CM Himanta Orders Police Action After Attack on Bihu Troupe in Sribhumi
Synopsis
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has condemned an attack on a Bihu troupe in Sribhumi, calling it 'deeply disturbing', and has directed the DGP to ensure immediate action, framing the incident as an affront to Assamese cultural identity.
Key Takeaways
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma publicly condemned an attack on a Bihu troupe in Sribhumi district on October 25, 2026 .
He called the incident 'deeply disturbing and unfortunate' and declared zero tolerance for insults to Assamese culture.
The Chief Minister directed the Director General of Police, Assam Police , to ensure immediate action against those responsible.
Bihu is Assam's primary cultural festival, celebrated three times annually and considered a core symbol of indigenous Assamese identity.
Specific details of the attack — including arrests — remain under investigation and are yet to be officially confirmed.
A cultural attack has become a political flashpoint in Assam. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday, October 25, 2026, condemned a reported attack on a Bihu troupe in Sribhumi district, calling the incident 'deeply disturbing and unfortunate' and ordering immediate police action against those responsible.
An assault on Assam's most sacred cultural symbol
Bihu is not simply a festival — it is the beating heart of Assamese identity. Celebrated three times a year, it weaves together dance, music, and agrarian tradition into a living symbol of the state's indigenous culture. Attacking a Bihu troupe, therefore, lands not just as a law-and-order incident but as a provocation against Assamese pride itself. That is precisely how CM Sarma framed it: 'Bihu is the soul of Assam, our pride and our identity. We will never tolerate any insult to our culture and heritage.'
The Chief Minister wasted no time. He directed the Director General of Police (DGP), Assam Police, to ensure immediate action against those responsible — a public directive that puts the state's top law enforcement officer personally on notice.
Sribhumi under the spotlight
Sribhumi, a district in Assam, is now at the centre of a state-level political moment. The specific circumstances of the attack — including when it occurred, who carried it out, and whether any arrests have been made — remain under active investigation. The Chief Minister's public intervention signals that the state government is treating this as high-priority, not a routine local matter.
Assam governments have consistently positioned Bihu as a core emblem of indigenous identity, and public discourse around cultural preservation has long been intertwined with the state's broader anxieties over demographic change and external influences. Any perceived threat to that cultural fabric tends to generate swift and forceful political response — as it has here.
What follows the CM's directive
The next critical beats in this story are the outcomes of the police investigation and whether Assamese cultural organisations or opposition parties move to amplify pressure on the government. CM Sarma's public order to the DGP creates accountability — the police now operate under the visible watch of both the Chief Minister and a state that will be paying close attention.
Bihu troupes travel and perform across Assam during festival seasons, often in areas with complex social dynamics. Their safety is both a law-and-order question and a cultural-political signal about whose Assam this is — and CM Sarma has made unmistakably clear where he stands.
Point of View
Public directive to the DGP is a calibrated political move: by framing a local law-and-order incident as an assault on Assamese cultural identity, he simultaneously signals strength to his core base and raises the reputational stakes for the police response. This fits a consistent pattern in Assam where cultural symbols — especially Bihu — are deployed as political touchstones to consolidate indigenous-identity sentiment. The speed of the response also pre-empts opposition space, leaving little room for rivals to outflank him on a culture-protection narrative that remains electorally potent in the state.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the Bihu troupe in Sribhumi?
A Bihu troupe performing in Sribhumi district, Assam, was reportedly attacked. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma described the incident as 'deeply disturbing and unfortunate' and directed the state DGP to take immediate action. Specific details of the attack are under police investigation.
What action has Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma taken over the Sribhumi attack?
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has publicly directed the Director General of Police of Assam to ensure immediate action against those responsible for attacking the Bihu troupe in Sribhumi.
Why is Bihu important to Assam?
Bihu is Assam's most important cultural festival, celebrated three times a year. It encompasses traditional dance, music, and agrarian customs, and is widely regarded as the defining symbol of Assamese identity and heritage.
Where is Sribhumi district in Assam?
Sribhumi is a district in the state of Assam, northeastern India. It came under national attention after the reported attack on a Bihu troupe prompted a public response from Assam's Chief Minister.
Has anyone been arrested for the Bihu troupe attack in Sribhumi?
As of CM Sarma's statement on October 25, 2026, he directed the DGP to take immediate action. Arrest details and investigation outcomes are yet to be officially confirmed.
