A huge protest swept through Dhemaji town today as thousands of people from the Chutia community took to the streets, demanding that the government grant them Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, include them under the Sixth Schedule, and provide autonomous governance.
The protest, organized by the Chutia Yuva Sanmilan, drew an estimated crowd of more than five thousand people from Dhemaji, Dhakuakhana, Sissiborgaon, and several nearby areas. The streets of Dhemaji echoed with slogans as protesters voiced their anger against what they called years of neglect by both the state and central governments.
Many of the demonstrators accused the ruling BJP government of betraying its promise to grant ST status to six indigenous communities within 100 days of assuming power. “The government’s repeated assurances have brought us nothing. We feel cheated again and again,” said one protester holding a placard that read “We Want Justice, Not Promises.” 
The Chutia Yuva Sanmilan warned that the community’s patience is running out. Its leaders said that if the government fails to recognize the Chutia community as a Scheduled Tribe before the next Assembly elections, a stronger and more widespread movement will follow. They also cautioned that the community would not support the BJP in the 2026 state elections if their demands continue to be ignored.
According to the Sanmilan, the government’s report on tribal recognition is expected to be tabled in the Assam Legislative Assembly in November. The organization made it clear that if the report does not recommend ST status for the Chutia people, the ongoing agitation will intensify across the state.
The protest march began from the Dhemaji Inter-District Bus Stand and concluded at Dhemaji Chariali, where thousands gathered for a massive rally.
Elderly members of the community, along with students and women, also joined the march, symbolizing the collective demand for identity and recognition. Many speakers at the rally said the movement was not politically motivated but was instead a struggle for justice, equality, and preservation of their rich cultural heritage.
