Bandh triggers violence, ARSU activists injured

Rabha Hasongs threaten to step up agitation

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Dec 21: Several members of the All Rabha Students’ Union (ARSU) were injured in clashes with activists of Garo National Council at Krishnai Rangapani market in Goalpara district over the issue of the 40-hour bandh called by three Rabha organizations which began at 5 am today.

ARSU, All Rabha Mahila Committee and Sixth Schedule Demand Committee have enforced the bandh in protest against the State Government’s inability to implement their demands for election to the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council and inclusion of the Council in the 6th Schedule of the Constitution of India.

The bandh was, by and large, peaceful in Rabha Hasong areas except Krishnai Rangapani market.

According to sources, tension engulfed the market area when a team of ARSU attempted to ensure that the Krishnai Rangapani market remained closed in response to the bandh. Members of Garo National Council (GNC) prevented them from enforcing bandh in the market.

The GNC people claimed that Krishnai Rangapani market fell under Garo areas and so it should not come under the purview of the bandh. The situation came to such a pass that members of both ARSU and GNC started clashing with one another resulting in injuries to several ARSU activists.

The police rushed to the spot and managed to bring the situation under control.

Sources said Krishnai Rangapani market was part of a Christian-dominated area. The market opened in view of the ensuing Christmas, the biggest festival of the Christians. ARSU has called bandh in the market area until the people involved in the attacks on its members are arrested by the police. Talking to The Sentinel, ARSU general secretary Jiban Rabha said the Rabhas would intensify their agitation if their demands were not fulfilled by the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress Government.

He said the Rabha Hasong organizations had banned holding of any Congress meetings and entry of ministers and Congress MLAs into Rabha Hasong areas since November 25 last in protest against the State Government’s indifference to the public demands for election to the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council and inclusion of the Council in the 6th Schedule.

The ARSU leader said similar restrictions would be imposed on the Opposition parties like the AGP and the BJP if they did not make their stand clear on the demands of Rabha community within December 25. It may be recalled that the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council was formed on March 10 1995, but no election to the Council has been held till date. In 2004, the State Government had constituted a sub-committee, headed by minister Dr Bhumidhar Barman, to look into the demands of the Rabha community.

On April 3 this year, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, while participating in a meeting of the sub-committee and representatives of different NGOs from Rabha Hasong areas, had said the State Government would forward to the Centre a proposal for inclusion of the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council in the 6th Schedule. The Health Minister was also present at the meeting. THE SENTINEL