The incident of Bengali-origin Muslim labourers who faced a brutal attack in Charaideo district of eastern Assam led to the filing of an FIR against BJP leader Mayur Borgohain, who is reportedly owed a total of Rs 15 lakh in wages to the labourers for the construction of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's flagship project.
The assault, which coincided with the Chief Minister's hate speech targeting Muslims in the state, is viewed as a tactic to dodge paying the labourers. The complaint, filed by nine workers, accuses Borgohain’s associates of carrying out the attack in response to growing tensions in the region, particularly against the Miya Muslim community.
The workers, who hail from Barpeta district in western Assam, had been employed by Borgohain for the last three years to work on the construction of a skill development centre in Charaideo. According to the FIR registered on 26 August, the workers claimed they were assaulted by a group of individuals on the night of 24 August.
The assailants, allegedly acting on Borgohain’s instructions, were armed with weapons including daggers, guns, sticks, and plastic pipes, and forced the workers to kneel before them. The workers reported that they were beaten and threatened with death if they did not leave the district immediately and give up their demand for Rs 15 lakh, which was due as payment for their work.
Fearing further violence, the workers fled Charaideo that same night, taking a train back to their home district. The FIR, filed by Rajibul Hoque, one of the workers, details the attack and names the other victims involved. The complaint also includes a video recording of the incident, which was reportedly submitted to the authorities.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has recently made statements that have been perceived as inflammatory towards the Miya Muslim community, questioning why members of the community would move to Upper Assam and suggesting that they aim to "take over the state".
These comments have added to the already charged atmosphere in the region, where Miya Muslims are often falsely accused of being illegal immigrants despite being long-term residents.
The case against Borgohain has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those related to unlawful assembly, rioting, being armed with a deadly weapon, voluntarily causing hurt, promoting enmity, and criminal intimidation. The police have summoned the workers to record their statements within three days of the complaint.