THE AGITATION by the All Assam Adivasi Students Association shows that there are some anti-social elements behind it. Government should not play with fire by politicising the issue. The earlier the crisis is sorted out, the better it is for all concerned. 

 

The bloodbath, resulting from violence and barbarism let loose on the tribal groups by goons on Guwahati’s streets, close to the high-security Assam state Assembly and Capital Complex gives rise to the suspicion that vested interests, bent on settling a score through this shameful act restrained the police from acting. So, the state administration and the police force should be honoured with a citation for irresponsibility for not taking timely action to deal with the situation, which went out of control eventually.

 

Perhaps by aggravating the situation and sharpening the divide between the Adivasis and mainstream Assamese, some vested interests tried to settle a political score. But this way of settling a political score can never be termed right considering the damage they inflicted on human lives.

 

It would have been better for the State government to allow its police to perform its duty effectively and impartially and control the situation at the earliest. But it did not and as a result it faced allegations from the opposition parties, both AGP (Assam Gana Parishad) and the BJP (Bhartiya Janata Party).

 

Taking advantage of the situation, the BJP has announced its moral support to the AASAA (All Adivasi Student Association of Assam). It is also rumoured that some political forces are provoking the anti-social elements within the community to hijack the agitation by hook or by crook. The earlier the Assam government controls the situation the better it will be for its chief minister Tarun Gogoi and his cabinet colleagues.

 

The issue has its origins in the promise the Congress party made to six tribal groups, viz., the Koch Rajbongshi, the Tai Ahom, the Moran, the Motok, the Chutia and the Adivasi (Tea Tribe) in the last assembly election. The Congress promised to meet their demand for being accorded the scheduled tribe (ST) status. In August, the Union Minister P R Kyndiah rejected their demand in the Lok Sabha, whereupon, the six communities threatened to launch an intensive agitation. Their sixty years of pent-up anger and frustration manifested itself. 

 

Following the agitation on Saturday last, thousands of Adivasi agitators from almost 15 districts of the State assembled at the Beltola area of Guwahati, the capital of the State, in response to a call issued by the AASAA (All Assam Adivasi Students’ Association) to attend a protest meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to decide on continuing their agitation for according ST status to the six communities. These different tribal groups account for nearly thirty five lakh people. The State government allowed them to hold the meeting but prohibited them from taking out a procession in the capital city.

 

But, vested interests always play foul. Around 3,000 Adivasis were instigated by a section of the Adivasi youth to defy the AASAA. A group of Adivasis resorted to bows and arrows, sticks and stones and went on a rampage, damaging vehicles, buildings, shops and government as well as private property. They even went to the extent of misbehaving with women and senior citizens walking on the road. And it went on unchecked for almost four hours. Why the administration failed to control these elements who were unleashing their fury, particularly when cops and CRPF were on duty? Why they made no effort to report the incidents to their bosses?

 

Police shamefully remained mute spectators, obeying the command of their political bosses. Instead, some locals and goons took the law into their own hands and let loose their retaliatory barbaric fury. Within two hours, streets and roadside ditches were strewn with wounded and bleeding people. The most barbaric act was committed by a group of goons who stripped a woman naked in full glare of the public while the cops and paramilitary forces made no effort to stop this disgusting act. Such impotence has never been seen or heard in the history of the police force of any State – a police force which could not save the hapless Adivasis.