A large protest rally by the All Koch Rajbongshi Students’ Union (AKRSU) slowed down Kokrajhar town on Thursday evening, as thousands from the Koch Rajbongshi community gathered to demand ST status and a separate Kamtapur state.
The rally began from two main points, the Kokrajhar Higher Secondary School premises and the Multi-purpose Playground. From there, the crowd moved along JD Road, one of the busiest stretches of the town, before finally assembling at Green Field. People from different age groups, including students, elders, and women, joined the march, making it one of the biggest shows of strength by the community in recent times.
Protesters carried banners and placards and raised loud slogans throughout the route. Many in the crowd accused the BJP-led state government of failing to address the community’s long-pending demand for ST status. As the march progressed, the central areas of Kokrajhar echoed with slogans that reflected frustration as well as hope for change. The rally also received strong support from several Koch Rajbongshi organisations and allied groups who walked alongside AKRSU members. 
Leaders of AKRSU, while addressing the gathering, said that the Koch Rajbongshi community has been fighting for its identity and rights for many decades. They recalled that both state and central governments had made several promises in the past but none had resulted in concrete action. The leaders urged the authorities to take immediate steps to include the community in the ST list and also to begin a meaningful discussion on the long-standing demand for a separate Kamtapur state.
