Leki Thungon about attacks against the northeastern “migrants” and violence in Assam

The numerous articles and news releases about attacks against the northeastern “migrants” is not an outrageously new phenomenon. What makes it seem different is that this time the “attacker” can be easily identified, the Muslims in this case. One of the most dubiously interesting things that emerge from this is its uncanny resemblance with the violence taking place in Assam, where two marginalised groups are in a state of violent conflict. We all are well aware of the second class citizen treatment both the groups in question (i.e. the Muslims and the northeastern people) meet at different social, political and administrative levels. Both groups have experienced hostility from “mainland Indians” through either assimilation or exclusion. However, the outcome of this not-isolated incident is the reactionary anger and fear which would add fuel to the hate and to reductive identity politics.

http://www.sacw.net/article2785.html