Silchar: Tension has gripped the Barak Valley after a Facebook post by Mukteswar Kemprai, President of the Dimasa Writers’ Forum, referred to the martyrs of the May 19, 1961 language movement as “Bangladeshi outsiders.” The remark has sparked a wave of outrage across the Bengali community, who see it as a grave insult to the martyrs and to Barak Valley’s collective pride.

On Monday, the Bengali Navanirman Sena (BNS) lodged a formal FIR against Kemprai at Silchar Sadar Police Station. The complaint, led by Pritam Dev, the organization’s central president, accused Kemprai of attempting to incite communal tension and undermine social harmony.

Speaking to reporters, Dev said, “Those who sacrificed their lives for the honour of the Bengali language are our pride. Calling them outsiders is an unpardonable insult. The administration must act swiftly and arrest Kemprai, or we will be forced to take to the streets.”

Several social and cultural groups across the valley have backed the BNS’s move, describing Kemprai’s statement as an attack on Barak’s historic struggle for linguistic rights and unity.

Public anger has spilled over onto social media, with citizens demanding immediate action from the authorities. The controversy has also reignited a renewed sense of linguistic consciousness across the valley. Many are recalling that May 19 is more than just a date—it represents the identity, dignity, and cultural heritage of Barak Valley.

With protests gaining momentum, attention now turns to the administration’s response—whether it will act promptly to uphold the law and protect the sanctity of the language martyrs’ legacy.

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