The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday issued notice to the Assam government seeking report on the exodus of Chakma tribals due to threats by people belonging to Muslim community from No.3 Sarthagaon Chettongnala Chakma Basti under Lumding police station in Nagaon district of Assam in June 2011.
Taking cognisance of a complaint filed by a leading human rights organization (ACHR), the NHRC has asked the Chief Secretary of Assam to submit the action taken report within four weeks.
There are about 18 Chakma families consisting of about 100 people at No.3 Sarthagaon Chettongnala Chakma Basti under Lumding police station. These villagers have been living in the area since long.
Since 2nd week of June 2011, the entire families of No.3 Sarthagaon Chettongnala Chakma Basti village were forced to flee to nearby jungles due to constant threats by people belonging to Muslim community. The tribal victims alleged that the people belonging to the Muslim community wanted to grab their land since long. In this regard, the Chakma families were often threatened and subjected to humiliation in the village or in the market place.
The matter worsened after two Chakmas identified as Kalachand Chakma (50 years) and Krishna Kumar Chakma (40 years) were taken to Muslim inhabited village, where they were allegedly tied to a tree and severely beaten up. Some of the accused have been identified as Tonu, Mayajul, Rahimuddin, Rafique and Kabir. The victims were detained overnight and handed over to the Nkhuti police outpost by the accused on the next day. The two victims sustained injuries on their bodies including bleeding from their nose and mouth and swelling on their bodies. However, the police did not provide any medical treatment to the victims.
After the beating of the two persons, the Muslim people repeatedly visited the village with lethal weapons like dao, sword, spear etc and allegedly threatened the villagers to leave the village. This was informed to the police by the villagers. However, no action has been taken against the accused persons. Finding no other alternative, the entire villagers, fled to the jungles fearing for their lives.
The villagers who fled to the jungles included elderly, women (including pregnant women), children and infants were forced to stay in the jungle in inhospitable conditions for about 15 days. They could not come out due to fear. As a result newly born babies, pregnant and old women suffered the most due to lack of food and other necessities including medical care.
On June 26, 2011, a complaint was filed at the Lumding police station. But, the police only asked the victims to return to their village without providing any escorts and protection. The police failed to take action including arresting the accused persons. The police even failed to investigate the beating of two Chakma tribals despite they were brought to the police post by the accused themselves.
Presently, the villagers returned to the village, but they are living under constant fear due to lack of protection. The fear increased after the complaint was filed with the police station.
It is worth mentioning that three Chakma tribals, including a woman, were killed and three others seriously injured by suspected Bangladeshi infiltrators in an encroachment attempt at Lonkaijan Bidyadhar Chakma Basti under Diphu police station in neighboring in Karbi Anglong district in May 2007. The gang had come from Nagaon district and tried to evict the villagers. The victims were killed when they resisted the move.
No comments:
Post a Comment