The FIR has been registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 for encompassing unlawful assembly, rioting, being armed with deadly weapons, causing hurt, promoting enmity, and criminal intimidation. The workers, hailing from Barpeta district in western Assam, were employed by Borgohain for the construction of a skill development centre in Charaideo.

One of the workers, Rajibul Hoque alleged that despite repeated reminders, Borgohain had not paid the outstanding bill of Rs 15 lakh. On the night of August 24, around 10:30 PM, a group of 14 to 15 masked men, allegedly acting on Borgohain’s orders, forced the workers to kneel and assaulted them with daggers, guns, sticks, and plastic pipes. The attackers threatened to kill the workers and demanded they leave the district without claiming their unpaid wages. Reported The Kashmiriyat.  

Saddam Ahmed who fled from Choraideo district’s Nazira town on the morning of August 25, said that “It is because we are Miya Muslims and they didn’t want to pay our wages that is why they beat us.”  Saddam along with 11 other construction workers spent a harrowing night on 24 August hiding inside a jungle near Dolbagan village in Choraideo district.

“After working the whole day in the scorching heat, we rested like any other day. At around 10:30 pm, some 14 to 15 masked men came to our room and asked us to come out. They came with daggers, swords, s, and pipes,” Saddam recounted the incident.

The workers alleged that they were asked to chant “aatasu zindabad, joi aai ahom” (hail aatasu, mother Assam) as they were being beaten. All Assam Tai Ahom Students’ Union (AATASU) is a student body of the Ahom community in Assam.

Narrating the assaults and harassment by the group of masked men, Saddam told that, “Three of them kept thrashing us with lathis. When one finished the row, then the other started beating. They also said that if you go to the police or talk to the press, they will kill us.”

Anti-Miya sentiments were escalating in Assam following the rape of a 14-year-old girl in Nagaon district’s Dhing area where one of the accused was a Miya Muslim and the identities of the other two have not been established yet, reported Maktoob media 

The victims, identified as Rajibul Hoque, Ahadul Khan, Aminul Hoque, Amirul Hoque, Surot Jamal, Asir Uddin, Saddam Hussain, Ali Hassan, and Asabul Hoque, provided a video of the assault along with their complaint. Fear of further violence, they fled the district that same night and are expected to record their statements with the police within the next three days.

This incident comes as a repercussion of the recent remarks by Assam’s chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on August 21, while streaming a Facebook live video where he listed out crimes against women and some other communities since May 2024 where he accused “Miya Muslims” of being the perpetrators.

However, “Miya” is a pejorative term frequently amplified by the chief minister to refer to Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, routinely denigrated as “bahiragata” (outsiders) and “illegal immigrants” from Bangladesh by many among the native population, reported Article 14.

Also, around 30 organizations issued “deadlines” to Miya Muslims to leave upper Assam within 7 days after the Dhing Rape Case.

Assamese Muslim singer arrested for protest song “Miya Bihu”

On August 31, in Assam, a 31-year-old Bengali-speaking Muslim singer, Altaf Hussain, was arrested on Saturday for allegedly inciting hatred against the state’s ethnic communities through a protest song he released last month. A local youth had filed a complaint against him at Abhayapuri police station and the case was referred to Gauripura, following which, he was apprehended.

Altaf’s lawyer Adam Ali stated that his client was booked under Section 196 (promoting enmity between different groups) and 299 (deliberate attempt to insult a religion or religious feelings) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

“The complainant sought police action stating that Altaf’s song was targeted and disrespecting the Bihu song. So, he was arrested based on the complaint. We will soon file a petition seeking his bail,” Ali said.

The lyrics of the song in Bengali resembles a Bangladeshi protest song, Desh ta tomar baper naki? (Is this country owned by your father?), reported The Sentinel.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma referred to the arrest during one of his regular Facebook live sessions on Sunday stating that the song was part of an “attack” and calling it an attempt to “change Bihu into Miya Bihu”. Sarma called the song derogatory towards Assamese culture.

Through his lyrics, Hussain draws attention to the discrimination faced by “Miyas”—a term often used to refer to Bengali-speaking, Muslims in Assam. He points out that while individuals from all communities may commit crimes, it is predominantly the Miyas who are targeted, often being falsely accused of being undocumented immigrants.

