Guwahati: Hundreds of residents from Borakhai Tea Estate swarmed the National Institute of Technology campus in Silchar on Saturday, July 18. They tore down a barricaded gate to reclaim access to a vital thoroughfare. Tensions boiled over in the Cachar district as locals fought to keep their usual route open.
For decades, families used two roads running through the institute grounds. NIT Silchar recently blocked one of them. This move cut off daily access for 400 to 500 families living nearby. The community relies on this path for school runs, medical trips, and grocery hauls. Protesters claim the ground under the institute was once part of their tea estate.
"This road is a part of our lives. If it is closed, where are we supposed to go?" a resident said during the protest. Many women joined the crowd, noting they use the route daily to reach hospitals and get food rations. Schoolchildren face the brunt of the closure because their school sits inside the campus.
The protest drew a crowd of 400 to 500 people. They promised more agitation if the administration blocks the road again. Police arrived to monitor the scene. The atmosphere remains volatile. NIT Silchar officials have yet to comment on the dispute.
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