Assam: Tension Escalates in Tinsukia Over Chhath Puja in Historic Na-Pukhuri

TINSUKIA: A wave of tension has swept across eastern Assam’s Tinsukia town as controversy erupts over the celebration of Chhath Puja at the historic Na-Pukhuri, a cluster of nine ancient ponds regarded as a heritage site.

The three-day Chhath Puja began on Wednesday, but protests broke out as several local organizations, including the Lachit Sena, raised objections to the use of Na-Pukhuri for the festival, calling it an “archaeological site” not meant for religious gatherings.

The situation intensified on Thursday after the anti-talk faction of the banned outfit ULFA (Independent) opposed the celebration, warning the administration to revoke the permission granted to the Hindi-speaking community. ULFA issued a strong statement, threatening to hold the district administration and Tinsukia Municipal Corporation responsible if tensions escalated into conflict.

Protestors on Wednesday vandalized pavilions set up for the Puja while members of the Hindi-speaking community hit the streets, demanding their right to celebrate at the site. The district administration has since held talks with opposing groups and ramped up security across the town to prevent further unrest.

Earlier, ULFA had also opposed the observance of Bihar Diwas in Tinsukia, leading to the event’s cancellation by the ruling BJP in March. “This is a clear move to Hinduize a historical site. We won’t allow it,” said ULFA in its Thursday statement, urging the administration to immediately cancel the permission.

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