Guwahati, 13 June (HS): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday claimed that the recent controversy surrounding Guwahati’s Arya Nagar incident was unnecessarily amplified, allegedly to divert public attention from two other major developments in the state—the Nalbari encounter involving Roz Ali and the beef-tiffin controversy in Goalpara.

Addressing a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister said the Arya Nagar incident, which was initially portrayed as a clash between Assamese and Bihari groups, received disproportionate attention at a time when public debate was centred on the Nalbari encounter case and the Goalpara school controversy.

The Nalbari case relates to a police encounter on June 1 in which Ashiq Ali alias Roz was killed. He was accused of attacking an 18-year-old girl and critically assaulting her 19-year-old cousin, local student leader Madhurjya Barman. According to police, Roz Ali attempted to snatch a service rifle from a police personnel and opened fire while being taken to recover the weapon used in the crime, prompting retaliatory action. The incident triggered widespread discussion and political reactions across Assam.

The Goalpara controversy emerged after a minor student was detained and his mother arrested over allegations that beef had been brought in a tiffin box to a government school. The episode led to protests, debates over police action and discussions on communal harmony, with reports indicating possible disciplinary action against several students.

Referring to the Arya Nagar incident, the Chief Minister said investigations suggested that the matter was not purely an ethnic conflict but was allegedly linked to an extortion-related dispute. Despite this, he claimed, the issue was projected in a manner that overshadowed discussions on the Nalbari encounter and the Goalpara case.

The Arya Nagar incident had drawn significant attention after clashes erupted during protests against alleged illegal narcotics activities in the locality. Several people, including a police officer and media personnel, were injured. Viral videos and social media posts had linked the unrest to Assamese-Bihari tensions, although the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.---------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash