Silchar:
A clash between members of one community and the cops in Assam's Silchar town last week saw 30 injuries, including a few policemen. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi lost no time in suggesting a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) hand in the clashes and a larger conspiracy to destabilise Assam.
On the ground though, it takes some effort to find any signs, or after effects of violence that took place here in Silchar just a few days ago.
An incident related to a place of worship led to a hour-long clash between members of one community and the cops.
In Silchar, the cop in charge of law and order in Assam , SN Singh, tell us they are still trying to put together evidence to support Mr Gogoi's claim of a larger conspiracy behind the violence.
Four First Information Reports were filed after the incident, and nine people have been arrested so far.
But at the local Vishwa Hindu Parishad office, members of the outfit ask if the Assam Chief Minister is so confident, why hasn't a single member affiliated to the outfit been arrested so far?
"I don't know on what basis he's made the statement on, but he should make it public. Let him go public with evidence. It can be speculated very well that he has made a statement to suit his political designs," said Arijit Kumar Deb, VHP's South Cachar District President.
It is not the first time Mr Gogoi has faced allegations of pandering to communal forces for political benefits, and the opposition parties in Assam are not holding back their punches.
Dr Rajdeep Roy, State Spokesperson of Assam BJP says, "I have no doubt that Gogoi has done it to play votebank politics. An election is nearing and he wants to create divide within communities. The issue here is development and because that has not been addressed Gogoi is doing this."
So on the ground as the administration still works to definitively establish a right wing connection to the Silchar clashes, many are asking if Mr Gogoi may have jumped the gun on this one a bit. The Assam Chief Minister hasn't reacted since.
On the ground though, it takes some effort to find any signs, or after effects of violence that took place here in Silchar just a few days ago.
An incident related to a place of worship led to a hour-long clash between members of one community and the cops.
In Silchar, the cop in charge of law and order in Assam , SN Singh, tell us they are still trying to put together evidence to support Mr Gogoi's claim of a larger conspiracy behind the violence.
Four First Information Reports were filed after the incident, and nine people have been arrested so far.
But at the local Vishwa Hindu Parishad office, members of the outfit ask if the Assam Chief Minister is so confident, why hasn't a single member affiliated to the outfit been arrested so far?
"I don't know on what basis he's made the statement on, but he should make it public. Let him go public with evidence. It can be speculated very well that he has made a statement to suit his political designs," said Arijit Kumar Deb, VHP's South Cachar District President.
It is not the first time Mr Gogoi has faced allegations of pandering to communal forces for political benefits, and the opposition parties in Assam are not holding back their punches.
Dr Rajdeep Roy, State Spokesperson of Assam BJP says, "I have no doubt that Gogoi has done it to play votebank politics. An election is nearing and he wants to create divide within communities. The issue here is development and because that has not been addressed Gogoi is doing this."
So on the ground as the administration still works to definitively establish a right wing connection to the Silchar clashes, many are asking if Mr Gogoi may have jumped the gun on this one a bit. The Assam Chief Minister hasn't reacted since.
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