Ongoing violence in Bodoland: Who’s responsible?

The violence that has erupted in Bodoland since 23rd July’2012 is certainly very unfortunate and it should be condemned by all sections of the society. The situation in worst hit Kokrajhar, Chirang, Dhubri, Baksa districts was very tense and around 50 innocent people lost their lives and in addition about four lakhs of people rendered homeless and taking shelter at various relief camps. As reported few people are still missing. What were the offences of these innocent people particularly the womenfolk and the children those killed in the violence? In our view some people are taking advantage to gain political mileage by planting seeds of hatred between the Bodos and non-Bodos specially the minority communities in these districts. We request all the communities of these districts irrespective of their religion to restrain from taking any steps as per the dictates of interested groups, which may cause further harm to their old relationships. We appeal to all section of the people of the violence hit districts and particularly all the political parties to maintain peace and build confidence of the affected people at all costs to restore normalcy.

It may be recalled that the for last couple of months there was some tension in the BTAD areas between the Bodos and the non Bodos on various counts. But in spite of knowing that, the district authority as well as the state government failed to take any precautionary measures in time, for which today the situation is going out of control. This is the most serious lapse on the part of the state home department. As reported the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi while addressing the media persons at Guwahati recently blamed the Central Government for not sending Army in time to the violence hit BTAD areas. Meanwhile the Central Government officials also admitted delay of deployment of forces in the violence hit areas even when the Deputy Commissioner Kokrajhar and Chirang districts had made formal requests before the local Army units on 23rd July for deployment of troops, as reported. If this is the position, the Central Government should take full responsibilities for the loss of lives of innocent people and to their properties. We noticed that some political parties asked the Central Government to impose President Rule and also asked for the regination of the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to get political mileage which will not serve the purpose at all. All political parties irrespective of their political affiliation and the media, particularly the electronic media should come forward to pacify the present situation in the violence hit BTAD area in the interest of the all concerned. The root causes of the violence must be found out in due course so that this type of violence does not recur in future  in Assam. At this moment the top most priority of the state government is to render proper relief and the rehabilitation to the violence affected people and to provided food and the proper medical aid to the victims in the relief camps, otherwise there will be starvation death as well as death due to various epidemics. Our condolences to the families of victims who have lost their lives and also pray to the almighty for early recovery of those injured in the violence.

Pradip Kakati, 1, Nabagraha Path, Guwahati-781003

Welcome verdict on battered child: But punishment not enough

Delhi District Court deserves compliments for establishing father and step-mother for merciless torturing of innocent child Shourya, son from deceased first wife of retired Army Major Lalit Balhara and his second wife Preeti. But the 'minor' punishment of just ten years and negligible fine of rupees sixty thousand for the educated affluent couple are grossly insufficient for the heinous-most crime of this kind that too at a time when the cruel father earned from insurance-money out of death of his first wife. Life-imprisonment till the actual life and confiscating their complete wealth and pension for welfare and treatment of the child disabled by those cruel parents is the minimum punishment deserved by them, apart from humiliating them by putting them before media-persons. However some amount of the confiscated wealth and pension of Lalit Balhara may be kept in some government-security for the education etc of two other innocent children born out of his second marriage. Unfortunately death-sentence is only for murder. Otherwise for all practical purposes, the couple should have been publically hanged.

Delhi High Court on whose directions Delhi Police filed the complaint, should sue-motto take cognizance of the minor punishment awarded by Delhi District Court to ensure toughest-most practical punishment under the law with more than sufficient funds arranged for treatment, education and well-being of the child disabled by the cruel parents. The two other children born out of the second marriage can be sent to some renowned orphanage in case some relations do not come forward to take care of the innocent children. Time has come that persons engaged in heinous crimes may be publically humiliated like through their presence before media-persons as an effective check to prevent such crimes.

Madhu Agrawal, 1775 Kucha Lattushah, Delhi-110006

Corrupption in Assam

This has a reference to a news item that appeared in a section of the Press relating to imprisonment of two Bank Managers-Mukut Chetia and Nani Gopal Palit along with certain officials of DRDA,  Manza of Karbi Anglong district, for embezzlement of money meant for the poor villagers living below poverty line.

A few years ago, in one of the felicitation ceremonies held in Guwahati, for honouring rank holders in H.S.S.L.C. Examination, a mother of a top rank holder in course of her speech, very pertinently touched the point, saying, the objective and obsession of brilliant boys and girls is to augment their properties by corrupt means, as if these brilliant persons utilize their acumen to find out ways for corruption. Society must get rid of this social malady.

An example will drive home the point. The Water Resource Department is manned by many brilliant engineers. These people (with apology to those who are clean) have done pretty little to check the menace of flood despite availability of funds worth crores of rupees. Instead, they form a coterie. With the blessings of their bosses at Dispur, very brilliantly manage to embezzle the amount. For the last few decades, the existing embankments have remained unattended and wherever it was attended, was only an eyewash. The result is unending tales of miseries for the flood affected people. Kudos to the people of Nalbari, who publicly punished some corrupted officials of the Water Resource Department. People of Dhakuakhana also taught Bharat Narah a lesson.

Like this Water Resource Department many other departments are plagued by corruption. To get rid of the doldrums, desperate handling is required. Why single out Jagan Mohan Reddy? There are so many in Assam. Like Mr. Reddy all should get exemplary punishment if found guilty, regardless of their party affiliation.

We are still in  the dark about the outcome of the pending cases in different courts of Assam about the corrupted few ACS and IAS officers.

Will our government enlighten us?

Ashok Bordoloi, Amolapatty,Dibrugarh