Silchar: Public anger in the Barak Valley has intensified after Mukteswar Kemprai, President of the Dimasa Writers’ Forum, referred to the language martyrs of May 19, 1961, as “Bangladeshis” and “outsiders” in a letter to the President of the Asom Sahitya Sabha.

The comments have triggered a wave of condemnation across Cachar, Karimganj, and Hailakandi, with citizens calling the remarks divisive, historically false, and an affront to the collective pride of the region.

For decades, the Dimasa-speaking and Bengali communities of the Barak Valley have shared a long tradition of coexistence and mutual respect. Civic groups, cultural bodies, and local intellectuals have stated that Kemprai’s comments not only distort history but also aim to disrupt the deep-rooted social harmony that defines the valley.

In the wake of the controversy, several organizations and individuals have lodged multiple FIRs in police stations across the valley, demanding that strong legal action be taken against Kemprai. The growing public resentment led to the convening of a citizens’ meeting at Ellora Heritage, Silchar, to deliberate on the issue and decide on future steps.

The meeting drew participation from representatives of over 50 social, cultural, theatrical, and sports organizations, as well as prominent citizens, academicians, and political figures from across the Barak Valley.

After extensive discussions, the gathering unanimously resolved to submit a memorandum to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Cachar, demanding an immediate investigation and the filing of a charge sheet against Kemprai based on the FIRs already registered.

Responding to an invitation from the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), an eight-member delegation led by Subrata Bhattacharjee met him on October 30.

The SSP received the delegation warmly, listened to their concerns in detail, and assured them that appropriate action would be taken within the next few days. He also issued specific directions to the Officer-in-Charge of Silchar Police Station to take up the matter seriously.

However, public outrage flared again when Kemprai, instead of issuing a sincere apology, posted what was described as a “casual and half-hearted” note of regret on social media. The post, which was later deleted and re-uploaded, was widely criticized as insincere and dismissive.

In light of this, the delegation once again met the SSP on October 31 and submitted a detailed memorandum reiterating their demands. They urged that Kemprai’s actions be treated as a serious attempt to insult the memory of the language martyrs and to incite communal and linguistic discord.

The memorandum demanded that he tender a genuine, unconditional public apology for his remarks and that the administration pursue all legal avenues if he fails to do so.

According to the delegation, the SSP informed them that Kemprai had made the social media post under administrative pressure, deleted it, and then reposted it following further persuasion. The citizens’ representatives expressed their deep dissatisfaction with this revelation, asserting that such behavior cannot be tolerated.

“The people of the Barak Valley will never accept any insult to the language martyrs. Our demand is simple and firm — Mukteswar Kemprai must apologize publicly and unconditionally,” said Subrata Bhattacharjee, president of the citizens’ meeting.

The SSP assured the delegation that if Kemprai does not issue a proper apology, legal action will be taken against him in accordance with the FIRs already filed. The citizens’ committee stated that it will continue to monitor the developments closely and announce its next course of action based on the administration’s response in the coming days.