Border violence sparks widespread protests

KMSS activists protest in Nagaon on Saturday. Picture by UB Photos

Ritupallab Saikia, TT, Golaghat, Nov. 15: Eleven organisations, including the All Assam Students Union and All Bodo Students Union, today stepped up protests against the fresh surge of violence on the Assam-Nagaland border and criticised Dispur’s apathy in ensuring the safety of the people living on the border.

The organisations staged a demonstration in front of the deputy commissioner’s office here and submitted a memorandum to chief minister Tarun Gogoi through deputy commissioner Julie Sonowal.

One person died and three were injured after criminals from Nagaland fired on them on Thursday when they had gone to the paddy fields at Ratanpur along the border.

Those who were attacked were victims of the border flare-ups in August and are inmates of a relief camp. The organisations demanded that chief minister Tarun Gogoi should step down if he was unable to ensure the safety of the people living along the border.

The organisations demanded a permanent solution to the border conflict, safety of the people in the area, rehabilitation of the people affected by the skirmishes and development of the areas. The protesters also warned the government that if their demands were not met, they would resort to a mass agitation.

Members of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti staged protests in the district headquarters and sub-divisions across the state, seeking measures to resolve the border dispute. They also warned the Centre and the Assam government to concentrate on resolving the border issue, instead of putting the blame on each other. The All-Adivasi Students Association of Assam also condemned the fresh attack on the villagers at Ratanpur. The president of the association, Raphael Kujur, said they would launch an agitation if attacks on Assamese villagers did not stop.

The Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha has also blamed the state and central governments for the recurring violence along the Assam-Nagaland border and warned of an agitation. ACMS general secretary Dileshwar Tanti came down heavily on Dispur saying, “The state government has no moral right to be in power as it has failed to provide protection to the people living on the border.” He also criticised the Centre and sought adequate compensation to the next of kin of those killed and free treatment to the injured.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY WASIM RAHMAN FROM JORHAT AND OUR STAFF REPORTER IN GUWAHATI