Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of a physical assault on human rights defenders, Mr Choudhury Charan Gorh and Mr Shyama Prasad Kurmi, on 30 June 2009 in Hailakandi, Assam. Mr Choudhury Charan Gorh is the secretary of NGO HELP, a grass-roots organisation which monitors corruption in the local self-government (the Panchayati Raj) and works for the practical realisation of rural development. Mr Shyama Prasad Kurmi is also a member of NGO HELP and of the All Assam Students Union (AASU) which advocates for students' rights in the province and campaigns against corruption and mis-governance.