In the wake of the appalling sexual assault on a minor girl in Dhing, Assam, a deep-seated unrest has taken root in the region. This horrific incident involved three youths from the Miya Muslim community, a term often used to describe Muslims of Bangladeshi descent, distinguishing them from the indigenous Muslim population of Assam. This specific incident has markedly intensified the communal tensions, leading to severe backlash against the Miya Muslims.

The response from the local communities and various organizations has been swift and severe. Amidst escalating protests, as many as 30 different organizations across Upper Assam—encompassing several districts in the eastern part of the state—have unified under a singular demand: they have given the Miya Muslims a stern ultimatum to vacate Upper Assam within a mere 7 days. This demand comes in the immediate aftermath of the assault, highlighting the community's urgent call for action against what they perceive as a growing threat.

In particular, the Tai Ahom Yuva Parishad, a prominent group among the array of organizations, has been vocal about their stance. They explicitly stated, "The whole incident has been committed by Miya Muslims. Miya Muslims have now become a cancerous disease in Assam." The sentiment reflects a severe and growing estrangement towards the Miya Muslims, who are also blamed for a variety of crimes including rape, robbery, and drug trafficking, primarily in Lower Assam.

Furthermore, the All Assam Tai Ahom Students’ Union (AATASU) has actively initiated a campaign within Eastern Assam’s Sivasagar district. Their mission is clear: to purge the area of Muslims of migrant origin. This has led to meticulous house-to-house inquiries in places like Nazira and Tinsukia. The purpose of these inquiries is to determine the presence of any migrant Muslim individuals who might have doubtful citizenship, reflecting the community's increased vigilance and distrust towards this group.

The climate in Assam is now charged with a mix of fear, anger, and an urgent plea for security and justice. This ultimatum, while stark, underscores the intense emotions and reactions sparked by the Dhing rape case, which has not only affected the local sentiments but has also reignited broader debates about citizenship, integration, and communal harmony in the region.

Rising Tensions: Ultimatum and Actions in Upper Assam

The situation in Upper Assam continues to escalate with the Tai Ahom Yuva Parishad intensifying their rhetoric against the Miya Muslims. The organization has expressed concerns over the possibility of incidents similar to those in Lower Assam occurring in Upper Assam. In response, they have called on the government to take decisive action. “We have set a deadline of 7 days. After 7 days, the Tai Ahom Yuva Parishad will take measures to evict them even by using force. We have made it clear that they must leave within seven days. This is our last word,” they declared, underscoring their firm stance against the continued presence of Miya Muslims in the region.

In a parallel move, the All Assam Tai Ahom Students’ Union (AATASU) has launched a stringent initiative to identify Muslims of migrant origin who they allege have doubtful citizenship. This initiative has seen active and detailed house-to-house inquiries in locales such as Nazira and Tinsukia, searching meticulously for individuals fitting their criteria.

Moreover, the influence of AATASU's campaign is extending into the economic realm as well. Volunteers from the union have approached traders and business owners throughout Upper Assam, urging them to sever any professional or commercial ties with migrant Muslims, predominantly those who originate from districts in Lower Assam. “We have already sent a 7-day ultimatum to Muslims of migrant origin to vacate their rented houses and leave Sivasagar at the earliest. We have also urged landlords and the owners of brick kilns, where many of these individuals are employed as labourers, not to entertain them any further,” stated AATASU volunteers during a press interaction.

This escalating scenario reflects a significant hardening of attitudes and a potential precursor to more severe community strife. AATASU and the 30 other indigenous organizations in Sivasagar have issued a stark warning: “If necessary actions are not taken against these illegal migrants within the next 7 days, AATASU and the 30 other indigenous organizations of Sivasagar will be forced to intensify our protest.”

In Upper Assam, the atmosphere remains tense as the All Assam Tai Ahom Students’ Union (AATASU) intensifies its campaign against Miya Muslims, who are primarily migrants from Bangladesh. Today, significant activities were noted in Nazira, where volunteers methodically identified individuals suspected of being migrant Muslims. A similar initiative was also executed in Tinsukia, marking a major drive to isolate and identify migrant Muslim workers, indicating a broader, more organized effort to address what these organizations perceive as a pressing issue.

Amidst these actions, Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has made a plea to the involved organizations, urging them not to take the law into their own hands, reflecting concerns about potential breaches of peace and legality in these forceful measures.

The movement against the Miya Muslims is backed by a coalition of 30 nationalist organizations, including prominent groups like the All Tai Ahom Students Union (ATASU), Asomiya Yuva Manch, Bir Lachit Sena, and several others spanning across tribal and regional communities. Each organization has echoed similar sentiments regarding the perceived threats posed by Miya Muslims, advocating for a firm stance against their continued presence in Upper Assam.

In a further step reflecting the intense community response, these groups have also implored local businesses to disengage from employing Miya Muslim workers. This collective decision underscores the broad and deeply ingrained concerns that have been triggered by the incident in Dhing.

On the political front, the issue has sparked substantial controversy. Congress MLA Abdur Rashid Mandal has stepped into the fray, challenging the legitimacy and morality of these expulsion efforts. He stated, "They can’t evict Miya Muslims from upper Assam." While condemning the Dhing rape incident, Mandal argued against collective blame, stressing that it is unjust to hold the entire Miya Muslim community accountable for the crimes of a few.

Moreover, Mandal highlighted the contributions of the Miya Muslims to the local economy, particularly in various labor sectors. He also suggested that inflammatory remarks by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and others have exacerbated the situation, contributing to the heightened demands and actions against the Miya Muslims.