海角大神

India鈥檚 northeast, a lush triangle ringed by China, Burma, and Bangladesh is dotted with picturesque tea estates and pineapple plantations. Wild elephants and one-horned rhinos roam ancient forested migration routes.

But this week, the state of Assam (see map here) witnessed brutal mob violence, which virtually cut it off from the rest of India. According to police, at least 45 people have been killed, homes burnt, butchered bodies recovered, railway lines blocked in protest, and at least 150,000 people have fled their homes in fear.

At its heart, Assam鈥檚 troubles are about corrupt politicians encouraging illegal immigration at the expense of locals.

鈥淪ince 1971, there鈥檚 been a steady influx of immigrants from Bangladesh,鈥� says Rahul Pandita, associate editor of Open magazine who鈥檚 covered India鈥檚 northeast extensively. 鈥淎nd local politicians gave them Indian identity documents so they would vote for them. They鈥檝e changed the entire demographics of the area and created a powder keg ready to explode.鈥�

It would be akin to state politicians in Texas inviting economic migrants from Mexico in exchange for votes, says Mr. Pandita, pitting migrants against their own citizens for jobs, education, and welfare benefits.

It鈥檚 an open secret that the northeast is the main entry point for millions of illegal Bangladeshi migrants into India. From there, they travel into Indian towns and cities, providing a cheap, useful work force. But in places like Assam, they also change electoral politics.

This week鈥檚 ethnic clashes involved one of Assam鈥檚 tribal communities 鈥� the Bodo people 鈥� against Bengali speaking Muslim migrants. The violence was initially sparked by the death of four Bodo men, but signifies a much wider conflict.

鈥淭he borders are so porous,鈥� says Pandita. 鈥淎 Bangladeshi laborer can bribe his border guards and Indian border guards, come into India, earn a few dollars, and go back the way he came every day.鈥�

By Wednesday evening, the debate over illegal immigration had exploded on Indian television with journalists challenging state and national politicians.

A correspondent for the Times Now channel reported that Bangladesh鈥檚 foreign minister told him that the subject of illegal immigration had never been raised by India.

The government denies the charge.

Meanwhile, with local police unable to cope, Assam called in Indian Army forces who were given 鈥渟hoot on sight鈥� orders to quell the clashes. By Wednesday evening, armed forces had shot dead five people.

"Both sides are in fear,鈥� says Binod Ringania, a journalist in the state capital, Guwahati. 鈥淭hey are scared that in the night, they might be attacked by the other side, so they are fleeing into towns and taking refuge in government offices and schools.鈥�

But according to Pandita, brute force is no answer to this problem that鈥檚 been decades in the making.

鈥淢illions of people are entering your country and you are appeasing them to the extent that your own citizens feel threatened,鈥� he says. 鈥淎 man who is 70 sees all these outsiders taking over all farmland, shops. His son has no ration card, no job, so he鈥檚 going to react. For short term electoral gain, politicians have created this problem.鈥