From our Special Correspondent

SILCHAR, August 3: The left parties- CPI, CPM, CPI(ML) and Forward Block today joined together in a march and raised slogans for restoration of peace and harmony in the Bodoland Territorial Areas Districts (BTAD) which was torn apart during the week long violence caused by the ethnic- cleansing. The march which started from the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar converged at Hospital road after moving through the main streets of the town. Several leaders addressed the workers and supporters assembled on the occasion, condemning the senseless killings and orgy of violence which had hit the 3 districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang and Baksa with its spill over to Dhubri.

The protesters carried posters and banners which spoke of immediate and effective measures for the restoration of peace and harmony, building up confidence and trust between the communities, rehabilitation of the homeless and compensation packages for the near and dear ones of those killed, besides reaching succour to those who have to stay in relief camps. In the final count, 50 lives had been lost and more than 4 lakh people rendered homeless in countless villages across BTAD and beyond.

The leaders who addressed the assembly could not but express their resentment at the fact that despite earlier warning by the Congress party itself from Kokrajhar to Dispur about the possible threat to peace, the State Government did not act in time and allowed the miscreants to exploit the situation and stoke the flame of communal passion which resulted in violence and bloodshed. It was time that all the communities, tribals and non-tribals, should rise above all petty and mean considerations and join hands together to maintain peace and order.

The leaders who included Deepak Bhattacharjee, Dulal Mitra and Samiran Acharjee of CPM, Haider Hussain Chowdhury of CPI(ML), Rafique Ahmed of CPI and T Ahmed and Mihir Lal Chowdhury of Forward Block who led the rally flayed both the Centre and the State for the violence and decried the blame-game. All of them in identical manner laid stress on the fact that there was no alternative to peace which had to be brought back in the interest of all sections of people. They also urged upon the State Government for more vigilance so that those who went back homes should feel safe.