Hindi-speaking people worried after Ulfa threat

Dibrugarh/Guwahati: Ulfa (Independent) chief Paresh Baruah, who is reportedly holed up in Myanmar, has warned Hindi-speaking people living in Assam of serious consequences if they don’t apologize for raising slogans against his organization during a bandh two days ago.
Baruah issued the warning while taking part in a TV debate here over the telephone on Friday, triggering panic among people of the community.This comes three days after Ulfa (Independent) militants killed two Hindi-speaking people in Tinsukia district that sparked protests from people from north India settled in Assam.
During a bandh called in protest against the killings, supporters of All Assam Bhojpuri Parishad (AABP) and other Bhojpuri organizations in Tinsukia shouted slogans such as ‘Ulfa go back’ and ‘Ulfa murdabad.’
“There is fear among Hind-speaking people. Our forefathers were brought to Assam by the British long before Independence to work in tea gardens and shipyards. Their descendents have been residing in Assam for decades and assimilated with Assamese society. We want a halt to killings of innocent people,” said Parshuram Dubey, the president of All Assam Bhojpuri Parishad.
Dubey added, “The protesters in Tinsukia were only reacting to news reports which blamed Ulfa for the killings. We want a CBI inquiry.” He said, “Earlier, too, Ulfa denied its involved in the Dhemaji explosion and Sanjoy Ghose murder case. Instead of of threatening people, it should seek an apology from the media and the government who had blamed it for those incidents.”
All Assam Bhojpuri Parishad secretary Nandalal Koiri said, “Hindi-speaking people residing in areas like Sadiya and other interior places are worried about their safety. They are the most vulnerable.”
The Purvottar Hindustani Yuva Samaj, too, criticized Baruah for threatening Hindi-speaking people. It alleged that Ulfa (Independent) is branding Hindi-speaking people ‘bahiragot’ (outsiders) and ‘ana-asomiya’, who are exploiting Assam’s resources.
“Assam is our land too. Our ancestors were here. We have imbibed Assamese culture and celebrate Bihu as well. We are peace-loving and hard working people and one should not forget the contribution of Hindi-speaking people towards the development of Assam,” said Raman Jha, spokesperson of the Samaj.
The Samaj labeled described as “outburst of frustration” the slogans raised by some Hindi-speaking people in Tinsukia.
Many Hindi-speaking people recalled how about a 100 of them were killed in 2000 and 2007 by Ulfa militants.