Explained: Rumor-Fueled Clash Between Two Schoolmates Escalates Into Violent Communal Conflict in Jalalpur, Four Arrest, BNSS Section 163 Imposed

What began as a clash between two schoolmates on August 15 escalated into a violent communal conflict in the Kushiarkul area of Jalalpur late on Monday night. Fueled by rumours, the unrest deeply disrupted the community’s social fabric. The mob violence led to attacks between the two communities, resulting in multiple injuries and vandalism. Four individuals were arrested for spreading hate and participating in the violence. Section CrPC 144 (BNSS 163) has been imposed in the area, and a heavy deployment of Assam Police, Commando Battalion, CRPF, and BSF forces remains in place to prevent further incidents. To restore peace, Cachar SP Numal Mahatta and DC Rohan Kumar Jha held a peace meeting yesterday with both communities, urging them to help maintain calm and avoid any further unrest.

Late on Monday night, August 26, the village of Kushiarkul in the Jalalpur area of the Katigorah constituency was rocked by a serious communal clash. Tensions escalated when two communities clashed in a violent mob fight, overwhelming the local police force. The situation became so dire that Kanak Nath, the nominee for the Kushiarkul GP President, was called upon to mediate. However, when he arrived at Kushiarkul bazaar on his motorcycle, the mob turned on him as well, leaving him injured and his motorcycle vandalized.

The Gumrah Police Station in charge, along with an additional SP of the Cachar Police, arrived with reinforcements but struggled to control the situation. When a lathi charge failed to disperse the crowd, the police were forced to fire rounds of blank shots to bring the mob under control. Later that night, the Cachar SP and other senior police officers visited the scene to assess the situation and help restore order.

To explain the sequence of events:
August 15, 2024: Two schoolmates fought with each other regarding some personal matter at Boleshwar Higher Secondary School in Katigorah. Both of them were from different communities and in that clash, friends of either party ensured to beat each other. Later a meeting between the parents of either party ensured in mutual understanding and sorting the matter out. That ensured temporary peace.

August 26, 2024 (afternoon): one of the boys involved in the earlier fight on August 15 was on his way to watch a football match in a nearby field when the other boy spotted him. The second boy, along with his friends, confronted him, and the two groups began fighting again. The altercation quickly drew a large crowd. Local elders intervened, managing to stop the fight, and they agreed to meet with the boys’ parents the next morning to resolve the matter amicably.

August 26 (night): That same night, a rumor spread in the Rajpur area of the constituency, claiming that a driver had been burned alive inside his car. This rumor, tinged with communal undertones, quickly ignited tensions. Coupled with the afternoon’s altercation between the two boys, it set the stage for a broader communal clash. Members of one community mobilized to confront the other, and the other side, unwilling to back down, responded in kind. Hundreds of people from Rajpur, armed with sharp weapons, descended on Kushiarkul Bazar, chanting slogans. The locals in Kushiarkul also prepared to defend themselves. The resulting clash between the two groups led to widespread vandalism and violence.

Later that night, when the local police arrived at the scene, they quickly realized they didn’t have enough manpower to control the situation. They decided to call Kanak Nath, the Gaon Panchayat President’s nominee, for assistance. Nath arrived promptly on his motorcycle, hoping to mediate and resolve the conflict. However, the mob turned on him as well, severely beating him and leaving him with a bleeding head injury. Recognizing the severity of the situation, the SP’s office was notified, and an additional SP from Silchar, along with the Officer-in-Charge of Katigorah Police Station, rushed to the spot with reinforcements. Despite their efforts, the police were forced to use a lathi charge when the mob refused to disperse initially.

When the lathi-charge proved ineffective, the police were forced to fire blank shots at the mob. This successfully dispersed the crowd and brought the situation under control. To further ease tensions, community leaders and respected figures were called in to help mediate. Meanwhile, Cachar SP Numal Mahatta arrived at the scene shortly after midnight and met with members of both communities to hear their grievances. Once the tension subsided and people returned to their homes, a large police presence was stationed in the area to maintain peace. By late night on August 26 (early morning of August 27), four individuals were arrested in connection with the incident.

August 27: DC Cachar Rohan Kumar Jha, along with SP Mahatta participated in a peace meeting with both the communities.

“There was a tension between the two communities here and we took action in that matter. We have received ample cooperation from the locals and on the same night of the incident we were able to apprehend four perpetrators. Now there is peace and people want peace. We are investigating the spread of rumours and the creation of a fear psychosis. Most importantly, this area is full of peace-loving people and no one wants violence. The people gave a strong message against those who tried to spread violence and hate. If anyone wants to disturb the peace, stringent action will be taken against them. We have put surveillance to find out who has tried to create this artificial situation of tension and we have already identified some people in this regard. Round-the-clock deployment of police, commando, CRPF, and BSF is present to maintain peace. People are also there who are cooperating with us”, said SP after the peace meeting on Tuesday evening.

“Timely action from the administration has helped control the situation and prevention of any damage to life and property. One youth was injured and he is receiving medical attention. We are here today (Tuesday) to build confidence and that is why we (DC and SP) have come together. There are violence propagators and violence doers. It is our request as well as an order to the propagators to refrain from inciting people to bring discontentment between the two communities”, added Rohan Kumar Jha, the District Commissioner of Cachar and exercising his role as the District Magistrate has imposed section CrPC 144 (BNSS 163) in the area until further notice.

Police presence continued in Jalalpur on Wednesday, ensuring the situation remained under control.