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2012 Assam violence

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2012 Assam violence
The violence took place in Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts of Assam state (The location of the state mentioned in the map)
LocationAssam
Date19 July 2012 (2012-07-19) – present
Attack type
Ethnic-communal clashes between Bodo and immigrant groups
Deaths77 (as of 8 August 2012)[1]

In July 2012 the Indian state of Assam saw outbreaks of roits between indigenous Bodos and Bengali-speaking Muslims.[2][3][4] As of 8 August 2012, 77 people have died[5] and over 400,000 people have been displaced,[6][7] from almost 400 villages, taking shelter in 270 relief camps.[7] Eleven people have been reported to be missing.[8][9] On 27 July 2012, Assam's Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi blamed the national government for "delay in army deployment to riot-hit areas".[10] On the next day, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited the relief camps in Kokrajhar and said the recent violence is a blot on the face of India. Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram visited the state on Monday, 30 July to review the security situation, relief and rehabilitation measures.[11] Lok Sabha member from Bodoland Sansuma Khunggur Bwiswmuthiary blamed illegal immigration for the violence in the state.[12] Public intellectuals in Assam have stressed the increase of Muslim population has been disproportionate. The Election Commissioner, H.S. Brahma, said the details of the 2011 census reveal that 11 of the 27 districts of Assam now have a Muslim majority due to illegal immigration from Bangladesh.[2][13] Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was criticised for not dealing with the flood of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. He was accused of not taking preventive action against illegal immigrants who are usurping native lands of Bodos.[14]

Background

This violent outbreak follows pre-existing ethnic tensions between the indigenous Bodo community and Muslims in Assam, due in part to rising ethnic nationalism (most notably Bodo nationalism) and diaspora politics. While the Muslim community state that they are descendants of East Bengali Muslims brought to Assam during the British Raj, local communities counter that the increasing Muslim population consists of refugees from the erstwhile East Pakistan prior to the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War[15] and subsequent migrants from Bangladesh who are blamed illegal by the Bodos.[16][17]

By mid-1970s, increased competition for livelihood, land, and political power have led to frequent incidents of violence, including large scale clashes, and the Nellie massacre, which left nearly 3,000 dead after the controversial 1983 state elections. This also resulted in resentment amongst Bodos, Rabhas, Tiwas, and other indigenous tribes-people towards India's central government for failing to prevent illegal migration from across the border and amongst the indigenous Assamese Muslim community for failure to protect the rights of minorities.[16][18]

There has been domestic concerns in Assam with demographic changes. It has been claimed by some that out of the 27 districts in Assam, 11 of them are going to be Muslim majority districts once the 2011 census figures, religion-wise, are published by the census authorities[2][13]

Government response

On the request of Sansuma Khunggur Bwiswmuthiary, MP of Kokrajhar, 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.[19] 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.[20] 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.[8] 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.[7][21] 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.[22] 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.[4] On 28 July, Gogoi said that the late arrival of central forces, including the Army, led to the spread of clashes in the State.[23] 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.[4]

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 Muslims.[4]

AIUDF leader Badruddin Ajmal claimed that the state administration was complicit in the violence and demanded a CBI inquiry into the riots.[24]

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”.[25]

On 7 August 2012, Centre ordered CBI probe into the continued ethnic clashes in the State.[26]

Reports have revealed that some 14 Muslim militant groups, which came into existence in last 20 years are under the scanner of intelligence agencies after inputs suggested that their activities were inimical to peace and social harmony. The organizations are Muslim Security Council of Assam, United Liberation Militia of Assam, Islamic Liberation Army of Assam, Muslim Volunteer Force, Muslim Liberation Army, Muslim Security Force, Islamic Sevak Sangh and Islamic United Reformation Protest of India.[27]

Criticism

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and some[who?] 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.[28][29]

Repercussions in other parts of India

In response to the clashes, 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.[30] 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.[31]

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.[30]

