AIUDF Delegation Raises Concerns Over Minority Harassment in Upper Assam
AIUDF Delegation Meets Police Chief
On August 4, a group from the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) convened with Inspector General of Police Akhilesh Singh at the Assam Police Headquarters in Ulubari. They expressed serious concerns regarding the alleged mistreatment of minority community members in various regions of Upper Assam.
The delegation included AIUDF legislators Rafiqul Islam, Karimuddin Barbhuiya, Suzam Uddin Laskar, and Hafiz Bashir Ahmed Qasimi, who presented a memorandum urging immediate police action to 'restore peace and ensure public safety.'
Rafiqul Islam highlighted troubling reports from Sivasagar, Jorhat, and Golaghat districts, where individuals from the Miya community have faced targeting by certain groups and individuals. He noted incidents of home invasions and assaults on residents.
He pointed out that many migrant workers from Lower and Middle Assam frequently travel to Upper Assam for job opportunities, just as those from Upper Assam seek work in other areas.
Islam stated, 'They are now facing threats and violence solely based on their identity, which is intolerable.'
The AIUDF leaders called for prompt and effective police measures to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of all citizens, regardless of their community affiliations.
They also urged local leaders, including Union Minister and Dibrugarh MP Sarbananda Sonowal, Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi, and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi, to visit the affected regions and ensure that victims receive necessary support and rehabilitation.
'We request them to provide shelter and assistance to the victims in their constituencies,' Rafiqul emphasized, asserting that maintaining law and order is the responsibility of the state's Home Department, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The delegation also expressed worries about ongoing tensions along the Assam–Nagaland border at Uriamghat, reminding the government of the diverse communities that had previously settled in disputed areas to strengthen Assam's territorial claims.
'To counter any new aggression from across the border, leaders like Biswajit Phukan and Rupjyoti Kurmi must take an active stance. Assam cannot afford to lose any of its land,' the AIUDF stated.
Additionally, the party raised alarms about the emergence of self-appointed vigilante groups in Sivasagar, which have taken it upon themselves to remove alleged illegal Bangladeshi immigrants from the area.
This situation has caused anxiety among local residents, many of whom condemned these actions and cautioned against attempts to incite communal discord in an otherwise harmonious district.
'This is a planned effort. The government has been inactive for four-and-a-half years and now seeks to create divisions between Hindus and Muslims. No local resident—be it Hindu or Muslim—should lose their land in Assam,' remarked Parash Das, a local inhabitant.
Some residents advocated for Sixth Schedule status for the entire state to protect Assam's indigenous communities, languages, and cultures.
'We must secure our future through constitutional measures. This movement should extend beyond six communities to include all of Assam,' stated Jishnu Mech.
Concerns were also raised regarding the status of settlers listed in the 1951 and 1971 electoral rolls.
'Many of those being targeted are long-term residents who work as laborers. If the government passes a law to remove post-1951 settlers, we will comply. However, targeting indigenous Muslims is unacceptable,' asserted M.I. Bora.
Bora reiterated the Bir Lachit Sena's demand for the implementation of an Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Upper Assam and suggested a work permit system for outsiders, irrespective of their religion.
Local residents also urged regional organizations to refrain from making statements that could provoke communal unrest.