Related:

I Am ‘Miya’ — Reclaiming Identity Through Protest Poetry

Hate Watch: BJP Top functionaries spew hate against ‘Miya Muslims” in Assam

Don’t need Miya Muslim vote: Himanta Biswa Sarma

The post Assam CM call to expel ‘Miya Muslims,’ leads to violence against Bengali speaking Muslim Labourers appeared first on SabrangIndia.

On June 25, 2024, Bhabesh Kalita, the BJP Assam State President, commented on the winning MP from the Congress Party, “Some voted as a communal group in Dhubri so Rakibul Hussain won by more than one million votes.” This statement has come in the wake of the general elections results. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said similarly and suggested that the ‘Muslim vote’ is a concerning development for state politics.

The state BJP president said that one thing is clear from the way Dhubri and Nagaon Muslims voted for Congress in unison, they do not want a friendship with the government and BJP. Muslims still vote communally, from a communal perspective.

Bhabesh Kalita also said that the government’s development work in minority areas will continue.

As per Bhabesh, the state BJP has formed a 28-member committee tasked with analysing the voting behaviours in various assembly constituencies and preparing a roadmap for future strategies.

Sabrang India has earlier pointed out how people voted against BJP’s hate and communalism and in favour of democracy in Assam and the entire North East.

The chief minister had delivered a similar speech with communal charges on June 22, 2024. Sarma claimed that the minority community in Assam has not acknowledged the developmental efforts made by the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state, “We analysed 39 per cent votes of the Congress. It is not spread across the state. Fifty per cent of it is concentrated in 21 assembly segments which are minority dominated. In these minority-dominated segments, BJP got 3 per cent votes.”

Meanwhile, the state has witnessed two Muslim brothers being shot dead by a forest guard on June 22. They were allegedly trespassing into the Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam’s Nagaon district. The deceased, identified as Samaruddin and Abdul Jalil were from Dhingbari Chapari village. The authorities have stated that the forest guard fired at them in ‘self-defence.’ The chief minister has ordered a probe in the incident.

Last night, individuals from Sutirpar village trespassed into Lawkhua-Burachapari Reserve Forest. During an encounter with patrolling forest guards, a guard opened fire in self-defense, resulting in the deaths of Samaruddin (35) and Abdul Jalil (40).
I have directed the Chief…

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) June 22, 2024

Meanwhile, according to Siasat News, the Community Network Against Protected Areas (CNAPA), a civil society group, has issued a statement condemning the incident, and have described the shooting a as a “fake encounter.”

Related:

Once again, Assam CM tries to shake communal sentiment, claims minority community only know how to engage in communal activities

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma reportedly spent 58 crores of public funds on travel

Assam: Post by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma casteist, promotes oppression?

EC issues show-cause notice to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma for “communal” speech

FIR against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma for hate speech

The post Assam CM and BJP state president blame Muslims for defeat, call them ‘communal group’ appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Five assembly constituencies are going to polls in Assam on October 30, and campaigning has entered its most intense phase. But Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma may have crossed a line.

Sarma has been announcing a slew of sops for constituencies where polling will be held, something that is a violation of the Election Commission of India’s Model Code of Conduct (MCC). Under the rules for the Party in Power, point 6 says:

“From the time elections are announced by Commission, Ministers and other authorities shall not – 
(a) announce any financial grants in any form or promises thereof; or
(b) (except civil servants) lay foundation stones etc. of projects or schemes of any kind; or
(c) make any promise of construction of roads, provision of drinking water facilities etc.; or
(d) make any ad-hoc appointments in Government, Public Undertakings etc. which may have the effect of influencing the voters in favor of the party in power.”

But Sarma appears to be undeterred by this, and has been proudly posting about loan waiver schemes, bridges and schools, and other development projects on his official social media handles with impunity. Sample this:

MFI loan waiver scheme will be rolled out from Nov which will benefit poor women immensely.

Mobile connectivity in Nagrijuli will be improved in next 2 months; bridges over Gotonga & Balti rivers will be constructed.

We will upgarde Kawli High School to Higher Secondary School. pic.twitter.com/Uj9xgg2KzI

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) October 24, 2021

In tea garden areas govt will bear cost of bleaching powder & electricity for clean drinking water; electric meters will be installed in all households; 3 ambulances will be made available within 45 days.

