Remembering Nellie massacre
By Anjuman Ara Begum for TwoCircles.net
Part 2 of Nellie 1983
Reporting on the incident Hamendra Narayan wrote in Indian Express on February 19, 1983: “It was absolutely horrible. Though impossible to describe, I will try.” Many described it as a nightmare and unable to describe what happened. Termed as one of the worst genocidal massacres after the independence, the Nellie Massacre took place on February 18, 1983.
Nellie is a small city in Nagaon district of Assam and about 40 km away from Guwahati city, comprised of 16 villages – Alisingha, Khulapathar, Basundhari, Bagduba Bil, Bagduba Habi, Borjora, Butuni, Indurmari, Mati Parbat, Muladhari, Mati Parbat No 8, Silbheta, Borbori and parts of Nellie were attacked. Nellie organized massacre left 2191 men and women and children killed and 370 children orphaned. Most of the victims were butchered by dao (machete), fala, spears, tridents, guns etc.
Moniruddin broke down as he remembers the massacre.
Nellie inhabitants informed me in a recent visit that February 1983 was full of tension all over Assam due to agitation against foreigners. They were avoiding going out those days. On February 17, 1983 two truckload police contingents came to Borbori and assured the inhabitants that they are patrolling nearby and full security has been provided to them. Being assured of security by the security personnel, Nellie residents went to work outside as usual on February 18, 1983. At around 8-30 AM, suddenly the village was attacked by mobs from three sides surrounding the villagers and pushing them towards river Kopili. People armed with dao, spears, and a few guns, advanced towards Nellie in an organized manner. The attackers encircled the whole village and left open the side that ends towards river Kopili. There were attackers in boats too. Killing started at around 9 am and continued till 3 pm. Most of the victims were women and children. CRPF arrived around 3 PM and the survivors were taken to Nagaon police station. Most of the survivors were put into Nellie camp at Nagaon and they returned to their village after 14 days.
Nellie massacre survivors talked to this writer on November 26, 2008 and recounted the death stories:
1. Nurul Choudhury:
He is dumb. He was orphaned during the carnage.
2. Nurul Haque:
I was 7 years old. My brothers and mother were killed. At that time mine was a six-member cultivator family. When the attackers came I was with my mother. Mother was killed. Assamese people killed us. I was very young and don’t know in detail. My father was also injured. In the evening, my father brought the bodies of my mother and brothers. Now we are surviving on cultivation in 4 bighas of land. We have returned to our own house. We are still afraid and live with fear. The culprits are not punished till date.
I was injured and was in hospital for 22 days in Guahati Medical College. And we took shelter in the relief camp for one and half year. Injustice has been committed on us. So we want justice even if it is after 25 years.
3. Alekjaan Biwi:
Thousands of people with spears and guns killed people and left dead bodies all over. They were shouting, ‘kill, kill.’ Eleven members of my family were killed. My husband and myself survived. Police came and took us to the hospital. Only one doctor was there; none to look after me. I am 60-70 years old. I have no one.
Alekjaan Biwi
4. Md Monoruddin:
My brothers and sisters were killed and cut into pieces. I saw my parents being killed in front of me. I saw one woman being killed and saw one kid taken away from the hands of a woman and thrown into fire. CRPF came in the evening. I was crying all day. I met my father at night. No one else survived. Later we came to know that our house has been torched. Nothing was left. All rice gone in fire. We got Rs. 5000 as compensation. We never got anything to rebuild house. We don’t have drinking water facility here. During election we see leaders and got to know promises, later on all gone. There is no transportation. We heard only promises by the leaders. My elder brother who was in Nagaon then looked after me and my elder sister helped me.
5. Md Mainul Haque:
I was 2 months old. My mother was wounded in her stomach.
6. Noor Nahar Begum:
I was 10 years old. When the killing started, I tried to run away and got wounded in several places. I was hospitalized for 2 months in Nagaon civil hospital. My parent and 4 siblings – all were killed. All of my family members were killed. But father survived. I was oldest in the family. They were butchered here in the place where we are standing today.
I have no peace of mind for last 25 years. I got married later on at Bechamari. I studied till class 7 only. Father is bullock cart driver and very old.
No justice for us. Police came and left. I want peace of mind. We need something for happiness and peace. I need justice for peace of mind. Justice is important because it was a crime and unjust. I feel lonely and miss my family members.
7. Md Hussian Ali:
I was 9 years old. And I remember everything. I saw houses burning and never thought that they will kill us. Thought they will leave after torching the houses. But then they started killing. We were wounded. No one from my family was killed. My cousins were killed in front of me. There were spears and guns. I ran away. I saw people hiding below a vegetable creeper bed. Bomb was planted there. We recognized who did this. They were living in our neighbouring villages. 688 were named as accused. We filed FIRs. No one was arrested and all the files were dumped or destroyed by Prafulla Mahanta.
There were 14 villages all burnt. We made our houses later, we were given 2 thousand rupees as compensation. This is a mockery of justice. No one can make house with 2000 rupees.
We don’t have any facilities. No road, no drinking water. We have no electricity too. There is no peace here. I want justice.
8. Babool Ahmed:
I was two years old. My grandfathers brought me up. My uncle was running away with me in his back. Houses were burnt. People were running here and there. When uncle was shot at I fell down. My uncle saw his parent being killed in front of him. He took me and ran away. Later on police rescued me. I met my father later. I was injured too. I was in hospital for 4 months.
9. Hazara Khatun:
I got injured but survived. Three family members were killed. My child was in my arms and he was killed.