Assam ethnic killings: Shinde appeals for calm as central forces deployed

NEW DELHI: Blaming the wanton killings in Assam on "cadres of a certain group" conspiring to start a full-fledged communal conflagration in the Bodo areas, Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Sunday appealed to both Bodo and minority community leaders to maintain peace and calm while the Army and central paramilitary forces try to bring the situation under control.

"During the last few days, there have been wanton acts of depredation leading to the deaths of 32 people, mainly women and children. Out of these 32 people, 31 belonged to minority community. These innocent lives were lost at the hands of cadres of certain group. The objective of this group seems to be aimed at starting a full fledged communal conflagration," Shinde said in his written appeal.

According to senior home ministry officials, the violence in Assam is part of a ploy by the Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) to murder people of a certain community in cold blood and exploit the killings to trigger a communal reaction. "As the forces get preoccupied with controlling the communal conflagration, the NDFB(S) seeks to make most of the situation to regroup and rejuvenate its cadre," a home minister official told TOI.

Incidentally, the NDFB(S) has, of late, lost much steam with several of its cadres either getting eliminated in counter-operations by the forces or coming overground to surrender. "It is noteworthy that these acts (of violence in Kokrajhar and Baksa regions of Assam) started only after the group started steadily losing its cadres either by surrender or elimination during operations when they opened fire on the forces," Shinde pointed out, without naming the "group".

Stating that the Centre could not remain unaffected by the killings, especially as 31 of the 32 victims belonged to the minority community, the home minister said the forces were determined to ensure the safety and security of innocent people.

"I strongly condemn the acts of this group which is targeting the women and children of minority community," Shinde said adding that the Union home ministry had already deployed 43 companies of Central forces and was in the process of sending an additional 1,000 personnel. In addition, he noted, 1,500 soldiers of the Army too had been positioned in the violence-hit areas. "These numbers are not fixed and can be increased as per requirement," he said.

"My appeal to all is to maintain calm and peace as the forces on the ground will definitely control the situation. The public leaders of both Bodo and minority community must see to it that things do not deteriorate," suggested Shinde.