*Issue of NRC Updation in Assam, Police Firing: 4 killed, Hundred Injured* * *
* **By-* *Shahiuz Zaman Ahmed* Source: The Assam Tribune, 24th July Four protesters were killed and about hundred injured in a mob violence and subsequent police firing in Barpeta on 22nd July 2010. The All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) gheraoed the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Barpeta, demanding postponement of the pilot projectof the ongoing updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) because: 1. Earlier NRC records of 23 villages of the district is not available in the district headquarter. 2. 1966 electoral rolls of 11 villages are not available in the district headquarter. 3. 1971 electoral rolls of 12 villages are not available in the district headquarter. 4. This pilot project is silent whether it will accept the other forms of documents like- land documents, marriage documents, etc., to prove Indian citizenship. 5. This project is silent with the future fate of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), etc. 6. This project is also silent with the future fate of the D Voters of the state, etc. The AAMSU demanded taking of 1971 as the base year for updation of the pilot project and settlement of the D voters’ problem first before starting the process of NRC updation. Source: The Telegraph, 24th July Thousands of processionists coming from different areas of District approached the DC office at around 11Am on 22nd July, 2010. The leaders of the processionists wanted the Deputy Commissioner to come of his office and take their memorandum which the later denied. The processionists were waiting in front of the DC office for about an hour under direct sunlight for the Deputy Commissioner. Meanwhile, a third party who was ready with stones and wanted to create havoc started pelting on the processionists. The mob now lost their nerves and became violent and in return started pelting stones to the DC office. Suddenly, the Superintendent of Police of the district appeared on the scene and ordered the police personals for firing on the mob. It took lives of four AAMSU supporters and about hundred got injured. The died persons were Siraj Ali, 25, Majam Ali, 55, Matleb Ali and Moidul Mullah, both 30.The police could have controlled the situation by applying tear gas or lathicharge. It is alleged that the police applied tear gas and lathicharge when the mob almost dispersed the place after firing. It is also alleged that while the processionists were running away to save their lives, many of them were caught by some unidentified youths and beaten up badly. Anowar Hussain, 35, one of the injured, told The Telegraph that he was beaten up by some unidentified youths. “I requested the youths with folded hands not to beat me but they did not stop till I became unconscious. I suspect there was a third force which fuelled the incident,” he said (The Telegraph, 22nd July). The town also witnessed clashes between the protesters and residents, who started attacking the AAMSU supporters allegedly for shouting anti-AASU and anti-Tarun Gogoi slogans. The clashes continued for over half-an-hour. The situation came under control following reinforcement of security personnel (The Telegraph, 22nd July). The state government immediately announced the postponement of the NRC updation process in the state. This incident has created a communal situation particularly in the district and the state in general. The All Assam Students Union (AASU) activists could not bother the demands of the AAMSU as the former consider the later to be the savers of the Bangladeshi people in Assam. According to the AASU, in Assam lacs of Bangladeshi people are residing in the illegally. AASU is of the opinion that the updation of the NRC will detect those Bangladeshi people in the state. Hence, the organization has warned the government not to delay the NRC updation process. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "humanrights movement" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/humanrights-movement?hl=en.
