New Delhi:
Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has told the Union cabinet on Thursday that there could be fresh violence in Assam, said sources. At a meeting of the Cabinet committee on political affairs (CCPA) - the top political decision making body which is headed by the Prime Minister - Mr Shinde said the situation was far from normal.
According to sources, Mr Shinde told the CCPA that the rising ethnic tension could come to a boiling point during the election to the Rabha Autonomous Council. The apprehension of a short-lived peace is due to tension rising in districts like Goalpara that borders Dhubri and BTAD, and Meghalaya across the Brahmaputra.
Sources said, Mr Shinde told the CCPA that the recent ethnic violence was triggered by the 'fear' of the Bodos that they would be marginalized in the tribal belt. The fear of Bodos is sparked by increasing number of 'immigrants' from within the country and from 'outside', Mr Shinde has conceded in his report to the CCPA. Sources told NDTV that Mr Shinde didn't make any direct reference to illegal migration from Bangladesh.
Assam is still on the edge after weeks of violence between Bodo tribals and, what are seen as illegal Muslim migrants, from Bangladesh. The violence also targetted local Muslims. Thousands of people had to be moved to relief camps for their protection.
Significantly, Mr Shinde said that the Centre had information of possible violence since June following protests by non-Bodo organisations and the state government under Tarun Gogoi had been informed.
Meanwhile, two months after violence in the BTAD and later rest of the country, 1.92 lakh still remain in the 213 camps relief camps. Mr Shinde is believed to have told the CCPA that the Assam police has put up additional 157 fixed police check points in sensitive areas. Night curfew continues in some areas.
According to sources, Mr Shinde told the CCPA that the rising ethnic tension could come to a boiling point during the election to the Rabha Autonomous Council. The apprehension of a short-lived peace is due to tension rising in districts like Goalpara that borders Dhubri and BTAD, and Meghalaya across the Brahmaputra.
Sources said, Mr Shinde told the CCPA that the recent ethnic violence was triggered by the 'fear' of the Bodos that they would be marginalized in the tribal belt. The fear of Bodos is sparked by increasing number of 'immigrants' from within the country and from 'outside', Mr Shinde has conceded in his report to the CCPA. Sources told NDTV that Mr Shinde didn't make any direct reference to illegal migration from Bangladesh.
Assam is still on the edge after weeks of violence between Bodo tribals and, what are seen as illegal Muslim migrants, from Bangladesh. The violence also targetted local Muslims. Thousands of people had to be moved to relief camps for their protection.
Significantly, Mr Shinde said that the Centre had information of possible violence since June following protests by non-Bodo organisations and the state government under Tarun Gogoi had been informed.
Meanwhile, two months after violence in the BTAD and later rest of the country, 1.92 lakh still remain in the 213 camps relief camps. Mr Shinde is believed to have told the CCPA that the Assam police has put up additional 157 fixed police check points in sensitive areas. Night curfew continues in some areas.
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