Months have passed since violence broke out in the Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) in July 2012. In this special series on Bodoland violence, we bring stories of violence, desperation, and also hope from this “tinderbox.” This series has been made possible with financial support from Indian Muslim Relief Committee (IMRC).
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Kokrajhar: Although there is no official word on it, virtual economic blockade of sort is found in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) after the July end ethnic riots. As people started coming back, there were rumors that Bodos found having any sort of transaction or employing any Muslim would be penalised.
Simmering tension and fear factor have anyway forced both communities into safer places, but Muslims families have been crippled economically. After the murder of a teacher and a farmer in November when they had gone for work, now Muslims are anyways afraid to venture out.
Bengali Muslims generally provide manpower resources in all kinds of manual labour required works.
A local vegetable market
Rafiq, son of a carpenter, and student of BA said that he had to leave his study and find a job so that at least his daughter could complete study. His father had invested his little savings in completing a big furniture requirement in a college before the riot began. But as riot ensued, he has now indirectly been asked not to deliver gods “for the time being.”
Boycott is to the extent of not buying fishes or vegetables from Muslims in local markets. Consequently all Muslims, whose vehicles were used in even the Food Corporation of India based in Gosaigaon, have been ‘indirectly’ asked to stop their services. At least three shops in Gosaigaon market have been virtually shut down. Some shops near Gosaigaon station are also temporarily shut down.
Similarly about permits of about 17 Muslim fishermen in the Gosaigaon committee have been cancelled and allotted to others.
Tea stall in a local bazaar in Ballamguri village in Gosaigaon.
Md. Rafikul Islam used to sell seeds in a bazaar (market), but over four months since the riot broke out first, and he is still afraid to go as the market is in a Bodo dominated area.
Nawab Ali had a stationery shop in Saraibil market, a Bodo locality. His Bodo friends advise him against coming there as ‘situation is not favourable and he may be killed.’
TCN also met an LIC agent who said his work was doing well and collecting over 40 lkahs annual, but now his Bodo clients refuse to interact with him, in fear.
52 organisations, including Joint Action Committee for Bodoland Movement (JACBM) and NDFB, has now declared economic blockade beginning January 1, 2013 for a separate statehood of the Bodoland. The situation may get worse then.