Hailakandi | A protest over the alleged deletion of eligible beneficiaries from Assam’s Orunodoi scheme turned tense outside the Hailakandi Deputy Commissioner’s office on Thursday after police resorted to a mild lathicharge when demonstrators attempted to enter the premises.

The protest was led by Congress MLA from Algapur-Katlicherra, Jubair Anam, who along with a large number of residents marched to the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Kachari Road.

Police stopped the protesters at the entrance and put up barricades to prevent them from entering the office compound. The situation escalated briefly when some demonstrators tried to push through the barricades, following which police used a mild lathicharge to control the crowd.

Several people who claimed to have been removed from the Orunodoi beneficiary list participated in the protest. Addressing reporters, Anam alleged that repeated reviews of the beneficiary list had resulted in the exclusion of several eligible people from the welfare scheme.

He also alleged that genuine flood-affected families were being denied assistance and raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the implementation of government schemes in the district. “The people who should get Orunodoi are not getting the benefits. Actual flood-affected people are also not receiving assistance,” Anam alleged.

The MLA claimed that the authorities had been informed about the alleged discrepancies but no effective action had been taken. Anam said the protesters included local residents affected by the alleged irregularities and not merely Congress workers.

“The people you see on the streets today are not merely our party workers. They are residents of Hailakandi who have been affected by these issues,” he said. He further alleged that people who had complained about irregularities in government schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, were being harassed.

The Congress MLA also raised concerns over road construction and repair works in Hailakandi, alleging that some government-approved contractors had failed to execute projects despite the release of funds. He said the party was considering a separate agitation over the alleged irregularities in road projects and would seek an inquiry into the matter.

Meanwhile, the protesters remained outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office, demanding a meeting with the district administration and assurances on their grievances.

“We will wait until the DC comes and meets us,” a protester said. Further details on the administration’s response were awaited at the time of filing this report.