2012 Assam violence: Difference between revisions
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== Background == |
== Background == |
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This violent outbreak follows pre-existing ethnic tensions between the immigrant Bodos from Southern china <ref>{{cite web|url=http://online.assam.gov.in/tribes_of_assam |title=The Bodo Kachari Tribes}}</ref> and native indigenous Muslims. Muslims are the original inhabitants of Western Assam, a fact which can still be seen in the form of Historic [[Panbari Mosque]] in the Dhubri district, the oldest Mosque in the whole of Assam, built in 1493 by then Sultan (Governor) of Bengal Hussain Shah. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enotes.com/topic/Panbari_Mosque |title=Panbari Mosque}}</ref> |
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There are two armed groups in the Bodo community, one group (BLT) demands separate statehood within the dominion of India and the other group (NDFB) demands altogether a sovereign country. Their motivation comes from the successful campaigns by other tribals of the erstwhile Undivided Assam, resulting into separate states of Nagaland (Nagas), Meghalaya (Garos), Mizoram (Mizos), Arunachal Pradesh (Arunachalis) etc. To achieve this end, Bodos are waging armed struggle since 1980s. They have to large extent already driven out Adivasis (Santhals), Bengali Hindus, Koch-Rajbongsis, Assamese Hindus from the so-called Bodoland. Ethnic strife in this part of Western Assam is very common and clashes between Bodos and Non-Bodos flare up every now and then. It is only the native Muslims who had been resisting the design of Bodos to render the Non-Bodos minority in the so-called Bodoland and have counter-attacked them. |
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== Repercussions == |
== Repercussions == |
Revision as of 06:53, 21 August 2012
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2012 Assam violence | |
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Location | Assam |
Date | 19 July 2012 | – present
Attack type | Ethnic-communal clashes between Bodo and Muslims |
Deaths | 77 (as of 8 August 2012) |
In July 2012 the Indian state of Assam saw outbreaks of violence between illegal Bodo immigrants from Southern China [1] and indigenous Muslims who are the native people of Assam. The other native group, called Ahoms, are immigrants from Thailand who settled in Assam in 13th century.[2]
Background
This Article is baseless and Completely Fake so deleted
Repercussions
The ethnic clash between Bodos and Muslims had all India repercussions. To show solidarity with their fellow Muslims in Assam, Muslims protested all over India in various forms, not all of which were peaceful. Some Muslims allegedly threatened North-Eastern diaspora working and studying in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bombay, Pune, Kerala and elsewhere. The innocent North-Eastern tribals (often referred to as "chinkis" in the mainland India) had to took the brunt as they share the same Mongoloid facial structure as Bodos. Afraid of being at the receiving end of Muslims' ire, the North-Easterners (including Assamese) left the cities in drove which resulted into the biggest mass exodus in India after the partition of 1947.
Ethnic clashes
According to NDTV, two muslims were killed in early July, followed by two more killings on 19 July. The police failed to identify the killers.[3] On 20 July, four former Bodo Liberation Tigers men were killed in Kokrajhar. Certain news sources also trace the violence to the death of the two student leaders of the All Bodoland Minority Students’ Union and the All Assam Minority Students’ Union in Kokrajhar on 4 July 2012.[4] The Bodos retaliated by attacking muslimsl and the clashes began.[3][5] Resulting ethnic clashes saw armed groups from both sides setting residential houses and public amenities such as schools and public transport on fire. There were also reports of firing using automatic weapons.[5] On 24 July, at Gossaigaon in Kokrajhar district, stone pelting at the Guwahati-bound Rajdhani Express resulted in damage to four coaches and the train was turned back. Neighboring districts of Bongaigaon, Baksa and Udalguri also under Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD) remained relatively calm, but tense.
The ethnic violence led to more than 500,000 being displaced from their homes. Train services and certain road transport services were disrupted and were resumed only on 25 July 2012, under protection of the central forces.[5] On 27 July, the death toll rose to 58.[6]
The death toll has risen to 78 after three more people were killed and two others injured in clashes in Kokrajhar district.[7]
Government response
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called the Chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi, on 23 July 2012, and instructed him to do whatever it takes to restore peace.[8] As violence continued despite the efforts of the state law enforcement agencies, India's central government deployed central paramilitary forces and 13 columns of the Indian Army on 24 July 2012, to the affected districts. On the same day, shoot-on-sight orders and indefinite curfew was enforced across Kokrajhar district, which also lead to the death of four people in police firing at violent crowds in the Rampur and Chaparkata areas of Kokrajhar.[9] The Army conducted flag marches and the disrupted rail services were resumed on 25 July 2012, under protection of the central forces. Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh stated that there were signs of improvement and called upon the Assam government to immediately act against the “ring leaders” of both factions.
