Traffic on National Highway 17 was halted for several hours on Sunday after members of the Kamrup District Rabha Students’ Union staged a blockade at Kenduguri in Boko. The protest was supported by several local organisations, and the agitators gathered on the highway early in the morning, stopping vehicles on both sides and bringing movement to a complete standstill.
The protesters raised strong slogans against the government’s plan to grant tribal status to six communities in Assam. According to the groups taking part in the blockade, the Centre’s proposal has caused deep concern among existing tribal communities, who fear that their rights and constitutional safeguards may be affected if the new communities are added to the Scheduled Tribe list.
In a symbolic show of anger, the demonstrators burnt copies of the ministerial committee’s report at the protest site. The air was filled with anti-government slogans as the crowd demanded that the proposal be withdrawn at once. Though the situation remained tense for a while, there were no reports of any violence or clashes. 
Police teams from Boko reached the area and monitored the protest from a close distance. Officers spoke with the organisers and ensured that the situation stayed under control. After several hours, the blockade was lifted, and vehicles slowly began moving again on the busy highway.
Leaders of the Rabha Students’ Union later said that they would continue to oppose the Centre’s move. They reiterated that granting tribal status to the six communities would, in their view, dilute the rights, identity, and privileges of existing indigenous groups who have long been protected under constitutional provisions. They added that the government should first consult all stakeholders before taking any final decision on such a sensitive issue.
