culture and heritage. The attack happened during a Durga Puja event after miscreants objected to the performance of Assamese songs.