On 26 July, indefinite curfew and shoot-at-sight orders were enforced in Kokrajhar district, along with night curfew in Chirang and Dhubri districts.[10] On 26 July, Chief minister of the state, Tarun Gogoi, had announced INR 600,000 as compensation to the closest kin of those who are dead and the people who were rendered homeless or displaced would be provided new houses at government expenses. The chief minister assured that peace would soon return to the violence-affected areas. Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh visited the district of Kokrajhar to take stock of the situation on 28 July 2012 and offered support to them.[11][12] The Prime Minister said that the Centre will "closely work with the state government to provide a sense of security to all affected areas to ensure that they can go back to their houses secure in the knowledge that their lives and livelihood are secure". Singh said INR 200,000 would be given to the next of kin of those who died and INR 50,000 to the injured. He announced INR 100 crore for relief and rehabilitation of the affected people in the six affected districts, INR 100 crore as Special Plan assistance for development programmes in the affected areas and another INR 100 crore under the Indira Awaas Yojana. INR 30,000 each would be given to those whose houses were completely damaged, INR 20,000 under the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to those whose houses were partially damaged.[13] The prime minister ordered an inquiry committee to be set up to look into the violence and directed the state government to provide security to the affected people so that they can go back home.[3] On 28 July, Gogoi said that the late arrival of central forces, including the Army, led to the spread of clashes in the State.[14] According to the media reports, the Army was reluctant initially for deployment of troops and wanted clarification from the Defence Ministry on deployment because the situation "seemed to have communal overtones". As the situation deteriorated rapidly and another request was made, the ministry cleared Army deployment on 25 July 2012.[3] The Centre has authorized the Assam government to deploy more than 11,000 paramilitary personnel in the state's violence-hit districts and has dispatched a relief plane with medical teams and supplies. Central paramilitary forces are now out in full force in Assam; the deployment of 65 paramilitary companies has been ordered and 53 companies have reached Assam so far. Of these five were sent on the night of 20 July. So far 7,300 personnel of paramilitary forces have been deployed in strife-torn Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts after moving them from other states in the wake of clashes between Bodos and Bengali-speaking illegal immigrants..[3]
AIUDF leader Badruddin Ajmal claimed that the state administration was complicit in the violence and demanded a CBI inquiry into the riots. [15]
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, recommended a CBI probe into the clashes in BTAD and Dubri districts and claimed “internal and external forces were at work”.[16]
On 7 August 2012, Centre ordered CBI probe into the continued ethnic clashes in the State.[17]
Criticism
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and some senior Indian officials are said to have questioned whether the deployment of the Indian Army to curb the outbreak of violence was enacted too slowly.[18][19]
Repercussions in other parts of India
In response to the clashes between Bodos and Muslims in Assam, people of North-Eastern origin were threatened and even assaulted in various parts of India.
Maharashtra
On August 8 and 9, some Manipuris were attacked in Pune. Students and professionals were beaten up by Muslim miscreants in Pune's Kondhwa and Poona College areas.[20] Attackers asked victims which state they belonged to and when told they were from Manipur [North East India] they were beaten up. One of the victims said some attackers wore college uniform while others were in casual clothes.[21]
Police have arrested nine Muslim youths for the attacks in Pune. The youths — Nadeem Rashid Ansari (18), Imamuddin Shafiq Shaikh (20), Vasim Faruq Shaikh (22), Muzaffar Azim Jamadar (19), Muzammil Ubedulla Shaikh (18), Tipu Javed Shaikh (19), Ejaz Sherahmed Shaikh (21), Rafiq Mehmood Shaikh (21) and Mateen Mohammed Pathan (19) — were produced before the courts and later released on bail.[20]
On 11 August 2012, a Muslim protest against the riots in Assam and attacks on Muslims in Myanmar was held at Azad Maidan in Mumbai. The protest was organised by Raza Academy,[22] and was attended by two other groups, Sunni Jamaitul Ulma and Jamate Raza-e-Mustafa.[23] It ended in violence, killing two and injuries to 54 others including 45 policemen. The most disturbing images were those of muslim miscreants demolishing the "Amar Jawan Jyoti" a symbol of Indian Valour.[24][25][26] Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik said it was around 3 pm that the crowd turned violent, after some protesters showed “provocative photos” of the Assam violence. “Some people started raising slogans against the police and media. They set fire to police vehicles,” said Patnaik. “As we tried restraining the crowd, a scuffle broke out between the protestors and police.”[27]