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,[32] and was attended by two other groups, Sunni Jamaitul Ulma and Jamate Raza-e-Mustafa.[33] It ended in violence, killing two and injuries to 54 others including 45 policemen.[34][35][36] 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.”[37]

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.[38] 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).[38] The police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the crowd. Two of the OB vans belonged to ABP News and P7 news.[38] Of the 54 injured during the riots, 45 were policemen. Eight of these policemen sustained serious head injuries.[39] The police claimed that “at least five woman police constables were molested by mob."[40] 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.[40] Some photographers were also reportedly injured during the violence.[41] 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."[38]

Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial for martyred soldiers in South Mumbai was destroyed by the mob.[42]

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.[43] 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.[43]

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.[44]

While condemning the violence caused by rioters, All India Secular Forum social activist Irfan Engineer blamed Raza Academy for being parochial in nature. Engineer said: “The riots have ruptured the lives of every person in Assam. It has nothing to do with Muslims, Hindus, Bodos or anybody. Raza Academy, while organising the rally, should have taken all measures to see that the crowd does not go out of control or infiltrators take advantage of it or that protest rally just does not become confined for one community and thereby score an advantage in the community itself.”[32]

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.[45]

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.[45]

On August 14, 2012, Bal Thackeray chief of Shiv Sena and editor of Saamna newspaper published an editorial condemning Congress ruled Maharastra government for "bowing" before "anti-national" Muslims who went on the rampage in south Mumbai. He labeled the violence as "grand rehearsal" of the 26/11 terrorist attack on Mumbai.[46]

Bal Thackeray said,

"While 26/11 happened all of a sudden, Saturday's violence happened right under the nose of the city police. Those who held south Mumbai to ransom are not just miscreants, they are anti-national Muslims. However, it is unfortunate that the police did nothing to control the crisis."

"The office of the police commissioner is barely 100 steps away from the place where the Muslim youths went on the rampage. They took away weapons from policemen, molested women, assaulted innocent citizens and torched public vehicles. Yet the police did nothing. There bullets turned into chocolates."[46]

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.[45]

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.[31]

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.[47][48] 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,[47] and vandalized many statues including those of Gautam Buddha and Mahavira.[48][49]

Attacks and Exodus of people from North East

30,000 people from North East India have fled Bangalore after attacks[50] 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.[50]

Cities of Pune, Chennai and Hyderabad also witnessed exodus of people from North East.[51] In national capital Delhi, messages claiming that people from the North-East will be targeted, particularly after Ramzan, have started circulating.[51]

Union Home Ministry has banned bulk SMS, MMS for 15 days to quell rumours and threats.[50] Railways introduced two special trains to meet the rush of people.[52]

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called for maintaining peace at “any cost”.[52] BJP chief Nitin Gadkari blamed illegal migrants for the attacks on North East people.[52]

Nitin Gadkari said the violent mob in Mumbai had waived Pakistani flag, made provocative remarks and vandalised the martyrs' memorial. He also condemned the attack on media and the assault on women police personnel by the demonstrators at Azad Maidan.[53]

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."[54]

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.”[54]

On August 18, 2012, Bangalore police arrested three persons for sending SMSs and MMSs, to incite hatred against people from the north-east region.[55] Anees Pasha, Thaseem Nawaz and Shahid Salman Khan were arrested and four mobiles, two computers and one laptop were seized from them.[55] 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.[55]

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.[56]

Events following warning date

Eid celebration in Bangalore

After the circulation of messages, warning people of north east states of India to leave Bangalore and other cities before Eid which was on 20 August 2012 (the festival that marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting).[57]

Special events were held by Muslim community in Bangalore at Jumma Masjid Bangalore, which had all the religious leaders present, special assurance were given by Anwar Sharieff, chairman of the Jumma Masjid Trust Board, that North eastern settelers in Bangalore not to worry as rumors spread were baseless, they would also were also looking for peace and cordial living.[58]

References

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