A wave of anger swept through Charaimari village in Assam’s Baksa district after residents accused a personnel from the 24th Battalion of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRBN) of stealing goats and threatening locals. The villagers voiced their grievances on April 10, claiming that the accused constable, in uniform and carrying his service weapon, had repeatedly taken goats from different households and instilled fear through coercive tactics.
Residents reported that the IRBN personnel did not act alone. They alleged that others in the vicinity witnessed the thefts but chose to remain silent, either out of fear or indifference. The latest incident reportedly took place in the early hours when the constable entered a home unannounced and made off with a goat, leaving the family shaken. The aggrieved household said they tried to stop him, but he flashed his weapon and warned them not to interfere.
Word of the incident spread quickly, drawing widespread condemnation from the community. Villagers gathered at the local panchayat office to demand action against the accused. They said this was not an isolated event and that such behavior had become a pattern. Some even claimed that attempts to file complaints with the local police station earlier had gone unheard or were dismissed casually.
Community leaders called for an immediate investigation into the conduct of the IRBN personnel. They urged senior police officials and administrative authorities to intervene, stating that misuse of uniformed power not only violated the rights of citizens but also undermined trust in law enforcement agencies. They emphasized that while security forces must be respected, that respect must not be exploited to inflict fear among the very people they are meant to protect.
The Baksa police confirmed that they had received a formal complaint and assured that the matter would be investigated thoroughly. A senior officer from the district stated that no one was above the law and that strict disciplinary action would follow if the charges against the IRBN constable were found to be true. The police further stated that they had started taking witness statements and collecting other necessary evidence.
Meanwhile, civil society organizations operating in Baksa expressed concern over the misuse of authority by personnel in uniform. They said that rural communities already struggle with limited access to justice, and incidents like these only deepen the sense of alienation. One activist pointed out that law enforcement agencies must uphold the highest ethical standards, especially in remote regions where people rely heavily on them for safety and dispute resolution.
The villagers maintained that the incident was not merely a case of goat theft but represented a broader issue of law enforcement impunity. They argued that when those entrusted with protection become perpetrators, the rule of law suffers. A few residents mentioned that they had earlier hesitated to come forward out of fear of retribution, but recent community solidarity encouraged them to speak up.
District administration officials acknowledged the seriousness of the complaint and promised transparency in handling the case. They assured villagers that no form of harassment or intimidation by any government employee, including security forces, would be tolerated. Officials also requested villagers to maintain peace and not take the law into their own hands.
This incident arrives at a time when rural Assam continues to grapple with issues of governance, development, and accountability. Charaimari villagers, despite their anger, hoped that justice would prevail and that the guilty, if found responsible, would face legal consequences. They reiterated their faith in the system but demanded a swift response to restore public trust.
As investigations continue, the focus remains on whether justice will be served swiftly and fairly. The community awaits action not just for the stolen livestock, but for the message that the law is equal for all—uniform or not.
