Guwahati: A group of four friends traveling to Dibrugarh Airport were physically attacked by a crowd in the Kakopathar area of Assam's Tinsukia district on June 6. The group, which included individuals from Delhi, Kolkata, the United States, and Assam, was driving to the airport following a wedding ceremony they attended in Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh.
Gaurab Das, one of the travelers, stated that their vehicle was intercepted by a crowd between 11:30 am and noon. Despite explaining that they were in a rush to catch their flight, the passengers were forced to stop and faced immediate physical aggression. "They slapped us, beat us and even tore our clothes," Gaurab alleged. During the altercation, Ankur Shah reported that his chain was snatched by someone in the crowd.
The group eventually learned that the area was observing a local bandh, which had resulted in several other vehicles being stopped throughout the day. The travelers were only permitted to continue their journey after presenting their flight tickets to the crowd. Due to the urgency of their travel plans, the victims did not file a formal police report.
Reflecting on the incident, Shah questioned the safety of visitors in the region. He noted that such experiences could deter tourism and investment if travelers do not feel protected. Despite previous positive experiences visiting Assam, the group expressed deep concern regarding the lack of security during their transit.
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