Red Cross aid for Assam group clash victims

The victims of group clashes that broke out last month in middle Assam were offered aids by the Assam State Branch of the Indian Red Cross Society (and the International Committee of Red Cross). The beneficiaries (over 20,000 people) are those, who had to flee their villages after the communal violence flared up in Udalguri and Darrang districts of Assam.

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Soon after an ICRC delegate’s visit to the affected areas, it was decided that the State branch of Indian Red Cross in cooperation with the ICRC would proceed for distributing essential commodities like blankets, mosquito nets, kitchen sets, tarpaulins, clothing, and hygiene items etc to the inmates of the relief camps.

Thomas Russell, the ICRC delegate commented after the visit that the humanitarian situation in the camps housing the displaced was quite worrying. He also added, "The people there had to run for their lives. They couldn't take anything with them. Their houses were burned down, they lost their cattle, and now they can no longer fend for themselves."

Speaking to this writer, Ramani Mohan Talukdar, an office bearer of Indian Red Cross Society’s Assam Branch, also informed that the Red Cross volunteers organised awareness programme for promoting good hygienic practice and proper sanitation in the relief camps.

Mentionable that group clashes between the Bodo tribes people and immigrant Bangladeshis erupted in Udalguri and Darrang during the first week of October snatched away the lives of over 50. Moreover, the violence left hundreds wounded and more than one lakh people including women and children put in the relief camps.

Thousands of police, army and paramilitary troops were deployed in the strife torn areas. The army and paramilitary forces continued to stage flag marches in the affected areas over many days. Army choppers were also engaged for air surveillance. Even a curfew was enforced for more than a week, though it was relaxed during day time as the situation started improving.

The Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi visited the affected areas on the seventh day of the violence. He initiated a judicial probe into the incidences of violence after his visit to the location on October 9. Later Gogoi opted for a CBI probe into the incidence of hoisting of Pakistan flags, which took place in the locality during the turmoil, with an aim to punish those involved.

National Human Rights Commission (of India) accepted the incidence of group clashes seriously. Taking suo moto cognizance of the media reports regarding the violence, the commission issued notices to the state government to submit a report in the matter. It also sent a team to assess the situation in the affected areas.

In a press statement, Renuka Devi Barkataki, the honorary secretary of Assam Branch of the Indian Red Cross disclosed that their volunteers in association with the colleagues from ICRC would keep on monitoring the humanitarian situation of those camps in Udalguri and Darrang supporting the displaced population. She also expressed hope that the initiative would help the affected people to meet their most urgent and immediate needs.