Bodo tribals and Migrant Muslims Class

Ethnic Clashes Paralyse Life in Assam: Church Steps in with Relief and Peace Efforts

Thomas D’Silva

Bongaigaon, July 26: Assam remained cut-off from rest of the country as violent clashes broke out between the Bodos and the Muslims in the districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Dhubri and Bongaigaon, claiming over 38 lives and rendering over two lakh people homeless.

As the leaders of both the communities leveled charges on each other and the inaction of the administration, the rioters went about on a killing, burning and looting spree.  

All these areas of disturbance fall under the jurisdiction of the diocese of Bongaigaon. Meanwhile, Bishop Thomas Pulloppillil who was on his Annual Retreat along with 28 priests at Kurseong in West Bengal cut short the retreat and rushed back to the diocese. It took 26 hours to cover the distance of 350 km as there were bandhs, curfews, section 144 and shoot-at-sight orders imposed. 

Immediately at his arrival, a press release was issued by the Bishop appealing for peace and showing solidarity with the suffering. The Bishop is personally monitoring the situation, has constituted a Relief Team and a Peace Mission Committee. The two NGOs of the diocese- Bongaigaon Gana Seva Society (BGSS) and the Diocesan Development Society have sprung into action under their directors Frs. David Antony and Biju Joseph respectively. 

Schools, institutions, health centres and church premises have become relief camps providing food, shelter and security to the people uprooted from their settlements. But the ongoing violence, fear and panic have curtailed the movement of the volunteers and the transportation of the relief materials. Bishop Pulloppillil focusing on two areas of action- relief works and peace initiatives, has appealed to aid agencies and NGOs to lend a helping hand.

An appeal from  the diocese is already been made to Caritas India, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Northeast Community Health Association (NECHA) to provide help in four necessities: food, clothing, shelter, health and hygiene.

The tension flared up on 20th July when four Bodo youths were mercilessly chopped to death allegedly by a group of Muslims (for reasons unknown) at Joypur near Kokrajhar. This led to retaliatory killing and then the region witnessed a chain of action and reaction. Though there is a semblance of calm, but there are reports of the spread of violence to other parts of the state too.

The diocese of Bongaigaon is witness to a series of ethnic clashes. The most recent one was between the Bodos and the Santhals in 1996 and 1998, the after effects of which are felt even to this day. The church had played a commendable role in peace building efforts and rendering relief services under the guidance of Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil, former Archbishop of Guwahati, of which Bongaigaon was then a part. 

Once again it is time to wake up to the need of taking up a leading role in bringing peace in the midst of mistrust and differences. “Let us pray for peace and do whatever good we can”, urged Bishop Pulloppillil  in his address to his priests.