A roadside altercation in Assam’s Nagaon district has triggered both a police case and a political decision to rename a locality with colonial-era roots.

The incident took place on Friday (August 9) evening in Daccapatty, a bustling commercial hub in central Nagaon town, The Indian Express reported.

According to Nagaon Superintendent of Police Swapnaneel Deka, the dispute began when Anis Rahman, the accused, parked his motorcycle by the roadside to take a phone call.

Another rider, identified as Tandeep Kakoty, was behind him on a two-wheeler and honked twice. This led to an argument that quickly turned violent, with Rahman allegedly assaulting Kakoty using his helmet. The police arrested Rahman later that day.
A video of the attack soon went viral, drawing sharp reactions from sections of the public over the identities of the two men involved.

On Saturday evening, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said he was aware of the incident and that the police were taking action.

“The police are taking action. I have also told the DC to quickly change the name of the place from Daccapatty to an Assamese name,” the newspaper quoted Sarma as saying.


Local historians say Daccapatty acquired its name during the colonial period when traders from Dhaka migrated to Nagaon in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, settling and establishing businesses in the area. A similar locality by the same name exists in Jorhat.

BJP MLA from Nagaon, Rupak Sarmah, welcomed the Chief Minister’s decision. He argued that any historical connection with Dhaka had long disappeared and that the area is now dominated by Assamese-run shops and businesses.

“There is no reason for it to be named after a city in Bangladesh that we have no connection with. That is why the Chief Minister has said that it should be changed,” he said, adding, “We all appreciate it.”