Guwahati August 23: The Garo community today warned Dispur of an armed movement, if government fails to accord a separate autonomous council for the Garos. For decades, the Garos and the non-Rabha communities have been demanding for exclusion of their villages from Rabha Hasong council but now there is a clear divide among communities, seeking equal status and rights for their communities.
The fresh tension in the area indicates that violent protest is in offing in rural Kamrup and Goalpara region of Assam. Situation in Assam’s Rabha – Hasong area, which comprises of Rural Kamrup and Goalpara district turned violent Friday with police exercising highhandedness.
Assam Police lashed out at angry mob, who staged protest in different parts of Rural Kamrup and Goalpara. There was a scuffle between activists and police at Mirza, on the outskirts of Guwahati. The Garo community and non-Rabha’s are demanding for exclusion of their villages from Rabha-Hasong Autonomous Council, which has led to fresh tension in the area.
There has been bandh and protest for the last three days. In a renewed stir called by different non-Rabha organisations and the Garos, the two district of Assam – Rural Kamrup and Goalpara has remained tense. The Garo communities, led by Garo National Council and other civil bodies has now demanded immediate intervention of the Dispur and New Delhi to declare Garo dominated village as a separate entity and declare a Garo Autonomous Council.
The Garo civil bodies warned Dispur and Delhi that if government fails to address their issue they will be forced to take on an armed movement to press for a separate Garo Autonomous Council.
There is also a divide between non-Rabha, especially minority and other communities, who are now seeking separation of their villages from both Rabha – Hasong area as well as Garo dominated area, which clearly speaks volume of difference among communities in tribal belts of Assam. This new rift among communities indicate that all is not well in the state and Tarun Gogoi government has to be prepared for handling a chaotic situation, which is brewing up with demand for separate states.
Though the bandh called by different communities ended Friday. However, there is no clear cut announcement being made by the protesting organisations as they are seeking government intervention on the issue immediately. (SP News)
