“Flood Jihad”: “These narratives are very dangerous, can shake the peaceful fabric of Silchar,” warns Cachar SP

Recently, very questionable and inflammatory material regarding the Bethukandi dyke situation is being peddled by certain regional and national media houses. SP Dr Ramandeep Kaur addressed the press today regarding this sensationalisation of the criminal act. The police were informed of the damage incurred by the Bethukandi Dyke a few days before the floods hit Silchar. The report was made by the Irrigation Department. However, torrential rains arrived at the time and the authorities couldn’t commence their investigation.

“We have already apprehended four people who were involved in the cutting of the dyke. Surely, there are more people involved and we are working towards apprehending them as well. We will find out why they took the step to damage government property like this” promised the SP.

“However, I want to make this very clear. There is no communal angle to this incident. No community has ever intentionally damaged government property in this manner to aggravate communal tensions.”

In June, Silchar received 930 millimetres of rainfall compared to the average of 490 millimetres. Referring to this unprecedented amount of rain, the SP added, “People who have been living here for decades can attest that this level of rainfall is unprecedented. The water took 15 days to recede. The volume of water present in the city has no connection to the condition of the dyke”

She went on to add that certain factors in the floods were an “act of god” and urged the citizens of Silchar to not extrapolate an already complex situation by giving it a communal angle.

“We have not even heard of the word “flood jihad” in our investigations. These narratives are very dangerous as they have the power to shake the peaceful fabric of Silchar’s society. I urge media houses to refrain from giving this a communal angle.”

It must be noted that Silchar was underwater for over two weeks but certain national media houses dragged their feet covering this issue. Furthermore, some channels have only recently covered the situation here giving it a communal angle by coining terms like “flood jihad” in a very opportunistic manner. Silchar, its plight and its citizens saw no mention whatsoever on their headlines before this.