People always talk about 1984 anti-Sikh riots, 1989 Bhagalpur riots, 1992 post-Babri Masjid demolition riots and specifically Gujarat riots in 2002. But I like to remind the countrymen about the Nielli massacre in Assam that took place during the Assam Movement in 1983. The Nielli massacre that claimed lives of innocent people especially poor women and children, should not be forgotten. They were cut into pieces and thrown into flames of fire; women were raped and butchered mercilessly by our so-called leaders of Assam Movement. In a bid to make Assam free from illegal immigrants, they launched lethal attacks on innocent lives of minority people and as a result most of the Muslim leaders of then Student Union had to alienate themselves from the Assam Movement. This event is considered one of the most shameful chapters in the history of Assam. So I request the countrymen to come together against the menace of communalism.
Asif Choudhury
Guwahati, Assam