Activist Bikash Axom was today expelled from the Veer Lachit Sena. The development came on a day when the group’s Central Chief Secretary, Rantu Paniphukan, was arrested while addressing a press conference in Guwahati.
Following the arrest, Shrinkhal Chaliha, chief of the Veer Lachit Sena, strongly criticised the government’s action and demanded Paniphukan’s immediate release. He said that the arrest was completely unjust and called it a “fascist act” meant to silence the voice of the organisation. “If the government continues to target us, there will be strong opposition from our side. The government will have to face the consequences,” Chaliha warned.
Chaliha questioned the government’s motives behind the repeated actions against the Sena. “Why is the government attacking us? What is the agenda behind this?” he asked. According to him, the Veer Lachit Sena has always stood for the protection of Assamese culture and tradition. “Because of us, some anti-Assamese elements are afraid to speak against Assamese culture and tradition,” he added. 
He also alleged that Bangladeshi-origin people were getting benefits from Assam government schemes while the genuine Assamese people were being ignored. “Nowadays, people are afraid to speak for Assamese culture and tradition. They fear being targeted or silenced,” Chaliha said.
Rejecting any political link, Chaliha made it clear that the Veer Lachit Sena does not follow any party or leader. “Himanta Biswa Sarma and Gaurav Gogoi are not our leaders. We are not here to follow politicians. We are here for the development and protection of our Assamese culture and identity,” he stated.
Responding to the opposition’s allegations that Veer Lachit Sena is the “B-team of BJP”, Chaliha said, “Actually, it is the opposition that acts like the BJP’s B-team. They try to suppress our voice by putting false labels on us.”
Expressing frustration over repeated government actions, Chaliha said, “In Assam, whenever anything happens, the government blames us. Why? We have stopped appealing now. We will start putting our demands directly.”
Chaliha condemned the arrest of Rantu Paniphukan, saying it was a violation of democratic principles. “He was arrested while he was speaking at a press conference. How can that happen in a democracy?” he questioned.
