10-05-2008, 10:43 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Communal tension in Assam, 29 killed
Kishalay Bhattacharjee
Saturday, October 04, 2008, (Darrang and Udalguri)
There's tension in Assam where 29 people have been killed in what began as a village quarrel over theft of some livestock.
As communal tension between Bengali Muslims and non-Muslims spread across villages of Assam's Darrang and Udalguri districts, the government's effort appear grossly inadequate.
The Bodo villagers -- armed with bows and arrows -- are visibly angry at government inaction.
"They came in lakhs and attacked. No one helped us. The Congress government wants this vote bank, they think without Muslims they will not win. So they are helping them," one of the villagers said.
It's the first day of Durga Puja but a Puja Pandal has been turned into a relief camp due to violence. There's very little relief and people are traumatised.
"We, the indigenous people, are being victimised by others but the district administration is helping them. They invade us and attack us," said Pradip Malakar, a teacher.
Everyone is a victim in this riot.
"It's a conspiracy. They don't want Muslims to be in BTAD area. We will sacrifice our lives for the sake of Allah," said another villager.
Though the Army has been called in, the presence is too thin to instill any confidence.
And as tension spreads there's an unending flow of terror stricken people into relief camps.
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story...588350589015000<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Kishalay Bhattacharjee
Saturday, October 04, 2008, (Darrang and Udalguri)
There's tension in Assam where 29 people have been killed in what began as a village quarrel over theft of some livestock.
As communal tension between Bengali Muslims and non-Muslims spread across villages of Assam's Darrang and Udalguri districts, the government's effort appear grossly inadequate.
The Bodo villagers -- armed with bows and arrows -- are visibly angry at government inaction.
"They came in lakhs and attacked. No one helped us. The Congress government wants this vote bank, they think without Muslims they will not win. So they are helping them," one of the villagers said.
It's the first day of Durga Puja but a Puja Pandal has been turned into a relief camp due to violence. There's very little relief and people are traumatised.
"We, the indigenous people, are being victimised by others but the district administration is helping them. They invade us and attack us," said Pradip Malakar, a teacher.
Everyone is a victim in this riot.
"It's a conspiracy. They don't want Muslims to be in BTAD area. We will sacrifice our lives for the sake of Allah," said another villager.
Though the Army has been called in, the presence is too thin to instill any confidence.
And as tension spreads there's an unending flow of terror stricken people into relief camps.
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story...588350589015000<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->