Contractor With "His Group" Stop and Assault Auto Rickshaw Driver Near BJP Office At Capital Point in Silchar

Excavators and bulldozers have brought vehicular traffic to a standstill in the heart of Silchar town. Labourers, working at a frantic pace, have been tasked with repairing the dilapidated roads that have caused immense suffering to the residents of Silchar since the onset of the monsoon. The lofty promises of the Modi government—whether it’s “Modi Hain toh Mumkin Hain,” “Modi Ki Guarantee,” or the Act East policies—seem distant dreams for the people of Silchar. Repeated protests by the public have done little to prompt action from the administration or political leadership. In fact, reports of ordinary citizens raising funds to repair government roads have repeatedly made headlines. Even the tuk-tuk and auto rickshaw drivers—considered a significant “vote bank” for the BJP—have joined the protests, as their vehicles frequently topple due to the numerous potholes.

So, why is it that despite ignoring all these protests, bulldozers are causing traffic jams today? The answer lies in the announcement by Assam’s Chief Minister, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has planned a three-day visit to Barak Valley to thank the voters for securing both Lok Sabha seats in an election that was a close call for Modi and Shah’s BJP. The party, which had promised to cross the 400-seat mark, ultimately fell short of a majority, necessitating the formation of an NDA or coalition government.

This hurried road repair, seemingly intended only to ensure convenience for the Chief Minister, has angered the taxpayers of Silchar. Voices of dissent have emerged from individuals across caste, community, creed, and professions against these temporary arrangements. After all, it was the Chief Minister himself who once criticised special treatment from officials, asking a civil servant if the arrival of “Roza Moha Roza” warranted such special arrangements.

At around 10:00 pm, an auto rickshaw driver passing through Capital Point, adjacent to the Bharatiya Janata Party office in Itkhola, was stopped by the contractor in charge of the road repairs. The contractor, Sayan Roy, son of Shankar Roy, a renowned industrialist from Udharbond, instructed the driver to take a different route. Exhausted after a long day, the driver questioned why he should comply. Roy responded by accusing the driver of being drunk. When the auto driver protested, one of Roy’s men began assaulting him, exposing serious flaws in the security of ordinary citizens.

If this area was designated a no-entry zone, the police should have been responsible for diverting traffic. Why, then, did the contractor and his men assume authority over law and order? A video capturing the entire incident has gone viral, with Sayan Roy appearing in the footage, although he is not seen physically assaulting the driver. “There were many people there, and I don’t know who misbehaved. When I noticed the argument hindering the work, I called and informed the police,” Roy told Barak Bulletin.

While a contractor, who has no business managing law and order, confronted an auto driver, Assam’s Chief Minister, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, admitted that the condition of Silchar’s roads is below standard and assured that they would be repaired before the upcoming Durga Puja.

Whether this incident is an example of moral policing, the thrill of securing a massive contract, or the power of money and influence, the assault on the auto driver, as captured on video, places the ball squarely in the court of the Cachar Police. It remains to be seen what action they will take, suo moto, against those who assaulted the driver.