Assam Worker Killed in Changlang, Protests Erupt
A 20-year-old worker from Assam was allegedly stabbed to death in Changlang; student groups block key inter-state road demanding immediate arrest.
TINSUKIA: Tensions escalated along the Assam–Arunachal Pradesh border following the alleged murder of a young worker from Assam in Changlang district, triggering protests and a major road blockade on Friday.
The deceased, 20-year-old Raju Bhuyan from Bogaribari village in Assam’s Charaideo district, was employed at Tuhi Veneer Mill, a plywood unit located at 9th Mile in Changlang. According to reports, the incident took place on February 22, 2026, at the workers’ sleeping quarters, where Bhuyan was allegedly stabbed in the chest with a dagger by a co-worker identified as Aditya Roy.
The accused reportedly fled the scene on the same night and remains absconding. Police in Changlang have registered a case under relevant legal provisions, though no arrest has been reported at the time of writing.
Also Read- Assam down town University Wins ET TechEDU Award
The matter gained wider public attention in recent days after leaders of the All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA), including members of its Charaideo district committee, visited the site for an on-ground assessment. The visit was supported by representatives from the Tinsukia district committee.
On February 28, hundreds of AASAA members, backed by its Tinsukia, Margherita, and Dehing Patkai committees, staged a protest in Margherita. Demonstrators blocked a key inter-state road connecting Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, disrupting vehicular movement and raising slogans demanding the immediate arrest of the accused.
Also Read- Ranjana Sarma’s Eight-Decade Memoir Unveiled
Protesters stated that the agitation would continue until the alleged perpetrator is apprehended. AASAA leaders described the killing as a serious concern for the safety of migrant workers from Assam employed in Arunachal Pradesh’s industrial units, particularly in the milling and plywood sectors.
The incident has once again drawn attention to recurring inter-state sensitivities in the Northeast, where labour mobility between bordering districts is common. Civil society groups have called for enhanced coordination between authorities of both states to ensure worker protection and prevent escalation of tensions.
As investigations continue, authorities have urged restraint while assuring that efforts are underway to trace the accused. Further developments are awaited.
