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Kathmandu Monday February 11, 2002 Magh 29, 2058.
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Kokrajhar killing
This refers to AFP news story carried
recently by various newspapers on the killing of five Nepalese in Kokrajhar, Assam.
The people of Nepali origin had faced no
racial discrimination until the Assam agitation began in 1979. But the agitation took an
ugly turn after the formation of ULFA, an extremist group operating in Assam. To counter
ULFA activities, Delhi armed Bodos, a tribal community who live in Kokrajhar and its
surrounding districts. Similarly, Delhi armed Kukis in Manipur to counter Naga rebels.
Bodos’ demand was to further split Assam into two states within the India’s
constitution. Since then, Bodo militants have been butchering minorities — Bengalis,
Santhalis and Muslims — living in their areas. I have neither heard nor have I come
across any Nepalese who have taken up arms against the establishment. Rather, the Nepalese
have been helping army personnel to contain insurgency. The allegation made by army
personnel that those killed in Kokrajhar belonged to Bodo militants is not true and such
an allegation not only creates confusion but also isolates Nepalese minority living in
Assam and other northeast states since 1815. This also indicates that there is no security
for Nepalese living in Assam.
According to 1980 census, Nepalese population
in northeast India was roughly over three million. Now, most Nepalese who have relatives
in Nepal have begun moving out of this region as a result of violence. Hundreds of
Nepalese, I believe, have been either killed by extremists or detained by state
governments citing Nepalese as foreigners since the Assam agitation began. The atrocities
against Nepali minority unleashed both by extremists and state governments have been
beyond expression. But it is sad that Nepal has never taken up this issue with New Delhi.
Unfortunately, not a single political party condemned the killing of five innocent
Nepalese in Kokrajhar.
Suraj Bhattarai
Kechana, Jhapa |
