ULFA boards anti-Bihar bandwagon, warns ‘Hindi speakers,’ AASU joins in

‘‘While there is no denying the fact that we have been protesting against the inclusion of large numbers of candidates from Bihar in the exams to fill D-grade vacancies in the NF Railway, there were no assaults (on Bihar students) as reported by a section of the media in Patna and other towns in Bihar,’’ said AASU general secretary Amiya Bhuyan at a press conference today.

The Assam-linking trains were targeted after reports that several Bihar candidates were stopped from taking the Railway Recruitment Board test in Guwahati last Sunday.

The AASU also got several passengers who were attacked to address the media. ‘‘Even as the train stopped at Jamalpur, a crowd of about 300 people armed with lathis and other weapons stormed into the Assam-Bihar row: ULFA, AASU step in compartments and started beating us,’’ said Amal Gupta, displaying bruises on his face and back.

Another passenger alleged that his suitcase and bag were snatched away by the attackers, who forced the TTE to identify Assamese passengers.

Blaming Railway Minister Nitish Kumar for the attacks, Bhuyan said several women passengers complained that they had been molested. Many small traders and businessmen, on their way to take part in the International Trade Fair in the Capital, reportedly suffered heavy losses as well.

In a statement issued here last evening, Paresh Barua, chief of the ULFA armed wing, warned the Centre and State Governments of ‘‘dire consequences’’ if the safety of passengers in Assam-bound trains passing through Bihar was not immediately ensured.

‘‘Our stand that the Centre and the Hindi-belt states are out to crush the Assamese and other ethnic populations of the Northeast by all possible means has been vindicated. We are not asking for anything in Bihar and other states. Why do they have to come and snatch our slice of cake in our own region?’’ said Barua.

Meanwhile, even as Gogoi directed the state police chief to tighten security in the state considering the large number of Bihari migrants in Assam, students attacked the Tinsukhia railway station in Upper Assam this morning. Railway property was destroyed and some staff were beaten up, said official sources.

The NF Railway general manager cancelled his scheduled visit to Tinsukhia following reports that the agitated youths were planning a demonstration against the alleged recruitment of more candidates from Bihar than the Northeast.

Other political parties in the state including the AGP, NCP, Asom Jatiyabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad have also protested against the attacks.