India: big protests in Assam
Featured image: massive students protest at the Indian Institute of Technology of Guwahati. Source: Ne Now News.
This Monday, 9th of September, the dead body a student was found in his hostel room in Guwahati. The youth was studying at the Indian Institute of Technology – Guwahati (IIT-G). It looks like the student committed suicide. On the same day strong protests erupted at the campus by the students who made the IIT-G authorities responsible of what occurred. More than 3,000 students gathered and demanded justice and denounced the inhuman treatment given to the students. Thus, they demanded the resignation of some senior officials of the university. In 2024 several students have already committed suicide at the IIT-G.
The authorities despised the anger of the students and mocked the deceased and on the demands of the students. Moreover the education authorities forbade the journalists to enter to the campus during the protests, first by asking them to do not come and then closing the doors of the campus. After mocking on the students on Monday, just two days after and amid big and continuous protests, senior officials of the institute resigned on Wednesday, 11th of September, and more discussions were held on which measures to apply. Even though, the students continue demanding more resignations of senior officials and specific teachers of the IIT-G.
Also in Assam this week there was an attempt to evict peasants from State lands, which was responded by the peasants who live on and work those lands. More than 1,000 demonstrators clashed with the police using knifes and stones. The repressive forces used live ammunition on them. As a result there were two civilians murdered and other 35 people injured, including 22 police officers.
Peasants protesting against the eviction. Source: Assam Tribune
These are only some of the numerous protests which are continuously occurring in Assam, which is a region at the Northeastern India, bordering with Manipur and which a long history of all kind of protests and struggles against the old Indian State. Only few years ago armed clashes erupted which affected the states of Assam and Mizoram and in which the old Indian State suffered several casualties among its repressive forces.
Assam within the old Indian State. Source: web Britannica
This situation in Assam is an expression of how conflictive the Northeastern India is and how explosive the situation in the Southeastern Asia in general is and in particular, in the old Indian State. In this area Manipur is increasingly out of control, as well as other areas only need a small spark to explode and cause a rebellion of the masses, as it has happened now in Assam.