New Delhi: The ongoing large-scale violence in Assam could well be an attempt to trigger communal clashes across the country even as the Lok Sabha elections are at a crucial stage. Even Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Sunday said the violence was aimed at starting a full fledged communal conflagration.
According to MHA sources, even though Assam’s Kokrajhar region has witnessed attacks by the anti-talks Bodo faction (Songbijit) on minorities even in the past, but the possibility that this time it was part of a larger conspiracy cannot be ruled out.
“The possibility that subversive elements wanted to speared communal clashes across the country by targeting minorities in Assam cannot be ruled out. More so because politically the country is going through a very crucial phase. Its also possible that these elements are being backed by Pakistani agencies who in the past have made similar attempts using the social media for false propaganda,’’ a ministry official added.
Mr Shinde said that over the last few days 32 people, mostly women and children belonging to minority community, have been killed in what he described as “wanton acts of depredation.’’ Most incidents have been reported in three Bodo-dominated districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang and Baska.
The home minister claimed that innocent people have been killed at the hands of cadres of some groups. “The objective of this group seems to be aimed at starting a full-fledged communal conflagration,” Mr Shinde said.
Even though he refrained form mentioning the name of the anti-talk faction, NDFB(S), Mr Shinde said the outfit resorted to such violence only after it started losing its operatives either through surrender or elimination in armed operations by security forces.
“The central government cannot remain unaffected and is determined to ensure the safety of innocent human lives. This determination is all the more important since these incidents are targeted at the minorities,” he added.
The Centre has already deployed 43 companies of central armed police forces while 10 more are being rushed to Assam.
