At all relief camps, residents discuss the recent blasts in whispers. “We are not Bangladeshis. I was born here. What happened was wrong, so many innocent people died,” said Saidur Rahman, a pharmacist at Bechimari relief camp in Darrang who belongs to Rowta Bagan village in Udalguri district. There are about 2,500 people in this camp.

“We are afraid that after the blasts, the communal trouble will begin all over again. Why are they thrusting the Bangladeshi tag on us? How can they ask people who have no home and no food for identification papers,” said Najib-ur-Rahman, incharge of Burigaon camp and a local leader.

About 10 km away at the Hakatpur relief camp where 3,000 Bodos and about 100 Bengalis have taken shelter, the fear factor has gone up. “There is no one to look after us here. We fear they will target us and plant a bomb here too. We feel very insecure and have lost hope of returning home,” said Bimal Mushahari, who ran a betel nut shop in his village, Panbari, in Darrang district. “When we heard of the blasts, I ran away from the camp with my wife and children and hid in the paddy fields. Everybody was saying ‘they’ will attack us. Later we gathered courage and returned to the camp. Our house was burnt in the riots on October 3. Where will we go?” said Priti, Bimal’s wife.

Three armed guards have been posted at the Bhakatpara camp but the residents say the number is inadequate. “The Bangladeshis did this. And any day they will start attacking us,” added Rupeshwari Boro. The residents have taken it upon themselves to guard the camp and take turns to keep vigil.

... contd.