The Koch Rajbongshi Students’ Union (Upper–Middle Central Committee) held a sit-in protest at Sachal on Thursday demanding long-pending rights and Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Koch Rajbongshi community. The protest drew more than 300 participants from different parts of the Upper–Middle region, many of whom travelled overnight to join the demonstration.
The protesters sat with placards and raised simple, direct slogans, saying they had been waiting for years for the government to fulfil its promise. Members of the organisation said that the BJP-led government had assured ST status to six indigenous communities of Assam, including the Koch Rajbongshi, but nothing has moved forward even after several years. They said this delay has caused anger and frustration among community members, who feel they have been left behind in development.
Several speakers at the protest said the Koch Rajbongshi community is one of the earliest indigenous groups of Assam but has been repeatedly ignored. They said the community has faced political neglect and has not received the recognition it deserves. Many protesters described the situation as “systematic neglect” by both the state and the central governments. 
Leaders of the students’ union said the community has been demanding constitutional recognition for a long time, and they cannot continue waiting without any clear action. They also warned that ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, the community may be forced to take “alternative political steps” if the government does not respond in a firm and final manner.
The protesters said their demand for ST status is non-negotiable and urged the government to begin concrete steps without any more delays. They added that the community wants fair rights, proper development, and the dignity that comes with constitutional recognition.
