GUWAHATI: Allegations of unprecedentedly abilities by the police on the Christian Bodos in Darrang district has rocked the state after the detention of four members of the clergy.
The Baptist Christian Association of Darrang has urged the governor Lok Nath Misra to intervene immediately and prevent further atrocities on the community. Ina memorandum to the governor the association has listed the black deeds of the local police.
Santosh Daimari Satish Basu matary Dandi Daimari and Robinson Basu matar have been identified as the four detained persons Copies of the memorandum has been sent to the Prime Minister the home ministry and the President.
The main culprit according to the association is the city superintendent of police Sarat Phukan. The state police chief S.V. Subramanium has ordered an inquiry by an officer of a DIG rank into the allegations.
The police had launched a massive combing operation following reports that Bodo Security Force rebels were taking shelter in various villages of this district The Bodo militants who Want 4 sovereign homeland for the Bodos had recently stepped up their activities in Darrang. The majority of the Bodos a plains tribe are Christians. The atrocities were allegedly committed during this operation.
While the rest of the world was celebrating Christmas the Christians of Simulguri and Langdanspore villages were allegedly subjected to excesses by the police. The youths were rounded up and taken to two polite Stations where the SP allegedly separated the Christians from the rest and Kept them in the open in the chilly weather They were reportedly kept without food for a long time.
The police chief said they had to raid Christian villages as the militants belonged to that community But he promised to take action against the erring policemen.
The All Bodo Students Union has given a call for a day-long bandh in Hansinga a sub-division of Darrang. The vice-president of the Bodoland Peoples Party Bali Ram Boro alleged in a Press release that the atrocities on the Christian community were unprecedented He condemned the police high-handedness and demanded the SPs removal immediately
Meanwhile according to Mr. Subramanium with the arrest of two ultras the police have achieved a breakthrough in the case of the United Liberation Front of Asom’s recent attack on 4 police stations in Nagaon in: which four policemen were gunned down and their weapons taken away. The two arrested youths had reportedly given the names of 15 others who had participated in the raid.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 14, 1994
