Oppn says minorities in Upper Assam being given ultimatums to leave by vigilante groups

Indian Express

a day ago

Opposition parties in the state have alleged a breakdown of the law-and-order machinery in Upper Assam, citing a government policy that encourages 'indigenous' people to possess arms in areas where they are in a 'minority', and vigilante activity by Assamese nationalist groups in Sivasagar and other towns.
Both Congress leader Ripun Bora and Sivasagar MLA from regional party Raijor Dol called for President's Rule, alleging that the state government is unable to provide security to its citizens.
Various Assamese nationalist groups, including the All Tai Ahom Students Union, Jatiya Sangrami Sena and Bir Lachit Sena, have allegedly been running a campaign in different towns in Upper Assam against Bengali-Muslims living and working there, referring to them as 'suspected Bangladeshis.'
This has been particularly prevalent in Sivasagar, from where videos purportedly show vigilantes going to the rented accommodations and ordering occupants to 'leave Upper Assam'.
The outfits call this a 'miya kheda andolan' (movement to chase away miyas, a pejorative term used to refer to Bengali-origin Muslims). This follows widespread evictions in different parts of Assam, most recently in Golaghat district, and comes against the backdrop of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma emphasising the need to 'stem demographic invasion' of Upper Assam by 'people of one religion.'
On Friday, forest authorities and the Golaghat district administration undertook a demolition drive in which 146 families were evicted.
Opposition leaders particularly zeroed in on Sarma's response to a question by a reporter earlier this week, seeking his comment on allegations that the 'campaign' in Sivasagar is happening with his patronage. 'It has to happen with my patronage. I am only saying that people need to stay in whichever area they should stay,' he said.
Accusing Sarma of 'instigating mob violence' in Sivasagar, Congress leader Ripun Bora said, 'Our country's Constitution gives citizens fundamental rights of which one is that citizens can go to other parts of the country and work. So, some Muslim people from Lower Assam are in Upper Assam to do different kinds of work, like many youth from Assam are in different parts of the country to work. Those people are being called miya by some organisations and given ultimatums of 48 hours to leave Upper Assam.'
He also pointed to the government planning to roll out an online portal where 'indigenous people, who perceive a threat to their lives and reside in sensitive areas' can apply for arms licences.
Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi said there 'is no guarantee' of when things could go 'out of control.'
The AIUDF has also written to the Assam DGP asking for his intervention 'to identify and take strict legal action against the individuals and groups responsible for these unlawful activities'.