After a video went viral showing Jorhat Development Authority (JDA) officer Samiran Baruah forcing his car driver to lick his feet in public, there was strong public anger and the officer has now been arrested in connection with the case.
The video, which has been widely shared on social media over the past few days, appeared to show Baruah humiliating his driver, Bipul Orang, in a crowded area. In the footage, the driver can be seen kneeling and reportedly licking the officer’s feet while people watch. Many viewers described the video as deeply disturbing and said it was a shocking example of misuse of power.
Following growing outrage, the Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association (AATSA), Jorhat District Committee, filed a police complaint at Teok Police Station. Two days later, on the night of December 26, police arrested Baruah. The complaint accused him of threatening behaviour, assault, and discrimination against Orang, who belongs to the Tea Tribes community. 
AATSA leaders confirmed that the complaint was filed after repeated allegations about the officer’s behaviour. They said the community felt the matter could no longer be ignored, especially after the video became public. They also expressed concern that there was initially no firm action, despite the seriousness of the allegations. According to the association, even Orang’s first attempts to lodge a complaint were reportedly rejected. After the arrest, however, AATSA thanked the Assam Police for acting on the case.
The Jorhat District President of AATSA told reporters that the incident was “shameful” and that he felt disturbed watching the video. He said such treatment of a driver, particularly from a marginalised community, was unacceptable in today’s society. He also alleged that people from certain backgrounds were still being made to feel inferior, which he called discriminatory and worrying.
The AATSA leader further claimed that this was not an isolated case. He alleged that the officer had a history of visiting people’s homes, issuing threats, and behaving violently. According to him, Baruah believed that members of the Tea Tribes community would remain silent out of fear. “He was wrong,” the AATSA President said, adding that the community is now more aware of its rights and will not tolerate injustice.
He also claimed that even when Orang’s wife and son tried to file a First Information Report (FIR), their complaint was rejected twice. This added to the growing frustration within the community and strengthened calls for action.
In his FIR, Bipul Orang stated that he had worked for Baruah for over ten years as both caretaker and personal driver. He claimed that the problems began after he informed Baruah’s wife about the officer’s alleged extramarital relationship. Instead of dealing with the matter privately, Orang alleged that Baruah turned hostile and began threatening and assaulting him.
Orang said that on February 21, the situation escalated. He alleged that he was beaten, punched, verbally abused, and dragged through marketplaces. He further claimed he was falsely labelled a thief and forced to apologise publicly by licking the officer’s feet. Orang also alleged that he was made to sign blank documents, and that his Aadhaar and PAN cards were taken away.
The complaint also stated that his family was harassed and that the incident left his child traumatised.
