Assam: Affinity Classes Director’s Death Sparks Political Storm; Family Cries Foul

The mysterious death of Paban Hazarika, a young entrepreneur from Dhalpur and director of Affinity Classes in Guwahati, has triggered widespread outrage across Assam. His reported suicide has not only raised serious questions about the circumstances leading to his death but has also sparked allegations of inaction, bias, and cover-up by Assam Police.

In a deeply emotional Facebook post, Paban Hazarika’s sister, Nilakshi Hazarika, expressed anguish over the loss and directly questioned the state’s justice system. “My elder brother made me dream of touching the skies, only to leave me alone under that open sky. No, he didn’t just leave — he was forced to go,” she wrote. She further alleged that her brother had named three individuals in his final note, yet only one has been arrested while the other two remain free. She also raised concerns over the transfer of the investigating officer from Dispur Police Station just three days after Paban's death.

Nilakshi’s post also criticized major media houses and news channels for their silence, despite her brother’s suicide note explicitly stating that being an “Assamese owner” was his biggest mistake. She called on Assamese society, political parties, and organizations to stand in solidarity with the family, warning that the accused are “powerful people” and the family does not have the resources to fight alone.

Echoing the concerns of Paban Hazarika’s family, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) held a press conference in which its president, Utpal Sharma, made scathing remarks against the government. He stated, “This was not a suicide born out of business failure. This is the outcome of sustained mental harassment by three non-Assamese individuals. One has been arrested, but why have the other two not been apprehended yet? Have they escaped — or been allowed to escape?”

Sharma called Paban a “successful Assamese entrepreneur” and alleged that an “anti-Assamese conspiracy” had targeted him. “If the remaining two are not arrested and brought back from wherever they are hiding, young Assamese entrepreneurs will no longer feel safe to engage in business,” he warned. He also criticized Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s silence, terming it “mysterious” and “deeply disappointing.”

The AASU president demanded immediate intervention from the Chief Minister and questioned whether the state was failing to protect its own sons. He pointed fingers at one of the absconding accused, Vikas Sisodia, alleging a history of actions that disrespected and undermined Assamese identity.

Meanwhile, protests erupted in Dhalpur, Paban’s hometown, where regional units of the Bir Lachit Sena staged demonstrations demanding justice. Protesters raised slogans such as “Justice for Paban Hazarika,” “Stop Oppression of Indigenous People,” and “Outsiders, Beware,” calling for swift arrest and punishment of all those named in the FIR.

The case has now snowballed into a major public issue, igniting debates over systemic injustice, ethnic discrimination, and the safety of indigenous entrepreneurs in Assam. With pressure mounting on the administration, the state government is yet to issue a comprehensive statement on the matter.

Also Read: Guwahati: Coaching Centre Head Dies by Suicide; Youth Apprehended