Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Guwahati, October 15 2008:
The Assam Public Works (APW), an Assam based NGO on Wednesday came up with startling figures regarding the existence of SIMI and HuJi members in various districts of Assam.
The APW had long been demanding army operations in char and other riverine areas of Assam on the ground that the char areas in the state have become breeding ground of anti-Indian activities due to large scale presence of Islamic fundamentalists.
Talking to newsmen in Guwahati on Wednesday APW chairman Abhijit Sarma said that Assam is going in the lines of Jammu and Kashmir.
''The recent clashes in Udalguri and Darrang are the indications of the same and if the government does not take action Assam will become another Jammu and Kashmir soon, where the Indian military has to guard it from Jehadi forces backed by Pakistan based ISI,'' he said.
''The communal clashes at the two districts were initiated by the Islamic fundamentalist forces like Huji and the SIMI at the behest of the ISI.
They did it to avenge the killing of seven Huji militants by the Indian Army on September 26 last in Dhubri district,'' said Sarma.
''The Central Govt must monitor the developments in Assam seriously including the hoisting of Pakistani flag in two villages during the communal clash,'' said Sarma while adding that the government of India must consider seriously the issue of hoisting of Pakistani flag in Indian soil.
''There are more than 50,000 SIMI and HuJi members operating in Assam at present.
Our members worked very hard to get the details of the cadre strength of the Islamic fundamentalist organizations and we could manage the cadre strength in eleven districts,'' he said when asked about the authenticity of the figures.
He also condemned the attitude of the state government over the issue, who initially termed it a Eid flag and not the Pakistani flag.
''The Congress government is known for their minority appeasement policy for their petty vote bank politics.
But Assam is surely becoming another Jammu & Kashmir if immediate steps are not taken to handle the situation.
According to APW, the SIMI and HuJi cadre strength at Dhubri is 4000, Goalpara with 8000, 3700 in Barpeta, 4212 in Darrang, 3728 in Nagaon, 1850 in Guwahati, 3018 in Morigaon, 3280 in Karimganj, 1184 in Cachar, 6078 in Hailakandi, 2075 in Bongaigaon and 400 in Nalbari.