For the approximately 3,000 residents of Nellie, every election serves as a
painful reminder of the tragic events of 1983 when a mere 14 votes triggered a
mass murder of around 2,000 people. With another election approaching and a
distressingly familiar anti-foreigner sentiment once again influencing politics,
Nellie is demanding the justice that has remained elusive for 36 years.
The anti-foreigner sentiment and contentious protests against the inclusion of
"migrants" in voter lists were major election issues then, just as they are
today. Since 1980, a year after the inception of the anti-foreigner movement in
Assam, 12 out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats had remained vacant since 1980. In 1982,
the assembly was also dissolved. Conducting an election became imperative, and
the announcement was made on January 6, 1983 – polls for the Lok Sabha and
assembly seats would take place in four phases.
The influential All Assam
Students’ Union (AASU), which had initiated the anti-foreigner movement and
demanded the removal of "illegal migrants from Bangladesh" from the electoral
rolls, issued a call to boycott the elections. Meanwhile, Delhi was occupied
with preparations for hosting the first Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit just a
month later.
In Nellie, on February 14, only 14 people cast their votes. Four days later,
thousands of leaders from the Assam Agitation movement laid siege to Nellie and
its surrounding villages, all inhabited by Bengali Muslims who had migrated from
Bangladesh in the 1940s and 1950s. In the span of eight harrowing hours, 1,819
villagers lost their lives.
The Nellie Massacre, which occurred on February 18, 1983, in Assam, India,
was a horrific incident during a period of intense ethnic and communal tensions.
The massacre primarily targeted Bengali-speaking Muslims in the Nellie area.
It’s a tragic chapter in Assam’s history, and here’s a brief overview:
On that fateful day, a group of individuals armed with machetes and other
weapons attacked several villages in the Nellie area of Assam. The attackers
were predominantly from the indigenous Assamese communities and were driven by
longstanding ethnic and linguistic disputes, fueled by fears of demographic
change.
The exact number of casualties in the Nellie Massacre remains uncertain and
disputed, but it is widely believed that several hundred people lost their lives
in the violence. Many victims were women and children.
The incident shocked the nation and led to a significant backlash against the
perpetrators. However, the process of justice has been slow and contentious,
with legal complexities and political influences affecting the trials.
The Nellie Massacre remains a painful memory for the affected communities and a
reminder of the importance of maintaining communal harmony and addressing ethnic
tensions through peaceful means. It also highlights the need for justice and
reconciliation in the aftermath of such tragic events.
The events leading up to the Nellie Massacre in Assam in 1983 were complex and
rooted in ethnic and linguistic tensions that had been simmering for years.
Background:
- Historical Context:
Assam, a northeastern state of India, has a diverse population comprising various ethnic and linguistic groups. Tensions between the indigenous Assamese people and Bengali-speaking immigrants had been present for decades.
- Immigration Issues:
One of the key issues was the large-scale immigration of Bengali-speaking people, including both Hindus and Muslims, from the neighboring state of Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) into Assam. This immigration was driven by economic opportunities and, in some cases, political and social unrest in Bangladesh.
- Assam Accord (1985):
Prior to the Nellie Massacre, the Assam Accord of 1985 was a significant development. It aimed to address the issue of illegal immigration and set a cutoff date for detecting and deporting illegal immigrants. However, implementing the accord proved to be highly contentious and complicated.
- Perceived Threat:
Many indigenous Assamese people perceived the increasing Bengali-speaking population as a threat to their cultural identity, language, and employment opportunities. This perception contributed to growing tensions.
- Political Factors:
The issue of immigration became highly politicized, with various political parties in Assam using it to gain support. This further exacerbated tensions and polarized communities along ethnic and linguistic lines.
- Breakdown of Law and Order:
In the months leading up to the Nellie Massacre, there were incidents of violence and clashes between different communities. The breakdown of law and order in parts of Assam created an environment of fear and hostility.
- Specific Triggers:
While there were several underlying causes, the immediate trigger for the Nellie Massacre was a clash between indigenous Assamese and Bengali-speaking Muslims. This clash escalated into a brutal and deadly attack on several villages.
The Nellie Massacre itself was a horrifying culmination of these long-standing
tensions and conflicts. It resulted in significant loss of life and highlighted
the urgent need for addressing not only the issue of illegal immigration but
also promoting social harmony and reconciliation in Assam.
The pursuit of justice for the victims of the Nellie Massacre in Assam has been
a long and complicated process.