Dibong Wildlife Sanctuary will be transformed into tourist destination. pic.twitter.com/FzqsRt3jKU

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) October 22, 2021

All school buildings of Sankardev Sishu Niketan will be constructed in Bhabanipur constituency.

Needed steps will be taken for infrastructural development of Anada Bazar including building a cold storage.

For better connectivity, all roads in BTR areas will be developed. pic.twitter.com/bVnp2JvmtZ

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) October 24, 2021

To strengthen power supply infrastructure in Gossaigaon a 3-phase line & transformers will be provided.

More than 1 lakh youths will be given jobs on merit basis. Microfinance loans will be waived off for poor women. 7000 beneficiaries will be added under Orunudoi scheme. pic.twitter.com/K7VVb1Y1Zd

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) October 24, 2021

The Congress has now written to the state’s Chief Electoral Officer Nitin Khade urging him to ban Sarma from campaigning in the state. It is noteworthy that during the Assembly elections held earlier this year, the Election Commission of India (ECI) barred Sarma from campaigning for 48 hours after it emerged that he had allegedly said that Molihary, a Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) leader will go to jail if he engages in extremist activity, and that the case was being given to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

By-elections were necessitated in Tamulpur and Gossaingaon after the death of sitting Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs). But in Bhapanipur, Mariani and Thowra by-elections are taking place because the candidates had switched parties and joined the BJP.

Phanidhar Talukdar had won in Bhapanipur as a member of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF). Interestingly, he was the AIUDF’s only Hindu MLA. But he resigned at the end of August from his party citing “the larger interest” of the people of his constituency. Similarly, Rupjyoti Kurmi, an influential tea-tribe leader was originally with the Congress when he won the elections earlier this year, but has now switched to the BJP after a disagreement in promotions within the party. In Thowra, Sushanta Burgohain had won the election as a Congress candidate earlier this year, but jumped ship to the BJP after citing “internal differences” within his former party. Kurmi and Burgohain’s exits dealt a body blow to the Congress in Upper Assam.

The Assam Assembly has a total of 126 seats, out of which 59 are currently held by the BJP after Sarbananda Sonowal’s seat fell vacant when he was elected to the Rajya Sabha. BJP ally Asom Gana Parishad has nine seats, and another ally the United People’s Party Liberal has five. The Congress meanwhile has 27 seats, AIUDF has 15 Bodoland People’s Front has three and CPIM one. There is also one independent MLA.

Related:

Himanta Biswa Sarma barred from campaigning, cop brother transferred

The post Did Himanta Biswa Sarma violate Model Code of Conduct? appeared first on SabrangIndia.

As the State approaches the Assembly polls, Hemant Biswa Sarma said that the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) does not need votes from the Bengali origin Muslim community in Assam to win the elections, and accused them of “openly challenging Assamese culture, language and the composite Indian culture”, as reported by the Indian Express.

Sharma further virulently attacked the community and said, “They have started identifying themselves as Miyas. These so called Miya people are very communal and fundamental and they are involved in many activities to distort Assamese culture and Assamese language. So, I don’t want to be an MLA with their vote. I will not be able to sit in the Assembly if they voted for me.”

The Minister also said that his party will not give tickets to those who identify themselves as Miya Muslims and urged the Congress to follow suit. The Indian Express reported that although the Congress has allied with the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), which enjoys a large support base in the Bengali-origin Muslim community, Hemant Biswa Sarma believes that this support base would not impact BJP’s poll prospects.

Sarma’s communal speech did not end here, he categorised them and said, “When we speak of Muslims in Assam, there are two types — one is the indigenous Assamese Muslims, who usually vote for the BJP and, even if they don’t vote for us, they are associated with our culture and heritage… whereas the other category is of those who do not even have their names properly in the NRC as of now.”

The Indian Express also quoted him saying, “The Assam government is waiting for the Supreme Court’s permission to initiate a fresh drive to update the NRC.” It is pertinent to observe that on January 29, the Supreme Court issued a notice to state coordinator Hitesh Dev Sarma on a plea filed by the Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind that raised questions on why the final NRC is being reverified when the entire process was carried out under the close monitoring and scrutiny of the apex court itself.

Related:

NRC Reverification: SC responds to contempt petition, issues notice to Hitesh Dev Sarma

CAA rules yet to be framed, NRC in Assam yet to be notified, says MHA

SC allows declared foreigner to file review petition before Guwahati HC first

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