The Mumbai Police Crime Branch suspects that the riot situation outside Azad Maidan was part of a "big conspiracy". Crime Branch sources said the police are probing the alleged role of "outside agencies". Crime Branch officers said the police felt that the violence may have been pre-planned as the protestors were equipped with gear to torch vehicles.[28] According to the police, protestors set fire to three media outdoor broadcasting (OB) vans and four police vans besides damaging several vehicles, including BEST buses. At least 30 vehicles were damaged in the incident. One of the police vans damaged belonged to the riot control police (RCP).[28] The police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the crowd. Two of the OB vans belonged to ABP News and P7 news.[28] Of the 54 injured during the riots, 45 were policemen. Eight of these policemen sustained serious head injuries.[29] The police claimed that “at least five woman police constables were molested by mob."[30] There were also reports that a few of the rioters had stolen police weapon and fired in the air and at the police. However, no casualties were reported due to the firing.[30] Some photographers were also reportedly injured during the violence.[31] The police later claimed that provocative pamphlets were distributed during the protest. An officer stated that they are probing the source of the pamphlets. "The content on the pamphlets was provocative. We will be trying to get to the source and question him."[28]
Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial for martyred soldiers in South Mumbai was destroyed by the mob.[32]
President of the Raza Academy Alhaj Mohammed Saeed Noori Sahab said the “miscreants” involved in the violence were not associated with the academy. “Our protest was peaceful,” he said.[33] Noori, however, stated, an “irresponsible” speech had been made during the rally, which the Indian Express claimed, exacerbated tensions. Noori said: “There were several persons on the stage. One irresponsible person made statements regarding the media coverage. He was immediately stopped and attempts were made to calm the situation. We had no idea that this will happen,” he said, condemning the attack on the media.[33]
Riots at Azad Maidan led to panic in the nearby colleges and hospitals. Cama and Albless Hospital and St Xavier’s College went in lock-down mode to prevent rioters from entering their premises. [34]
23 people were arrested on charges of murder by the police and were produced in a local court and have been remanded to police custody. Raza Academy and Madina Tul Ilm Foundation were booked under section 302 of IPC. Police suspect Facebook and SMSes was used to mobilise the mob and the Cyber Crime cell may conduct further investigations.[35]
The rioters were found carrying sticks, rods, petrol cans to the rally and police suspect the riot was pre-meditated and are investigating the source of the weapons. Police have found the CCTV footage showing protesters pouring petrol on vehicles before setting them alight.[35]
A special team of Crime Branch, headed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police and consisting of 12 officers, will conduct the investigations. Two police rifles stolen by the mob were recovered from Amritnagar in Mumbra, in neighbouring Thane district. Only 19 rounds out of 160 rounds stolen have been recovered so far.[35]
Andhra Pradesh
Two labourers Sudip Barman, 23, and Khanin Ray, 32 from Assam were attacked in Andhra Pradesh while travelling in Ernakulam Express. One of the labourer sustained severe injuries, and later succumbed to his injuries.[21]
Uttar Pradesh
On August 17 2012, Muslim mobs resorted to large scale violence against mediapersons, bystanders, shops, vehicles and tourists in several cities including Lucknow, Kanpur and Allahabad.[36][37] In Lucknow, after the Friday Namaz, a mob of 500 ravaged various landmarks of the city including Buddha Park, Haathi Park, Shaheed Smarak and Parivartan Chowk,[36] and vandalized many statues including those of Gautam Buddha and Mahavira.[37][38]
Attacks and Exodus of people from North East
95,000 people from North East India have fled Bangalore after attacks[39] and threats of more impending attacks on them after Ramzan.
Shiyeto from Nagaland, resident of Bangalore, was attacked by a group of people who threatened to kill him if he did not leave the city before Ramzan which is on August 20.[39]
Cities of Pune, Chennai and Hyderabad also witnessed exodus of people from North East.[40] In national capital Delhi, messages claiming that people from the North-East will be targeted, particularly after Ramzan, have started circulating.[40]
Union Home Ministry has banned bulk SMS, MMS for 15 days to quell rumours and threats.[39] Railways introduced two special trains to meet the rush of people.[41]
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called for maintaining peace at “any cost”.[41] BJP chief Nitin Gadkari blamed illegal migrants for the attacks on North East people.[41]
DGP Dinesh Reddy of Andhra Pradesh said, "Police have been deployed at all localities with a sizeable North-East population, to boost the community’s confidence. Besides, round-the-police patrols have been organised."[42]
A policeman at Chennai Egmore station where Howrah-bound trains from South make a brief halt remarked about the exodus as “The large crowds reminds me of the arrival of Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka decades ago.”[42]
On August 18 2012, Bangalore police arrested three persons for sending SMSs and MMSs, to incite hatred against people from the north-east region.[43] Anees Pasha, Thaseem Nawaz and Shahid Salman Khan were arrested and four mobiles, two computers and one laptop were seized from them.[43] The culprits are believed to have shown clippings of violence in Assam and told a group of north-east youths that they would face a similar fate if they continued to stay in Bangalore beyond August 20.[43]
In Coimbatore city, police arrested a person identified as B Mohammed Sheik Hassain, for sending more than 200 hate SMSs. According to Hassain, a person named Anvar first sent him the message. Hassain has been charged under IPC for threat to national integration and creating public mischief and under the Copyright Act.[44]
See also
References
- ^ "Conspiracy to deliberately malign the govt".
