Police Brutality resort to limited baton charge as Badarpur students & locals protest renaming Karimganj district to Sribhumi
Police Brutality NCC Students Injured Arrested in Badarpur Badarpur, Assam – 6 September 2025
The town of Badarpur in Assam witnessed tense scenes on Saturday as students and local residents launched massive protests against the state government’s decision to rename Karimganj district as “Sribhumi.” The Assam government had officially declared the proposed renaming on 21 November 2024, sparking widespread anger and resentment among residents who believe the decision undermines the district’s historical and cultural identity.
To mark their opposition, demonstrators, led primarily by students of Badarpur MC College and NC College, called for a 12-hour bandh (strike) across the region. Protestors blocked the national highways connecting Badarpur to Silchar and Guwahati, bringing normal traffic and commercial activities to a standstill.
Chanting slogans such as “জেলা নাম পরিবর্তন বন্ধ করো” (Stop district renaming) and “Karimganj Zindabad,” students sat on roads, waving banners and demanding that the government immediately withdraw the renaming notification. According to eyewitnesses, while the protests initially remained peaceful, the situation soon escalated as crowds grew restless and confrontations broke out with the police.
Police Lathi-Charge on Students Protesting Karimganj Name Change in Badarpur
As tension mounted, security forces intervened to disperse the demonstrators. Police resorted to “limited baton charge” (লাঠিচার্জ) to control the agitated crowd after repeated warnings to clear the highway went unheeded. This led to chaotic scenes in front of Badarpur MC College, where several students were reportedly injured. Authorities also confirmed that numerous protestors, including students, were detained under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 163.
The crackdown drew sharp criticism from student leaders and residents, who accused the government of using excessive force to suppress a democratic movement. Locals argued that changing Karimganj’s name to Sribhumi amounted to “erasing history” and “imposing a new identity on the people without consultation.”
In response to the escalating unrest, District Commissioner Pradip Kumar Dwivedi and Senior Superintendent of Police Parth Pratim Das rushed to Badarpur, accompanied by additional police contingents. They held discussions with protest leaders in an attempt to defuse tensions and restore normalcy.
Meanwhile, Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code, which prohibits gatherings of more than four people, remained in effect across sensitive zones of the district to prevent further flare-ups. Despite these restrictions, demonstrators vowed to continue their agitation until the government revokes the renaming order.
Shops, schools, and public transport services across Badarpur and adjoining areas largely remained shut during the bandh, underscoring the scale of public support behind the protests. Political observers note that the issue has the potential to become a major flashpoint in Assam’s socio-political landscape, especially in the run-up to future state elections.
For now, the district administration has urged calm and promised to communicate the concerns of Karimganj residents to the higher authorities in Dispur. However, with sentiments running high and students at the forefront of the agitation, the standoff over Karimganj vs. Sribhumi shows no signs of ending soon.
Democratic Rights Crushed? Police Action Against Students in Karimganj Protest
The protest against the proposed renaming of Karimganj district has reached a boiling point. Today, students of Nabin Chandra College (NCC), Badarpur staged a peaceful demonstration to safeguard their democratic rights and identity. However, the situation turned alarming when police resorted to lathi-charge against the students, leaving several of them injured. This violent crackdown has raised serious concerns over the state of democracy and freedom of expression in the region.
The students were not engaging in any unlawful activity; rather, they were voicing the sentiments of thousands of Karimganj residents who strongly oppose the district’s renaming. For the people of Karimganj, the name is not just a geographical identity but an emotional and cultural attachment built over generations. The sudden attempt to erase this identity is being viewed as politically motivated, lacking any logical or people-centric justification.
Slogans like “Karimganj Zindabad” echoed across the protest site, reflecting the unity of the local population in rejecting the government’s move. Citizens have condemned the police action as an assault on democratic values. Social media is now flooded with strong criticism of the administration, with people accusing the government of acting like an authoritarian regime rather than respecting people’s voices.
The students and residents have made their stand clear: “We are the people of Karimganj, and we want our Karimganj.” They believe that protest is their democratic right, and no government or political force has the authority to suppress it. Today’s incident is not just about a name but about protecting democracy, culture, and identity.
