Social boycott of retired army havildar in Assam
Assam: A retired Indian Army soldier has been allegedly subjected to social boycott in Assam’s Kokrajhar district. An official complaint has been filed, raising concerns about social justice and community rights.
Suresh Chandra Nath, a former Havildar in the Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) Division, served in the Indian Army for 26 years before retiring in 2022 and returning to his village, Diyajijiri. Since then, he had been living with his family and participating in community activities.
According to the family, tensions began after Nath inaugurated a Kali temple built in memory of his parents. The temple, where he was also president of the Diyajijiri Nath Society Management Committee, became the center of controversy when local MLA Lawrence Isleri, who had been invited, could not attend the event. In his absence, the inauguration was performed by Khampa Borgoyari.
Allegedly, a self-proclaimed village headman named Harish Chandra Nath later spread false information that a Christian man had inaugurated a temple in a Hindu village, leading to tensions. Nath and his wife, Lalita Nath, alleged that this led to several village meetings where they were harassed and pressured to publicly apologize. Upon their refusal, the village assembly allegedly issued a social boycott of the family. It was also announced that anyone visiting their home would be fined â‚ą5,001. The family further claimed that they were denied access to basic necessities, including milk supplies, and were barred from socializing with other villagers. They also alleged repeated harassment, including the accused coming late at night to demand money, which caused them significant mental distress. After local redressal efforts failed, Nath filed a formal complaint with the Kokrajhar Sadar police station through the District Sainik Welfare Office, seeking protection and legal action. Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
