Guwahati, Oct 26: The alleged attack on Bihu performers in Sribhumi appears to have stemmed from a scuffle involving people who had consumed alcohol, with police finding no evidence of a communal angle so far, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Leena Doley said on Monday.
Urging people not to give the incident a communal interpretation, Doley said the investigation indicated that an exchange of words had escalated into a physical altercation.
“Till now, we have not found any evidence of a communal angle, and I urge people not to view the incident through a communal lens,” she said at a press briefing.
“According to our investigation, a few people had consumed alcohol. Someone said something, and someone laid their hands on another person, following which the scuffle escalated into an altercation. It is possible that the incident happened after people had consumed alcohol and were in a celebratory mood,” the SSP added.
As of Monday, the police have arrested 17 people in connection with the case, including four taken into custody on Sunday night.
Earlier, 13 members of Hindustan Club, which organised Bihu performances as part of its final idol immersion procession of the year, were held.
The incident has triggered widespread outrage, with the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) staging a protest outside the District Commissioner’s Office in Sribhumi on Monday.
The protesters demanded justice for the affected performers and strict action against those involved.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that the incident has drawn condemnation across the region, including from people in Barak Valley, and that the police have taken action.
“People in Barak Valley also felt bad about the incident. Everyone condemned it, and we have also strongly condemned it. The police have taken action,” Sarma said.
Meanwhile, Minister Krishnendu Paul visited Bargul and Adarkona villages in Badarpur, where he met members of the affected Bihu troupe.
He condemned the incident and stressed that Bihu remained a shared symbol of Assamese identity and pride.
“Bihu is not just a festival; it is the heartbeat of Assam and the Assamese people. Bihu is a matter of pride for every Assamese. Some miscreants did this, and we totally condemn it. We have spoken to the people here, and the police will take the necessary steps. The message is that we stand together. There is no Assamese-Bengali divide; we are all Assamese,” Paul said.
The SSP’s statement sought to counter communal interpretations of the incident, with the investigation pointing instead to an altercation involving people who had consumed alcohol.