Assam: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said he had directed the Assam Police chief to take immediate action against those behind the attack on a Bihu troupe in Sribhumi in the Barak Valley. The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and other organisations demanded exemplary punishment for the assailants.
In a social media post, Sarma said, “The news of an attack on a Bihu troupe in Sribhumi is deeply disturbing and unfortunate. Bihu is the soul of Assam, our pride and our identity. We will never tolerate any insult to our culture and heritage. I have directed the @DGPAssamPolice to ensure immediate action against those responsible.”
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) October 25, 2026The news of an attack on a Bihu troupe in Sribhumi is deeply disturbing and unfortunate.
Bihu is the soul of Assam, our pride and our identity. We will never tolerate any insult to our culture and heritage.
I have directed the @DGPAssamPolice to ensure immediate action against…
The AASU, in a statement, sought the chief minister's immediate intervention, an impartial investigation and strict legal action against the guilty. It also asked for the role of the organisers who invited the troupe to be examined. The students' body said a government that spoke of protecting the community, land and foundation of Assam must urgently ensure the safety of the state's artists. It added that peace among all communities was essential and that the Barak Valley was an inseparable part of Assam, but that the safety of Assamese-speaking people and respect for the Assamese language and culture were also the government's responsibility.
AASU president Utpal Sarma, reacting to the attack, said, “This is a planned attack. They came with sticks in their hands. They tore apart the dhol, the wealth of our people, and humiliated the women dancers. The organisers must also be dragged out and banned.”
Sarma questioned the police response as well. “On whose courage and under which big man's plan did such a despicable incident happen? A proper probe must be held. Otherwise, how were they let off even after the police caught them?” he said.
He said the chief minister must step in soon. “If not, there will be no alternative to agitation,” he said, adding that the AASU would hold a protest in Sribhumi on Sunday.
“There are people in the Barak Valley who oppose this incident, but everyone must ensure a harmonious atmosphere. A mindset that there will be no Assamese songs in Assam cannot be tolerated in any way,” Sarma said.
“If Assamese people have to be beaten for singing Bihu in Assam, it is certain that the government's slogan of protecting community, land and foundation has gone up in smoke,” he said.
The Tai Ahom Yuva Parishad, Assam (TAYPA) also condemned the incident and demanded that the culprits be arrested without delay. “Attacks on Assamese people are going on. Where is the government that talks of land and foundation?” the organisation said.
“Why did the administration detain the miscreants and then let them go?” it asked.
TAYPA also demanded that the Assamese language be used in the Barak Valley. Its secretary, Gunakanta Gogoi, warned that the organisation would launch a campaign if banners and posters were not put up in Assamese within three months.
Notably, a Bihu troupe was allegedly attacked by a group of miscreants during a Durga Puja programme organised by Hindustan Club in Sribhumi, reports on Saturday, October 24, claimed. The attackers reportedly objected to Assamese songs being performed in the Barak Valley. Members of the troupe were injured, several traditional instruments were damaged, some were taken away, and a gold chain belonging to a young member was allegedly stolen. The troupe's president said the organisers had been repeatedly asked to ensure security, but adequate arrangements were not made.
Also Read: Assam: Bihu Troupe Attacked in Sribhumi Over ‘No Assamese Songs’ Demand