Controversy sparks as Muslims portrayed as criminals in Bodoland University’s cultural event
Guwahati: A cultural procession organized by the Department of History at Bodoland University in Kokrajhar, Assam, took a troubling turn when it depicted Muslims in a derogatory manner.
The incident occurred on March 16 during a cultural event meant to celebrate legendary heroes as part of the university's 23rd varsity week and Thulunga Festival. However, a viral video from the event showed two individuals dressed in Muslim attire, with beards and skull caps, their hands bound, being paraded in the procession behind a man purportedly portraying a policeman. In the video, these individuals are depicted being subjected to police brutality. The procession, with students holding banners for the event, can be seen following behind.
The portrayal sparked outrage among students and organizations in the state. Responding to the incident, Jalal Uddin, the central president of the Muslim Student Union of Assam (MSUA), expressed shock and condemned the depiction. He warned of legal action against Bodoland University if the matter was not addressed promptly, stating, "We do not understand why a higher educational institute attempted to portray Muslims as criminals. We condemn the attitude of Bodoland University for such humiliation. The entire community is not responsible for the actions of a few individuals. We will wait for two days. If the university authority does not clarify the issue, we will lodge an FIR against them."
Other student organizations, including the North East Minority Students Union (NEMU), Krishak Shramiak Unnayan Sangram Samiti (KSUSS), Muslim Jatiya Parishad (MJP), and Burman Mandai Students Union (BMSU), also denounced the incident.
The incident highlights concerns about the treatment of Muslims in Assam. Despite comprising about 35% of the state's population, according to the 2011 Indian census, Muslims are reportedly underrepresented in positions of power. The Wire's analysis from January 2024 revealed disparities in political representation, with no Muslim ministers in Assam's Parliament and a lack of Muslim officials in key administrative and judicial positions.
Furthermore, the analysis noted a dearth of Muslim teachers at Bodoland University and highlighted the disproportionate presence of Muslims among undertrials in the state. Additionally, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has faced criticism for alleged hate speech and discriminatory remarks against minorities, including the derogatory labeling of "Miya Muslims" for economic issues in the state.
A cultural procession organized by the #BodolandUniversity (BU) in #Kokrajhar, #Assam mocked #Muslim people portraying them as criminals.
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) March 18, 2024
A viral video shows two persons dressed in Muslim attire and wearing beards and skull caps with hands tied behind were beaten up by police… pic.twitter.com/BRLTkltiS7
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
J-K: Six held with drugs, assets worth Rs 73 lakh attached in Udhampur
Jammu (PTI): Six persons were taken into custody during an intensified anti-narcotics crackdown, with police recovering contraband substances and over Rs 23 lakh in Doda and Kathua districts of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Monday.
In a parallel action, properties worth over Rs 73 lakh linked to drug peddlers were also attached in Udhampur district under relevant legal provisions, the police said.
Additional Superintendent of Police, Doda, Mohd Aslam said three persons, including a woman, were detained during a raid on a house at Dak Mohalla in the main town following recovery of 85 grams of suspected brown sugar and over Rs 23 lakh on Sunday evening.
He identified the woman as Zareena Begum, stating that she had been under police surveillance following inputs indicating her involvement in drug peddling.
Besides Zareena, officials said her daughter and son-in-law were also picked up by police during the raid.
“We have taken three individuals into custody. Their roles are being examined, and based on that, arrests will be made. We are continuing raids at other suspected locations,” Aslam said.
Three drug peddlers --Pardeep Singh of Hiranagar, Rahees Butt of Billawar and Ali Sen of Amritsar (Punjab) -- were arrested along with heroin at different places in Kathua district, a police spokesman said.
He said while 2.79 gm of heroin was seized from Singh, 2.66 gm were recovered Butt. Similarly, 303 gm of heroin was seized from Sen who was intercepted near Berrian-Pattan village while moving in a private car from Bhagthali to Maggar Khad on the Jammu-Pathankot highway.
All the three were booked under the NDPS Act and further investigations are on, the spokesman said.
In Udhampur, the spokesman said properties worth Rs 73 lakh were attached in two separate cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The attached properties included a newly constructed residential house, a car, a motorcycle and a mobile phone with a total value of Rs 65 Lakh, belonging to accused Saif Ali who was booked under the NDPS case in Majalta area early this year, he said.
In another action, movable property worth Rs 8 lakh comprising a car, belonging to accused Danish Butt of Doda has been attached under Section 68(F) NDPS Act in connection with an FIR registered at Rehambal police station, the spokesman said.
