Protests Intensify in Cachar Demanding Arrest of Sujit Das Choudhury, Organisations Warns of Cachar Bandh

Multiple organizations and civil society groups have staged a sit-down strike outside the Office of the Superintendent of Police, Cachar, demanding the immediate arrest of Suranjit Das Choudhury, also known as Sujit Das. Choudhury, the infamous leader of the Kaibarta Samaj Unnayan Parishad, has been accused of orchestrating a violent brawl in front of the Ruby Wine Shop on Ashram Road on May 25. Despite the arrest of three alleged kingpins on May 30, the primary suspect remains at large, sparking public outcry and distrust in the police’s ability to handle the case.

The protest, spearheaded by the Silchar Sahar Shanti-Srinkhala Committee (Silchar Town Peace and Order Committee), saw a diverse group of individuals and organizations united in their demand for justice. A senior citizen leading the protest voiced the collective frustration, stating, “We have been told that he is a land mafia and a terrorist, why are the police not arresting him? The incident of May 25 is known to all. Sujit Das Choudhury and his gang dragged out the shop owner and attempted to kill him in an inhuman attack. This main culprit is still at large. 18 days have passed and the Police still don’t know where he is hiding. In such cases, police encounter criminals, why this special treatment with Sujit Das? What is stopping the police from an encounter of this criminal? We ask this question to the Superintendent of Police.”

The protestors further emphasized the dangerous precedent set by the police’s inaction. “If tomorrow someone disagrees with me, will they also kill me? If this situation persists and the criminal is not arrested, we are not far away from that day. This sets a bad example for our town. We won’t stop this protest here, we will go from door to door to awaken the people of the town and show them what’s happening in our peaceful town. We call on all the intellectual people of the town and the people of sound mind to join this movement,” the senior citizen added.

The demonstrators warned that failure to apprehend Choudhury could lead to a larger protest and potentially a 12-hour “Cachar Bandh.”

Responding to the demands, the Superintendent of Police assured the protestors of the department’s commitment to resolving the matter. “We are committed to the people of the society and if such a criminal is on the run then this portrays a bad image for me and the department as well. But this is a matter of investigation and sometimes it takes time. Some investigation takes two hours, some take longer,” the SP stated. The police have promised stringent action based on the ongoing investigation.

The community remains on edge as they await the arrest of Sujit Das Choudhury and hope for swift justice to restore peace and order in their town.