What Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Said on Angel Chakma’s Killing, Illegal Bangladeshis

Guwahati: Marking a mandatory annual tradition, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma addressed the New Year press conference on Thursday, held every January 1, which also serves as a key platform

for interaction between the government and the media fraternity. The event, organised at the state guest house in Guwahati's Kainadhara brought together senior government functionaries and journalists from across the state.During the interaction, the Chief Minister responded to a Times Now question concerning the safety of Northeastern students studying in North India, in the aftermath of the killing of Angel Chakma, a student from the Northeast, in Uttarakhand.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tripura Student Killing

Reacting to the incident, Dr Sarma strongly condemned the killing, terming it “sad and unfortunate,” and said such acts cannot be tolerated in a democratic country. “The state government has already condemned the incident and conveyed its condolences. I believe the culprits will be booked and punished,” the Chief Minister said.Emphasising that people from the Northeast are equal citizens of India, Dr Sarma stressed the need for greater awareness and education to prevent such incidents. “The Northeastern region is not outside India, it is an integral part of the country. Such incidents were not seen in the last five years, and this is a very unfortunate one. We hope such incidents will not be repeated,” he added.ALSO READ | Angel Chakma's Killing ‘Not a Racial Attack’: Uttarakhand CM's Big Claim Amid Nationwide Outrage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkNqoZMwR-s&t=5s

Assam CM Himanta Sarma Signals Tougher Approach Towards Illegal Bangladeshi

Apart from addressing student safety, the Chief Minister also signalled a significantly tougher approach towards the deportation of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, asserting that the era of a “soft line” on expulsion is now over.Highlighting the importance of safeguarding Assam’s identity alongside development, Dr Sarma said identity cannot be separated from governance priorities. “Identity is very valuable. We do not see development in isolation. If the state cannot protect its identity, then mere development development for whom?” he asked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCwufXNBQKw

He said the Assam government’s governance model is built on balancing both identity and development, with policies being shaped accordingly. Referring to earlier statements made by the Union Home Minister, the CM said the Centre and the state government are on the same page regarding the eviction of illegal immigrants.ALSO READ | 'Angel Chakma's Killing Exposes Deeper Problem of Mindset': Northeast Students' Body Chief | Exclusive“What the Home Minister has said earlier and what I am saying today are in the same line. The soft line towards expulsion of Bangladeshis from India is now not available,” he said.Explaining the policy shift, the Chief Minister noted that earlier deportation involved lengthy diplomatic processes, including verification by Bangladesh through the Ministry of External Affairs. However, he said this approach has now changed. “Now, once an order is issued declaring someone a foreigner, they will be evicted from Indian soil. We will not wait for formal responses,” he asserted.ALSO READ | Tripura Student Death: New CCTV Footage of Racial Attack in Dehradun Emerges - WATCHDr Sarma further stated that the change has been enabled following a recent Supreme Court verdict, which upheld the right of states to evict illegal foreigners. He added that several deportation cases had remained pending in the past due to non-responsiveness from Bangladesh. “Now we have decided we will not wait. This policy change is taking shape, and people will see more such actions in the next five years,” the Chief Minister said.The New Year press conference thus set the tone for Assam’s governance priorities in 2026, with a strong focus on citizen safety, regional identity, and decisive action on illegal immigration.