42 years of Nellie massacre: Assam govt to table Tiwari Commission report

The Assam government has decided to table the long-overdue Tiwari Commission report on the 1983 Nellie massacre in the legislative assembly on November 25. The report, submitted 41 years ago, investigates the violent incident that claimed over 1,800 lives, mostly Bengali-origin Muslims, with unofficial estimates putting the toll at 3,000.

The massacre occurred on February 18, 1983, during the Assam Agitation against alleged illegal migration from Bangladesh. Despite registering 668 FIRs, no one was arrested in connection with the violence. A commission, led by retired IAS officer Tribhuvan Prasad Tewary, was set up in July 1983 to probe the circumstances surrounding the massacre and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents.

Although the report was submitted in May 1984, it was never made public. The current Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, stated that the authenticity of the report was verified through forensic tests and interviews with clerks from the time. He emphasized that the report is a part of history and should be presented.

The decision comes ahead of the state election and amidst heightened tensions over alleged illegal immigration from Bangladesh and concerns about Bengali Muslims living in Assam. The move is seen as a step towards shedding light on a dark chapter in Assam's history.