Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court granted bail on Monday to Shankar Jyoti Baruah, former General Secretary of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), who was recently arrested in connection with a clash at the B.N. Singh petrol depot in Duliajan.
Authorities arrested Baruah on May 19 following a physical altercation at a fuel station, which ignited widespread controversy and political debates throughout Assam.
The arrest has sparked public outcry, particularly among indigenous rights groups.
Several indigenous rights groups, including Bir Lachit Sena Assam, sharply criticized the arrest. Its leader, Shrinkhal Chaliha, called the action “targeted” against indigenous people.
The groups alleged that Tanu Shahi, the main accused, remains free despite being accused of making derogatory remarks against the Assamese community.
Several organisations, including Bir Lachit Sena, had earlier called for a Duliajan bandh.
Chaliha was taken into preventative detention near Moran while he was on his way to Duliajan from Sivasagar to take part in a protest demanding Tanu Shahi’s arrest and immediate release of Shankar Jyotu Baruah.
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Baruah’s supporters have welcomed the court’s decision, seeing it as a necessary correction to what they consider an overreaction to the incident.
The case continues to stir socio-political discourse in the region, with civil society demanding an impartial and comprehensive investigation.
