Church slams Centre, Assam govt for Kokrajhar violence

Accusing the Union and Assam governments of lacking in "political will" to prevent influx, National Council of Churches in India has said the "disaster" in the northeastern state could have been averted had infiltration of migrants been properly checked at all levels.

"We believe that this disaster (Assam violence) could have been averted, if both the Centre and the Assam government would have taken careful steps, with a strong political will, to check the infiltration of migrants to India, especially to Assam," NCCI general secretary Roger Gaikwad said in a letter to the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram yesterday.

Gaikwad said, "About 10,000 sq km land have been occupied by the migrants and they are now spreading over to other districts. Such influx and occupation will definitely create a fear psychosis among the indigenous people; being helpless, they are bound to retaliate."

He said the ongoing ethnic violence in Assam, especially in the districts of Kokrajhar, Dhubri and Chirang since July 19, was a "repetition" of the 2008 carnage in Kokrajhar where 55 people were killed and thousands others displaced.

Gaikwad expressed "regret" that leaders were not able to read early warnings.
Expressing concern at the relocation process of the displaced people, he said, "It is also a matter of great concern and upsetting to see that this unwanted episode is being repeated, displacing people, destroying property, and annihilating human lives."