General information
Part of Conflict: n/a
First Battle Related Death: 1996-05-10
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1996-05-18
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: The non-state conflict between Bodo is first included in UCDP data in 1996. In May of that year, clashes between the two groups ahd resulted in more than 170 battle-related deaths.
Conflict issues
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1996
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 216 |
| Best | 185 |
| Low | 185 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Bodo): n/a
Side B (Santhal): n/a
1998
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 119 |
| Best | 94 |
| Low | 94 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Bodo): n/a
Side B (Santhal): n/a
1999
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 14 |
| Best | 14 |
| Low | 14 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Bodo): n/a
Side B (Santhal): n/a
2001
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 6 |
| Best | 6 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Bodo): n/a
Side B (Santhal): n/a
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1996 Dyad Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: Differences between the low and high numbers of reported deaths originate in potential double reporting of certain events. Beyond the deaths, there were over 150 000 Santhal and Bodo internally displaced persons reported in 1996.
Comment on Active: Violence between the Bodo and the Santhals intensified significantly in 1996, as Bodo clan fighters attacked Santhal villages and camps with the purpose of ‘ethnic cleansing’. This ethnic cleansing came about as the Bodos, struggled to expand the number of villages that had Bodo majority (and thus be made part of the Bodo territorial body negotiated with the Indian Government in 1993). The main tactics of the Bodos were assaults on villages and camps as well as large-scale arson, in order to force the Santhal population to flee. These tactics were also determined by the relatively poor weaponry available to the various Bodo militants. As an example of such tactics being employed, one report identifies Bodos buring over 20 villages between 16 May 1996 and 18 May 1996, leading to approximately 17000 displaced persons.
Santhals however, riposted to these attacks, with revenge killings and Santhal attacks on Bodo villages becoming common place in 1996. While still poorly organized and poorly equipped, the Santhals became, in 1996, a quite efficient force at responding and reacting to Bodo violence.
Terminated: NO
1998 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: Violence between the Bodo and the Santhals reignited in 1998, with patterns closely mirroring the 1996 events – Bodo attacks (sometimes indiscriminate) on Santhal villages followed by strong retaliations by Santhals. Both groups used similar, and quite strong tactics, usually involving the uprooting of villagers through large-scale arson, destruction and looting – consistent with the goal of ethnic cleansing. Atrocities on both sides were not uncommon either – for example, on 4 May 1998, Bodos attacked a bus, selected Santhal passengers, and killed 14 of them. Similarly, on 29 July 1998 Santhals attacked a Bodo village, gunning down 5 women and 6 children, including a one-year old.
Both Bodo and Santhal organization improved - becoming more consolidated, and better equipped. However, both Santhals and Bodos remained poorly armed, with a mix of light arms and traditional weaponry. Further, there are claims that Santhals still had lower access to modern weaponry and poorer organization among the two ethnic groups.
The results of the communal violence were quite severe – by the end of 1998, there were over 200 000 internally displaced persons in government-run refugee camps. Moreover, there are claims that the extremely bad conditions in these camps may have triggered further increases in violence.
Terminated: NO
1999 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
2001 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