Here’s an overview of what has happened in terms
of legal proceedings and justice:
- Initial Investigations:
After the Nellie Massacre, there were initial investigations and some arrests made. However, due to various factors, including the challenges of gathering evidence and the political climate, progress was slow.
- 1985 Assam Accord:
The Assam Accord of 1985, which aimed to address the issue of illegal immigration, did not explicitly address the issue of justice for the Nellie Massacre victims. This created uncertainty regarding the legal status of the perpetrators.
- Slow Legal Proceedings:
Legal proceedings related to the Nellie Massacre have been slow and marred by complexities. Gathering evidence and identifying the individuals responsible for the violence proved challenging.
- Lack of Convictions:
As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, there were reports that some individuals were charged and put on trial, but convictions were limited. The slow pace of justice and the difficulty in securing convictions have been sources of frustration for the victims’ families and human rights organizations.
- Political and Social Factors:
The pursuit of justice has also been influenced by political and social factors. The Nellie Massacre remains a sensitive and politically charged issue in Assam, and this has affected the legal process.
- Ongoing Efforts:
Human rights organizations and activists have continued to advocate for justice for the victims of the Nellie Massacre. They have called for a thorough and impartial investigation, as well as the prosecution of those responsible.
Please note that the information provided is based on the status as of September
2021, and there may have been developments since then. The pursuit of justice in
cases of communal violence can be complex and protracted, and it often involves
navigating legal, political, and social challenges.
Conclusion:
Shafdar Ali, a survivor of the attack, recounts, "Thousands from the All Assam
Students’ Union (AASU) surrounded our villages, dressed uniformly in white with
traditional gamosas wrapped around their heads. They carried loudspeakers and
even women with drums. Initially, it looked like a festive occasion. But soon,
the loudspeakers blared orders to start killing, and we fled for our lives." The
massacre continued throughout the day. Mohd Moniruddin, another survivor, sadly
recalls the loss of his entire family that day, saying, "My father, mother,
elder brother, and three younger sisters were killed. I was the only one who
survived because I could outrun the attackers."
The Nellie massacre stands as one of the largest in the country’s history, yet
the Tiwari Commission report on the massacre remains inaccessible to the public,
and none of the perpetrators have faced legal consequences. Reparations for the
victims are still a distant hope.
Maulana Suleiman Qasimi, another survivor, emotionally states, "The Kopili river
had turned red that day. Bodies were piled upon bodies as far as the eye could
see. Today, those who killed our people are hailed as martyrs. We can’t even get
the government to acknowledge that what happened was wrong."
The 855 AASU members who lost their lives during the Assam Agitation have been
recognized as ‘martyrs’ by the present BJP government and received compensation
three times – Rs 5,000 from a Congress government, Rs 30,000 from the Asom Gana
Parishad government under Prafulla Mahanta, and Rs 5 lakh under the current BJP
government led by Sarbananda Sonowal, a former AASU leader himself. In stark
contrast, the families of those who died in the Nellie massacre received only Rs
5,000 from the Congress government soon after the killings.
Now, the people of Nellie aspire to move beyond the divisive sentiments that
fueled the violence. They believe that the only obstacle hindering their
progress is the political establishment, which seems reluctant to let tensions
dissipate.
Bahirol Islam, a well-digger, expresses his hopes, saying, "Many people here
didn’t make it to the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) published last
year. Perhaps Rahul (referring to a political figure) can bring about positive
changes. At least Congress has spoken in our favor, which cannot be said of
other parties." The NRC is a list being updated in Assam to identify citizens
and migrants.
Shafdar adds, "We consistently voted for Congress, believing they would work for
our welfare, but they made promises without delivering. Then came the BJP
government with its ‘vikaas’ (development) pledge, but it has only exacerbated
issues with its Hindutva politics."
Suleiman humorously remarks, "The only ‘vikaas’ we’ve seen is a road through the
village for police to move quickly."
Nabi Hussain highlights the challenges faced by the people, noting, "People
receive notices from Foreigners’ Tribunals, get labeled as ‘D’ (doubtful)
voters, and are arrested. Even presenting documents doesn’t help. The
authorities seem disinterested. Bengali Hindus in Ganesh Beli, just down the
road, face the same harassment. These issues aren’t new, but their frequency has
increased since 2014. With the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, the government is
attempting to sow division among us. The BJP-RSS doesn’t want peace. Regardless
of our backgrounds, we don’t sense differences among the people around us. It’s
only the political parties that keep tensions alive."
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, introduced by the BJP, aims to grant
citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
While the bill was set to lapse, the BJP government at the Centre stated its
intention to reintroduce it if it returned to power. This prospect is viewed
with concern by many.