Punishment sought for the culprits so that such carnage does not reoccur.
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Guwahati: Civil society and political analysts have expressed their concern at the poor treat of the infamous Nellie Massacre in Assam’s Morigaon district which witnessed killing of more than 3000 people in a single day in 1983, during the incidents 31st anniversary in the city on Tuesday.
The event which was organized by Char Chapori Sahitya Parishad (CCSP), a literary body of the state and the state unit of All India Secular Forum also demanded that the culprits should be punished not just to provide justice to the deaths but to avoid such incidents in future.
Archival photo of Nellie Massacre victims
Noted political analyst and professor of Gauhati University Monirul Hussain who delivered the annual lecture on the topic said that the episode has encouraged many such violent incidents in the state in later period.
“It’s very unfortunate that many including the intellectuals, civil society and media somehow concealed the matter for some unknown reasons. The culprits did not get punishments even after doing such a barbarous act. That’s the reason why many such violent incidents have taken place thereafter in the state,” said Hussain.
He said that to punish the culprits is very much needed to secure the future generation from such heinous act. “Not just for the victims but for the future generations, the culprits should be punished,” Hussain added.
Dinesh Baisya (centre), Hafiz Ahmed and others during the release of the special edition of Balichanda magazine on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of Nellie Massacre.
The head of the Political Science department of Guwahati University also slammed the government for shying away from the incident by citing the example of Tiwari Commission which was instituted to investigate the incident. “The Tiwari commission’s report was never made public. It was just a face saving effort by the government and nothing else,” he said.
Noted educationalist and author Dinesh Baisya said that it’s time the message of humanity for the greater interest of the society should be spread besides uplifting the condition of the people.
“We should try to spread the message of humanity at this hour. It’s also pathetic to see the poor condition of these people who have been living like this for decades. They should be provided education and basic life facilities to go ahead,” said Baisya, former principal of B Barooah College.
Professor Monirul Hussain
The Nellie massacre took place in Assam during a six-hour period in the morning of February 18 in 1983 by mobs which targeted Bengali speaking Muslims.
Besides, there are serious concern as far as providing compensation to the victims are concerned. CCSP president Hafiz Ahmed slammed the role played by the ruling Congress government for their negligence attitude beside other reasons for the poor treatment to the victims and the entire episode.
Archival photo of Nellie Massacre victims
“Besides the communal forces which mercilessly butchered people I also condemn the role played by Congress. Congress leaders including then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had promised to provide safety and security but nothing happened. These ill fated people even did not get proper support from the administration and police during that time. Later, the Hiteswar Saikia led state government also did not take any action against those policemen who were found to be guilty,” Ahmed aid.
It can be learnt that a section of the victims of Nellie massacre received one time financial assistance of Rs 5000 while many others were left out. “It is again discrimination with these people. The government compensated up to Rs 12 lakh besides other facilities to the victims to Sikh riot of 1984 but here it’s complete opposite. Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi even declared of announcing a special economic package for the victims but it has not materialized so far,” he said.
Archival photo of Nellie Massacre victims
Noted intellectual and former principal of Cotton College Udayaditta Bharali said that it’s the darkest chapter in Assam history. “The people should learn certain lessons from this episode. Anything done after being carried away by emotion can be very dangerous and so is any kind of fundamentalism. Human beings should always be rational,” he wrote in a special edition of ‘Balichanda’ magazine which was also released during the occasion.
[Photo Courtesy: Archival photo of Nellie Massacre victims (from internet)]
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Related:
Remembering the Nellie Massacre of 18 February 1983: Nilim Dutta