A vigilante group in Assam that has targeted people it calls outsiders for about 15 years now faces action from the state government. The Veer Lachit Sena has been arrested following the kidnapping of a businessman in Guwahati on Sunday. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a crackdown and may consider banning the outfit, accusing it of extortion and harassment. Formed in 2010, the group claims to protect indigenous Assamese from injustices by outsiders and has confronted Marwari businessmen, Bihari workers, and Bengali-speaking Muslims. Although members have been arrested before, this is the first time the ruling BJP government has openly opposed the Sena. The shift comes after years of apparent alignment on issues like evicting alleged encroachers, which the government described as stopping demographic invasion.
Businessman Kidnapping Sparks Government Crackdown
The immediate trigger for government action was the abduction of businessman Rahul Misra from Guwahati's Borbari area on Sunday. He was rescued the same night. Police arrested eight people, with five identified as members of the Veer Lachit Sena. Ransom notes signed by a prominent leader, Bikash Axom, were recovered from their vehicle. Axom had recently been questioned over unrest outside the home of a late singer's manager. Following the arrests, Chief Minister Sarma warned the organisation might face a ban similar to ULFA. The Chief Secretary of the Sena, Rantu Paniphukan, along with two others, was arrested during a press conference criticising the police and government statements.
Past Cooperation and Recent Split with Government
The Veer Lachit Sena had previously worked alongside the government on several campaigns. Earlier this year, it supported demolition drives aimed at evicting alleged encroachers from forest lands, which the Sarma government called a move against demographic invasion by Bengali-origin Muslims. At that time, Sarma acknowledged the outfit's role, saying the campaign happened with his patronage. Last year, the group targeted non-Assamese business owners in Sivasagar following an assault on a girl allegedly by Marwari businessmen. A BJP leader even filed a complaint but later withdrew it under pressure. The Sena now claims it faces action because it opposes all outsiders, including groups that are support bases of political parties.
Source: Link