Silchar: All 7 accused in the alleged assault on a Bihu cultural troupe during an idol immersion programme in Sribhumi district were released from jail on Wednesday after spending 11 days in judicial custody. Their release has added a fresh turn to a controversy that triggered widespread outrage and heightened linguistic tensions in the Barak Valley.The accused were released from Sribhumi District Jail after being granted bail on personal bonds of Rs 10,000 each.The incident took place on Oct 23 during a post-Durga Puja programme organised by Hindustan Club in Sribhumi. An 11-member Bihu troupe from Borgul and Adarkona villages under Badarpur police station had been invited to perform.An altercation allegedly broke out between some organisers and the performers, following which several artistes were assaulted and their musical instruments were damaged.The incident escalated into a major controversy after allegations surfaced that some of the attackers had objected to the performance of Assamese songs, purportedly saying that such songs would not be allowed in the Bengali-majority Barak Valley.Videos purportedly showing the assault circulated on social media, prompting sharp reactions from cultural organisations, political leaders and civil society groups across Assam.CM Himanta Biswa Sarma condemned the incident and directed the police to take immediate action against those involved.According to the information available at the time of writing, police had filed a chargesheet against five accused in connection with the incident.The assault also led to protests and counter-protests in the Barak Valley, with the controversy taking on linguistic overtones.While several organisations condemned the alleged attack on Assamese cultural identity and demanded stringent action against those responsible, others raised concerns about attempts to brand Bengali-speaking residents of the Barak Valley as Bangladeshis in the aftermath of the incident.The controversy subsequently spilled onto the streets of Silchar, where members of Bengali, Manipuri and other communities staged a demonstration outside the Cachar district commissioner’s office.The protesters demanded an impartial investigation into the assault and urged the authorities to prevent the incident from being used to create divisions among linguistic communities.They also submitted a memorandum addressed to Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya through the district administration, seeking intervention to safeguard communal harmony and ensure justice.
