Staff Reporter
ROING, 22 Sep: Sikkimese rapper Ugen Namgyal Bhutia, popularly known as UNB, was allegedly assaulted by a group of eight to 10 men near Tiwari Gaon in Lower Dibang Valley (LDV) district while he was returning after a performance at a festival in Anini, the police and his manager said on Tuesday.
UNB and his team were travelling towards Roing at around 6 pm on Monday when two vehicles allegedly followed their car for nearly an hour before intercepting them, his manager Deep Dhar said.
Dhar alleged that the number plates of the vehicles had been concealed with mud and the assailants attacked after confirming that UNB was inside the car.
The attackers allegedly struck the vehicle with rods and targeted UNB and Dhar, while other members of the team were not assaulted, he claimed.
UNB suffered injuries to his head and face, and swelling around an eye. He underwent a medical examination and is stated to be stable with minor injuries, Dhar said.
The vehicle was also damaged in the attack.
Dhar claimed the assault occurred along a secluded jungle stretch with no other vehicles around. The assailants allegedly fled when a truck approached the area.
Roing Police Station Officer-in-Charge Taniya Uli said the police received information about the incident at around 7:50 pm. The delay in reporting was attributed to poor mobile connectivity in the area.
The police subsequently alerted check gates to look out for vehicles matching descriptions provided by the complainants.
Uli said the police accompanied the victim to the reported site on Tuesday and are gathering evidence and information from available sources.
The absence of eyewitnesses and poor network connectivity in the secluded area has posed challenges to the investigation, he said.
An FIR under Sections 126(2), 115(2) and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, that deal with the offences of wrongful restraint, voluntarily causing hurt, and basic criminal intimidation, respectively, has been registered at the Roing police station and efforts are underway to identify those involved and ascertain the circumstances leading to the alleged attack.
UNB rose to prominence through his distinctive hip-hop style and performances that helped him build a following in Sikkim and across the Northeast. He later gained wider national attention as a contestant on 'MTV Hustle 2.0' in 2022. His performance of 'Hum Bhi Kya Kam Hai', which highlighted issues of identity and discrimination faced by people from the Northeast, drew attention from the judges and audiences.
UNB, who founded independent label KAUSO Records in 2017, has also used his music to highlight social issues, and represents the Northeast in India's hip-hop scene.
