The clash between Bodos and Bangladeshi Muslims began on October 3 with the attacks on Bodo villages by Bangladeshi Muslims, just after the Id. Though, the attacks were retaliated by Bodos and Assamese together, the maximum casualties were reported from the Bodos, Assamese, Biharis, Santhalis, Garos, Bengali and Nepalese. Over 96,000 of them are now in 50 small and big relief camps under Udalguri and Darrang districts. About 20,000 Bangladeshi Muslims have also sought shelter in other relief camps created in Muslim dominated areas.
The menace of Bangladeshi infiltration was opposed in Arunachal Pradesh a few months back. When they were driven out from Arunachal they entered into Assam. Following it, different students? organisations of Assam started a detection drive in the months of July and August. But it was opposed by some Muslim organisations. The call of Assam bandh was given by Assam Minority Students? Union on August 13 and by Muslim Students? Union of Assam on August 14. But it was ineffective and was opposed by the people at Bhalukmari Hatkhola Chowk in Udalguri district. In retaliation, the Muslims attacked the Hindu shopkeepers in a planned way. It appears the Muslims had planned to teach a lesson to the Bodos after the Id.
But the information somehow leaked to the Bodos and Assamese and they were prepared to face the attack. Under the plan, the attacks on Hindu and Christian villages began in the night of October 2 and continued till the night of October 4. The miscreants burnt and looted the houses of Hindus. They were in thousands, armed with traditional and sophisticated weapons. When they attacked Sonaripara, Kuptimari and Jhargaon villages on the night of October 3, they totally burnt down the houses. An old lady, Keteri Boro (75) of Jhargaon, was burnt alive. The police too fought for four hours and fired 197 rounds of bullets to save their own lives. The villagers and the police personnel witnessed the attackers shouting the slogans of Allah Ho Akabar, Age Barho and hoisting the Pakistani flags at two places. The inmates of some relief camps also confirmed it.
The Pakistan Daily (October 8) carried a news report titled ?Pakistani Flag is a symbol of Freedom in India? (www.DAILY.PK, File //k:Pakistanis Flag in India.htm). The news-item reads: ?Depressed New Delhi is now suppressing local Assamese people who want to carve a separate homeland out of India, people in Assam waved Pakistan'sflags in five districts. The Eastern Indian state is one of the dozen Indian states in the North and East where ferocious freedom movements are in full swing, demanding the right of self-determination from Indian rule. As usual, the Indian government, blaming Pakistani agencies for the violence has ordered an immediate inquiry for this incident?????
Till October 6, 23 non-Muslims had died and 43 were injured. Presently a total of 96,090 people from 321 villages are staying in 50 relief camps. It does not include the number of Muslim camps.
It was observed that Muslims received support from the local administration while the non-Muslims were put under curfew. It was reported by the camp inmates that Muslim extremists were moving openly with sophisticated weapons. There are so many examples of government support to Muslims. On August 14, Dipak Rabha was killed at Bhalukmari Chowk in front of Dr Saddiq Ali Ahmed, SDPO of Udalguri. On October 4, Francis Sangma (45), Patros Marak (40) and Naren Marak (44) from Borduaneza village (Ulubari/ Khairasali), P.O. Bhakatpara, P.S. Dhula, District Darrang), were killed by Muslims in the presence of local SP Mohd. Imdadul Hussain. When the Muslims were burning the houses of Hindus and Christians, the police was just a mute spectator, but when it was retaliated by the Hindus they were prevented by the police. People have lost faith in the local administration and they have now prepared for their own safeguards. Youths can be seen guarding their respective villages and rice crops day and night.
A total of 22 villages have been burnt by the Muslim miscreants. The number of villages under Udalguri district include Jhargaon, Sonaripara, Kuptimari, Sapmari, Nahibari, Simalguri, Falangsiguri, Dingdangpara, Amlaibari, Annaipara, Hajragaon, Akarabari, Batahbari, Kathalbari, Fakidia, Bhalukmari, Mohanpur, Kadamtal, Dalgaon-Tharaibari. Under Darrang District it includes Mudaipara, Bhakatpara and Puniya.
Smt. Khauni Daimari, an old lady from Khaouklachuba village, told this reporter at Mudaiguri H.S. relief camp that their temple of Bathou was damaged by Muslims and a Pakistani Flag was hoisted there. Bathou temple of Kuptimari village, about eight-km from Udalguri, was also found damaged. At Kharupetia town, under Darrang district, the idol of Goddess Durga was found damaged and cow blood was reportedly poured on that.
Some social organisations and student bodies are regularly active in providing relief to the victims. They are collecting eatables and clothes in large quantity even from the surrounding villages. The people of surrounding villages too are taking care for the inmates of relief camps. The prominent organisations active in the relief work include All Bodo Students? Union (ABSU), All Assam Students? Union (AASU), All Assam Gorkha Students? Union, Bodo Sahitya Sabha, All BTAD Bengali Yuva Chhatra Federation, Bodo Baptist Convention, Udalguri District Christian Coordination Committee, etc. The Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram too provided medical relief through a mobile medical van.
All the communities and organisations are working together without any difference.
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