'Won't let Miya Muslims take over Assam': Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
- In Reports
- 09:35 PM, Aug 27, 2024
- Myind Staff
As tensions escalate in Assam’s Sivasagar district, where local groups assert that indigenous identity is at risk and some have demanded that "all Bangladeshis" leave within a week, the administration and police have implemented precautionary measures. These include issuing summons to leaders of various organisations to address the situation.
On August 26, the Sivasagar police conducted flag marches throughout the town. Additionally, the Court of the Chief Executive Magistrate of Sivasagar issued summons to 27 leaders of local organisations under Section 126 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) for a “probable breach of peace.”
The notices, addressed to leaders involved in recent protests, allege that they were engaged in organising and participating in an unlawful assembly with high-decibel speaker systems. The charges include attempting to incite tensions between communities and facilitating the illegal closure of commercial establishments in Sivasagar town, which could potentially lead to a breach of peace.
The leaders were also given a show cause notice asking why they should not be required to enter into a bond of Rs 2.5 lakh, along with a surety, to "keep the peace" for six months. Sivasagar SP Subhrajyoti Bora announced that the police plan to continue conducting flag marches for "the next seven, 10, 15 days" to maintain order and stability in the area.
Tensions have spread beyond Sivasagar to various parts of Assam following a series of incidents that have fueled inter-community strife. The unrest intensified after the alleged gangrape of a 14-year-old girl in Nagaon district on August 22. One of the three accused, Tafazul Islam, who was arrested on August 23, died in police custody the following day.
The August 22 incident has significantly heightened tensions in Assam, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other ministers describing it as an “attack on the indigenous.” In response, flag marches and area domination exercises by the police have been conducted across all districts since Sunday.
Regarding these measures, DGP G.P. Singh told The Indian Express, “We are prepared to face any eventuality. It is always better to err on the side of caution. The Assam Police has a long history of handling law and order situations. We are prepared to keep the people of Assam safe at all costs.”
Tensions in Sivasagar had been escalating even before the recent incidents, following the alleged assault of a 17-year-old girl in the district on August 13. The accused, who are local businessmen from the Marwari community, prompted large protests by 30 Assamese nationalist groups against “non-indigenous” business owners in the town. In response to the protests, members of the Marwari community publicly apologised for the incident in front of State Minister Ranoj Pegu and the media.
The protests also spurred demands from these groups for legislation to prohibit the sale of land in Sivasagar and other Upper Assam districts to “non-indigenous” individuals.
Tensions intensified further following the Nagaon incident, with some groups labelling the accused as “Bangladeshi” and calling for “all Bangladeshis to leave Upper Assam within seven days.” Videos circulated on Sunday showed groups going door-to-door informing residents to have suspected Bangladeshis leave the district by the end of the week.
The situation worsened when a video, allegedly from Nazira in Sivasagar, surfaced showing people being made to kneel in the dark, beaten, and forced to shout slogans in support of Assamese nationalist organisations. In response, Sivasagar SP Subhrajyoti Bora and DC Aditya Vikram Yadav issued a joint statement urging the public to maintain peace. SP Bora clarified that a preliminary investigation revealed the video was not recent, not from Sivasagar, and was shared to disrupt communal harmony in the district.
DC Yadav stated, “I want to tell the people of Sivasagar that if anyone is disturbing the economic or social balance and peace, they should immediately inform the police…”
Among those summoned was Basanta Gogoi, president of the All Tai Ahom Students Union. While he distanced himself from the call for “Bangladeshis” to leave Upper Assam, he affirmed that the agitation to “protect the land and language rights of the indigenous” would persist. Gogoi explained that the movement began in Sivasagar after the August 13 incident and gained urgency following the Nagaon incident, which highlighted the perceived threats to indigenous rights. He emphasised that the movement is peaceful and democratic, aiming to safeguard indigenous rights without creating a law and order issue or communal unrest.
Srinkhal Chaliha, leader of the radical group Bir Lachit Sena and known for previous legal troubles, also received a summons notice. He stated, “Our movement is against outsiders and their economic aggression… Today, all our land is occupied by Bangladeshis and outsiders.”
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that he would not let Bengali-speaking Muslims take over the state, underscoring that he is "not in the competition for minority votes". Alleging that it was a communal statement, the Congress walked out of the state assembly, where Mr Sarma was speaking. Speaking at Assam's Legislative assembly on the Opposition's adjournment motion on several key issues -- including rape of minors and the targeting of Bengali Muslims in upper Assam's Sivasagar district -- Mr Sarma said, "I will take sides. What can you do? Will not let Miya Muslims take over Assam".
"Let them (the Opposition) compete for minority votes. I am not in the competition," the Chief Minister added.
Image source: The Economic Times
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