Inimical forces at play in Assam: Islamic civic organisation

"We do not think we are separate from the Assamese society. The indigenous Islamic people are very concerned with this new development ... We will not allow any force to spoil the Assamese society," spokesman of Brihattar Guwahati Islamic Samaj, Nekibur Zaman told reporters here.

Accusing the state government of failing to protect the life and property of the people and maintaining peace despite the presence of ministers and security forces in Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts (BTAD), he urged the people not to be influenced by such forces and instead maintain peace in the state and its age-old communal harmony.

The government had also failed to uphold the Guwahati High Court ruling of not allowing bandhs to be held in the state, Zaman said.

He appealed to the national political parties to desist from making statements that the Muslim population in Assam are illegal Bangladeshi migrants as it creates divisions along communal lines and instigates people 'unnecessarily', besides affecting the sentiments of the indigenous Muslims.

The body also demanded immediate seizure of all arms in the possession of Bodo miscreants, immediate restoration of peace and harmony in the state, rehabilitation of indigenous Muslims now in relief camps and updation of the National Register of Citizens.

Zunaid Khalid, a leader of the Islamic body, said political groups and communal forces were taking advantage of the situation.

"Bajrang Dal which has nothing to do with Assam called a bandh here, while All Assam Minority Students Union with no presence in upper Assam resorted to violence there during its bandh yesterday," Khalid said.