GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Saturday that the state government plans to make buffalo fights legal. Speaking at a public event after opening a bridge in Jagiroad, CM Sarma explained that this move aims to preserve Assam's cultural heritage. He emphasized that buffalo fights in Ahatguri are an important part of the state's traditions.
Sarma stated, "The buffalo fight of Ahatguri is an important part of our heritage, and the Supreme Court has recognized it as a traditional game. Following their guidelines, we will soon introduce a law to safeguard and promote traditional sports, including buffalo fights." The chief minister affirmed that the Assam government would soon introduce a bill in the state assembly to provide legal protection for these traditional events.
He added that once the law is passed, people will be able to witness and enjoy buffalo fights as a part of Assam’s cultural tradition. This announcement follows the Gauhati High Court’s December 2023 ruling, which invalidated the Assam government’s 2023 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) permitting buffalo and bulbul bird fights during the Magh Bihu celebrations.
The court ruled that the SOP was in violation of a Supreme Court judgment from May 2014. The traditional bulbul bird fights, which had been suspended for nearly nine years, were revived in January 2023 under new guidelines issued by the Assam government.