By Tarique Anwar, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: Assam is in the grip of a massive “anti-foreigners” drive. Tarun Gogoi led Assam government has issued shoot-at-sight order in three districts, Udalguri, Darrang and Sonitpur in the wake of clashes between Muslims and Bodos.
Three people have reportedly lost their lives and 12 are injured in Udalgiri and Sonitpur on Thursday. Violent clashes in the affected districts have claimed five lives since August 14. On Sunday, miscreants set ablaze about 40 houses in Sonitpur district and shot at villagers injuring six of them. A total of 6 people so far have been killed. The clashes started on Thursday during a bandh called by a minority organization the Muslim Student Union of Assam (MUSA) in protest against the alleged harassment of Indian citizens in the name of detecting Bangladeshis.
Thousands of people of both communities are fleeing to safe places leaving their homes in Udalgiri and Sonitpur districts.
Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in the trouble torn areas in all three districts. Many higher officials of the police are camping in the area, said PC Sharma, Chief Secretary of Assam to TwoCircles.net on phone. He is presently on medical leave and was not ready to talk further on this matter. The police and administration have been put on high alert. The situation is tense but under control. Three special SPs and 2 ADCs have been deployed in three affected districts, he said.
The affected areas were divided into three zones and 22 sectors for better vigilance. Assam Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and Assam Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain are visiting the troubled areas in the districts. They have appealed to maintain peace ignoring all kinds of rumours.
Peace committees were formed in the disturbed areas and they have been given responsibility to prevent fresh incidents of clashes. All leading organizations have appealed for peace.
The AUDF maintains that action cannot be initiated against religious minorities just on the assumption that they could be illegal migrants from Bangladesh.
The AASU led a campaign against illegal Bangladeshi migrants between 1979 and 1985. The uprising ended with the signing of the Assam Accord in 1985 that fixed March 25, 1971 as the cut-off date for detection and expulsion of illegal aliens.