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North East : Islamic militant factions start regrouping |
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Osama video tapes recovered in Assam
Islamic fundamentalists who have been lying low in this strife-torn region after the September 11 terrorist attack on the US, have reportedly started regrouping, thus posing a serious threat to the national security in the North East. Video CDs containing pictures of the much haunted Islamic terrorist, Osama bin Laden and his speeches have also been recovered in the state of Assam. One person has been arrested in this connection and remanded to judicial custody.
Media reports quoting a senior police officer said that there is a nexus between United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and Pakistan’s ISI and Muslim militant groups which have established a strong network in the remote immigrant-dominated Chaur areas of Assam.
Police sources claimed that they have sufficient feedback on the increasing activities of fundamentalist groups in different parts of the state.
About the content of the video CDs, the sources said these contain inflammatory speeches of Osama bin Laden in Arabic instigating the Muslim youth to wage a jehad. Central intelligence agencies have also procured a copy of the video CD and are waiting for a transcript of the content. Police sources said a subtitle on the cover of the CD reads : “Based on terrifying true story behind the World Trade Centre bombing.”
According to state Inspector General of Police (Law and Order), B.P. Rao, told news persons that police is probing the incident and that video CDs are reported to have been smuggled into Assam from Siliguri in West Bengal. Police have arrested Sahidul Sheikh, the owner of the shop selling the video CDs. Mr. Rao admitted that it an alarming trend and might be an attempt to create unrest on communal lines in Assam. He did not rule out the possible involvement of Pakistan’s inter-services intelligence (ISI) which is assisting several Muslim fundamentalist groups in the region.
Nagaon turning into another communal hotspot
What is worrying security forces in the State is the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Nagaon district which has been relatively peaceful so far. The district was not affected by the US military campaign in Afghanistan - unlike districts like Sonitpur in northern Assam where CDs eulogising Osama bin Laden were seized.
“We campaigned against any themes on Bin Laden or the war during the Puja celebrations,” said Nagaon district commissioner, P. Hajella. “The district is under control.” However, according to the All Assam Students’ Union advisor Samujiwal Bhattacharyya, Assam is headed for a communal showdown owing to pressure on land. “Bangladeshi immigrants have displaced natives in many parts of Assam. Things will not improve if influx is not checked,” he warned.
It may be recalled that in 1998, Governor S.K. Sinha had predicted in a report that the change in demographic pattern would reduce the Assamese to a minority. As per the state government’s report last year, immigrant Muslims outnumber the natives in four districts of Assam - Barpeta, Golpara, Dhubri and Hailakandi.
Bodo issue takes a dangerous turn
Meanwhile, the Centre’s proposal to create a Bodo Territorial Council (BTC) under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution in lieu of Bodos’ demand for a separate state appears to be assuming dangerous proportions and is reportedly heading for a head-on collision between he Bodos and non-Bodos.
The gory ethnic cleansing drive by the Bodos against adivasis (tribals) of 1996 soon after the formation of the Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC) is threatening to raise its ugly head once again with 14 non-Bodo organisations sounding the alert that “it would be dangerous if BTC is formed.”
As a first sign of trouble, the Sanmilita Jana Costhiya Sangram Samity, a conglomerate of these non-Bodo organisations, has called for a 12-hour Assam bandh on November 12 to protest any unilateral move to create the proposed BTC. The Bodos on the other hand are determined to get the BTC in exchange for their shelved demand for a separate state of Bodoland within Assam.
The Centre has been holding several rounds of talks with Bodo militant group, Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) after the latter declared a ceasefire and has proposed grant of more autonomy instead to the Bodos under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution by creating the BTC. President of the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) Rabi Ram Narzary has already warned the Centre of a severe backlash if it backtracked on the proposed BTC.
The Bodo’s determination was clear when they forced the Centre to cancel the last tripartite meeting on October 1 in protest against the government’s invitation to non-Bodo organizations to the talks.
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