- ^ "A Pilgrimage through the pages of history".
- ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference
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was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Assam's sorrow". The Hindu. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
- ^ a b c "India's Assam issues 'shoot on sight' orders amid violence". BBC News. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "3 killed in fresh Kokrajhar violence, toll 64". 07-08-2012.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "Assam violence: MHA officials to speak to warring factions". IBN Live. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
- ^ "Assam violence: 4 killed in police firing; toll reaches 25". Business Standard. 24 July 2012.
- ^ "Assam Violence: Death Toll Rises to 44". Outlook (magazine). Press Trust of India. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Assam riots live: Tarun Gogoi attacks national media for negative role". FirstPost. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
- ^ "PM announces Rs 300-crore package for Assam; says riots a blot on the nation". The Economic Times. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- ^ Samudra Gupta Kashyap (28 July 2012). "Gogoi says central forces reached late". The Indian Express. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|Title=
ignored (|title=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Interview with Badrudding Ajmal". Outlook magazine. 13.
{{cite journal}}
:|access-date=
requires|url=
(help); Check date values in:|date=
and|year=
/|date=
mismatch (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=
ignored (|author=
suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|month=
ignored (help) - ^ "Assam govt recommends CBI probe into violence". 07-08-2012.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "Kokrajhar erupts again, Centre orders CBI probe". 08-08-2012.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ Sudhi Ranjan Sen Assam violence: Was the Army deployed too late? Home ministry to take up the issue with the Prime Minister NDTV.
- ^ Sharma, Betwa (2 August 2012). "In Assam, Grim Aftermath to July Riots - NYTimes.com". Bangladesh: India.blogs.nytimes.com. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ^ a b "Pune attacks against North-East students too provoked by 'Assam video', say police". Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ a b "Six attacks on Manipuris, many from northeast choose to stay home". 12-08-2012.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "Assam echoes in Mumbai". 11-08-2012.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "Two dead in Mumbai as protest rally turns into a riot". 12-08-2012.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "Protest against Assam riots turns violent in Mumbai". The Times of India. Mumbai, India. IANS. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
- ^ "Assam riots: 2 killed, 20 injured as protestors go on rampage in Mumbai". 12-08-2012.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "2 dead, 54 hurt in Mumbai protest over Assam violence". Indian Express. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ "2 dead, 54 hurt in Mumbai protest over Assam violence". The Indian Express. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Police probing if violence was a 'big conspiracy'". The Indian Express. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- ^ "I could see them tossing policemen up and down". The Indian Express. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- ^ a b "Mumbai violence: Woman cops molested by rioters". DNA India. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- ^ "Assam effect: Riot in the city as protesters go on rampage". DNA India. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- ^ "Assam violence protest in Mumbai: 23 arrested, police claim women constables molested by mob at Azad Maidan : West, News – India Today". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ a b "Mumbai violence: Organisers admit remarks against media led to tension". The Indian Express. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- ^ "Mumbai violence: Panic at Cama, Xavier's". 08-12-2012.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ a b c "Mumbai Violence Seems Pre-Planned: Police". 12-08-2012.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ a b Khan, Atiq (August 18 2012). "Mob goes berserk in Lucknow, targets media". The Hindu. Retrieved August 20 2012.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|accessdate=
and|date=
(help) - ^ a b "UP sees violence over Myanmar-Assam events, curfew in Allahabad". MSN News. August 18 2012. Retrieved August 20 2012.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|accessdate=
and|date=
(help) - ^ "BJP: Police did not act during violence on govt instance". Indian Express. Aug 19 2012. Retrieved August 20 2012.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|accessdate=
and|date=
(help) - ^ a b c "Northeast people indeed assaulted, threatened in Bangalore". Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ^ a b "North-East people's exodus continues". Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ^ a b c "PM CALLS FOR MAINTAINING PEACE AT ANY COST". Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ^ a b "N-E exodus from 3 states unabated". Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ^ a b c "Cops nab gang which sent hate SMSs in Bangalore". Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ^ "20-yr-old held for forwarding hate SMS". Retrieved 20 August 2012.
External links
- "The Butchers of Kokrajhar". Tehelka Magazine. 4 August 2012.
- "Bodoland Muslims might turn 'militant,' warns minorities panel". The Hindu. 16 August 2012.
- "Assam calm; exodus to North-East continues". Live Mint. 18 August 2012.