India: Violence kills 14, displaces 10,000

[Black Stone]

India: Violence kills 14, displaces 10,000 - CNN.com

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- Authorities in India's remote northeastern state of Assam have called in the army to quell fighting between tribal people and Muslims which has left 14 dead and displaced more than 10,000.

George Basumatari, the most senior official of Assam's troubled Udalguri district, told CNN that a round-the-clock curfew with a two-hour afternoon break had been imposed in the district.

"It will remain in place at least for four more days," he said.

The fighting started September 30. By Sunday, 14 people were feared killed, Basumatari said.

District authorities have set up 18 relief camps where more than 10,000 people were staying, he said.

The two groups have been clashing with bows, arrows and spears.

Basumatari thinks decades-old rivalry between the local tribals and Muslims, who are seen as Bangladeshi settlers, may have played a part in the clashes.

"Some misunderstanding just flared up the situation," he said.

 

[Goodperson]

The clashes are between Bodo tribespeople and Muslim settlers from Bangladesh in Udalguri district.

BBC NEWS | World | South Asia | Deadly clashes break out in Assam

 

[Spring Onion]

Four killed in police firing in Assam, toll mounts to 20

Indo-Asian News Service
Guwahati, October 05, 2008
First Published: 17:07 IST(5/10/2008)
Last Updated: 17:16 IST(5/10/2008)




Four people were killed on Sunday when the police opened fire at mobs of angry villagers in three different locations in Assam, taking the death toll in three days of clashes to 20, officials said.

A government spokesman said the police and paramilitary troopers opened fire on three different locations to disperse armed mobs trying to set ablaze villages of a rival community in the northern district of Udalguri, about 120 km from Assam's main city of Guwahati.

"At least four people were killed when the police opened fire on armed miscreants trying to set ablaze a village," said a senior police official, requesting anonymity.

All the victims belonged to the minority Muslim community.

Violence erupted after village officials belonging to the tribal Bodo group were attacked by Muslims on Friday, the police said.

Other groups in Assam state joined the clashes, with mobs armed with machetes, spears and illegal guns targeting rival communities.

Troops were instructed to shoot at sight in two districts of the state where a curfew has been imposed, police said.

"The toll as of now is 20 killed and about 70 wounded, some critically. About 250 houses have been torched," the official said.
About 10,000 people have fled their homes and are living in state-run relief centres. Police and locals blamed militants of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), a tribal rebel group currently on a ceasefire with New Delhi, of attacking and torching villages belonging to the Muslim community.

"We have also got such reports of the NDFB instigating the violence and if such reports are found to be true then we shall have no options other than calling off the ceasefire," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told journalists Sunday.
Community leaders and opposition political parties blamed the state government for failing to control the violence.

"Despite the government issuing curfew and shoot-on-sight orders in force, violence is continuing and there are complaints that there are no security forces present in several vulnerable areas," former Assam chief minister and leader of the Asom Gana Parishad-Progressive, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, said after visiting the violence-hit district.

In August, the area witnessed similar clashes between two communities in which about 10 people were killed and several injured.

http://www.defence.pk/forums/world-...e-kills-14-displaces-10-000-a.html#post202548

 

[Goodperson]

All the victims belonged to the minority Muslim community.

Seems Illegal Bangladeshis from the news reports.

 

[Spring Onion]

The clashes are between Bodo tribespeople and Muslim settlers from Bangladesh in Udalguri district.

They are Indian Citizens the Bengalis. What a shame if after over 60 years if they are still called Bangladeshis.

 

[Spring Onion]

Seems Illegal Bangladeshis from the news reports.

10,000 people mostly Muslims fled the area. Can you imagin such a large number of illegal Bangladeshis that too under the nose of authorities???

 

[Goodperson]

They are Indian Citizens the Bengalis. What a shame if after over 60 years if they are still called Bangladeshis.

Oh O, Read the news reports settlers seem to be Bangladeshi's. There have been long-running tensions in Assam state between indigenous peoples and settlers. Tensions seems to be going on for years so they know the people very well.

It cannot be 60 years as Bangladesh was born in 1971. Illegal settlers have voters Id, ration card using which they taken citizenships.

 

[Spring Onion]

Oh O, Read the news reports settlers seem to be Bangladeshi's. There have been long-running tensions in Assam state between indigenous peoples and settlers. Tensions seems to be going on for years so they know the people very well.

It cannot be 60 years as Bangladesh was born in 1971. Illegal settlers have voters Id, ration card using which they taken citizenships.

Read the BBC report they said that

"The Muslim leaders say most of their people came to Assam before Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 and obtained Indian citizenship legally, adds our correspondent."

 

[Goodperson]

Read the BBC report they said that

"The Muslim leaders say most of their people came to Assam before Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 and obtained Indian citizenship legally, adds our correspondent."

How do they forget those people Bangladesh was part of Pakistan prior to 1971.