Guwahati: A delegation of National Commission for Minorities (NCM) that visited violence-hit areas of Assam has reported that it has not seen any evidence of sudden influx from Bangladesh to trigger off a major conflict. In its report (TCN has a copy of the report), NCM also made the observation that conflict was between the Bodos and the resident Muslims of the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts (BTAD) and not Bangladeshi immigrants, as has been suggested by BJP politicians and media reports.
“The conflict was unequal because the Bodos had left over arms from the BLT (AK 47 etc.,). The Muslims are very poorly armed in comparison,” observed the NCM delegation that visited the area on July 11th and 12th.
NCM delegation consisting of Dr. Syeda Hameed, member, Planning Commission and K. N. Daruwalla, member, NCM observed the pathetic condition of camps that housed Muslim refugees. In one camp, there were just 10 toilets for 4,300 inmates. In Grahampur High School camp of Gossaigaon there were 6,569 inmates and just 25 toilets. Bodo camps were in much better condition, observed NCM.
It was not simply a conflict but an ethnic cleansing to remove Muslims from the area. NCM stopped short of saying ethnic conflict, however, made the observation, “the fact that when Muslims abandoned their villages their houses were looted and gutted might indicate a design to see that they do not return to their own villages.”
According to the NCM report, arms with Bodos also possibly made police reluctant to take action against them.
NCM delegation during their meeting with the Chief Minister Tarun Gagoi made a controversial suggestion that if security was not ensured then there is a “danger of Muslims in the BTC becoming militants in the future.” This point was brought home elsewhere in the report where it stated that “there can be grave danger in future in case militant Jihadi outfits from the rest of the country start supplying lethal weapons in this area.” It is not clear what “militant Jihadi outfits” and which part of the country, NCM delegation had in mind when they were writing this line.
NCM recommended setting up SIT for investigations, issuance of ID cards, filing of FIRs, long-term rehabilitation plans and also a directive to that more police should be recruited from the minority community and asked the state government to take all measures so that “forcible mass exodus of non-Bodos from the area, engineered through threats or killings will not be allowed.”