GUWAHATI, Jan 14 � Illegal migrants have incited the Garo-Rabha clashes in Meghalaya and Assam areas with an eye to oust the Garos and Rabhas from the lucrative rubber plantations they have developed and also from their fertile plots of land. These migrants are the third party and they are provided all possible protection by the State administration, alleged the All Rabha Students� Union.
Addressing a press conference here today, ARSU organizing secretary Nripen Rabha said that these migrants have established their hegemony in Krishnai area of Goalpara district and at their behest Muslim fundamentalism is also at work in some areas of the district.
The local administration and the district administration too are scared of taking any step against the leaders of these illegal migrants some of whom are leading the ruling Congress party�s local units, said the ARSU leader.
The ex-general secretary of the ARSU Moti Ram Rabha, Debajit Napha and Ashok Nongbong � president and general secretary respectively of the Barduwar Bholgaon Anchalik ARSU and Govinda Rabha, president of the Barduwar Bholagaon Anchalik Sixth Schedule Demand Committee also echoed the views of the ARSU organizing secretary.
They alleged that four of their members have remained traceless since they, along with 29 others, were attacked by a gang comprising mostly the illegal migrants at Paikan on Januray 9, when they were returning from the Kukurkata Niwari ME School relief camp after distributing relief materials. In all 12 of the team received injuries in the incident.
But police and civil administrations and even the Army personnel camping in an adjacent area of the spot of the January 9 incident expressed their helplessness to nab the culprits despite their being named by the ARSU and Six Schedule Demand Committee leaders.
They demanded immediate measures to trace out the missing ARSU and Six Schedule Demand Committee members who include Upen Rabha alias Sagar Pawan, who is a well known singer, Iswar Rabha, Mohan Rabha and Jayanta Rabha. One of the vehicles, a 407 mini truck (beaing registration number AS- 01-CC-6200) in which the ARSU and Demand Committee members were traveling was also burnt down by the assailants that day, alleged the ARSU and the Demand Committee leaders.
The ARSU and Six Schedule Demand Committee members also said that the Congress-led Governments in the State and in Meghalaya are also patronising the Garo-Rabha clashes with the view to frustrate the Six Schedule demand of the Rabhas. They have also turned blind eyes to the fact that the surrendered militants of the Garo militant outfit ANVC are leading the attacks against the Rabha villagers in East Garo Hills District of Meghalaya, alleged the ARSU and Six Schedule Demand Committee leaders.
However, with a positive gesture, they said that the have assured Garos living in their respective areas not to be apprehensive of any retaliatory attacks from the Rabhas. The ARSU central committee has also been asked not to pursue a vindictive approach towards the Garos living in Assam, said the ARSU and Six Schedule Demand Committee leaders.
