Assam
India is the only country in the whole world with two genocide alerts. One is Assam. It is where citizenship of 150,000 Muslims is taken away. 1.9 Million others live in Fear that They Could Be Next. In the midst of this fear a tragedy began. It is difficult to watch. But it is important to see how India treats its citizens. The 33 year old Muslims being shot and killed is Moinul Haq. this un-armed father of 3 young children was shot by the militarized police without warning. As he lied injured the government-appointed photographer, Bijoy Bania ganged up to mercilessly beat and kill him. This is what hate does, when Muslim citizens are suddenly declared foreigners. Poor villagers thought they are being evicted because they are being declared foriegners. So they brought their IDs to show that they are citizen. This 12 year old Shaikh Farid, was trying to show his id card when he was shot. 20 others were injured in police firing. 30 are missing. These are mostly marginalized Muslim farmers. They battle heavy floods and erosion every year at the banks of mighty Brahmaputra. Just a day before they had received the notice eviction that they are illegal occupant of the land. Since they own the land, these Muslims went to the court. But before the court can hear the case, on September 23, 2021, 900 heavily armed Indian police and paramilitary descended on Dhalpur village on the North bank of the Brahmaputra in Darrang district. Here is Mumtaz Begum, the wife of Moinul Haq shot dead. That is yet another day in the life of Indian Muslims. Here is Khairunesa Begum. Her own house was razed. her belongings were set on fire including her grandchildren’s school textbooks. Militarized police even burned down her rice, and corn. her three-year-old grandson is missing. “If we are not citizens, they should just throw a big bomb here and the land will be theirs. Why make us go through this hell?” asked Khairunnessa Begum.