The Karbi Anglong autonomous district of Assam has always been troubled territory. On the 17th of April, Dengaon, a small town in the district witnessed a horrific incident of Torture and Violence. Pranab Das, a 23 year old Bengali Youth was tortured to death by a murderous gang which has sparked widespread protests and condemnation.
According to initial reports, the victim was involved in an illicit relationship with a woman of a particular community. According to eyewitnesses, the victim was picked up by a group of tribals from his garage sometime around 2 p.m. on the 17th of April. Pranab Das was taken to an Inspection Bungalow of the Irrigation Department where more youths joined the kidnappers and the torture began.
According to Police, Pranab Das was thrashed horrifically by a large gang of youths of the community. Later, as he lay unconscious, parts of his body were sliced off with a sharp object. Furthermore, Brackish was applied to the fresh injuries. Allegedly, the assault continued in the presence of the Local Police after it reached on the spot after receiving information about the incident. The Police brought the severely wounded Pranab Das to the Dokmoka Primary Healthcare Center but in a bewildering series of events, the gang followed the victim to the Healthcare Center and continued their vicious assault. The victim ultimately succumbed to his injuries not much long after. The gang then proceeded to ransack the victim’s residence and damage his household items.
The incident has sparked a massive outrage from various organizations. NH 36 was blocked by protesters on the 18th of April. A 12-hour Bandh was called for by the Karbi Anglong Zila Bangali Samaj and the Bengali Yuba Chatra Federation on the 20th of April from 5 a.m. demanding the arrest of Pranab Das’ killers and security to the community people living in the Hill District. The Bandh was supported by various organizations such as the Adivasi Students’ Association (AASA), United Students’ of Karbi Anglong (USKA), Tiwa Students’ Union (TSU), Bangali Aikya Manch, Nepali Students’ Association, KSA, Bhujpuri Chatra Sanstha, Ana Karbi Aikya Manch and Karbi Anglong Aikya Manch.
The murder of Pranab Das shares some unnerving similarities with the lynching of Syed Farid Khan in Dimapur last year. In both cases, the victims were Plains (Non-Tribals) and the Perpetrators were Tribals.
In both cases, the victims were punished for having sexual relations with a woman from Tribal communities. While Syed Farid Khan fell prey to a false rape allegation, by a Naga woman, Pranab Das was tortured to death for an apparently illicit but consensual relationship with a Tribal woman. In both the Cases, the role of the Police has come severely under question and there appears to be some sort of collusion between the Police and the Perpetrators.
Both incidents are symptoms of a larger malaise that afflicts certain North Eastern regions. It is a sad reality that Plains face blatant racism from locals in Nagaland and the regions around it. The authorities have failed horribly to combat racial discrimination in the region but there have been positive efforts from all sections of the Society in recent times to promote Social cohesiveness between different communities.
Although the Authorities have refused to label the incident as an out and out case of Hate Crime, the underlying tones of Racism cannot be ignored. It’s a fact that Plains communities are deeply rattled every time such an incident occurs. Although the incidents involving Pranab Das and Syed Farid Khan can be considered extreme acts but everyday acts of Racism which are quite prevalent do nothing to reassure the Non-Tribal population of their safety.
The fact that the plight of the Non-Tribal communities in the region find no mention in National Public Discourse increasingly fuels their feelings of being marginalized. The National Media has horribly failed to highlight the plight of the Non-Tribal population in the region, ‘The Tyranny of Distance’ Rajdeep Sardesai would have us believe but its sheer negligence and laziness on their part. NDTV which gave airtime to the Fraudulent claims of the woman who screamed Rape did not highlight the official report of the Nagaland Government which stated in unambiguous terms that Syed Farid Khan and the woman shared a consensual sexual relationship.
The Police have so far arrested two individuals believed to be involved in the incident and more arrests are expected. “We have arrested 2 persons till now and some more will be arrested, we are investigating the whole matter, right now police is suspecting some sort of illicit relation between the victim and a girl of a particular community responsible for the occurrence” Debojit Deoury, S.P Karbi Anglong told a reporter from Domoka. We sincerely hope that Justice is served swiftly and the guilty are awarded the strictest of Punishments.
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=apr2116/state053
http://www.nagalandpost.com/channelnews/Regional/RegionalNews.aspx?news=TkVXUzEwMDA5NjIxMw%3D%3D