The North Kamrup violence was a series of violent incidents in North Kamrup, Assam, on 4–5 January 1980 between those who supported the Assam Movement and those who opposed it."The referred to the violence of North Kamrup on January 4-5, 1980." Triggered by the death of a high school student, a member of the AASU, it led to a series of attacks and counter-attacks between Assamese and immigrant villages leading to a curfew."[T]riggered by the death of a high school student who had worked as a member of the AASU. He was killed in a village inhabited my Muslims of East Bengal origin. His death resulted in a series of attacks and counter-attacks between Assamese and immigrant villages..."
According to the Citizenship Rights Preservation Committee, representing Bengali-speaking people, the violence was directed against linguistic, religio-linguistic, ethnic minorities and members of the CPI, CPI(M) and CPI(ML) political parties who opposed the Assam Movement."The violence according to [the Citizenship Rights Preservation Committee] was directed against linguistic, religio-linguistic, ethnic minorities and against the workers of the CPI, CPI(M) and CPI(ML) who opposed the agitation." Many of the victims were Miya and it is alleged that the Army committed atrocities on Assamese villagers during the curfew."Many of the victims were immigrants and it was alleged that the Army had committed atrocities on the Assamese villagers during the curfew under the auspices of carrying out an investigation." This was the first reported large-scale group clash during the Assam Movement."This was the first large-scale group clash reported during the movement."
Background
In some districts of lower Assam, Bengali Hindus have experienced violence directed against on the linguistic and cultural identity of the Assamese people. Bengali speaking people were often harassed as foreigners and became the target of violence during the anti-Bengali movement in Assam.
At the beginning of the movement, many Muslim students of East Bengali origin supported and joined the movement as Assamese speakers (see Na Asamiya). Eventually, many began to reclaim their Muslim and Bengali identity.
Violence and victimisation According to one version, on 3 January 1980, a group of students of Baganpara High School were attacked while visiting Barikadanga to supervise a three-day strike in response to a call given by the AASU for supporting the anti-Bengali movement. According to another version, the students went there to raise money for the anti-Bengali movement.
Read also Bongal Kheda Goreswar massacre Mandai massacre
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