Tension continued in Digboi on Wednesday after an alleged mob assault left 26-year-old Buddheshwar Garh dead, police said. Five people have been arrested in connection with the case and senior district officials were deployed to restore order as authorities launched a criminal probe.
Garh, a resident of Line No. 10 of Bogapani Tea Estate, was reportedly an active member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He also served as the prabhari (in-charge) of Booth No. 26 for the Pradhan Man Ki Baat programme under Bogapani Panchayat, according to local reports.
Police said unknown assailants attacked Garh in the early hours at Chariali Bazar after accusing him of stealing fish from an abandoned box at the market. He was taken to Digboi Civil Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Authorities have arrested Shero Khan, Sonu Bhattacharjee, Bikram Sahani, Ajit Ali and Ramajan Khan; they remain in custody while the investigation continues. Police sources indicated further arrests may follow as inquiries progress.
The death-Garh belonged to the Tea Tribe (Adivasi) community-sparked strong reactions across the estate. Tea garden workers and several Adivasi organisations staged a sit-in inside Digboi Community Health Centre, where the body remained for several hours as protesters sought strict legal action and assurances from the administration. Protesters also obstructed formalities to move the body to Tinsukia for a postmortem.
In view of the sensitive situation, Co-District Superintendent of Police Himangshu Gohain and the Circle Officer-cum-Executive Magistrate were deployed to oversee law-and-order arrangements. Authorities said additional security personnel were stationed in sensitive areas to prevent escalation.
Officials appealed to residents to remain calm and allow an impartial investigation. They assured the public that anyone found guilty would face strict action and said the district administration was on high alert while monitoring the situation closely.
The incident came amid heightened public sensitivity in the region following media reports of a suspected death of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh a day earlier. Minority communities live in and around the Chariali Bazar area, adjacent to Adhram Line and the Chariali Gurudwara, local sources noted.
Original Source: https://nenow.in/north-east-news/assam/assam-booth-prabharis-death-sparks-outrage-five-arrested-in-digboi.html
Category: Assam,Northeast News,Top News
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Publish Date: 2026-02-12 19:26:00
