Muslim labourers at Himanta’s project attacked, Rs 15 lakh in wages withheld

A communally charged atmosphere has prevailed in Assam following the continuous hate speeches by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, because of which 15 Bengali-speaking Muslim labourers in Dolbagan, Upper Assam, were reportedly beaten brutally by a group of over 20 unidentified men on August 24.

Despite a series of communally charged statements by Himanta Biswa Sarma that have raised concerns about increasing hostility towards the state's Muslim community, particularly those who speak Bengali, it is now reported that the labourers were working on a project sanctioned under Sarma's flagship skill development programme and are collectively owed around Rs 15 lakh in unpaid wages, according to The Wire.

Mayur Borgohain, a former BJP candidate defeated in the 2021 assembly polls from the Nazira constituency and a close associate of Sarma has been linked to the project as a contractor. The assault on the labourers could be seen as an attempt to avoid payment owed to the victims, coupled with the attackers’ demand that the labourers leave the area to avoid further attacks.

Following the attack, an FIR was filed against Borgohain at Barpeta Sadr police station.

The perpetrators, whose faces were covered, entered the workers' common room and launched a violent assault. The attack was recorded on video and later released online. In the footage, the labourers are seen being forced to kneel, hold their ears, and chant slogans in praise of Assam, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), and Lachit Borphukan, an Ahom general celebrated for his role in the Battle of Saraighat against the Mughals. The video also shows the attackers issuing threats, warning the labourers to leave the area or face severe consequences if they returned.

Having worked on the construction of a three-storey building in Upper Assam for three years, the labourers expressed deep distress over the attack, describing it as both physically and emotionally traumatic. The labourers, injured and frightened, eventually made their way through the forest to reach a nearby railway station.

The United Opposition Forum (UOF), a coalition of 18 opposition political parties and part of the broader INDIA bloc, has filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Sarma. The FIR, lodged on August 28, accuses the Chief Minister of promoting enmity between different religious and racial groups, attributing the rising communal violence to his inflammatory rhetoric.

Political leaders and civil society groups have condemned the incident, attributing it to the growing communalisation of Assam’s political landscape. Bhupen Kumar Borah, president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, has criticised Sarma for fostering communal animosity across the state, arguing that his actions have diminished political decency and decorum. The FIR against Sarma also highlights concerns that his rhetoric could escalate tensions and potentially lead to widespread violence.

Akhil Gogoi, a Member of the Legislative Assembly, stated that Borgohain had brought the labourers to the construction project. Instead of compensating them for their work, Borgohain allegedly orchestrated the attack and circulated the video as a means of intimidation.