A sense of deep sadness and anger occupied their mind. Some started crying, including the children. The people who had gathered outside entered the compound and charged at the detainees furiously. Armed guards from the escort trucks jumped down and, hitting the trucks with their canes, ordered the people to climb down as fast as they could.

As the prisoners climbed down fearfully, an onslaught of stones greeted them. The angry mob threw whatever they could lay their hands on. Some of the guards chased them, while others tried to hasten the entry of the prisoners into the jail. Walking through the dirty abuses and the rain of stones, the detainees entered the jail office. A few officers were seated gravely before a table. One of them spoke.

‘Everyone’s names will be put down in these registers. If you have any papers, keep them ready. Your valuables will have to be deposited in the office. As per jail rules, you will all be searched. You will get your belongings back when you leave.’

Outside, the people were still shouting. The compound was littered with stones and other things. The internees entered the jail slowly.

The jail was now packed with Communists and the Chinese. The Communists were kept like other prisoners in their cells, while the Chinese were kept in open spaces. The newcomers joined the prisoners who had arrived before them. Many of them had bandaged heads.

The first to enter the jail were the hostel boys and Cha Mu. The hostel boys were searching for their parents, clutching the the grown-ups. After being scolded by the guards, they returned to their place, crying.

As night fell, dense fog and cold enveloped the open spaces of the jail. Towards the wee hours of the morning, food was served. By then people were exhausted and freezing. Some had started to fall ill.

It was dawn by the time they finished eating. One officer arrived on the scene and said, ‘All of you stand in a line. You are going to be taken away from here.’

‘Taken away? Where to, sir?’ Yiu Yi’s father stood up.

‘We don’t know. We have orders to take you to the railway station.’

Instantly there was a commotion.

‘You have to tell us where we will be taken.’

‘We were told we would be taken away for a couple of days to a safer place. And now, you want to take us somewhere by train!’

‘Where are our valuables?’

‘The person in charge has not yet come. You’ll get them when you return.’

‘All lies! We don’t believe you! You have to return our stuff right now.’

Eventually, the officer lost his patience. Armed men came charging at the detainees, pointing their bayonets, their eyes inflamed with rage. The detainees were silenced. Wiping tears, they boarded the trucks.

The trucks moved through the foggy morning towards the Dibrugarh railway station.