Nuns pray for peace in Assam

Even as fresh violence rocked lower Assam in the weekend, a group of nuns came together to pray for peace in the state.

An inter-religious prayer service was organised by the Daughters of St Paul on August 25 in Guwahati.

"Every effort for peace is very important. When this wish is combined with prayer it is powerful. Even those who cause trouble may be seeking for peace," said Archbishop Emeritus of Guwahati Thomas Menamparampil, who spoke on the occasion.

"We can evoke a sense of peace even in the hearts of those who are the cause of destruction. This is a deeper level of reaching out in peace. If we are instruments of peace, they will turn to us for peace," he said.

He assured the gathering consisting of people from various ethnic and religious groups that "no prayer for peace goes wasted".

The Assam riots at the end of last month left nearly 80 people dead and lakhs homeless.

The latest violence was reported in Chirang where five people were killed when they reportedly stepped out of a relief camp to buy grocery.

The five were stabbed to death at around 5:30 pm at Chaoudharipara at Bijni in the district, Assam IGP (Law and Order) L R Bishnoi said.

Following the violence and subsequent deaths, a curfew has been imposed in the area.

In Chirang, the epicentre of the violence, 40,000 people are living in 22 relief camps.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said on Sunday, "The administration will fire at anyone who resorts to arson and violence."

Communal violence erupted between the dominant Bodos and Bengali speaking Muslim settlers in Assam on July 19 at Kokrajhar district.

Currently there are nearly 2.5 lakh inmates in 222 relief camps.

"It's over a month since it began. And it's happening under our very nose. Despite our best efforts peace seems to be elusive," says Bishop Thomas Pulloppillil of Bongaigaon, one of the trouble-torn districts.

The Peace and Relief Co-ordination Committee (PRCC) of the Church has been supporting the relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Some 10,000 families have already been provided with food and medical relief.

The PRCC is also working to offer education to children, counselling and paediatric and maternal care.