The Quit India Movement began on 8 August 1942 when Gandhi gave the call “Do or Die.” In Assam, the Congress leaders organised hartals, processions and public meetings, but most leaders were soon arrested and Congress offices were banned. At first, the movement in Assam was peaceful, but later it turned slightly violent in some places. People attacked government buildings and damaged railway lines in areas like Nowgong, Darrang, Barpathar, Panbari, Rangiya and Sibsagar.
The British used brutal force to suppress the agitation. Many people were jailed, and Kushal Konwar was hanged for a train derailment at Barpathar—he was the only Indian hanged during the Quit India Movement. Police firing killed many protesters, including 14-year-old Kanaklata Barua of Gohpur.
Since senior leaders were imprisoned, the movement was led by second-line leaders like Sankar Chandra Barua, Mahendra Nath Hazarika, Jyotiprasad Agarwala and others. They set up many underground camps—around 32 in Bajali alone.
The rural areas became very active. Many villages formed parallel governments and village panchayats in places like Bajali, Raha, Jamuguri and Dhakuakhana. The “No Revenue” campaign became popular.