Five Muslim protestors of All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) were killed while more than 50 were injured in a clash that took place between the union’s protestors and police in Barpeta district of Assam on July 21.
The unfortunate incident occurred when hundreds of AASMU activists and supporters gathered in front of the Deputy Commissioner (DC)’s office at around 11 am to take part in a scheduled dharna staged to oppose the work of updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Police report claimed the AASMU protestors shouted slogans against Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and All Assam Students Union (AASU) adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya and also pelted stones at the police personnel, injuring them and destroying the vehicles parked in the premise of the DC’s office. As the police resorted to lathi-charge, the protestors turned violent and set ablaze the motorcycles parked in front of the office forcing the police to fire teargas and open fire.
AAMSU protestors further clashed with the local residents, who started attacking the AAMSU supporters allegedly for shouting anti-government and anti-AASU slogans, for almost half an hour, the report mentioned. The 5 protestors – Majam Ali (55), Matleb Ali (30), Siraj Ali (25), Maidul Islam (27) and Moitul Mullah (30) – died of injuries, including bullet injuries, caused in the clashes.
An injured protestor reported that he was beaten up by some local youth in spite of his request with folded hands not to do so till he fell unconscious. He said a third force possibly fuelled the incident. AAMSU leaders claimed that the stone pelting on security personnel was not carried out by their activists but by some miscreants who wanted to malign the union.
The situation calmed down following reinforcement of security personnel. Many of the Muslim leaders condemned the state police for their brutality and for not handling the situation properly. Protest meetings were held in many parts of Assam. In one such meeting at Goalpara district the effigy of the Chief Minister was burned.
Barpeta District administration imposed Section 144 in the entire district. AAMSU called a 12-hour bandh on July 22. The bandh was supported by All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) led by Maulana Badruddin Ajmal. Assam Gana Parishad (AGP) demanded a high-level inquiry into the incident. Party leader Liaqat Ali expressed that the incident occurred due to the failure of the district administration and condoled the death of the protestors. However, AASU alleged the incident was instigated by a pro-Bangladeshi lobby to disrupt the work of NRC update.
OPINIONS ON UPDATING NRC
AAMSU has been demanding dissolution of the process of upgrading the NRC undertaken in Barpeta district and Chaigaon in Kamrup district as pilot projects in Assam. As a procedure of the project, the citizens have been asked to attach some documents to verify their Indian citizenship with the standard government form. These documents include the list of NRC 1951 and the electoral rolls of 1966 and 1971. The purpose of the NRC is to identity and enlists Indian citizens in the state.
The process of updating the NRC has not progressed so far due to difference of opinions. Muslims and other minority groups have been demanding preparation of NRC on the basis of 1971 voters’ list while many of the non-minority organisations want to update the NRC based on the voters’ list of 1952.
In its report submitted to government AASU plainly mentioned that the NRC 1951, or the voters’ list of 1952, be taken as the point of reference to define the concept of indigenous Assamese people or identifying the foreigners.
Samujjal Bhattacharya said, “We are of the view that anyone whose name is included in the NRC in 1951 and the voters’ list of 1952 must be considered an indigenous Assamese.”
CENTRE’S RECENT DIRECTION
The central government on July 20, 2010 conveyed the Assam government to speed up the process of defining who an “Assamese” is to ensure a decision on 100 per cent reservation of seats in Assembly, Parliament and other local bodies for the Assamese.
The order came after a tripartite meeting between Joint Secretary of Union Home Ministry Navin Verma, Home Commissioner Jishnu Barua and AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya. The meeting reviewed the implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, signed in 1985. The clause mentions that the government provides special constitutional protection for the indigenous people of Assam.
AASU has been pressuring for reservation of seats for indigenous people out of fear that illegal Bangladeshi migrants might take over the state’s political reins. The body claimed that migrants have been contesting and influencing state politics.
However, the state government has not been able to decide on the definition of “Assamese.” State government formed a panel comprising a group of ministers in 2005 to define “Assamese.” The Congress government, it is believed, will not raise this sensitive issue of defining an Assamese when assembly elections are round the corner.