By Diganta Sharma, TwoCircles.net,
Guwahati: The dawn of October 6, 2008 turned into a great suspense to the people of Rowta Bagan area of Udalguri district in Assam. Nobody perhaps expected the sounds of ‘Azan’ that day because the communal conflict that started on October 3 had already burnt down several villages of the area.
The entire area had become a great void. The Indian Army took the position of saviour of the people and the situation became normal. Several lakhs of people took shelter in relief camps. So, very naturally nobody expected the sound of ‘Azan’ in the Rowta Bagan area.
Haziuddin at the relief camp
The social health of the area was worse. Schools and Colleges have turned into relief camps. A rumour that some communal group hoisted the flag of Pakistan became a subject of conflict in the area. Now everybody questioned: who is the person behind the ‘Azan’ here? The searching people found nobody there. The very next day, the captions of the local newspapers became like this – “who is behind the Azan at Rowta Bagan Mosque?” After this the ‘Azan’ was heard no more. Then everybody asked the same question – why this ‘Azan’ was heard no more?
At the same time the CRPF battalion found an old man from near the Rowta Bagan Mosque. He was seriously injured and was bleeding. This old man, 65, did not come to the relief camp. Instead he took shelter in the mosque. He was suspected to be saying the ‘Azan’ of ‘Fajr’.
According to investigation it became clear that when this old man was coming out of the mosque, some miscreants held him and tortured him brutally. His tongue was cleft off by blade. Moreover, a stick was inserted into his right ear. The name of this victim is Md. Haziuddin.
Thin sticks were pushed into Haziuddin’s ear
He was sent to the hospital by CRPF battalion for treatment. But he did not get proper treatment and he was taken to the relief camp again.
This reporter happened to see him sleeping under a plastic canopy at the camp. His story was related by his cousin and many people who were available there. Now the question arises – what was the fault of Md. Haziuddin? How can a religious activity like saying ‘Azan’ be a wrong that the doer gets such brutal reward? Who will give the answer to this question?
[Photos by Diganta Sharma]