For last 10 days, Assam has been in the headlines of national media and world news for the bodo versus muslim community conflict. The conflict is centered around
kokrajhar district and has spread to chirang and dhubri and baksa districts of assam. According to news reports, more than 3,92,000 people have been displaced and have been living in temporary camps.Many a house has been burned and many villages are completely empty.
News channels are having a busy time covering the 4 districts, there are so many opinions that so many people have to say. Some people say it is a result of unchecked influx from across the border from Bangladesh, that has destroyed the population balance of Assam, that is responsible for the whole thing.Some others maintain that not removing arms from bodo terrorists is the root cause. Still some others hint at ethnic cleansing tactics used by bodos to establish hegemony over bodo areas as the reason.
Actually since long time, assam and particularly bodo areas of lower assam has seen violence. Sometimes the violence is against government properties like roads, railways lines and sometimes against people by bombing trains, buses and villages being burnt.
There are nearly 20,000 people mostly belonging to minority communities who are living in refugee camps for more than 10 years. 3 years ago,violence broke out between bodos and tea-communities.
Some news articles:
MSN
The hindu
FirstPost
The establishment of Bodoland autonomous area came as result of bloody violence. The bodo militant outfits like NDFB never cared for people's lives. The continued to blow off buses and trains until the govt came to negotiations with them.
It is also interesting to note the line taken by AASU. Because, in late 1970' and early 1980's they were the ones who took lead in an agitation against driving out illegal immigrants.
According to AASU, all ethnic groups should have the right to protect their culture and custom.
And the counter view is that, taking that as an excuse, the bodos, who have not laid down arms, are indulging ion ethnic cleaning of bodoland areas.
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